Medium haircuts often get a bad wrap, and it's not hard to see why. Medium length hairstyles can sometimes feel like you're stuck in "hair purgatory." A medium haircut is either a stalling point for that waist-long goal you feel like you'll never reach or an awkward reminder of a pixie cut you're still growing out.
But before you overdose on Biotin or take the same picture of Carey Mulligan in to your stylist again, there's good news. Medium length hairstyles are actually on-trend these days, popping up all over the runways and red carpet. Medium haircuts give you the versatility of a long haircut without being weighed down by excess length, and the lightness of a short haircut while still being able to pull your hair up into a ponytail. Essentially, you get the best of both worlds.
Even if you are growing out your hair or planning to get extensions, these fresh medium length hairstyles may have you rethinking your game plan. To help you get the most mileage out of medium haircuts, we've rounded up seven celebrity medium length hairstyles that you'll want to try, stat. And we've broken down each style, explaining exactly what you need to do to get the look.
Click ahead to see our favorite not-quite-long and not-quite-short looks.
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Sleek Lob
If Gwyneth Paltrow's lob (aka "long bob") doesn't make you want to get a medium haircut, nothing will. An angled cut makes this flattering style look chic and sleek.
To get this look, focus on your flat ironing. Celebrity hairstylist Amita Moticka says to iron from mid-shaft to ends, moving the iron straight out to the sides, lifting from the scalp. "As a rule, I do not drag the iron down when working, because it tends to put creases in the hair if you are going against the growth pattern," she says. For added flip, twist your wrist slightly toward your face once you've reached the end of a straightened section for a bit of bounce. Finish with a spritz of shine spray to get Paltrow's gloss.
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Bardot Bouffant
Rose Byrne's voluminous bouffant channels the perfect amount of Bridget Bardot sexiness with a modern twist. To get maximum volume at the roots, Kris Sorbie, education artistic director at Redken 5th Ave, recommends turning your head upside down and spraying a generous amount of dry shampoo throughout your hair. Next, sprinkle on a teasing powder to your crown and tease with a tail comb for extra oomph. Finish with hairspray for a soft, touchable hold.
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Half and Half
The traditional half up, half down hairstyle can come off looking adolescent, but with a medium length haircut the style becomes more fashion-forward. To get this look, Moticka recommends flat ironing half an inch down from your roots, and then quickly smoothing the iron down the hair shaft, "making sure to move at a steady pace,� she says.
Continue this until you have straightened the bottom and mid-section of your hair. Keep the top section of your hair sleek and polished, then finger comb through the lower portion to add a rocker edge.
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Retro Waves
You don't need long hair to pull off retro, 1940s-inspired waves, as January Jones proves. To create this stunning medium length hairstyle, celebrity hairstylist Renato Campora recommends applying a volumizing mousse to your roots and a smoothing cream from about the halfway down your hair to the ends.
Next, blow dry hair using a large round brush, and then set your hair in large hot rollers for 10 minutes. Once you release the rollers, brush through your hair to create perfectly shaped retro waves. Finish with a spritz of hairspray for long-lasting hold.
Medium haircuts often get a bad wrap, and it's not hard to see why. Medium length hairstyles can sometimes feel like you're stuck in "hair purgatory." A medium haircut is either a stalling point for that waist-long goal you feel like you'll never reach or an awkward reminder of a pixie cut you're still growing out.
But before you overdose on Biotin or take the same picture of Carey Mulligan in to your stylist again, there's good news. Medium length hairstyles are actually on-trend these days, popping up all over the runways and red carpet. Medium haircuts give you the versatility of a long haircut without being weighed down by excess length, and the lightness of a short haircut while still being able to pull your hair up into a ponytail. Essentially, you get the best of both worlds.
Even if you are growing out your hair or planning to get extensions, these fresh medium length hairstyles may have you rethinking your game plan. To help you get the most mileage out of medium haircuts, we've rounded up seven celebrity medium length hairstyles that you'll want to try, stat. And we've broken down each style, explaining exactly what you need to do to get the look.
Click ahead to see our favorite not-quite-long and not-quite-short looks.
