Collarbone length hair is the trickiest length to pin for an event, because there’s enough to twist and nothing left over to hide a mistake. Most of the formal hairstyles for medium length hair I do start with texture spray, a one inch iron and a handful of U pins, and the good ones still look settled at midnight.
1. The Smooth-Front Low Chignon
If your face is oval or long and your density medium, the low chignon is where I begin with formal hairstyles for medium length hair, since collarbone length twists with nothing to spare. Smoothing cream and a paddle brush go in during the blow-dry; after that I pull a ponytail low at the nape, twist it into a knot and hold it with U pins. The cut that keeps it tightest is a long layered one. Firm spray on top and twelve hours of wear follow.
2. Face-Framing Textured Low Bun
Clients with round or square faces and medium to thick density who want something soft from their hairstyles for medium length hair updo get a textured low bun from me. Curls come first with a one inch iron, then dry texture spray, then a loose bun at the nape pinned in sections, and finally two chin length pieces tugged out around the face. Flexible spray keeps it going for the whole evening.
3. Curled Half Up Twist
Oval and heart shaped faces with fine to medium density do well in the half up twist, which raises the crown while the length stays visible. A one and a quarter inch iron does the curling; then one section from each temple twists back and the two pin together at the occipital bone before I lightly tease the crown. Collarbone length with long layers is the cut I want under it. Light spray gives eight hours.
4. Sleek Wrapped Low Ponytail
Straight hair of any density on an oval or long face takes the sleek low ponytail, the quickest formal style there is for shoulder length hair. After a flat iron pass I brush back with a boar bristle brush and smoothing cream, fasten at the nape, then wind a half inch section of hair over the elastic and pin it beneath. Blunt ends read fuller here. Shine spray finishes.
5. Medium-Hair French Twist
Oval and long faces with medium density carry a French twist, and on medium length hair it only works over a textured base, so teasing the crown and spraying dry texture spray comes first. From there the hair goes to one side of the back, twists upward and gets bobby pins along the seam, ends tucked out of sight inside. One length cuts hold it longest. Firm spray and it lasts the evening.
6. Tucked Braided Crown Updo
Round and oval faces with medium to thick density suit the braided crown, which collarbone length hair manages once the back is tucked. From a center part I Dutch braid each side from hairline to nape, cross the two at the back, pin them and tuck the loose ends underneath. Layers shorter than the chin tend to escape, so I keep them longer. Flexible spray sets it.
7. Formal Soft Curled Blowout
Anyone with medium density and any face shape can wear the soft curled blowout, the down style I get asked for most, which proves formal hair does not have to go up. It sits best on a long layered medium cut. After a blow-dry with a large round brush I wand-curl one and a half inch sections away from the face, let them cool and brush them out with a boar bristle brush. Shine spray to finish, and six hours of hold.
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8. Side-Part Twisted Low Updo
Round and square faces with fine to medium density get asymmetry from the twisted low updo on a deep side part, done on shoulder length hair. The part sits on the heavy side and gets smoothed with cream; then two inch sections across the back twist toward the nape and I pin as I go until a low roll builds. Soft layered cuts give the twists grip. Hold is ten hours.
9. Loose Curl Messy Bun
Oval and heart shaped faces with medium to thick density suit the messy bun, which on medium hair is a mess I control. Curls from a one inch iron and a hit of texture spray come first, then a high ponytail, the length wound loosely around the base and pieces pinned at random so curls escape. Long layers are useful because the short bits fall out by design. Flexible spray, and two face pieces stay down.
10. Nape Chignon for Women Over 50
Women over 50 with shoulder length hair, an oval or round face and fine to medium density do well in a classic chignon at the nape. After a smooth blow-dry and a slight tease at the crown for height, the hair gathers at the nape, rolls under and pins flat. One length cuts with soft layers support the roll. Firm spray finishes it, and it looks no different at midnight than it did at six.
11. Straight-End Half Up Bouffant
Round and long faces with fine to medium density suit the half up bouffant, which lifts the crown on shoulder length hair and leaves the ends straight. Flat ironing comes first; then the crown section gets teased in three layers, the top smoothed with a boar bristle brush, and the crown section pinned at the back under the lift. Blunt perimeters keep the ends clean. Firm spray holds it.
12. Braided Side Bun, Worn Loose
Oval and heart shaped faces with medium to thick density suit the loose braided side bun, which moves all of medium hair to one side. Curled hair gets braided loosely over one shoulder, the braid pulled apart for width, then coiled into a bun behind the ear and pinned. Chin length layers or longer stay in the braid. Flexible spray gives six to eight hours.
13. Polished Center Part Low Bun
Straight hair of any density on an oval or long face suits the sleek center part low bun, the most polished of the medium length updo options. Flat ironed hair gets a dead center part, then smoothing cream and gel at the hairline, a brush back, a low ponytail and a tight wrapped bun. On a blunt cut there are no flyaways at all. Shine spray finishes.
14. Pin Curl Set, Vintage Style
Oval and heart shaped faces with fine to medium density suit the vintage pin curl set, which gives shoulder length hair structured waves that hold all night. Damp hair gets setting lotion and one inch pin curls, dries under a hood or with a diffuser, then comes down and gets brushed into waves with a boar bristle brush, one side pinned behind the ear. One length cuts keep the waves even.
15. Pearl Pin Twisted Half Up
Oval and round faces with fine to medium density suit the twisted half up with pearl pins, a bridesmaid regular on medium hair. Curls from a one inch iron come first; then a section above each ear twists back, the two pin together, and three pearl pins go in along the twist. Long layers keep the twist soft. Light spray only, so the curls stay loose.
16. Low Rolled Updo With Height at the Crown
Round and square faces with medium density suit the low rolled updo with crown volume, and the height is what balances a round face. The crown gets teased in sections and smoothed over; the length gathers at the nape, rolls under over two fingers and pins flat against the head. Soft layered cuts hold the roll better than blunt ones. Firm spray and it lasts a full evening.
17. Mini Braid Boho Half Up
Oval and heart shaped faces with medium density suit the boho half up, which uses two mini braids on medium length hair. Wand curls go in first; then a thin three strand braid at each temple pulls back, the pair pin together, and each braid gets loosened a touch. Long layers blend into the curls. Dry texture spray finishes, not a firm hold.
18. Low Bun Paired With Side Swept Bangs
Round and square faces with fine to medium density suit the elegant low bun with side swept bangs, because the bangs cut a diagonal across the face, and the style keeps a fringe in a formal look. The bangs blow-dry to the side with a flat brush; the rest goes into a low ponytail behind one ear, twists into a bun and pins. Light spray for the bangs, firm spray for the bun.
19. Teased Crown Curled Ponytail
Oval and long faces with medium to thick density suit the curled ponytail with a teased crown, which is where thick medium hair goes for formal events. One inch iron curls and a teased crown come first; then a mid height ponytail, the base wrapped in a section of hair and pinned, and the curls separated by hand. Long layered cuts keep the tail full. Flexible spray sets it.
20. Side Swept Smooth Waves
Oval and heart shaped faces with fine to medium density suit side swept waves, the formal down style for a one length medium cut. One inch sections curl away from the face with an iron, cool, and get brushed through before the whole lot sweeps over one shoulder and pins behind the opposite ear. Blunt ends keep the waves full. Shine spray finishes.
21. Fine-Hair Knotted Updo
Oval and round faces with low density suit the knotted updo, and fine medium hair holds it better than a bun since knots grip where buns slide. Dry texture spray goes in; the back splits into three sections, each ties into a loose knot against the head and pins, and the ends tuck under. Soft layered cuts give the knots texture. Firm spray and it lasts all evening.
22. Low Bun Fed by a Dutch Braid
Oval and long faces with medium to thick density suit the Dutch braid into a low bun, the hairstyles for medium length hair updo style I hand to wedding guests because dancing cannot shake it. A Dutch braid runs from the hairline down the center to the nape; the braid and the remaining hair go into a ponytail, coil into a bun and pin. Chin length layers or longer stay in the braid. Flexible spray finishes.
23. Hollywood Waves on a Medium Cut
Oval and heart shaped faces with medium density suit Hollywood waves, which demand a deep side part and a one length cut. One inch sections set with an iron all in the same direction, each curl clipped to cool, then released and brushed with a boar bristle brush before the ridges get clipped for five minutes. Shine spray plus firm hold finishes it, and the ridges survive the night.
24. Face-Framed Low Twisted Bun
Round and square faces with medium density suit the low twisted bun with face framing curls, the soft updo for a long layered medium cut, because the front pieces frame the jaw. Curled hair gathers at the nape, twists into a bun and pins; then the chin length face frame comes loose and gets curled a second time. Flexible spray sets it.
25. Half Up Top Knot With Waves Below
Oval and long faces with medium density suit the half up top knot, which gives medium hair crown height over loose waves. Wand curls first; then the top sections off from temple to temple, twists into a small knot at the crown and pins, and the waves get a shake. Long layers keep the lower waves soft. Dry texture spray finishes instead of a firm hold.
Pair this with haircuts for long hair straight and curtain bangs straight hair.
Formal hairstyles for medium length hair are tricky because collarbone length is just long enough to twist and just short enough to slip. FYI, a half-up top knot gives medium hair crown height on oval and long faces. The knot is what keeps the style from collapsing through the event.
