by So you’re either growing your hair or you’re ready for a trim. Medium length hair can be styled many ways, and fortunately you can style any thickness, major curls or straight locks if you have the right cut. We’ve therefore gathered all the best medium length hair styles so you can some inspiration to the barbers with you.
We might be behind our European cousins with the full acceptance of longer hair, but that doesn’t mean we can’t style our manes just as dapper as they can once we achieve our desired hair length. But how exactly do you grow out your hair without suffering the dreaded split end situation? And once you do reach that goal, what products should you use to maintain it?
These answers are all in our easy to follow guide citing the best medium length hairstyles for men. We’ll give you the best tips based on your face shape, hair condition and of course your lifestyle, along with additional help on pre and post hair styling to keep those locks healthy all year round.
How to Grow Medium Length Hair
Men’s medium haircuts are tricky to achieve as growing your hair out takes a lot of time and patience as well as a fair few trips to the hair salon to maintain the split ends. In short, growing your hair out means ensuring the hair is healthy and conditioned to gain the best possible results over the least amount of time. Now, we’re not saying you can achieve the coveted man bun in two short months, but you’ll be well on your way.
No matter how you may try to avoid it, your hair will always reach that ‘awkward stage’ where one side is slightly longer than the other, or the sides of your head become so unbearably unmanageable that you’ll find yourself going through hair products like they’re out of fashion. But fear not and persevere – that’s why it’s worth a trip to the barbers (perhaps not every 4 weeks as suggested, more like 6-8 weeks) just to get a trim and tidy up that scruffy mane.
First Stage
The last thing you probably want is an unruly mullet sprouting from your head, and that can happen if you don’t maintain your locks during the first few months of trying to grow your hair out. It’s best to start out longer on top, just like any other guy that wants a trendy haircut. If your hair is similar in length all over then keep it tight at the sides and back until layers have started to build on the top. Once you’ve achieved the ideal length then you can let the entirety of your hair grow out.
Persevere
That ‘awkward’ moment will probably occur numerous times throughout your struggle trying to grow out your hair over. The worst part is when hair begins to grow over the ears and you start to receive those shifty looks. Don’t listen to the naysayers and continue on that quest, because if you cave at this stage, there’s probably no way you’ll ever be able to grow out a medium length hairstyle in your life.
Once you get past that hair wave (excuse the pun) things become much easier to maintain. You’ll be able to push your hair back around the ears. You can use lightweight products like hair pomades and trusty hairspray to make your in-between hairdo look somewhat presentable to the outside world.
Take Care
While your hair grows it’s best to take extra care during your day-to-day life. That means no rough towel drying when you get out of the shower. Instead, part sections of your hair and release excess moisture by squeezing and massaging with a soft towel.
When it comes to blow-drying the hair, try and do this only a few times a week as heat can damage strands and make them weaker, regardless of whether you’ve now achieved what seems to be a full head of healthy hair. Keep in mind that long hair takes longer to dry, so if you are blasting the heat and brushing through wet hair in hopes of cutting down the wait time, you can cause serious breakage, effectively wasting the six months of growth time you’ve so diligently spent waiting.
Medium Length Haircuts
When it comes to deciding exactly what length you should go for, it’s always best to get the advice of your barber or hair stylist prior to the cut. Most of the time, because you’ve spent months growing it out having even just a few inches cut can feel like torture. Keep in mind that getting it trimmed is all for the greater good as it helps to maintain healthy and manageable locks.
If you want to get into logistics then measure your face before you visit the salon. Bear in mind that this is not necessary but an added factor to achieving the best medium length haircut for your face shape.
- Forehead: Measure the length between the peaks of both your eyebrows.
- Cheekbones: Start measuring from the outer corner of your eye towards the other and across the length of your cheekbones at their peak.
- Jawline: Measure from the incline angle between the length of your ear and the chin.
- Face: Measure from the central most point of your face from the top of your forehead to your chin.
Everyone has a different face shape and the cut you get will depend on what suits that shape.
Oval Face
An oval face shape suits short medium hairstyles, but realistically it’s a face that can carry off almost any hairstyle because of its symmetrical qualities. Ideally, however, it’s best to avoid a long, forward facing fringes as you want to create volume and have some movement on top. That said, you could always go experiment with a men’s medium long hairstyle. Just have the hair on top a little longer than you would if you were going fairly short, you can style this with either a salt spray or some wax pomade.
Square Face
Those with a strong and well-defined jaw are fortunate enough to be born with a naturally masculine shape; such is the benefit of the square face. Like the oval shape, a square face can carry off many different styles. Short medium length hairstyles like the classic cut that’s longer on the top but kept neat overall suits square face shapes best. An added fade on the side can give off a super slick look. This type of layered hair for men is definitely a good shout for this face shape.
Heart & Diamond Face
Faces with heart or diamond proportions are ideal for a medium length hairstyle. Haircuts for medium hair should be softer and less structured like that of the square shape style. Think of less classic cuts and more unkempt, scruffier styles that can be washed and styled on the go without too much thought or fuss. For both face shapes, it’s best to avoid cuts that are too tight to the head in order to balance out the wider cheekbone to forehead length. Growing out facial hair can also help to balance out the face.
Triangular Face
Luckily for those guys who sport a triangular shaped face, the more volume and length, you can get from your hair the better. Men’s medium to long hairstyles are also easier to handle. Hairdos for shoulder length hair suit the triangle shape as well because they help to add depth to an otherwise slender facial structure. That means you can go all out with shaggier styles, perhaps an afro or of course the man bun.
Mid Length Hair
Once you achieve the dream haircut you’ve been waiting so long for, it’s time to get down to maintenance. Having longer hair means taking extra care of your locks. Unlike shorter styles, you can’t expect the same results from a simple wash and go. Medium hairstyles for men demand conditioning and styling, otherwise, you’ll end up with a crazy mass of hair that will be incredibly hard to maintain.
Shampoo & Conditioner
If your shampoo schedule is daily then you need to stop, now. Natural oils from your hair actually help, not hinder the condition of the hair strands. If you’re washing them away daily with a shampoo that contains cleaning agents then your hair will become limp and be more prone to breakage. Over-shampooed hair is dry and weak – two elements long hair can’t live with.
The key is to restore what’s been lost with a good conditioner in order to build back that strength. You can condition daily, but make sure to only shampoo two to three times a week at the most. It comes down to personal preference, as some guys will have oilier hair than others.
How to Style Men’s Medium Length Hair
Switch up the products you use on your hair to achieve the best results for healthy locks. Hair styling products like a pomade, wax and paste are ideal for maintaining flyaway locks on short to medium hairstyles. Once the hair gets a little longer, switch to a grooming cream, serum or leave-in conditioner that will do the same job a normal styling product would, but with the added restoring benefits. These products are specifically designed for medium to long hair lengths in order to keep the hair lightweight.
How to Style Men’s Medium Length Hair
Though some people may roll their eyes at the man bun – the hairstyle of choice for hipsters around the world – the style itself is pretty darn practical for guys who have longer hairstyles. There’s probably nothing worse than finding your hair all over the place in the morning or having it blow around like crazy on a windy day. Consider a hair band or a hair tie to put it back in its place. Just look to some of the world’s most famous male athletes who sport longer hair and you’ll notice they’ll be rocking one of these hair band hair accessories.
Men’s Medium Length Hair Styles
Cool men’s haircuts come in a variety of different lengths, but the best medium styles call on a certain attitude. From Hollywood actors, sports personalities, street style fanatics to the primped and preened guys on reality shows like TOWIE and MIC, medium length hair is back in fashion, in a big way. Get inspired by the dapper locks of these famous faces. See how your wardrobe can make or break a fresh new cut.
Hair Style Inspiration
50’s – Brad Pitt has been through a hairstyle evolution during his time under the Hollywood spotlight. Pitt has gone from a buzzcut to bleached, highlights to a side part and all that’s in between. Now he’s in his 50s, he’s settled for a close-cropped medium length hairstyle. He parts this either central or just to the side, and it’s often tucked behind the ears. Like women of this age, it’s best to maintain the length and condition of the hair, especially if you’re lucky enough to have thick locks.
40’s – Jared Leto’s hair is often the envy of even women who own lustrous locks. His 2013 ombre hair kick-started a trend and was a featured look for both men and women alike. Nowadays, Leto opts for a slightly less dramatic look. He decided to chop off and dye his shoulder-length hair. Instead, he went for a closer crop that he often wears slicked back from the head. This style works in Leto’s favour because he has such a distinctive bone structure. However, this hairstyle is not for the faint-hearted.
30’s – Eddie Redmayne shot to stardom for his Oscar-winning performance for his role as Stephen Hawking in Theory of Everything last year. Along with that image of his Academy Award and royal blue Alexander McQueen suit was a mop of auburn hair. That haircut has carried over into his everyday style which he wears messy and unfussy.
20’s – Douglas Booth owns some of the most enviable locks in the industry. The Burberry model turned actor knows how to style his gravity-defying medium crop with ease. He typically styles it with little product. For guys who can achieve this style, consider growing out your facial hair too to achieve an overall rugged and masculine look.
Medium Length Hair for Men
- You need to be realistic with your hair goals before you start the growing process. Be sure of the direction you want to go in.
- This is the perfect opportunity to get to know your hair type whether it’s straight, wavy, curly or an afro.
- Never revert back to old habitsmake sure you get regular haircuts and look after your locks with proper products.
- Don’t give up! This is really important otherwise you’ll never get there.
- Once you get to your desired length, you need to look after your hair. Invest in the right products.
On That Note
Finding the right medium length hairstyle for you is all about consideration and patience. Learn to maintain your locks during that tricky growth period and you’ll be well on your way to sporting a dapper style that will suit your overall aesthetic. Consider your face shape and what works for you.
