25 Shoulder Length Layered Hairstyles to Switch Up Your Look

As a rule, medium length hairstyles cover the cuts from below-the-chin level and up to the shoulders. These are praised by many ladies for their versatility and easy maintenance since the length is appropriate for both wearing the hair loose and creating various updos. But today we are going to draw your attention toward medium layered hair – because layering is hot, flattering for every hair type and suitable for switching up your style without losing precious inches. Have a look at our ultimate compilation of medium length layered haircuts to flatter any hair texture.

Medium Length Layered Haircuts by Hair Type

From face-framing grades to all-around cascades, from blended levels to strongly disconnected pieces, there is a plethora of layered haircuts for medium hair to customize to the texture of your hair. Thick hair benefits from the removal of some excess weight and works great with clear disconnection. Fine and thin locks require subtle layering throughout the cut or only face-framing layers to avoid losing their density, while getting movement. Layered waves look more airy and youthful, especially when fashionably disheveled. Even curly hair stands to gain from layering despite the well-known rule of blunt ends adding weight and minimizing frizz. “You want a vertical haircut where all of the layers blend into one another so they fall naturally and not in shelves,” explains celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa to Glamour.

Let’s have a look at good examples of layering for the above-mentioned and other textures.

Layered Ringlets

Curly Bedhead Bob With Bangs

via @vancityhairgirl

Curly medium length hair is just adorable! Look how the ringlets of this curly hair are defined and structured to emphasize their natural bounce, and then mussed up to get a lovely bedhead touch.

Medium Flipped Out Hairstyle For Thick Hair

via @locksbylindsayy

Shoulder Length Feathered Layers to Reduce Thickness

Here is a good case in point, showing how thick mid length hair gains movement and an airy feel with feathered layers and flipped out styling. Highlights are sure to add to the beauty of this medium layered haircut.

Shoulder-Length Wavy Blonde Hairstyle

via @maxwellmathson

Medium Length Hair with Messy Waves

Tousled wavy hairdos work great to create volume, especially when supplemented with some extra lift at the roots.

Layered Brunette Hair With Bronze Babylights

via @hairbyryane

Voluminous & Dynamic Layers

You can give medium length layered haircuts more volume and movement with the help of coloring. Straight hair can be brightened up with subtle slicing and babylights. This combo is a sure-fire way to give movement to shoulder length hair.

Medium Bouncy Hairstyle With Heavy Layering

via @shinetimes

Shoulder Length Hairstyle with Layered Bottom

This sun-kissed hair looks brilliant thanks to the bouncy feel acquired by heavy layering at the bottom. The back view also showcases cool haphazard styling with flipped out ends.

Сute Textured Wavy Bob

via @dana_hairstylist_

Layered Wavy Lob

It’s a nice idea to pack wavy locks into a cute textured lob. Just don’t apply your curling iron to the tips – you need beachy waves, not polished curls.

Straight Layered Rosewood Hairstyle

via @shelbyweatherholtzhair

Straight, Sleek & Layered

Straight hair can come with no highlights, still radiating vibrancy through masterfully done layering that doesn’t look tousled or chunky.

Bob With Feathered Layers

via @bormannjr

Layered Hairstyle for Thin Hair

Looking for medium layered hairstyles to flatter thin hair? Consider adding a splash of colors for more depth, and don’t miss this feathered finish that gives both texture and volume to medium length hair.

Medium Haircut With Layers Around The Face

via @hairbypaulperez

Medium Layered Balayage Hairstyle

The same rule is applicable to fine tresses, which can take on some dimension and vibe through layering, for example around the face and at the bottom.

Natural Layered Curly Haircut

via @biahulmann.hair

Curly Shoulder Length Layers

Even tight curls will fall into place just perfectly and all naturally after they are layered with a master touch.

Medium Layered Haircuts with Bangs – a Killer Combo!

Adding a fringe is a simple way to give a twist to any type of medium length layered hairstyles. Alongside this revamping, bangs of the right density, length, and shape can balance facial features and make medium layered haircuts more flattering. Bangs sit really well with layers, often blending into side tresses to produce a seamless effect. However, this is not a must, and you can opt for various fringe types.

For example, feathered straight bangs and long side-swept fringes are great for fine hair, while girls with thick manes are encouraged to go for heavy blunt bangs. Try a full shaggy fringe, if your strands are wavy or curly. “If the bangs are naturally curly, you can either air-dry or use a diffuser to bring out the texture, using your fingers to softly loosen any tight curls,” says John D, Tresemmé ambassador and stylist behind stars like Natalie Portman, Drew Barrymore and Amy Adams, in his comments to Glamour. Let’s take a look at how bangs can beautifully complement shoulder length layered hairstyles

Medium Casual Shag With Bangs

via @salsalhair

Piece-y Bangs & Long Layers

This tousled casual hairstyle with bangs boasts a soft color transition, some added volume and a trendy laid back look.

Shag With Textured Layers And Fringe

via @hairbyginala

Messy Layers to Hide Growing-Out Bangs

Textured layers are also good for creating a shaggy look to camouflage your growing-out fringe.

Cute Choppy Cut With A Long Fringe

via @haircolourstudio

Medium Length Hair with Tapered Bangs

However, bangs line up with sleeker medium length layered haircuts too, like this long graduated fringe with a cute tapered finish does.

Feathered Copper Red Shag

via @maygovintage

Feathered Layers

Feathered styling brings an entirely different feel, making your hair look airy and dynamic. And yes, layered hairstyles acquire a totally new meaning with vibrant colors.

Medium Layered Hairstyle With Wispy Bangs

via @blondebomb

Long Bangs Rock

Long wispy bangs are still hot, and you can always tuck them behind the ear to open the face and to get a new style for your medium layered hair.

Best Layered Haircuts for Medium Hair to Nail in 2022

Which medium layered hairstyle is in? Layers can be short and long, piece-y and chunky, subtle and heavy – how do you know which ones to ask for when you want something really hot and happening? The good news is that you’re not limited to one hairstyle and have the freedom to tailor layers to your needs

For example, if you prefer experimenting with your part, wearing it differently when the spirit moves you, opt for a hairdo with a short distance between layers.”Flipping or parting your hair on one side and then switching to the other can cause one side to look very heavy. Subtle soft layers will remove some of that,” writes stylist and founder Kristin Ess, who works with Lucy Hale, Lauren Conrad and other celebrities, in her blog.

Below, you will find a score of trendy layered haircuts for medium hair to get inspired, whether you like experimenting or not.

Messy Twisted Half Updo For Thick Hair

via @jessicamillerhair

Tame Your Thick Waves

Take thick tresses from both sides and twist them into a messy knotted half updo with tons of texture and a modern vibe.

African American Natural Hairstyle With Layers

via @sunflowersandscissors

Bouncy Layers

Who said that medium length layered haircuts don’t work well with curly black natural hair? Just look how this African American woman achieves a bouncy feel through well-defined spirals and beautifully cut layers.

Medium Bronde Sun-Kissed Hairstyle

via @beautyxlyric

Long Layers with Highlights

Add some gray hues and lightened tips to your medium layered blonde hair to shine with a sun-kissed hairdo destined for summer.

Half Up Half Down Hairstyle With Two Buns

via @styledbysamvay

A Playful Half Updo for Layered Waves

Great news is that layered hairstyles allow you to style your medium length hair into beautiful half updos. A bun on one side plus a bun on the other side, plus in-between beachy waves equals an amazing style for mid-length hair.

Over Medium Gray Hair With Layers

via @hairartistkat

Gray Layered Hairstyle

Ladies over 50 can age gracefully by mixing their natural color with voguish gray shades and incorporating the blend into modern layers.

Shoulder-Length Messy Hairstyle With A Braid

via @alex_haircraft

Add a Braid

Ring the changes with your shoulder-length hair through interlacing loose waves with a floppy braid. Our fave among mid length layered hairstyles, definitely.

Medium Straight Hair Cut With Long Layers

via @hairbycourtneybower

Medium Length Hair with Balayage

Go for long layers coupled with a customized balayage to make your straight hair look really vibrant.

Mid-Length Hairstyle With Face-Framing Layers

via @shinetimes

Framing Layers

Opt for face framing layers, when you need to balance your facial features or bring in zest into your hairstyle without sacrificing the length.

Layered A-Line Bob For Dark Hair

via @sofiawithaf31

Textured Layers

Look up to this dark hair shaped into an A-line lob, textured with soft waves and juiced up with splashes of light brown.

Choppy Blonde Bob With Shadow Roots

via @tangleshairstudioalbany

A Layered Bob with Choppy Layers

Medium layered hairstyles can be damn hot, just look at this choppy layered bob! If you’re a blonde with fine locks, get some extra depth by adding shadow roots to your sophisticated balayage.

Definitely, layered hairstyles are not going to leave streets and red carpets, boasting powerful potential to flatter each hair texture and face type. With both messy and polished finishes, medium layered hair can radiate volume, texture and movement, while retaining diversity in styling and the feminine touch longer hair is loved for. Just try medium layered hairstyles and enjoy your new hip look!