Alexa Chung�s messy chignon can turn unwashed hair into a dreamy style fit for the red carpet. While this is a more unstructured take on a chignon, "make sure it's tight at the nape of your neck," advises Devin Toth, Ted Gibson�s lead stylist. Celeb stylist Danilo says you can get this up in 5 minutes: "Add texture, pull back, twist, pin -- done." Add a decorative hairpin for more formal occasions and you�re ready to go!
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Sultry Spirals
This dramatic style is a great way to switch up your routine with a medium haircut, especially since the side-swept bangs break up the hairline and give the face new angles it didn't have before.
To get this look, curl 1 to 2-inch sections of hair around a medium barrel curling iron. Spritz hair with a holding spray while it�s wrapped around the iron for extra hold. Leaving three inches of hair out on the right side of your face, pull the rest of your hair into a low bun at the nape of your neck and secure with an elastic. Finally, pull out a few face-framing pieces on the left side of your face.
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Texture and Bangs
Heavy bangs can look boxy when paired with a short haircut and completely swallow the face when paired with a longer haircut. Medium haircuts are a different story. "This works great on most face shapes and can really enhance your jaw line," says Abby Schlenger from the Marie Robinson Salon in New York City. "To get that rocker edge and artfully disheveled look, air dry your hair and spritz on a sea salt spray to really amp up the texture.
Still working your way to a medium length hairstyle? Check out the hottest short haircuts of 2013, and get plenty of inspiration on how to style a short haircut.
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.
