With medium length hair, curls have enough room to form beautifully while still feeling light and wearable. This length works well for layers, bangs, rounded shapes, and soft volume. The hairstyle ideas below show different ways to style medium curls with shape, bounce, and personality.
24 Curly Hairstyles for Medium Length
Wash-and-Go with Defined Curls
Few styles look this good for this little effort.
Hair falls just past the shoulders in a rounded, full shape that spreads naturally from the crown.
Curls are springy and defined rather than frizzy, with volume sitting evenly through the length. The face feels open and bright, framed by curls that bounce at cheekbone level.
Applying a curl cream or gel to soaking-wet hair and air drying without touching it is really all this style needs.
Layered Curly Cut
The right cut changes everything for curly hair.
Layers remove bulk and let each curl breathe and fall separately, with the overall length sitting around collarbone level.
Movement comes naturally from the layering rather than from styling, so the shape stays soft rather than blocky.
Shorter pieces graze the jaw and frame the face lightly, while the rest falls with a gentle bounce that holds through the day without much effort.
Half-Up Curly Bun
It looks put together without trying too hard, which is exactly the point.
The top section of curls is gathered into a loose bun at the crown while the rest hangs freely below. A few curls fall naturally around the face and ears, keeping things soft rather than pulled back tightly.
Hair still shows real length from the mid-section downward, and the style works especially well on second or third-day curls that already have grip and shape.
Curly Shag with Curtain Bangs
This combination does something really flattering for medium curly hair.
The shag cut creates a feathered, layered texture while curtain bangs part at the center and curve outward on either side, framing the face without sitting bluntly across the forehead.
Layers throughout the length create movement without heavy styling, and the silhouette widens slightly at the ends in a way that suits natural curl volume.
Scrunching with a diffuser is usually all it takes to finish the look.
Pineapple Updo
Nobody expects something this simple to look this good.
All the hair is gathered loosely at the very top of the head and held with a soft scrunchie, letting curls spill forward and outward in a full, playful shape.
The sides and back stay smooth while the top section carries all the volume and character.
The face is framed by the forward-falling curl cluster, and the style holds through the day without needing much adjustment.
Twist-Out on Medium Hair
The results make the process completely worth it.
Hair is twisted in sections while damp, dried completely, then separated to reveal soft, elongated coils with a consistent S-shaped pattern.
The length sits right at or just below the shoulder, with the stretched texture giving the impression of extra length.
Volume is moderate and controlled, and the finish looks neat and natural without appearing stiff or overdone on any curl type.
Curly Bob with Side Part
Short enough to feel sharp, long enough to show off the curl.
A curly bob sitting just below the chin creates a rounded, full shape that frames the face closely on all sides.
A side part shifts the volume slightly, so one side sits closer to the ear while the other sweeps outward with more movement.
Curls bounce at jaw level, giving the style a compact, tidy look that holds up well through the day without looking overly formal.
Loose Curly Ponytail
A ponytail on curly hair hits differently than most people expect.
Curls bunch at the base and cascade outward, making the tail look full and rounded rather than flat or limp.
A few loose pieces at the temples and jaw soften the pulled-back effect, and the hair tie is often wrapped with a strand of hair for a slightly more finished look
