If there was ever a more apt definition of ‘happy medium’, it’s the shoulder-length hairstyle—in the hair and beauty space, anyway. Hitting the sweet spot between the extreme pixie crop and flowing Ariel-style locks, shoulder-length hairstyles are the epitome of versatility. And, with sartorial trends forever ebbing and flowing, versatility is absolutely vital.
Shoulder-length hair is a beautiful choice for many women. If your hair has a tendency to wisp when it gets past a certain length, a shoulder-length style can keep it looking bouncy, buoyant, and voluminous. Not to mention, there’ll always be enough length for you to pop your hair into a messy bun, sleek ponytail, or chic chignon. See why we love it?
But that’s not all: shoulder-length hairstyles work with literally every hair type, too. Mass of curls? Take that mane from mayhem to manageable with a shoulder-brushing cut. Silky-smooth and straight? Pair with pillar-box red lipstick and channel your inner Taylor Swift. And, those blessed with natural waves will enjoy a first-class ticket to off-duty supermodel vibes, too—minimal styling necessary.
A timeless cut that you can grow out to waist-length (well, if you have the genes), chop to pixie-cut-cool, or simply leave as it is, shoulder-length hairstyles for women will always be en vogue. They’re attainable, malleable, and allow you to go as sleek, tousled, or slicked-back as you desire. What’s not to love? And we haven’t even started on bangs.
Pair your shoulder-length style with a lash-skimming 70s fringe, shaggy and low-key—or, rock a classic side fringe for a dash of asymmetric chic (totally failsafe, we promise), or even opt for a windswept, deep side part for true red carpet glamour. Just add diamonds and an LBD, and you’re Hollywood glitz personified.
Need some inspiration? You’re in the right place: we’ve snipped up an illustrated guide to the best shoulder-length hairstyles for women to suit all face shapes, hair types, and colors, so you can discover your next new ‘do.
The 61 best shoulder-length haircuts
- Trendy Shoulder Length Straight Hair
- Shoulder Length With Short Haircut
- Shoulder Length With Medium Hairstyle
- Shoulder Length With Long Haircut
- Short Shoulder Length For Straight Hair
- Low Maintenance Medium Length Haircut
- Convertible Textured Medium Length
- Cute Shoulder-Length Haircut
- Trendy Shoulder Length Hair With Bangs
- Shoulder Length Straight Black Hair
- Medium Hairstyle with Backswept Layers
- Shoulder Length Short Hair With Bangs
- Layered Fine Hair Medium Length Hairstyle
- Shoulder Length Straight Hair With Highlights
- Wavy Low Maintenance Shoulder Length Hairstyle
- Center-parted Disheveled Blonde Bob
- Short To Mid Length Hairstyle
- Above Shoulder Length Straight Hair
- One-Length Medium Cut with Feathered Layers
- Shoulder Length Short Brown Hair
- Side Fringe Trendy Shoulder Length Hair
- Shoulder-Skimming Caramel Balayage Lob
- Thick Hair Low Maintenance Mid-Length Hairstyle
- Wispy Bangs With Medium Length Hair
- Shoulder Length Hair With An Afro
- Shoulder Length Short Blonde Hair
- Layered Shoulder Length Blonde Hair
- Low Maintenance Medium Length Hairstyles With Bangs
- Tousled Layered Blonde Balayage Lob
- Shoulder Length Layered Curly Hair
- Shoulder Length Haircuts For Wavy Hair
- One Lenght Haircut
- Choppy Layered Shoulder Length Curly Hair
- Medium Length Hair With Blunt Bangs
- Blunt Shoulder Length Hair
- Shoulder Length Wavy Hair With Bangs
- Blonde A-line Lob with Face-Framing Layers
- Shoulder Length Hair With Perms
- Ombre Shoulder Length Hair
- Asian Shoulder Length Hair
- Medium Blonde Hairstyle with V-cut Layers
- Feathered Mid-Length Style
- Shoulder Length Hair Updo
- Shoulder Length Hair With Braids
- Brunette Shoulder Length Hair
- Shoulder Length Hair With Messy Bun
- Bobbed Volume With Highlights
- Messy Wavy Lob with Disconnected Ends
- Voluminous Messy Extra Long Bob
- Wavy Caramel Balayage Lob
- Medium Shag Hairstyle for Thick Hair
- Medium Hairstyle with Swoopy Layers
- Wavy Layered Hairstyle for Dimensional Balayage
- Golden and Platinum Balayage Lob
- Shattered Blonde Shag with Flyaways
- Cute Medium Hairstyle with Flipped Ends
- Long Tousled Lob with Root Fade
- Straight Blonde Bob Blowout
- Soft Blunt Blowout Hairstyle
- Extra Voluminous Messy Lob
- Mid-Length Razored-Cut Hairstyle
Trendy Shoulder Length Straight Hair
Shoulder Length With Short Haircut
Shoulder Length With Medium Hairstyle
Shoulder Length With Long Haircut
Short Shoulder Length For Straight Hair
Low Maintenance Medium Length Haircut
Convertible Textured Medium Length
Cute Shoulder-Length Haircut
Trendy Shoulder Length Hair With Bangs
Shoulder Length Straight Black Hair
Medium Hairstyle with Backswept Layers
Shoulder Length Short Hair With Bangs
Layered Fine Hair Medium Length Hairstyle
Shoulder Length Straight Hair With Highlights
Wavy Low Maintenance Shoulder Length Hairstyle
Center-parted Disheveled Blonde Bob
Short To Mid Length Hairstyle
Above Shoulder Length Straight Hair
One-Length Medium Cut with Feathered Layers
Shoulder Length Short Brown Hair
Side Fringe Trendy Shoulder Length Hair
Shoulder-Skimming Caramel Balayage Lob
Thick Hair Low Maintenance Mid-Length Hairstyle
Wispy Bangs With Medium Length Hair
Shoulder Length Hair With An Afro
Shoulder Length Short Blonde Hair
Layered Shoulder Length Blonde Hair
Low Maintenance Medium Length Hairstyles With Bangs
Tousled Layered Blonde Balayage Lob
Shoulder Length Layered Curly Hair
Shoulder Length Haircuts For Wavy Hair
One Lenght Haircut
Choppy Layered Shoulder Length Curly Hair
Medium Length Hair With Blunt Bangs
Blunt Shoulder Length Hair
Shoulder Length Wavy Hair With Bangs
Blonde A-line Lob with Face-Framing Layers
Shoulder Length Hair With Perms
Ombre Shoulder Length Hair
Asian Shoulder Length Hair
Medium Blonde Hairstyle with V-cut Layers
Feathered Mid-Length Style
Shoulder Length Hair Updo
Shoulder Length Hair With Braids
Brunette Shoulder Length Hair
Shoulder Length Hair With Messy Bun
Bobbed Volume With Highlights
Messy Wavy Lob with Disconnected Ends
Voluminous Messy Extra Long Bob
Wavy Caramel Balayage Lob
Medium Shag Hairstyle for Thick Hair
Medium Hairstyle with Swoopy Layers
Wavy Layered Hairstyle for Dimensional Balayage
Golden and Platinum Balayage Lob
Shattered Blonde Shag with Flyaways
Cute Medium Hairstyle with Flipped Ends
Long Tousled Lob with Root Fade
Straight Blonde Bob Blowout
Soft Blunt Blowout Hairstyle
Extra Voluminous Messy Lob
Mid-Length Razored-Cut Hairstyle
Frequently asked questions about fade with taper haircut
Yes, shoulder-length hairstyles are in. The medium hairstyle for women remains a beautiful choice for many women. f your hair has a tendency to wisp when it gets past a certain length, a shoulder-length style can keep it looking bouncy, buoyant, and voluminous. Not to mention, there’ll always be enough length for you to pop your hair into a messy bun, sleek ponytail, or chic chignon.
The best cut for shoulder-length hair depends on your hair type and face shape. See our illustrated guide of the best medium-length hairstyles for women to see all the available options.
A medium-length haircut, also known as a shoulder-length hairstyle, is a cut that aims at keeping your hair at the level of your shoulders. See our detailed guide to medium length haircuts to see all the available hairstyles.