20 Hairstyles for Medium-Length Hair Guys Are Wearing Right Now
Twenty hairstyles for medium length hair men can wear from the same cut — brushed back, slicked, tousled, tied up. Real photos, styling steps, product picks.
In this article · 34
- What Counts as a Medium-Length Hairstyle?
- How to Pick a Style for Your Face and Hair Type
- The 20 Medium-Length Hairstyles
- 1. High-Shine Slick Back
- 2. Matte Brushed Back
- 3. Blow-Out Pompadour Styling
- 4. Loose Side-Swept
- 5. Deep Side Part
- 6. Middle-Part Curtains
- 7. Tousled Bedhead
- 8. Half-Up Top Knot
- 9. Full Man-Bun
- 10. Low Nape Ponytail
- 11. Wet-Look Sweep
- 12. Piecey Textured Finish
- 13. Air-Dried Natural Wave
- 14. Diffused Curls
- 15. Straightened Sleek Look
- 16. Blown-Out Vertical Volume
- 17. Undone Messy Sweep
- 18. Slick-Back with Beard Fusion
- 19. Behind-the-Ears Tuck
- 20. Grunge Middle-Part Mess
- How to Ask Your Barber
- Styling & Product Wardrobe
- Matching Your Style to the Week
- Final Word
- FAQ
- What counts as medium-length hair for a guy?
- How is a hairstyle different from a haircut?
- What's the easiest medium-length hairstyle to pull off?
- Do I need to blow-dry medium hair to style it?
- Which medium-length hairstyle suits fine hair?
- How often should I re-cut a medium-length style?
Medium hair earns its keep by giving you options. Between 3 and 6 inches on top and long enough at the sides to touch the ear, the same cut can read office-clean, weekend-loose, or festival-loose depending on what you do with it in the mirror. This guide is not another list of cuts — the twenty entries below are all hairstyles you can build from a single medium-length shape, with face-shape notes and step-by-step styling for each.
What Counts as a Medium-Length Hairstyle?
A medium-length hairstyle is what you do with hair that reaches 3 to 6 inches on top and runs long enough at the sides to touch or cover the ear. Anything shorter locks you into a single silhouette; anything longer starts asking for a hair tie every morning. Medium is the sweet spot where product, drying direction, and part choice change the whole look.
Because we're talking styling rather than cutting, the base can be almost any medium cut — a mod, a flow, a slick-back, a shag. Pair this list with our companion articles on 39 attractive medium-length hairstyles for men, 25 medium-length haircuts, and 30 medium-length haircuts every guy should see when you're deciding on the underlying cut. This piece picks up where those leave off — same length, twenty different ways to wear it.
How to Pick a Style for Your Face and Hair Type
Face shape sets the direction. Round and square faces benefit from height and vertical lift — brush-back, pompadour, quiff. Long and oblong faces want softness across the sides — tucks, curtains, side-sweeps. Oval faces can wear almost anything. Heart and diamond faces balance out with medium volume on top and softer face-framing pieces.
Hair type sets the finish. Fine hair reads best with matte texture and lift at the roots — anything shiny presses it flat. Thick hair likes movement over structure — heavy pomade over-loads it. Curly and coily hair almost always wants the water-based routine: leave-in on soaking-wet hair, scrunch, diffuse. Straight hair takes every finish, so pick based on the mood you're after.
Your styling appetite matters too. A two-minute finger-rake is a different commitment than a ten-minute round-brush blow-out. Pick two or three of the twenty below that fit your morning and your face — that's a full wardrobe from one cut.
The 20 Medium-Length Hairstyles
Below are twenty ways to wear medium hair — from slick and structured to loose and tied up. Each entry covers what the style looks like, who it flatters, and the exact steps to get it in front of the mirror.
1. High-Shine Slick Back
The high-shine slick back is the sharpest thing you can do with medium hair. Every strand pulls back from the hairline into a single glossy sweep, comb tracks visible under the light. It suits oval, oblong, and rectangular faces — long shapes need the smooth back-sweep to read balanced. Straight and lightly wavy hair only; wet-look slicks flatten waves you'd normally want to keep.
Style it wet. Comb a nickel of gloss pomade or a proper water-based pomade through soaking-wet hair from root to tip, then run a fine-tooth comb straight back once. Let it air-dry so the comb tracks lock in. Pairs with a slick-back haircut base and a mid or high fade to keep the sides quiet.
2. Matte Brushed Back
The matte brush-back is the modern answer to the slick back — same direction, none of the shine. Hair sweeps back off the forehead with visible texture and lift at the roots. Works for almost every face shape and every hair type from straight to thick wavy. Fine hair reads especially well because the matte finish doesn't press it flat.
Damp hair, blow dry backward with a paddle brush or your fingers, heat aimed at the roots. Warm a pea of matte clay between your palms and rake it through mid-shaft to tips. Two swipes of a wide-tooth comb to keep it directional, then leave it.
3. Blow-Out Pompadour Styling
The blow-out pompadour is the tallest thing on this list. Front sits high and rounded, tapering to shorter length at the crown, sides pushed cleanly out of the way. Suits round, square, and heart faces because the vertical lift stretches the frame. Straight and slightly wavy hair holds the shape; curls collapse under the height.
Section the front, blow-dry it up and back with a round brush, heat at the roots. Blast cold air to set. Strong-hold matte clay pressed into the base of the front section, then shaped forward with the fingertips. Read quiff hairstyles for men for the closely-related brush-forward variation.
4. Loose Side-Swept
The loose side-swept is the two-minute weekday default. Hair falls to one side of a soft, undefined part, front piece grazing the temple. Flatters every face shape — the sweep can be short and structured for oval faces or long and soft for round ones. Works on straight, wavy, and thick hair alike.
Rough-towel damp hair, rake a fingertip of cream from mid-shaft to tips, then push the top to your dominant side with your palm. No comb. Blow-dry on low with your fingers combing the direction you want. Faster and softer than a full side-part haircut, same visual reference.
5. Deep Side Part
The deep side part is the polished cousin of the loose sweep. A defined part on your dominant side, hair combed across the crown in one clean direction. Suits oval, square, and rectangular faces. Fine to medium straight hair takes the part cleanest — thick or curly hair fights it.
Blow-dry damp hair across your natural part with a small round brush, heat aimed along the part line so the roots stand up. Comb a fingertip of medium-hold pomade or cream from the part outward in one pass. Don't touch it again — the second pass breaks the line.
6. Middle-Part Curtains
Middle-part curtains sweep both halves of the top away from a central part, framing the forehead like a pair of drapes. Best on oval, diamond, and heart faces — the balanced split flatters narrow or angular foreheads. Straight and lightly wavy hair only.
Comb damp hair to a hard center part with the end of a rat-tail comb. Blow-dry each side outward with a small round brush, catching air under the roots so the curtain lifts before it falls. Fingertip of cream through the ends only. The middle-part haircut for men piece covers the cut this sits on.
7. Tousled Bedhead
Tousled bedhead is calculated chaos. No defined part, no combed direction, just visible pieces going every way. Works on every face shape, every hair type. Especially good on wavy hair — the natural bend does most of the work.
Mist sea-salt spray through damp hair, scrunch upward from the ends toward the scalp, then rough-dry with your fingers under the roots. A fingertip of matte paste worked backward, then forward, then wherever your hands land. Aim for volume and movement, not placement. Pair with the messy hairstyles for men roundup for cut ideas that hold this finish.
8. Half-Up Top Knot
The half-up top knot pulls the front and top section back into a small knot at the crown, leaving the back and sides down. Suits oval, square, and rectangular faces. Needs 5 to 6 inches on top so the section can gather cleanly.
Comb the front and top back with damp hair, gather at the crown, twist twice, and secure with a small fabric elastic. Pull two pieces loose at the temples for softness. Fingertip of cream through the down section so it sits smooth against the knot.
9. Full Man-Bun
The full man-bun gathers everything from front to back into one low or mid bun. Needs the full 6 inches on top plus long sides to sit flat without loose pieces. Best for oval and rectangular faces — round faces disappear under a low bun.
Damp hair, cream through the lengths for smoothness, brush everything back from the hairline to a low or mid gather. Twist once, wrap around the base, secure with an elastic. Tuck the tail under. Pull a couple of pieces loose at the front if the finish reads too severe.
10. Low Nape Ponytail
The low nape ponytail is the professional version of long hair. Everything gathers at the base of the skull and ties off; no volume, no fuss. Works on almost every face shape. Straight, wavy, and thick hair all sit well.
Cream through damp hair from root to tip, comb straight back with a wide-tooth, gather at the nape, secure with a fabric band — never a rubber elastic; it snaps ends. Smooth flyaways with a wet toothbrush at the hairline. Reads clean-shaven or beard.
11. Wet-Look Sweep
The wet-look sweep is the club version of the slick back — same direction, more shine, less structure. Hair looks like you stepped out of the shower and forgot to dry it. Best on oval and square faces. Straight and lightly wavy hair only.
Work strong-hold gel or a shine-forward pomade through soaking-wet hair from root to tip. Rake back with your fingers — no comb — leaving finger tracks. Do not blow-dry. Let it air-dry the rest of the way so the glossy finish reads intentional.
12. Piecey Textured Finish
The piecey textured finish separates the hair into visible, defined pieces from crown to ends. No smooth surface anywhere. Suits oval, square, and heart faces. Straight, wavy, and thick hair all separate well; fine hair needs help from texture powder at the roots.
Rough-dry damp hair with your fingers. Warm a pea of matte clay between your palms, then pinch small sections from mid-shaft to tips — twist between the fingertips to define each piece. Sea-salt spray to hold. Read the textured haircuts for men piece for cuts that carry this finish natively.
13. Air-Dried Natural Wave
The air-dried natural wave is the anti-styling style. No heat, minimal product, just the shape your hair takes on its own. Best on wavy hair — 2A to 2C — where the natural bend does the work. Suits every face shape.
Leave-in conditioner or a light cream through soaking-wet hair. Scrunch upward from the ends. Let it air-dry the rest of the way — do not touch it while drying or the wave breaks. Once dry, break up any flat pieces with your fingertips.
14. Diffused Curls
Diffused curls define and lift the natural curl pattern without the frizz air-drying leaves. Works for 3A through 3C curl types on medium hair. Suits round, oval, and heart faces — the rounded curl shape balances a narrow chin.
Curl cream or a light curl-defining gel worked into soaking-wet hair from root to tip. Cup sections into the diffuser bowl, low heat, low speed, head tipped forward for lift at the roots. Do not touch the curls while drying. Once fully dry, scrunch out the crunch with a fingertip of oil. Our curly hairstyles for men guide covers curl-specific cutting to pair with this styling.
15. Straightened Sleek Look
The straightened sleek look presses medium hair into pin-straight sheets that fall against the head. High-shine, minimal volume. Best on oval, oblong, and square faces. Works on wavy and slightly curly hair where straightening reveals a length you don't see when the hair is textured.
Heat-protectant spray through damp hair. Blow-dry fully straight with a paddle brush, then work a flat iron on medium heat through small sections from mid-shaft to tips. Do not press at the roots. Finish with a tiny drop of hair oil raked through the ends.
16. Blown-Out Vertical Volume
The blown-out vertical volume style pushes the entire top of the head straight up rather than back or forward. Reads dramatic, editorial. Suits round, square, and heart faces because the vertical stretch elongates the frame. Straight to slightly wavy hair only.
Damp hair, blow-dry straight up with a paddle brush, heat aimed under the roots, moving from front to back. Blast cold air to lock. Strong-hold matte clay pressed into the roots — never through the lengths. Sea-salt spray for grit that keeps the vertical direction.
17. Undone Messy Sweep
The undone messy sweep is directional chaos — the top swept loosely to one side but with visible movement, piecey ends, and no clean part. Works on every face shape. Wavy and thick hair carry it best.
Sea-salt spray through damp hair. Rough-dry with a towel, then blow-dry to your dominant side with fingers only — no brush. Warm a fingertip of matte paste, work backward against the sweep direction, then forward with the sweep. The two passes create movement without collapsing the direction.
18. Slick-Back with Beard Fusion
The beard-fused slick-back leaves the sides longer so the hair blends visually into a shaped medium beard. No hard fade line, no disconnection. Suits oval, oblong, and square faces. Works on straight and lightly wavy hair; the whole look wants smoothness top to bottom.
Cream through damp hair from root to tip, comb everything straight back in one clean sweep including the sideburns. Brush the beard back and up with a boar-bristle brush and a fingertip of beard oil, matching the direction of the hair. Should read as one continuous shape from crown to chin.
19. Behind-the-Ears Tuck
The behind-the-ears tuck lets the medium length sit naturally with the sides pulled back and hooked behind each ear. Face is fully framed, ears are visible, no product visible. Suits oval, square, and heart faces. Straight and wavy hair holds the tuck; tight curls bounce out.
Leave-in conditioner through damp hair, blow-dry with fingers combing back from the face. Once fully dry, gather each side and tuck behind the ear one at a time. A whisper of cream on the ends only. Pair with cuts from the layered mens shaggy hairstyles family for length that tucks cleanly.
20. Grunge Middle-Part Mess
The grunge middle-part mess is the Kurt Cobain reference — a soft center part with the halves falling in front of the ears, piecey and slightly greasy-looking on purpose. Best on oval, diamond, and heart faces. Wavy and straight hair only; curls read as a completely different style with this same setup.
Comb damp hair to a soft center part with your fingers — no rat-tail comb, no sharp line. Rough-dry with your hands, then work matte paste from mid-shaft through the ends. Pull small pieces forward in front of the ears. If the roots read too clean, sprinkle texture powder and rub in. Sits well with a modern mullet haircut or a shag base.
How to Ask Your Barber
Before you can style medium hair twenty different ways, you need the cut that lets you. Bring photos of the styles you want to wear most, not just of the cut you're asking for — the barber picks the shape that carries all of them.
- State the length you want on top in inches — 4 inches, 5 inches, 6 inches — so there's no guessing.
- Show the side treatment: scissor blend, low taper, low fade, or mid fade. Skip anything higher than mid if you want to tie the hair back later.
- Ask for point-cut or razored ends so the length falls with movement instead of a blunt shelf.
- Say whether you want a fringe. A curtain fringe supports middle-part, tuck, and messy looks; no fringe supports slick and brush-back looks better.
- Note your styling routine — matte and textured, slick and shiny, or air-dry-and-go. Your barber will layer accordingly.
- Confirm the length at the sideburns and nape. Too short and the beard-fusion and low-tuck looks won't work.
- Book the next appointment on the way out — five to six weeks keeps the shape sharp enough to style.
Styling & Product Wardrobe
Twenty hairstyles do not require twenty products. Five categories cover every look on this list.
- Matte clay for brush-back, quiff, textured, blown-out, and piecey finishes. Warm between the palms first — cold clay tears the hair.
- Water-based pomade for slick-back, side part, wet-look, beard-fusion, and low-pony finishes. Rinses out in one shampoo.
- Cream for tucks, curtains, side-sweeps, air-dry, and grunge finishes. Never causes crunch, never over-holds.
- Sea-salt spray for tousled, undone, messy, and diffused finishes. The pre-styling foundation for anything that wants texture.
- Texture powder for root lift on fine or flat hair. One shake at the roots, rub in with the fingertips, forget it exists until you shower.
The technique matters more than the tub. For volume-forward styles, work product from mid-shaft to tips and blow-dry against the direction you want. For slick styles, saturate the hair while it's still wet and let it air-dry. For textured styles, layer sea-salt spray under whatever comes second. Wash out product before bed with a clarifying shampoo once a week to keep the roots clean.
Matching Your Style to the Week
Medium hair earns its keep by shifting to fit the day. A deep side part or a slick-back reads for a Monday meeting; a matte brush-back or a textured piecey finish reads for a Wednesday coffee shop; a top-knot, a bun, or a tousled sweep reads for a Friday out. You don't need to like all twenty — pick three you can execute confidently, and rotate through the rest a couple of times a year.
Pair the shortest side treatment you want with the softest styling routine you'll actually keep up. If you want to slick it back on some days and tie it up on others, you need enough length at the sideburns and nape for both — a low taper, not a mid or high fade. If you're only ever going to matte-brush and tousle, a scissor-tapered side gives you the softest daily wear.
Read our companion pieces on 39 medium-length hairstyles for men, 25 medium-length haircuts, and 30 medium-length haircuts every guy should see for the cut side of the equation. Then swing back here to work out how to wear it. For the closely related base cuts, our flow haircut, fringe haircuts for men, and surfer hairstyle guides cover the shapes that carry these finishes most naturally. If you want the fade side of the conversation, start with the mid fade or low taper fade.
Final Word
Medium hair is a wardrobe, not a uniform. The cut sets the shape; the styling is where the personality lives. If you've been wearing the same slick-back or the same tousled sweep for two years, pull one of the other eighteen off this list next Sunday and see what changes. The right hairstyle for medium-length hair men are looking for right now isn't a single silhouette — it's whichever of these twenty fits the day.
FAQ
What counts as medium-length hair for a guy?
Anywhere from 3 to 6 inches on top and long enough at the sides to cover the ear or brush against the collar. It's the shortest length that still lets you tie hair back, part it, or push it into shape without gel doing all the work.
How is a hairstyle different from a haircut?
The haircut is the shape the barber leaves in the mirror — the length, layers, and where the sides sit. The hairstyle is what you do with that shape at home. One medium-length cut can be slicked, brushed, tousled, or tied up on different days.
What's the easiest medium-length hairstyle to pull off?
A loose side-swept or a tousled air-dry with a fingertip of cream. Both take under two minutes, forgive uneven drying, and read intentional even when they aren't. Sea-salt spray on damp hair is the shortcut that makes either one work.
Do I need to blow-dry medium hair to style it?
Only for volume-forward looks — quiff, pompadour, brush-back, blow-out. Slick styles set with pomade and a comb; tousled and natural styles just need damp product and finger direction. Blow-drying is a tool, not a rule.
Which medium-length hairstyle suits fine hair?
Anything with lift at the roots — matte brush-back, textured quiff, messy sweep. Skip wet-look slicks and low tucks; both press the hair to the scalp and make thin patches show. Texture powder at the roots buys you visible density.
How often should I re-cut a medium-length style?
Every five to six weeks. Sooner and you lose the length that makes the style work; later and the shape softens past the point where product can fix it. Book on a cycle so the cut is fresh going into the weekend, not into a Monday meeting.
