The Most Popular Medium Haircut Inspiration for 2023

Modern Shag

A modern shag with parted fringe is much more laidback than the original cut. Paired with feathery layers and cool-toned highlights, this look by hairstylist Ashlee Norman is the definition of cool girl chic.

Curly Cut With Baby Bangs

With naturally curly hair, baby bangs will never fall flat. Short, choppy bangs are equal parts sweet and edgy. With this look, hairstylist Bobby Mack is an expert at using color to add dimension to any cut. “With dimensional hair color, it’s essential to understand that curly hair lays completely different than straight hair,” he writes. “Therefore the color placement needs to be customized to the haircut and head shape.”

Wavy Layers and Caramel Ribbons

Warm ribbon highlights look beautiful on wavy or curly hair, and a few layers add even more texture. Hairstylist Peter Menezes is a master in warm highlights, as proven with this look.

The Classic Lob

The lob is a universally flattering, manageable cut for any hair type and face shape. Long enough to put in a ponytail, short enough to style easily, the lob can't be denied. The saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” might as well be about the lob. Light layers and volumizing products helped bring this look to another level.

Full Fringe and Piecey Layers

Straight across fringe that tapers on the ends isn't as harsh as one-length bangs, especially when paired with wavy layers. This look by hairstylist Cherin Choi is a take on the new shag, the haircut of the moment.

Natural Curls with Deep Side Part

If you want to bring on the drama, toss it over to a deep side part for ultimate volume. A sunny highlights add definition to curls. This look by hairstylist Jaye Edwards is so warm and flattering.

Volume Three Ways

Hairstlyist Bobby Mack used a three-part approach to create this look with volume for days:

“1.) Tone Change: Notice that adding some warm[th] created a brighter and bolder blonde which flatters her skin tone and eyes! ⁣⁣

2.) Length Change: Letting go of a few inches when they no longer serve the overall look can actually make the hair look more voluminous!⁣⁣

3.) Height Styling: Adding height with a full volume blowout, velcro rollers and the appropriate curling iron will create the perfect effortless and playful movement we all love.”

Smooth Flipped-Under Ends

A blunt cut with flipped-under ends (like this look by stylist Ashley Antoine) adds instant Old Hollywood glamor to any day. Use a frizz-fighting oil or mousse to achieve smoother-than-glass results. 

Curly Highlights

Hairstylist Jaye Edwards used three different shades of highlights to add tons of dimension to this curly cut. 

Asymmetrical Shoulder Length

An asymmetrical cut is flattering for all face shapes, and it's a small update with a big impact. This look utilized coppery ribbon highlights to add movement and shine.

Low-Maintenance Cut

Minimal layers mean minimal work on your part, and with an easy thick wave, you can go from day to night. Stylist Nikki Lee perfected this laidback long lob with a warm color update. 

Grow-Out Glam

If you’re growing out your gray and are unsure how to approach the process, try this stunning cut that hairstylist Ashlee Norman dubbed the “Silver Butterfly.” Her client “was looking for the perfect cut that would help visually blend her line of demarcation while growing out her natural Silver. We were happy with how transformative the results were without any color work.”

Deep Side Part with Babylights

Even though Gen Z claimed the deep side part was dead in favor of the middle part, millennials have held onto their beloved side parts for good reason. It’s the quickest way to add immediate volume. With this look by stylist Cherin Coi, dainty babylights add just a touch of sun to create movement. 

Sunkissed Curly Bangs

Stylist Jaye Edwards accentuates natural curls with sunny highlights in this look. The shoulder-length cut is low-maintenance, but bangs add so much personality and a retro vibe. 

Bronde Ombré With Face-Framing Layers

Sometimes, the impact of a style can be so much more about the color than the cut! This simple lob by stylist Jaye Edwards with a few face-framing layers is turned all the way up with an ombré balayage hair color job that adds so much movement. 

Barely-There Layers

“The best part about this haircut is that it can easily be worn straight or wavy,” writes hairstylist Chris Jones. “Layers are great for removing weight and building shape but too many layers can be a problem.” So be sure you’re equipped to style your layers before asking for this cut. 

Bronde Balayage and Piecey Layers

With this cut and color, a delicate balayage technique and light layers throughout the hair make it an easy look to grow out if you want to go natural with your color. 

Shaggy Lob

This is a great look if you don’t want to commit to a full shag but want the essence of the effortless cut. “A great haircut when you’re bored of the one length-ish look,” writes stylist Chris Jones. “Face framing layers starting around the nose so you can style them like curtain bangs OR curl them with the rest of the hair. Soft square layers throughout so it flows as one haircut.” 

Cut for Flattering Highlights

Sometimes hair color impacts an overall look more than the actual cut, which is exactly the case here. “To be able to visualize the color placement, I precut her hair into the new shape. While creating the new color, I made sure to focus on the placement to flatter her new cut, skin tone and face shape!⁣” writes hairstylist Bobby Mack. 

Shaggy Cut with Face-Framing Highlights

This feathery look is proof that cut and color should work in perfect harmony to achieve the best results. 

Blunt Ends with Soft Texture

Stylist Chris Jones created this gorgeous lob to be easily worn straight or wavy. Soft, almost imperceptible layers throughout the cut add dimension and texture without any difficult styling commitments for the client, while blunt ends make the overall look appear thicker.