Medium length hair sits in the sweet spot between short and long, giving men room to experiment with texture, waves, curls, and fades without committing to a full grow out. It works for almost every hair type, face shape, and lifestyle, which is exactly why barbers keep seeing more requests for it every season.
This guide breaks down the most attractive medium length hairstyles for men right now, along with short, professional, wavy, curly, and low maintenance variations. You will also find styling steps, face shape tips, and answers to the questions men ask most often about growing and maintaining medium hair.
Best Medium Length Hairstyles for Men to Refresh Your Style
Medium length hair usually falls between the ears and the shoulders, long enough to style but short enough to stay manageable. The cuts below cover everything from clean fades to shaggy, textured looks, so there is something here for every guy ready for a change.
Flow Hairstyle

The flow hairstyle lets hair grow naturally backward and to the sides, creating soft, wave like movement without a strict part. It works best on straight to wavy hair and pairs well with a light fade for a low effort, athletic look.
Long Fringe
A long fringe brings the focus forward, with hair swept over the forehead for a youthful, edgy finish. It suits thick, straight hair best and can be combed side to side depending on the mood.
Brush Back Fade

This style combines a tight fade on the sides with longer hair on top brushed straight back. It is a sharp, professional option that works for both formal settings and everyday wear.
Burst Fade Mohawk
The burst fade mohawk curves the fade around the ears instead of cutting straight across, leaving a raised strip of hair on top. It is a bold, modern choice for men who want an edgier medium cut.
Messy Curly Taper Fade
Natural curls are left slightly longer on top and paired with a tapered fade on the sides. A light curl cream keeps the texture defined without weighing the curls down.
Straight Medium Hair
Straight medium hair is left to fall naturally with minimal styling, giving a relaxed, effortless appearance. A light matte product adds separation without stiffness.
Messy Curls

Messy curls embrace natural texture with a tousled, undone finish rather than tight definition. Scrunching in a curl enhancer while hair is damp helps the curls form without frizz.
Medium Waves
Medium waves highlight natural wave patterns for a beachy, textured look that works both casual and semi formal. Sea salt spray adds grit and hold without stiffness.
Modern Textured Quiff

The modern textured quiff lifts hair at the front with volume while keeping the sides shorter, updated with choppy, matte texture instead of the traditional smooth finish. It flatters round and square face shapes especially well.
Rugged Messy Mullet with Thick Fringe

This mullet keeps length at the back, a heavy fringe at the front, and deliberately messy styling throughout. It suits men who want a statement cut with personality.
Long Layered Tuck Back

Layers add movement to longer medium hair, which is then tucked behind the ears for a clean, off face look. It works especially well for men growing hair past the chin.
Wavy Mod Cut

The mod cut features a rounded, layered silhouette with wavy texture, inspired by classic 1960s styling but updated with modern fades. It suits men with naturally wavy or permed hair.
Faux Hawk Fade

A faux hawk fade tapers the sides tightly and styles the center section upward without shaving it into a true mohawk. It offers an edgy look that is easier to grow out or restyle than a full mohawk.
Long Comb Over with Tapered Sides

Longer hair on top is combed neatly to one side over a tapered fade, creating a polished, business ready style. It is one of the most versatile professional medium length hairstyles for men.
Two Block Haircut
Popularized by K-pop and Korean street style, the two block haircut features short, undercut sides beneath noticeably longer, layered hair on top. The contrast makes the top section look fuller and more voluminous.
Medium Shaggy Hair
Shaggy medium hair uses heavy layering and choppy ends for a lived in, low maintenance texture. It works well on straight, wavy, and curly hair alike.
Modern Pompadour Fade
The pompadour fade pairs a high volume, swept back top with a tight fade on the sides for contrast. It is a timeless style that has stayed popular for decades because it flattens well on nearly every face shape.
Curtains Flow
Curtains flow parts hair in the center and lets both sides fall naturally over the forehead like drawn curtains. It is a nostalgic 90s inspired look that has made a strong comeback recently.
Slick Back Undercut Fade
Hair on top is slicked straight back with pomade over a hard undercut fade, giving a sharp, polished, retro gangster inspired finish. It works best on straight to slightly wavy hair.
Thick and Textured with Low Temp Fade
This look keeps maximum volume and texture on top while a low temple fade tidies the sides just enough to stay sharp. It suits men with naturally thick hair who want fullness without bulk.
Textured Layered Mod
Choppy layers throughout the crown create a textured, rounded mod silhouette with built in movement. It pairs well with a light fringe for extra styling flexibility.
Long Flow Back
Hair is grown out and brushed straight back without a hard part, letting natural length and volume carry the style. It works especially well for men transitioning from short to longer hair.
Medium Textured Shaggy Hair
A step up from a standard shag, this version adds heavier texturizing and a slightly messier finish for extra dimension. Texturizing spray or clay helps define individual pieces.
Textured Medium Style with Low Temp Fade
Similar to the thick textured version but with finer, choppier layering, this cut pairs well tapered sides with a soft, piecey top. It is easy to maintain between barber visits.
Tousled Blonde Hair
Lightened or naturally blonde medium hair styled with a tousled, undone finish creates a sun kissed, casual look. Sea salt spray and air drying keep the texture natural.
Slick Back with Mid Skin Fade
A mid skin fade meets slicked back styling for a clean contrast between the smooth top and the bare, faded sides. It is a favorite for weddings, interviews, and other formal occasions.
Ponytail
Medium length hair can be pulled back into a small ponytail or half ponytail, keeping hair off the face while showing off length. It works best once hair reaches at least chin length.
Blowout Fade
The blowout fade uses a round brush and blow dryer to lift hair upward and outward over a fade, creating height and volume. It is popular in barbershops for its dramatic, textured finish.
Classy Curly Mullet
This mullet variation keeps natural curls intact at the back while tapering the sides, giving a modern, textured take on the classic mullet. It suits men who already have curly or coily hair.
Classy Comb Over
A timeless comb over parts hair to one side and combs it neatly across the top, working with almost any hair type. It remains one of the most requested professional medium length hairstyles for men.
Quiff Mohawk Fade
This style narrows the classic quiff into a slimmer, mohawk inspired strip over a skin fade, blending two bold trends into one. It suits confident men who want maximum contrast.
Medium Messy Hair
An all purpose messy style, this look uses light product and finger styling rather than a comb for a relaxed, just rolled out of bed appearance. It works with straight, wavy, or curly textures.
Middle Part Brush Back with Short Sides
Hair is parted in the center and brushed back and away from the face, paired with shorter sides for balance. It suits men with fuller hair who want a modern, editorial look.
Middle Part Wolf Cut
The wolf cut blends a shag and a mullet, with heavy layers, a middle part, and choppy, textured ends throughout. It has become one of the most searched medium length hairstyles for men thanks to its social media popularity.
Textured Pompadour
A softer, more casual take on the pompadour, this version trades the polished slick back for matte texture and a slightly undone finish. It works well for everyday wear rather than formal events.
Textured Mullet Fade with Fringe
This mullet pairs a tapered fade with a heavy, textured fringe up front, keeping length only at the back and nape. It is a popular choice for men wanting an edgier, retro leaning style.
Casual Medium Brush Back with Beard
Hair is brushed back loosely without heavy product, then paired with a full beard for a rugged, masculine finish. It is one of the easiest styles to maintain day to day.
Top Knot Fade
Longer hair on top is gathered into a small knot at the crown, contrasted with a tight fade on the sides. It suits men who want the convenience of tied back hair with the sharpness of a fade underneath.
Medium-Short Flowing Curtains
A shorter version of the curtains style, this cut keeps the center part and forward flow but with slightly less length overall, making it easier to manage while keeping the signature look.
Short medium length hairstyles for men
Men who want shorter maintenance without going all the way back to a short crop can try these in between cuts.
Textured Crop
The textured crop keeps hair short on top with plenty of texture and a fringe pushed forward. It sits right at the shorter end of medium length and needs very little daily styling.
Side Part Comb Over
A classic side part combined with a comb over gives a neat, structured finish that works in almost any professional setting. It is easy to recreate at home with just a comb and light pomade.
Classic Crew Cut
The crew cut is tapered on the sides with slightly longer hair left on top, offering a clean, sporty look that has barely changed in decades. It is one of the lowest maintenance short medium cuts available.
Taper Fade With Medium Top
This pairs a smooth taper fade on the sides with noticeably more length on top than a standard fade, giving styling options like a quiff, comb over, or messy texture.
Short Shag
A shorter, tighter version of the shaggy haircut, this style uses light layering for texture while keeping overall length closer to the shorter end of medium.
Professional Medium Length Hairstyles For Men’s
Office appropriate medium hairstyles balance length with a tidy, controlled finish.
Professional Medium Hairstyles For Men’s With Short Hair
These cuts keep enough length on top for styling flexibility while staying neat enough for client meetings and formal settings.
Classic Side Part
A precise part combined with combed, controlled length creates one of the most reliable professional looks for medium hair.
Crew Cut with Layered Top
Adding light layers to a crew cut gives it a bit more texture and versatility while keeping the overall silhouette sharp and tidy.
Side-Swept Comb Over
Hair is swept to one side in a soft, natural direction rather than a rigid comb over, giving a slightly more relaxed professional finish.
Professional Medium Hairstyles For Men’s With Beard
Pairing medium hair with a well groomed beard adds structure and maturity to a professional look.
Classic Side Part with Beard
The classic side part becomes even sharper when balanced with a neatly trimmed beard, framing the face on both ends.
Textured Medium Quiff with Beard
A textured quiff with matte finish pairs naturally with a medium length beard for a modern, polished but still relaxed look.
Slicked-Back Medium Hair with Beard
Slicked back hair paired with a full beard creates a strong, put together appearance suited to interviews, client facing roles, and formal events.
Medium Length Wavy Hairstyles For Men
Wavy hair holds texture naturally, making medium length one of the most flattering lengths for this hair type.
Wavy Side Part
A side part on wavy hair adds structure while still letting the natural wave show through, avoiding a flat, overly styled look.
Textured Wavy Fringe
A wavy fringe left slightly longer at the front creates movement and softness around the face.
Loose Shoulder Length Waves
For men growing their hair out, loose waves at shoulder length give a relaxed, effortless appearance with minimal daily styling.
Messy Medium Waves
Applying a light sea salt spray and scrunching damp hair enhances natural waves for a tousled, beach ready finish.
Medium Hairstyles For Men With Thick Hair
Thick hair holds volume well, so medium length cuts that use fades, layering, or texturizing help manage bulk without losing the fullness that makes thick hair distinctive. A skilled barber will thin out density with thinning shears or a razor while keeping length on top, preventing the classic triangular, bulky silhouette. Textured quiffs, thick and textured cuts with a low fade, and shaggy layered styles all work especially well for thick hair types.
Men’s Medium Length Hairstyles With Straight Hair
Straight hair shows off clean lines and sharp partings better than any other texture, which makes comb overs, slick backs, and curtains particularly effective. Because straight hair has no natural texture to rely on, a light pomade, clay, or matte paste is usually needed to hold shape and prevent hair from falling flat throughout the day.
Mens Hairstyles For Curly Medium Length Hairs
Curly hair at medium length can be worn natural, tapered on the sides, or shaped into a curly mullet or messy curl style. Using a curl defining cream on damp hair and avoiding a brush, which can create frizz, helps curls hold their shape and definition through the day.
Low-Maintenance Men’s Medium Hairstyles
Not every man wants a lengthy morning routine. These low maintenance medium length hairstyles for men rely on good cutting rather than heavy daily styling:
- Messy medium hair, styled with fingers and a light product
- Straight medium hair, left to air dry naturally
- Casual brush back with beard
- Medium shaggy hair, which looks intentionally undone even a few weeks after a cut
- Textured crop, which needs only a small amount of paste
How To Style Medium Length Men’s Hair
Good styling starts in the shower and ends with the right product for your hair type and the look you want.
Steps to Style Medium Length Haircuts
- Wash hair with a shampoo suited to your scalp and towel dry until damp, not wet.
- Apply a small amount of styling product, such as pomade, clay, paste, or sea salt spray, depending on the finish you want.
- Use a comb for sleek, structured looks like a comb over or slick back, or your fingers for messy, textured styles.
- Blow dry on a low to medium heat setting while directing hair in the direction of your chosen style, using a round brush for extra volume if needed.
- Finish with a light hold spray or a small amount of extra product on the ends to lock in texture without stiffness.
Our Thoughts
Medium length hair rewards men who are willing to experiment a little more than a standard short cut allows. It adapts to straight, wavy, and curly textures, works with or without a beard, and can swing from boardroom ready to weekend casual depending on how you style it. The key is choosing a cut that suits your natural hair type and face shape rather than copying a look purely because it is trending.
Final Thought On Medium Length Hairstyles
Whether you prefer a sharp fade with length on top, a flowing curtain style, or a relaxed shag, medium length hair offers more versatility than almost any other length. Talk to your barber about your hair type, growth pattern, and lifestyle before committing, and do not be afraid to revisit your cut every few months as your hair grows and your style evolves.
FAQ’s About Medium Length Hairstyles for Men
What is the best haircut for medium hairstyles?
There is no single best cut, but the textured quiff, comb over, and low fade with length on top are consistently popular because they suit most hair types and face shapes.
What are the best Medium length hairstyles for men with an oval face?
Oval faces suit almost any medium length style, including quiffs, curtains, and side parts, since this face shape has naturally balanced proportions.
What is the easiest medium-length hairstyle for men to maintain?
Messy medium hair and the classic crew cut with a slightly longer top are among the easiest, needing minimal product and styling time.
How often should I trim medium-length hair?
Most men should trim medium length hair every 4 to 6 weeks to keep the shape and remove split ends without losing overall length.
Can men with thin hair wear medium-length hairstyles?
Yes, medium length hair can work well with thin hair if layers are kept minimal and volumizing products are used to avoid a flat appearance.

Elena Hartwell is a hair and beauty writer passionate about hairstyles, hair care, and the latest beauty trends. She shares practical tips, styling inspiration, and easy ideas to help readers feel confident and look their best.








