14+ Shoulder Length Hairstyles You NEED to Try Right Now

Shoulder length hair will always be one of my favorite lengths because it just makes life so much easier. It still feels long enough to style in different ways, but it is so much lighter, easier, and less high-maintenance than really long hair. I also feel like this length has that perfect in-between look where it can feel polished, casual, a little chic, or super cute depending on how you wear it.

Lately, I have been loving hairstyles that feel effortless but still make you look put-together, and shoulder length hair is so good for that. Whether you like soft layers, a blunt cut, waves, a sleek finish, or something with a little more volume, there are so many ways to make this length feel fresh. I pulled together 14+ shoulder length hairstyles that are trendy, easy to wear, and actually make you want to change up your hair.

Layered shoulder-length cut

Oh man, layers are such a lifesaver. If you have thick hair like mine, you absolutely need them. I have this really vivid memory of being like ten years old back on the reservation, and my auntie decided she was going to trim my hair in the kitchen. She just grabbed the kitchen scissors we usually used for opening frozen frybread dough and went straight across the bottom. It was so incredibly heavy and blunt that I looked like a literal triangle for six months! I cried for days about it. So yeah, layers are a girl’s best friend. They just take all that heavy bulk away and give you so much beautiful movement. You just shake your head and the hair falls perfectly into place without looking like a helmet.

Blunt shoulder-length bob

Okay please look at this one. I think it is so crazy how a simple straight line can instantly make you look so incredibly high-fashion and wealthy. A blunt cut just screams that you have your life totally figured out, right? You literally cannot start building a corporate girl aesthetic without considering a cut like this. I love how the ends are so sharp and precise. It just gives off this very cool, effortless vibe that says you prioritize your time and don’t want to spend three hours styling your hair every single morning.

Textured lob (long bob)

This is exactly the energy I am trying to bring to my life this year. Taking a totally standard lob and adding all this messy texture is my ultimate goal right now. The contrast between a nice structured length and crunchy, beachy waves is just genius. If you are looking through midlength haircuts right now, this is definitely one of the safest and most flattering options to start with. It is long enough to pull back into a tiny ponytail when you are washing your face at night, but short enough to feel totally fresh and light.

Shoulder-length shag haircut

The shag is back and I am so here for it! It is so rock and roll and edgy. Honestly, I had a massive hair fail a few years ago trying to get this exact vibe. I went to this super cheap salon near my old college campus because I was broke. I showed the guy a picture of a cool, messy shag. Well, he got way too scissor-happy with the thinning shears and basically chopped all my volume off. I walked out of there looking like I had been electrocuted by a toaster. It took two whole years for my hair to recover from that tragedy. But seeing it done properly here on Pinterest? It makes me want to risk it all again. You just throw some texturizing spray in there and you look like you belong in an indie band. I am totally buying some sea salt spray just in case I decide to go for it this week.

Wavy shoulder-length hairstyle

Sometimes you just want to look sweet and put together without thinking too hard about it. This pin is just foolproof. Soft waves hitting right at the collarbone is just absolute perfection for any face shape. You look completely polished but still totally approachable and casual. I feel like you could wear this to a chill coffee date or a fancy dinner and it would work for both perfectly.

Straight sleek shoulder-length cut

I was always so scared of wearing my hair completely bone straight because I thought it made my face look too round and wide. But seeing it parted down the middle and looking so glossy is such a clever styling choice. It grounds your whole look and makes you seem super sophisticated and mature. You guys have to try using a really good shine serum if you want to pull this off properly.

Curtain bangs with shoulder-length hair

We really need to talk about curtain bangs. They are the ultimate accessory for bad hair days, I swear. I literally almost cut my own bangs in my bathroom mirror at 2 AM last week because I was feeling impulsive and stressed out. Thank goodness my crafting scissors were dull! But seeing them styled like this by a professional makes them look so modern and fresh. They just frame the face so beautifully and add so much character to an otherwise basic cut. I might have to be brave and try this soon.

Shoulder-length hair with face-framing layers

This is my absolute favorite way to style anything remotely boring. You just take a basic cut and add all these soft pieces around the cheekbones and jawline.

Choppy shoulder-length haircut

If there is one thing you take away from this entire blog post, please let it be this exact choppy formula. When it comes to hairstyles for medium length hair, the choppy ends are literally everything. You can be wearing the oldest, most faded sweatpants you own, but if you have a perfectly messy, choppy haircut, you look totally intentional and cool. It is just the most comfortable way to still look fashionable without using any brain power in the morning when you are rushing out the door.

Shoulder-length hairstyle with side part

I know Gen Z says the side part is totally dead and uncool, but they are totally wrong about this one. A deep side part with this length gives off very romantic, old-Hollywood energy and I am totally obsessed with it. It gives your roots so much natural volume without having to use a ton of sticky hairspray. You just flip your hair over and you instantly look expensive and glamorous.

Feathered shoulder-length cut

This is giving me major 70s vibes and I love it. The feathered layers swooping back from the face is such a classic, breezy look. Speaking of feathered hair, I found this old photo album of my mom from when she was my age. She had this massive, feathered Farrah Fawcett hair going on and it was incredible. She looked so cool and carefree standing in front of my grandpa’s old beat up pickup truck back on the rez. I always wanted to capture that exact kind of effortless beauty in my own style.

Shoulder-length hairstyle with soft curls

This takes the whole aesthetic and makes it perfect for a slightly nicer daytime event. Soft, brushed-out curls give off very romantic, bohemian energy and I am totally obsessed with it. It is so easy to just curl the ends with a big barrel iron and run out the door. It makes you look like you put in hours of effort when it actually only took ten minutes of your time.