27 Medium Length Hairstyles with Layers 2026

It may be really annoying when layers in medium-length hair flip out, sit in the wrong spot, or make your hair look thinner than it is.

You want your hair to move and have shape, but you don’t want a cut that makes it tougher to style.

In this article, I will show you the ideal layer cut for medium hair and 27 real layered hairstyle ideas you can use to the right away.

How Can Medium Layers Make Hair Look Thicker?

Medium layers make hair look fuller by taking away the weight that pulls it down. This makes the shape rise right away and look thicker.

You talk about how soft, blended layers make the hair look more three-dimensional by adding movement to the head and sides.

The base is a little blunt, which maintains the ends looking robust, while the layers above provide body without leaving gaps.

You also tell readers to use light texture items to separate the layers and make the volume stand out.

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Do layers make you look younger or older?

When they elevate your face, layers might make you look younger. Soft face-framing layers let your features stand out, provide movement to your cheeks.

And lighten your jawline, which makes you look younger. But rough or jagged layers might make your hair look old or uneven instead. 

To look younger, keep the layers delicate, blended, and commencing about the cheekbones or collarbone instead of being overly short toward the head.

Soft Face Layers

You’ll notice how gently the layers fall around the cheeks here, and that’s what makes this cut so easy to wear on medium hair. 

The lengthy face frame makes your features stand out without making the ends look less full.

For the same light finish, ask your stylist for long blended layers and a soft front piece. Then, blow-dry the face frame away from your face.

Curtain Layer Flow

Fresh movement starts right at the fringe here, where the curtain pieces open the face and slide into soft, long layers. 

The cut works for medium-length hair that requires more volume in the front but not in the back.

To get this effortless, curved look, ask your stylist for a curtain bang that merges into layers at cheek level. 

Tousled Layer Shag

Lift comes from the way the mid-length layers break up the fullness, giving the cut a loose, effortless texture that works well on medium hair. 

This shag shape is good for anyone who wants volume without having to style their hair a lot and tell your stylist you want delicate, choppy layers through the crown.

Then, to keep the movement looking lived-in and natural all day, scrunch a light mousse into damp hair.

Layered Blowout Ends

Fullness builds through the mid-section here because the layers stack neatly before flipping into a soft blowout shape. 

This cut is good for medium hair that feels heavy at the ends but yet needs to be smooth and polished.

After that, use a round brush to curl the ends under and let them cool so the layers stay bouncy and lifted all day.

Feathered Curtain Sweep

Soft movement starts right at the fringe here, where the long curtain pieces curve into feathered mid-length layers. 

This shape works well for medium-length hair that needs volume in the front but not in the bottom. 

Then, use a round brush to pull the front parts away from your face so the ends fall into this light, floating finish.

Soft Flip Layers

Fresh movement shows up right around the cheek area, where the layers break gently before falling into a smooth flip at the ends. 

The cut is good for medium-length hair that needs a little lift without losing weight. Get lengthy layers that mix softly through the middle lengths from your stylist. 

Then, use a round brush on the lower regions to let the ends settle into this light, flicked form.

Wavy Layer Lift

Volume builds naturally here because the waves fall around light, textured layers that open the shape without making it too big.

This cut works nicely for medium hair that already has movement and needs a bit of definition.

Tell your stylist that you want smooth, long layers that begin near the jaw, then use a diffuser.

Curtain Flip Layers

Bounce shows up right where the curtain pieces open the face, letting the ends flip into a clean, rounded shape. 

This style is great for medium-length hair that has to be soft about the cheeks but not lose volume near the bottom.

Then, use a round brush on the lowest parts to set the flips so they keep a smooth, elevated shape.

Volumized Medium Layers

Lift starts near the crown here, giving the whole cut a fuller outline before the layers fall into soft, rounded bends. 

If you have medium-length hair that seems flat on top but you want it to be thicker at the ends, this style works well.

Tell your stylist you want long, blended layers with some height at the roots. Then use a big round brush to establish the curves so the layers stay smooth and full.

Textured Face Frame

Soft bends near the front give the layers a relaxed shape, letting the face frame stand out without making the cut feel too styled.

This kind of texture is good for medium-length hair that needs definition but yet has a natural flow.

For a casual, easy look, ask your stylist for light, jaw-level layers and a soft front piece. Then, use loose wand bends to assist the layers fall into place.

Side Sweep Layers

Strong lift appears as the front section rises into a soft sweep, giving the whole cut a bright, open shape. 

This style is good for medium-length hair if you want height near the face without losing volume at the ends.

Tell your stylist to give you long, angled layers and a side part. Then, use a round brush to set the front so that the sweep keeps its polished curve.

Full Flip Layers

Lift shows up right at the ends here, where the layers fan out into a wide, airy flip that brightens the whole cut. 

This style is great for medium-length hair that requires some shaping but not too much thickness.

Then, use a big round brush on the lower parts to set the flips so they stay smooth and open all day.

Soft Fringe Layers

The sunlight here makes the layered ends look lighter and more defined by catching the fringe.

This cut is great for medium-length hair that needs some mobility in the front but yet needs fuller ends to be balanced.

Tell your hairdresser to give you a wispy fringe and long layers that softly slope toward your face.

Soft Flow Layers

Gentle movement starts near the cheek area, giving the front a light frame while the rest of the length stays smooth and full. 

This style works well for medium-length hair that requires a little shine but not a lot of styling.

Tell your hairdresser you want long layers that terminate just above your shoulders and transition softly toward your face. 

Lifted Blowout Layers

Bright height shows up near the fringe area, where the layers open the face before sweeping into fuller bends at the ends.

Medium hair pairs well with this shape when you want bounce without losing thickness.

Ask your stylist for long layers that start around the cheekbones, then set the front and mid-lengths with a round brush.

Wavy Curtain Blend

Soft bends sit naturally around the face here, letting the curtain fringe ease into loose, textured layers. 

This style works nicely with medium-length hair that needs to move around without losing its relaxed shape. Tell your stylist you want long, blended layers with a curtain bang. 

Then, use a diffuser or wide-barrel wand to make the waves more defined so that the layers fall into this open, balanced shape.

Light Feather Frame

Soft curves form around the jaw here, creating a gentle frame while keeping the length sleek and balanced. 

This method works well for medium-length hair that needs light movement instead of hefty layers.

Then, use a little round brush on the front to help the layers fall into this clean, feathery shape.

Soft Fringe Layers

Gentle lift begins near the cheek line, where the fringe melts into long, airy layers that keep the style light.

This style works well for medium-length hair if you want it to be soft without losing volume throughout the length.

Then, use a small round brush to blow-dry the front to assist the pieces fall into this smooth, floating form.

Layered Face Sweep

Soft lift starts near the cheek line here, created by the way the layered fringe flows into a fuller shape through the mid-section. 

This style works nicely for medium-length hair when you want to add movement without losing shine.

Then, use a round brush to direct the front parts so that the layers fit into this smooth, sweeping shape.

Curtain Swoop Layers

Smooth height builds along the mid-section here, helped by a long curtain fringe that opens the face before the layers shift into wide, polished bends. 

This style looks good on medium-length hair when you want to add volume without losing thickness at the ends.

Then, use a round brush to set the front so that the swoop keeps its soft, curved shape.

Shagged Curtain Layers

Soft height forms at the top here, created by broken-up layers that give the cut a relaxed, messy texture. 

This style looks good on medium-length hair when you want movement that doesn’t look overly polished.

Then, squeeze a light style cream into damp hair to make the pieces fall into this loose, undone shape.

Flipped Curtain Layers

Lift rises up along the edge line here, thanks to long curtain pieces that open the front before the layers sweep into large, structured flips.

This style looks best on hair that is medium-length and has some bounce but yet has a gentle shape down the length.

Then, use a round brush on the bottom parts to fix the flips so they stay in this bold, bouncy form.

Rounded Layer Finish

Soft bends at the mid-lengths that make the hair look clean and round while keeping the front portions light.

This style works nicely with medium-length hair when you want mobility but still want a smooth contour.

Then, use a round brush on the bottom parts to help the ends settle into this neat, polished curve.

Soft Face-Split Layers

Gentle lift forms near the cheek line here, helped by long layers that fall apart just enough to frame the face without looking heavy. 

When you want mobility that looks natural and is easy to handle, medium-length hair works well with this style.

Then, use a medium round brush to shape the front so the parts float and separate in a relaxed, airy fashion.

Soft Curled Layers

Fresh lift comes instantly from the airy curls sitting at the ends of this medium cut.

The lengthy curtain fringe blends in with the layers, which makes the whole style look fuller without making it heavier.

This is the same bounce you get from blow-drying with a round brush. To have the tips flick out naturally, roll the brush up at the tips.

Soft Wavy Layers

Loose bends give this medium cut a relaxed, lived-in feel that works especially well when you want movement without heavy styling. 

The soft layers sit softly through the middle lengths, which makes the waves fall in a natural way instead of clumping together.

You can simply mimic this flow by quickly curling each part of hair away from your face with a big-barrel curling iron.

Feathered Face Layers

This cut has a polished bounce thanks to light, airy flicks. It’s great for when you want softness without losing length.

The ends of the layers are carved to flip out, which makes the style look more elevated and less flat.

You can simply get this form back by using a round brush and a fast blow-dry. Just roll each part away from your face to make that perfect curve.

FAQs

Do layers work on every hair type?

Layers look good on most medium-length hair types, but the way they look vary depending on the texture.

Fine hair moves and shapes better, while thick hair gets lighter and simpler to style.

Curly or wavy hair also looks better, but the stylist should cut layers based on the curl pattern to keep the volume even.

How often should layered medium hair be trimmed?

Every 8 to 12 weeks, a trim keeps layered cuts looking new. It keeps the shape of your hair from breaking up.

And keeps the lift you receive from the layers, especially around your face.