Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Home & Garden
  • Style & Culture
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Most Popular Hairstyles of 2021

      The Most Popular Hairstyles of 2021

      The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      It's so easy, trust us. Read More
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    How Long Do Deviled Eggs Last in the Fridge?

    How Long Do Deviled Eggs Last in the Fridge?

    Best practices for dealing with deviled eggs
    • All Food
    • All Recipes
    • Holidays & Occasions
    • Quick Fix Suppers
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Casseroles
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining
    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples.
    • Christmas
    • Entertaining
    • Thanksgiving
    • Southern Weddings
    • Easter
    • Kentucky Derby
    • Valentine's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Mother's Day
  • Home & Garden

    Home & Garden

    See All Home & Garden
    30 Containers for Covered Porches That Will Thrive in the Shade

    30 Containers for Covered Porches That Will Thrive in the Shade

    Some containers have all the sun. These shady planters, though, are having plenty of fun sans sun. We’ve gathered all of our favorite shade-loving containers to inspire your planting this season. If you have a shady yard or want to perk up a shaded spot in your home, at your front door, on your porch, or around your patio, put together a pretty shade-loving container that’s also easy to care for. Plants like caladiums and creeping Jenny will thrive in the shade, and they’ll also add great color and movement to your planters. If you’re looking for the best plants for the shade and great flowers that thrive in shade, also reach for impatiens, coleus, sweet potato vines, mazus, vincas, torenias, violas, petunias, pansies, hellebores (Lenten roses), hostas, astilbes, and trilliums. They look great and will thrive in full to partial shade. Shade-loving flowers aren’t too hard to find. Ask around at your local garden store, and you’ll be able to locate the ingredients and put together any one of these shade-tolerant container ideas. Also, in regards to your container, don’t forget to think vertical. We love pots and planters, but a hanging basket is another great option, as is an elevated planter, which will make a statement and take advantage of any vertical space.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Before & After
    • Inspired Communities
    • Curb Appeal
    • House Plans & Builders
    • The Grumpy Gardener
    • Plant Names A-Z
  • Style & Culture

    Style & Culture

    See All Style & Culture
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Southern Culture
    • Hair
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Pets
    • Southern Fashion
    • Healthy Living
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. Southern Living
  2. fashion beauty
  3. Hair
  4. 12 of the Most Flattering Medium Hairstyles for Thick Hair

12 of the Most Flattering Medium Hairstyles for Thick Hair

By Kaitlyn Yarborough
January 03, 2019
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Layered Shoulder Cut
Credit: @stebunovhair
Let’s be honest. Being blessed with thick tresses is like winning the genetic lottery, no matter how hard it might be to find the right haircut. Sure, it takes more than a hot second to blow dry, and okay, it doesn’t always make it through an entire workout class as a perky ponytail like its lightweight comrades—but it’s still enviously and gorgeously thick as honey. So we don’t feel too bad. When it comes to the best haircuts for thick hair, it’s not all about short cuts. Thick-haired ladies can rock medium and long hairstyles all day long with a few flattering tips. For example, thick hair gets along with bangs like two peas in a pod—no wimpy, slicked-down fringe here!—and layering can remove the weight that keeps your strands from full volume potential. Ready to flaunt those thick locks? Here are 12 of the best medium hairstyles for thick hair.
Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Thick Hair? Try These Medium Cuts.

1 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Stacked Bob

Stacked Bob
Credit: @styled_by_carolynn

If you want to lean on the shorter side of the spectrum, this long bob is ready to take on the job. Unlike a blunt bob, this cut by stylist Carolynn Judd has stacked layers in the back, which adds enough shape and structure that your locks won’t require tedious styling to get volume.

2 of 13

3 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Shag

Long Shag
Credit: @salsalhair

Get shaggy with it. Thick hair can master this shag haircut by stylist Sal Salcedo like no other—just enlist the help of some layering and bang action.

3 of 13

Advertisement

4 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Layered Shoulder Cut

Layered Shoulder Cut
Credit: @stebunovhair

Back with the layers, but on a sassy shoulder cut. This head of hair looks so enviously full that it’s making us want to start hair vitamins, ASAP. A shoulder-length cut is universally flattering to boot.

4 of 13

5 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Curly Lob

Layered Lob
Credit: @matthewjones_hairstylist

Curls will always appreciate the easy lift that shorter cuts offer, and this collarbone-grazing length with long layers knows just what we’re talking about.

5 of 13

6 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Blunt Bangs

Blunt Bangs
Credit: @salsalhair

When you ask for a full set of fringe, the biggest fear is that you’ll end up with stringy, feathery, wimpy strands slicked across your forehead. Thick-haired ladies—that excludes you. You can rock blunt bangs like nobody’s business, which means you definitely should at least once. For all of us.

6 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Side-Parted Shoulder Cut

Side-Parted Shoulder Cut
Credit: @ninezeroone

This blunt cut by stylist Shaylee Blatz plays up thickness, but doesn’t look weighed down. The heavy side part feigns an almost asymmetrical look, which offsets heaviness on the ends and frames the face in a fun way.

7 of 13

8 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Curly Bangs

Curly Bangs
Credit: @veronica_nunez

Thick, curly hair calls for more layers—and we’re talking way more. There’s no better way to enhance the volume and bounce that those ringlets can rile up. Add some fringe? It’s a homerun.

8 of 13

9 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Internal Layers

Long Layers
Credit: @salsalhair

Ask your stylist for internal layers, and afterwards you’ll be thinking she whipped out a magic wand. Without being too noticeable at all, internal layers remove so much weight from long, thick hair.

9 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Face-Framing Bangs

Face-Framing Bangs
Credit: @stephengarrison

Think of these bangs as the noncommittal version of full fringe. This cut is a low-maintenance way to frame your face without sacrificing too much hair, and it’ll work with every length and texture.

10 of 13

11 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Long Layers

Long Layers
Credit: @mizzchoi

Long layers are easy and crowd-pleasing. This simple layering lightens up the thickness, but doesn’t make your mane look bulky. (Too many levels of layers stacked on top of each other? Bulky.) With a full head of hair, these long layers add major dimension.

11 of 13

12 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tousled Lob

Tousled Lob
Credit: @chrisjones_hair

As a rule, textured layers make a flattering touch when styling thick hair. This cut by Texas-based stylist Chris Jones gets plenty of movement and volume from the layering alone, and it also minimizes the bluntness and weight that often makes styling way too hard for thicker locks.

12 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Birkin Bangs

Birkin Bangs
Credit: @salsalhair

Classic and cool, these bangs take note from icon Jane Birkin. A set of this fringe gives any straight, thick hair just the right kick of style.

13 of 13

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Kaitlyn Yarborough

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 13 Thick Hair? Try These Medium Cuts.
    2 of 13 Stacked Bob
    3 of 13 Shag
    4 of 13 Layered Shoulder Cut
    5 of 13 Curly Lob
    6 of 13 Blunt Bangs
    7 of 13 Side-Parted Shoulder Cut
    8 of 13 Curly Bangs
    9 of 13 Internal Layers
    10 of 13 Face-Framing Bangs
    11 of 13 Long Layers
    12 of 13 Tousled Lob
    13 of 13 Birkin Bangs

    Share options

    Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

    Login

    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Sitemap

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
    • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • Parents this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    View image

    12 of the Most Flattering Medium Hairstyles for Thick Hair
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.