Medium hair is the length I enjoy styling most, and also the one that catches guests out. It’s long enough to curl and pin, but short enough that layers poke out of updos and the ends flip as they hit the shoulders. Collarbone and mid-length hair needs a few tricks that long hair doesn’t. Below are twenty guest styles for this length, with notes on how I’d build each one and what to do when your hair is just a bit too short for it.
Making a Shorter Length Go Further in an Updo
The real limit with medium hair isn’t the total length, it’s the shortest layer. If the layers around your face or at the nape are shorter than your chin, they’ll fall out of most buns and twists. I check that first, then decide whether to pin them in, curl them as deliberate face-framing pieces, or choose a half-up style instead.
- A small bun filler or donut in your hair color adds size to a bun that looks thin.
- Texture spray or dry shampoo before styling gives slippery hair grip.
- Pins should cross in an X; a single pin slides out of shorter hair.
- Crossed pins at the nape catch short layers before they fall.
Clip-in extensions are another option for an updo. One or two wefts placed at the back add enough bulk to make a bun look fuller, and they don’t need to match your length because they’re hidden in the shape.
1. Half Up Half Down With Loose Curls
Half up with loose curls is the style I suggest most to guests with medium hair, because it makes the length look longer. I curl with a one-inch barrel, alternating direction, then take the top section from the temples back and pin it at the crown with a small clip. Shorter layers can slip out of the pinned section; a little texture spray before gathering keeps them in. Pull two thin pieces loose at the front.
2. Low Messy Bun
A low messy bun needs grip more than length. I work a texture spray or dry shampoo through the hair first, twist it at the nape, and pin it with crossed pins rather than an elastic, which can make a short bun look stubby. Leave pieces out at the front and the nape once it’s secure. If your layers are short at the back, the loose nape pieces become part of the look rather than a mistake.
3. Twisted Half Updo
The twisted half updo is quick, but only if the twists actually hold. I take a section from each temple, twist it back toward the crown, and pin them together where they meet, pinning each twist separately first. Loosen the twists with your fingertips so they look full. Freshly washed, silky hair unwinds, so style this on day-old hair or add a little dry texture spray. The bottom can stay straight or get waves.
4. Soft Brushed Out Waves
Brushed-out waves are the polished version of curled hair, and medium length is ideal for them because the waves don’t drop under their own weight. I curl every section in the same direction with a 1.25-inch iron, let each curl cool completely, then brush through with a paddle brush. A shine spray finishes it. It’s one of the easiest DIY options on this list, provided you give the curls time to cool before you touch them.
5. Crown Braid With Low Bun
A crown braid feeding into a low bun is a good way to make medium hair look more elaborate than its length suggests. I braid a section from ear to ear across the top, like a headband, then gather the braid’s tail and the remaining hair into a low bun. The braid secures the front, so the bun can stay soft. It keeps hair off the neck on warm days and suits a garden or boho wedding.
6. Sleek Low Ponytail
Sleek low ponytails expose the length, so medium hair gives you a short, neat tail that reads as modern rather than limited. I brush the hair back with a little gel, secure it at the nape, and wrap a small strand around the elastic. Flyaways from shorter layers are the challenge; gel on a toothbrush catches them. It shows off earrings and a good neckline, and it’s comfortable all day.
7. Half Up Fishtail Braid
A fishtail braid looks complex, but it’s only two strands, crossing small pieces from the outside of one side to the other. I braid the top section from the crown down, secure it with a clear elastic, and tug the edges gently to widen it. You need at least shoulder-length hair for the braid to show; on shorter medium hair, the fishtail ends too soon to read. Loose waves underneath complete it.
8. Curled Bob With Side Part
A curled bob with a deep side part is the strongest option for medium hair on the short end. I place the part above the arch of one brow, curl the hair with a wand away from the face, then brush the curls lightly so they join into soft waves. The deep part adds volume at the crown. A flexible hairspray keeps the shape through the evening. It looks dressy enough for a formal wedding.
9. Twisted Low Chignon
A twisted low chignon is the classic formal choice, and medium hair actually makes it easier: there’s no excess length to hide. I anchor a row of crossed pins at the nape, twist the hair around them and tuck the end inside. Soften it with a couple of loose strands at the front. A small comb above the knot finishes the look. It sits flat enough to lean back in a chair at dinner.
10. Boho Waves With Braided Detail
Boho waves with a thin side braid are relaxed but still finished. I curl loose waves with a wand, then braid one narrow section from the temple back and pin its end behind the ear. The braid keeps the hair out of your face in wind, which is why I like it for beach weddings. A small flower tucked into the braid suits it. It’s a comfortable, breezy style that keeps its shape outdoors.
11. Half Up Top Knot
The half-up top knot is playful and quick. I gather only the top section, from the temples to the crown, twist it into a small knot and pin it. Medium hair has enough length for a knot that size, but not much more, so I backcomb the section slightly to bulk it out. Leave the rest straight or wavy. It suits a casual or daytime wedding.
12. Side Swept Curls
Side-swept curls gather everything over one shoulder, and on medium hair they need help staying there. I curl, then cross two bobby pins behind the ear on the far side to anchor the sweep. Without those pins, shorter hair drifts back to center within an hour. One side of the neck stays open, so a single statement earring is the natural pairing. It suits an evening wedding.
13. Braided Half Updo
A braided half updo is practical as well as pretty. I braid a section from each side, bring them back and pin them together at the back of the head, then loosen the braids slightly. The braids hold the hair firmly, so it doesn’t move all day. Leave the bottom straight or wavy. It suits boho, rustic and garden weddings.
14. Glamorous Hollywood Waves
Hollywood waves at medium length drape at the collarbone, which is a flattering place for them to end. I curl every section in the same direction, pin each curl to cool, then brush through with a wide-tooth comb and finally a soft brush to join the curls into one smooth ripple. Set the shape with clips along the wave for ten minutes before removing them. Shine spray finishes it. It’s an evening or black-tie choice.
15. Messy French Twist
A messy French twist doesn’t need long hair. I gather the hair, twist it vertically up the back of the head, and pin along the seam. Medium hair often leaves short ends sticking out at the top of the twist; I tuck those in or let them stay for the messy finish. A decorative comb covers the top pins. It’s a good formal style that doesn’t look stiff.
16. Low Bun With Face Framing Pieces
A low bun with face-framing pieces is about which pieces you leave out. I choose two thin strands from in front of the ears, not from the hairline, so they fall naturally rather than straight down the cheeks. Curl them slightly with a small wand. The bun itself sits at the nape. It’s a reliable choice for almost any wedding, and those front pieces are easy to tuck behind the ears if they get in the way while you eat.
17. Waves With a Deep Side Part
A deep side part shifts volume to one side and gives medium hair more height on top. I part far to one side, wave the hair with a wand, and spray the root on the heavy side for lift. It’s a dressy look for evening weddings. If your hair falls flat by mid-afternoon, flip the part to the other side for a few minutes in the restroom to restore volume.
18. Half Up Bubble Ponytail
The bubble ponytail is a playful half-up style. I gather the top half, add small clear elastics every inch or two down the length, and pull each section outward to make the bubbles round. Medium hair gives you three or four bubbles; any more and they get too small. Leave the rest in soft waves. It’s a fun option for a casual wedding.
19. Romantic Updo With Loose Tendrils
A romantic updo with loose tendrils works on medium hair if you pin it in sections rather than in one bun. I backcomb small sections, loop them up and pin each one, building the shape gradually. Let a few curled tendrils fall around the face and nape. Small floral pins or a comb finish it. It suits a garden or spring wedding.
20. Straight Sleek Lob With Center Part
A sleek straight lob with a center part needs precise work. I flat-iron in small sections on moderate heat, then part from the tip of the nose straight back with the tail of a comb. A glossing serum on the lengths keeps it smooth. It suits straight and fine hair best. It’s a modern choice for a city wedding, but be aware that dead-straight hair shows frizz fast in humidity.
A Forty-Minute Plan for Styling It at Home
Most guests style their own hair, often in a hotel room. Medium length is a good length for this, because you can reach and see the back with a hand mirror. Here’s the order I’d follow.
If your hair rests right on your shoulders, it will flip outward whenever you move your head. Curling the ends under, or away from the face with the last inch left straight, stops most of that. A dress with a high neckline or a collar makes it worse, so try your style with the actual outfit on.
- Wash the night before, not the morning of, so the hair has a little grip.
- Apply texture spray or dry shampoo to the roots and lengths.
- Curl the hair, even for an updo, because curled hair holds pins better.
- Let the curls cool fully, about ten minutes, while you do your makeup.
- Pin or style, then mist with a flexible hairspray from arm’s length.
The small kit for your bag
Pack a few bobby pins in your hair color, a travel-size hairspray and a fine comb. Most problems with medium hair at a wedding are a short layer slipping loose or ends flipping out at the shoulders. A pin fixes the first; a quick pass with a comb and a little hairspray fixes the second.
Up, Half Up or Down at Collarbone Length
Medium hair gives you more options than you might think. Pinned styles hold well because there’s less weight dragging them down, and down styles keep their shape longer than on very long hair. Think about the venue, the weather and how many hours you’ll be wearing it, practice your choice once before the wedding, and pack a few pins in your bag.
You'll Like These Ideas:
Leave a Reply