Medium Length Hairstyles For Guys & Haircut Ideas (Trends & Tips)

Afraid of rocking a medium-length hairstyle for men? Think it’s a little too high maintenance for your taste? Think again. Mid-length haircuts are extremely versatile. With medium-length hair, it’s easy to transition smoothly from a stay-at-home-and-play-Nintendo style to a dinner-date-worthy hairdo that your girlfriend won’t hate. If you’re considering growing your hair out, you’l be thankful for this list of trends and tips.

Popular Medium Length Hairstyles For Men

The Smooth Drifter

If you want to relax for a fun night out but also want to maintain your professional appeal, this is the perfect hairstyle for you. With this look, you can drift straight from the workplace to the bar to grab some booze with your buddies. This style will look especially great if your hair has a bend or is a bit wavy. The best thing about this look is that most men with different face shapes can pull it off.

1. Style your hair while it’s still damp from washing.
2. Place a dime-sized quantity of styling gel on the palm of your hands, rub, and then run through your medium-length mane.
3. Pull the front part of your hair upward using your fingers.
4. Next, smooth your hair over to the side and to the back.
5. Leave your hair for natural air-drying.

Tips: Choose a medium hold sculpting gel that will help maintain the shape without making it look too hard. If the gel brand that you’re using is extra sticky but you want a lesser hold, apply it while your hair is still wet. The excess water will help relax the hold. On the other hand, if you prefer a stronger hold, use a hair dryer after applying the gel.

The TGIF Look

This hairstyle is great if you’re going for a casual, hassle-free hairdo that won’t make you look like you’re homeless. The ultimate secret to an effortless look is to ask your barber or stylist for a strong, solid medium-length haircut that will maintain its shape without the use of styling products. This hairstyle looks good on any face shape. It works best if your tresses have some naturally rich texture.

1. Style your hair while it’s still wet.
2. Squirt a nickel-sized volume of styling cream onto your palm, rub, and run through your hair.
3. Scrunch your hair then leave it to air dry.

Tip: Choose a styling cream brand that adds a slight sheen and focuses on enhancing your hair’s natural texture instead of providing a strong hold. Opt for a styling product that does not require heat.

The Modern Guy

Are you someone who has to look great anytime and anywhere you go? If yes, then this is the medium-length hairstyle that you’re looking for. This style also works well with almost all face shapes and hair types.

1. Style your hair when it’s completely dry.
2. Apply a styling product like grooming cream through the length of your mane.
3. Then, pick out some strands here and there. Twist them with your fingers.
4. As for the rest of your hair, pull them with your fingers to create texture.
5. Leave your hair to air dry naturally.

Tip: If you want to try this look, choose a hair cream that provides medium hold.

All Dressed-Up and Disheveled

This medium-length hairstyle is perfect if you want an I-don’t-give-a-damn look when the truth is you really do care what people think. This style works well on straight hair. If your face is heart-shaped or oval-shaped, this hairstyle will look impressive on you.

• Wash and towel dry your hair.
• Apply a quarter-sized quantity of styling cream into your hair.
• To produce a random textured look, get a blow-dryer and use it while styling your tresses from side to side. The hairdryer will help in holding and locking in the direction of your hair.

Tip: Use a medium hold styling cream for this style. Try a pomade, which provides both firmness and flexibility.

Not Quite a Mohawk

If you’re looking for something cool but don’t want to rub your bosses the wrong way, go for a faux hawk. This style works on a medium-length haircut with a visibly long top and shorter sides. It works best on most face shapes except for oval and egg-shaped. A fohawk makes the latter look as though the head is super pointy so unless you want to look like Dan Aykroyd circa 1993 in Coneheads, stay away from this hairdo. Also, if your face shape is naturally long, it may end up looking longer. You get greater results if your hair is naturally coarse or at least has medium texture.

• Put a small amount of hair styling product into your hair. Make sure that you spread it evenly.
• Then, carefully style the upper part of your hair upwards.
• Afterwards, smooth out the sides and flatten it down against the shape of your head.

Tip: Choose a texturizing hair product with a strong hold and a matte finish. If your hair is thin, look for a styling product that will bulk it up.

Medium-length Hairstyles for When You’re Trying to Get a Promotion

The Distinguished Dude

If you want to be someone, you have to style your hair like you’re already way up in the corporate ladder. This handsome hairdo is worn with the hair smoothed back behind the ears. This means, you have to grow your hair a few centimeters longer. This aristocratic-looking hairstyle will look fantastic on oval, square, and heart-shaped faces.

1. First, do your shampooing and conditioning. Towel dry your tresses.
2. Apply a nickel-sized volume of pomade evenly through your hair.
3. Then, using an average tooth comb, brush your hair toward the back.
4. At the same time, you need to run your fingers through your hair to flatten out the comb lines. Make sure you run your fingers through the same direction.
5. Leave your hair for natural air drying.

Tip: Softness, smoothness, and shine are essential for this hairdo so make sure you condition your hair daily.

The Main Man

Are you building your reputation as the indispensable colleague? Do you want to look like you’re everyone’s go-to person? This is what the main man’s mane should look like. In this medium-length hairstyle, the hair is parted to the side while the front carries most of the volume. The advantage is that it looks very natural. It’s ideal for boys or those who want to look youngish. Another good thing about the Main Man is that it looks fine on all face shapes.

1. Style your hair while it’s still damp.
2. Use your favorite styling product and apply it evenly into your hair.
3. Part your mid-length tresses to one side.
4. Then, use a hairdryer to blow-dry your hair while combing it downwards.
5. To add some volume, lift your hair a bit while blow-drying the top part toward the side.

Tip: For this style, choose a styling cream that will give you some medium hold and a semi-matte finish.

The Primp-less Pompadour

This medium-length hairdo is styled a little toward the side of the head. Compared to other side-swept styles, the hair isn’t parted too obviously. This will look striking on almost all face shapes except for those which are pretty long. This style is particularly flattering on men with egg-shaped heads.

1. Style your hair while it’s still wet. Use a volumizing hair product.
2. Next, use a hairdryer and a brush to blow-dry the top part upwards and then towards the back.
3. Afterwards, use the dryer and the brush to blow-dry the sides towards the back while flattening the hair against your head.
4. Put some styling product on your fingers.
5. Using your fingers, style the topmost part of your hair upward, toward the back, and then a little bit toward the side. There shouldn’t be an obvious part in your hair.
6. Using a comb, smooth the sides of your hair backwards against the shape of your head.
7. Use the comb to smoothen the details on the upper part.
8. Lastly, strengthen the hold with some hairspray.

Tip: To try this style, use a styling product that offers a powerful hold and a matte finish. Choose a styling aid that lends extra texture to your hair, especially if your tresses are somewhat thin.

Cut Out for Success

Like the previous haircut, this style consists of a cut with more length left on the upper part. The top part of the hair is styled upwards. Meanwhile, all the hair on the back and on the sides are slicked backwards. This medium-length hairstyle is for the man who knows where he’s going and how to get there. This hairdo will give men with wide faces a dapper look. But the real awesome news is that it makes your face appear slimmer. On the other hand, if your face is naturally long, this style will only make it look longer. Additionally, this hairstyle is more easily achieved by men with medium to coarse hair textures.

1. Use a barrel hairbrush and a hairdryer duo to blow-dry the top part of your hair. Style it upwards and towards the back.
2. Next, blow-dry the side sections of your hair. This time though, use a regular hairbrush. Style it backwards and smooth it against the side of your head.
3. Apply a small amount of styling product into your hair. Be sure to distribute it evenly.
4. Still using the regular hairbrush, smooth the top part of your hair toward the middle.
5. Then, smooth the side sections of your hair backward.
6. Use a comb for detailing.
7. Finally, fortify the hold using a hairspray.

Tip: Use a finishing hairspray that provides extra body and shine. This way, you can be sure that your up-do holds up all day long.

The Sensible Steve

Want to convince your bosses that you’re the reliable type? Try this no-nonsense medium-length hairstyle with the hair parted to the side. The top part possesses some natural volume while the side parts are neatly slicked back. No matter what face shape and hair texture you have, you’ll look super smart with this hairdo. That’s with the exception of very round faces. In this case, the style will only serve to highlight the roundness.

1. Style your hair when it’s already dry.
2. Put some styling product evenly through your hair.
3. Use a medium teeth comb to part your hair to the side.
4. Then, comb the side sections backwards.

Tip: Opt for a styling cream that provides medium hold and a semi-matte finish.

The Businessman Haircut

Try this business hairstyle that will make you look like you’re part of the cast of Mad Men. Guys with medium hair texture will find this style easy to create. It looks particularly flattering on long or square-shaped faces.

1. Style your hair while it’s still a bit damp.
2. Spread some styling product through your tresses.
3. Use a comb to part your hair to the side. Make sure you keep the front part lifted a bit.
4. Then, brush the side sections backwards with the comb. Flatten the hair against the side of your head shape.
5. Leave to air dry.

Tip: For recreating this style, choose a pomade that provides medium hold and extra shine.

Medium-length Hairstyles for When You’re Out with Your Girl

The Retro Kinda Guy Haircut

Got a babe to impress? Some girls dig a deep side parted hairstyle. What’s more, rocking an old-fashioned look suggests that you’re a romantic at heart. This hairstyle works best for men with square jawlines or oval-shaped faces.

1. First, shampoo and condition your hair.
2. Then, wring it out completely with a towel. Make sure you get rid of all the extra moisture.
3. Next, run a wide teeth comb through your mid-length mane.
4. Apply some styling cream on your fingers. A nickel-sized amount will do.
5. Make a deep slanting side part on one side of your head and comb it over to the side with the wide teeth comb.
6. Lastly, run your digits through your hair to help smooth out the comb lines.

Tip: Choose a high hold hair cream that provides extra sheen.

The Stylish Hombre

If you’re looking for a hairstyle that’s undoubtedly stylish yet oozes masculinity, go for this cut. The stylish hombre is made up of more length on the top part and less length on the sides. It has a blunt perimeter and the back part is tapered. To style this crop, you need to add some height and texture on the front part of your hair. If you have medium hair texture, styling your hair this way will require minimal effort. This manly hairstyle looks well on all face shapes.

1. Put some styling aid on your hair.
2. Style the upper part of your hair toward the front and then upwards.
3. Use your fingers for detailing.
4. Lastly, use hairspray to make sure that the style is held in place.

Tip: The best product to use for this hairstyle is a construction paste styling aid with an elastic hold.

The Contemporary Debonair

If you’re looking for something that’s romantic but don’t want to look like you’ve just jumped out of a black and white film, try this modern spin on throwback tresses. The fact that it looks fabulous on any face shape and hair type is a definite plus.

1. Shampoo your hair thoroughly and pat it dry. Style your hair while it’s still damp.
2. Spread some styling cream into your hair.
3. Then, use a comb to style your hair towards the back and then down towards the sides.
4. Divide the hair into a side part. Make sure that you comb it towards the direction of the part.
5. Leave your hair for natural air dying.

Tip: Use a spreadable grooming cream that provides a soft hold and an even finish.

The Hollywood Hottie

Make her knees weaken with this styling trend that makes men irresistible. Well, almost. This hairstyle works on a medium-length cut with a deep side part. The hair is swept to the side and up towards the front. Guys with any face shape can pull this off.

1. Style your hair while it’s still damp.
2. Spread some styling gel throughout the entire length of your hair.
3. Then, comb your hair towards the side using the part as your guide. Immediately smooth the hair back with your fingers.
4. Afterwards, comb the front part of your hair upward and a little towards the side.

Tip: If you want to rock this showstopper, get some flexible sculpting gel which will give you some medium hold. Choose one that’s not too sticky.

The Athletic Alpha Haircut

So you really, really, really like this girl and want to channel your inner alpha. What do you do? Try this slightly longer crop with a touch of charm. You can wear this hairstyle back off your face or mess it up a bit, depending on the mood. If your face is square, heart, or oval-shaped, this hairstyle is a sure winner.

1. First, wash your hair and dry it with a towel.
2. Spread a nickel-sized quantity of styling cream through your hair.
3. Next, run a large teeth comb through your tresses.
4. At the same time, finger-comb your hair and then tuck it behind your ears.
5. Leave your hair for natural air-drying.

Tip: Wring your hair with the towel instead of rubbing it. This is to prevent frizz from cramping your style.

More Medium-length Hairstyling and Hair Care Tips for Men

• There is such thing as a perfect time for a haircut. Select a day and a time when your stylist is least busy. This way, you can be sure that you have his/her undivided attention. When you have your haircut earlier in the day, your barber is least likely to be exhausted. On the other hand, if you choose a schedule that’s close to lunch break or closing time, he/she may be in a rush and your hair might suffer for it.
• Some men hate using styling products because they leave stuff on their hair. Remove hair wax by applying shampoo into hair while it’s still dry. Afterwards, rinse it. Then, re-apply shampoo. This method effectively breaks down the styling product. Also, when it comes to applying products, remember that a little goes a long way. Avoid using excessive amounts unless you’re going for a greasy hobo look.
• Pat your hair dry instead of rubbing it vigorously. It’s a simple enough advice but most men still tend to do this thinking that it will help dry the hair more quickly. In truth, the hair is a lot more vulnerable when it’s wet so the rubbing will cause hair breakage and split ends. Men whose hair is starting to thin should definitely avoid doing this to prevent more hair loss. Likewise, if you have greasy hair, excessive rubbing will only trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
• Give your hair some much-needed protein by washing it with eggs at least once a month.
• Getting a little thin up there? Opt for matte hair clay or matte styling paste to make your hair appear thicker. That’s because matte styling products tend to absorb light. It will also make your hair easier to manage. Additionally, avoid wearing hats that are too tight to prevent traction alopecia.
• Protect your crowning glory. Chlorine can ruin your hair by destroying the cuticles, causing your tresses to become dry, dull, and brittle. To minimize the damage, wet your hair completely using clean water before taking a dip. This helps to dilute the chlorine as well as its harmful effects. Adding a touch of conditioner before swimming will help too. Also, avoid rinsing your hair with very hot water to avoid cuticle damage.
• We were all born bald so celebrity hair stylist Paul Mitchell was pretty spot-on when he said that great hairstyle isn’t born. Rather, it is groomed into being. So man up, grow some mid-length mane, and put some effort into your hairstyle. In the end, your girl will love you for it, your boss will like you for it, and more importantly, you’ll get a sense of pride from your crowning glory. (In a very masculine way, of course.

Feel free to write about your favorite medium length hairstyles for men in comments below.