Curls between the collarbone and shoulders are long enough for a claw clip on gym days and short enough to diffuse dry in about twenty minutes. The catch is shape: cut wet, they can spring up and spread into a triangle by afternoon. That’s why most of these medium length curly hairstyles are cut dry, one curl at a time.
1. Curly Shag at Shoulder Length With Crown Layers
Round and square faces get the most from a shoulder length curly shag, since the crown height stretches the face, and medium to thick density keeps the shape standing. Each curl is cut dry so I can see where its spring will settle. Short crown layers bring lift and lengthen toward the shoulders with the ends left full. Styling is a curl cream and a low-heat diffuse. Eight weeks between trims.
2. Internal-Layered Collarbone Curly Cut
Medium density curls on an oval, round or heart shaped face suit the collarbone cut with internal layers, which is my most-recommended option among medium length curly hairstyles. Dry hair gets the perimeter first, then long layers slide through the inside so the curls stack rather than spread into a triangle. Styling starts on soaking wet hair: leave-in, gel, scrunch, diffuse. Ten weeks between trims.
3. Curtain-Fringe Curly Lob
Oval and long faces wear curtain bangs on a curly lob well. Each curl is stretched to full length and cut dry so the bangs land at the cheekbone once they spring back, with the sides left longer to melt into the face framing, and the lob itself sits one length at the collarbone. Styling is a diffuse with one small round brush pass at the root of the bangs. Five weeks between bang trims.
4. Fine-Hair Medium Curly Haircut
Low density curls on an oval or heart shaped face are the best match for this version of medium curly haircuts, where the weight stays at the ends. There are only two long layers, both below the chin, over a blunt perimeter, cut on dry hair so I never remove too much. Styling is a lightweight mousse instead of cream, diffused upside down for root lift, with no oils. Eight weeks between trims keeps the ends full.
5. Thick-Hair Curly Cut With Long Layers
Any face shape can wear this cut for thick curly hair, because the volume is handled from inside rather than by shortening the outside. Long layers go through the interior on dry hair and the ends are point cut so the shape holds at the shoulders. Styling is a heavy cream raked through wet hair, a gel on top, and a full diffuse until dry. Eight weeks between trims, with interior thinning every second visit.
6. Round-Face Curly Cut With Face Framing
A round face reads longer with face framing that begins below the chin and angles down to the collarbone. The frame is cut on dry hair with the curls stretched only a little so nothing jumps short, and the layers behind it stay long. Medium density suits it. Styling means twisting the front pieces away from the face while wet before diffusing. Eight to ten weeks between trims keeps the frame where it should be.
7. Curly Bob Grown to the Collarbone
Oval and heart shaped faces with medium density suit a curly bob grown out to the collarbone, which holds the rounded bob shape while gaining length. The back of the perimeter is re-cut a little shorter so the curls still curve under, and a few interior layers stop the bottom from getting thick. Styling is an air-dry with curl cream and a light gel. Ten weeks between trims.
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8. Wispy-Fringe Shoulder Length Curly Cut
Heart shaped and oval faces with fine to medium density suit wispy bangs on curly hair. The fringe comes from a shallow section cut dry one curl at a time so it stays sheer, and long layers through the shoulder-length hair keep the bangs from reading heavy. Styling is diffusing the fringe first with your fingers pulling it forward, then the rest. Four weeks between fringe trims.
9. Medium Length Curly Hairstyles With Definition Highlights
Any face shape and any density can wear highlights on medium curly hair as long as the color follows the curl. Long layers go in first, then the outer surface of each ringlet is painted so the curls read deeper with no extra product. The toner should sit cool or warm to match the base. Styling is an air-dry with leave-in and gel, scrunching the cast out once dry. Ten weeks between trims, twelve to fourteen between highlight refreshes.
10. Razor-Finished Curly Lob
Thick, coarse curls on any face shape are the only hair I will put a razor near, and fine curls should skip it. Razoring the last inch of dense hair softens the ends without frizz, so the lob is cut with shears on dry hair and only the perimeter gets the razor. Styling is heavy cream and gel, a diffuse, and a drop of oil to finish. Eight weeks between trims.
11. Over-40 Medium Length Curly Hairstyle
Fine to medium density suits this shape for women over 40, who usually want curls that look intentional rather than big, and it softens an angular face. The shoulder length cut carries long layers from the chin down, a point cut perimeter, and crown layers kept no shorter than the ear. Styling is curl cream on wet hair, a diffuse, and serum to finish. Eight weeks between trims and eight between glosses.
12. Short-Back-Layer Curly Cut
Round faces and thick hair suit short layers through the back, because the crown lifts and the curls have somewhere to go. The back is cut two inches shorter than the perimeter on dry hair, with the front left long to keep the face framed. Styling is a mousse and a diffuse, then shaking the back out with your head tipped forward. Eight weeks between trims, as the short layers grow out first.
13. Collarbone Curls Parted Deep to One Side
Round and square faces suit a deep side part on collarbone curls, since the asymmetry breaks up width and builds volume on one side without extra layering. Long layers are cut to work from either side, with the face frame left a touch longer on the heavy side. Styling is setting the part wet, clipping the heavy side up for five minutes, then diffusing. Ten weeks between trims.
14. Shoulder-Length Curly Butterfly Cut
Oval and long faces with medium to thick density carry butterfly layers on curls: a short top tier to the chin and a long tier underneath, both cut on dry hair so the top curls land at the chin after they spring. Styling is diffusing the top tier first while rolling it back with your fingers, then the length. Eight weeks between trims keeps the two tiers separate.
15. Medium Curly Cut for Minimal Upkeep
Medium density and most face shapes suit the low maintenance medium curly cut, which is one length to the shoulders with three long interior layers and nothing added. Cutting on dry hair lets it dry into shape without help. Styling is leave-in and gel on wet hair, a scrunch, and then hands off until dry. Twelve weeks between trims keeps the line clean.
16. Hairstyles for Medium Length Hair Curly With a Swept Fringe
Round and square faces look softer with the diagonal of side swept bangs on hairstyles for medium length hair curly. The bangs run long, brow to cheekbone, cut on dry hair so they tuck behind the ear on days you skip styling, and they blend into the shortest piece of the face frame. Styling is diffusing the bangs pulled to one side before the rest. Six weeks between fringe trims, ten between length trims.
17. Blunt-Cut Curly Lob
Fine to medium curls that thin at the bottom benefit from a blunt perimeter on a curly lob, and oval and heart shaped faces carry the weight well. The line is cut straight across on dry hair just below the collarbone with no layers, so the ends look dense. Styling is mousse scrunched into wet hair and a diffuse with the ends kept in the bowl. Eight weeks between trims keeps the line crisp.
18. Curly Shag With a Curtain Fringe at Medium Length
Oval and long faces carry the full shape of a curly shag with a curtain fringe, and medium to thick density holds it. The cut is done dry from the fringe outward: fringe at the cheekbone, connected to short crown layers, with the layers dropping to the shoulders. Styling is a mousse and a diffuse with a scrunch at the crown. Five weeks between fringe trims, eight between shag trims.
19. Heart-Face Curly Cut With a Rounded Perimeter
Heart shaped faces with medium density balance out under a curly cut that rounds at the bottom. The perimeter is cut in a soft U on dry hair to add width at the chin where the face narrows, and the layers stay long so the base holds full. Styling is a curl cream and a diffuse, with your hands pushing the ends inward. Eight to ten weeks between trims keeps the U clean.
20. Medium Length Curly Hairstyles Brightened With a Money Piece
Any face shape can take a money piece on medium curls, which brightens the face framing without a full color service. The frame is cut first, below the chin, then the front two sections are lightened two to three shades with the lightener kept off the ends so the curl stays strong. Styling is an air-dry with leave-in and gel, the front twisted back. Ten weeks between trims, twelve to sixteen between color refreshes.
21. Square-Face Shoulder Length Curly Cut With a Soft Fringe
Square faces with medium density soften under a shoulder length curly cut with a soft fringe. The fringe is cut to the brow on dry hair one curl at a time, the perimeter corners are rounded so no hard line meets the jaw, and the layers stay long. Styling is diffusing the fringe with your fingers pulling it down and air-drying the rest. Five weeks between fringe trims, ten between length trims.
22. Nape-Undercut Curly Lob
Thick, coarse curls on any face shape benefit from a hidden undercut at the nape, which removes bulk without changing the outside shape and makes the hair dry faster and lie flatter. A small section under the occipital bone is clippered, and the lob is cut to the collarbone over it. Styling is a cream and gel with a diffuse. Four weeks between undercut buzzes, eight between lob trims.
23. Volume-Crown Medium Curls
Round faces with fine to medium density suit a layered crown on medium curls, because the lift lengthens the face without giving up length. The crown layers are cut between the ear and the occipital bone on dry hair while the perimeter stays heavy. Styling is a root lifting mousse diffused with the head tipped forward, then the crown clipped for five minutes. Eight weeks between trims.
24. Chin-Framed Curly Cut
Oval and heart shaped faces with medium density suit a chin length face frame on collarbone curls, which reads as a bob in front with length behind. The frame is cut on dry hair from the chin, angling down until it meets the perimeter. Styling is twisting the front curls away from the face while wet, then diffusing. Eight weeks between trims keeps the frame at the chin.
25. Medium Curly Haircut With Blended Gray
Women letting their gray grow in, on any face shape, suit gray blending on medium curls, where the cut carries the color. Long layers and a soft perimeter let gray and base mix across the curl instead of sitting in bands, and fine lowlights soften the line. Styling is an air-dry with smoothing cream and gel. Eight weeks between trims, six between glosses to keep the gray bright.
You might also like mid length wavy haircuts and haircuts for fine hair.
Medium curly haircuts between the collarbone and shoulders are long enough for a claw clip on gym days and short enough to diffuse fast. FYI, gray blending on medium curls works for women letting silver grow in, since the cut carries the shape. The blend is what softens the line without a full color.
