Growing your hair out takes patience. Somewhere around month three, the sides start to puff, the back flips out over your collar, and the front won’t decide where it wants to go. Most men quit right there and book a short cut.
That’s a shame, because the payoff is close. Medium length hair, roughly three to six inches on top and long enough to cover the ears or brush the jaw, gives you more options than almost any other length. You can push it back for work, tuck it behind your ears on the weekend, tie half of it up at the gym, or leave it messy and let it air dry.
The trick to making it look effortless is a little planning. The right shape, a trim at the right time, and one or two products that suit your texture do most of the work.
These mens medium length hairstyles cover straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair, plus a few looks built to get you through the awkward stages. Each one includes what to ask for, how to style it, and who it suits. If you are growing your hair out right now, save the ones that match your texture and use them as checkpoints along the way.
1. Textured Flow Pushed Back
The flow is the style most men picture when they decide to grow their hair out. The top is pushed straight back, the sides sweep behind the ears, and the ends kick out a little at the nape.
It looks best around five to six inches on top. Before that, the front tends to fall forward again by lunchtime.
Wavy and straight hair both work. Wavy hair gives it more movement, while straight hair gives it a cleaner, sleeker line.
What to ask for:
- “Keep the length, just take the weight out of the sides.”
- “Long layers on top so it falls back on its own.”
- “Leave the back long enough to flip over the collar.”
Style it on damp hair. Rub a small amount of light cream through it, push everything back with your fingers, and let it dry. A comb makes it look too polished.
2. Middle Part Curtains
Curtains came back in a big way, and medium length is where they look their best. The hair parts down the center and falls on both sides of the face like a pair of open curtains.
The length needs to reach at least the cheekbones. Shorter than that and the two sides stick out instead of falling.
It suits oval, long, and heart shaped faces. If your face is round, ask for the front pieces to land a little below the cheekbones so they lengthen the face.
Quick tip: if your hair keeps flipping back to an old side part, blow dry it with the part in the center for a week or two. Hair learns where to fall.
Use a sea salt spray or a light mousse on damp hair, set the part with a comb, and blow dry each side down and slightly away from your face.
3. Tousled Surfer Waves
Surfer hair looks like you spent the morning in the ocean, even if you spent it in traffic.
The waves are loose, a little dry, and broken into separate pieces. Nothing is lined up, and that’s the point.
Natural waves make this easy. Straight hair can fake it with a sea salt spray and a few twists, though it won’t last as long.
Here’s the routine:
- Spray sea salt spray into towel dried hair.
- Scrunch with your hands for about thirty seconds.
- Let it air dry, or use a diffuser on low.
- Twist a few random pieces between your fingers once it’s dry.
Ask your barber for long layers and point cutting through the ends. Blunt ends make waves look heavy.
4. Shaggy Layered Cut
A shag is built from lots of layers, short ones on top and longer ones underneath. The result is a cut with plenty of movement that looks lived in from day one.
It’s one of the best cuts for thick hair. All that layering takes out bulk, so the hair sits closer to the head instead of puffing into a triangle.
What to ask for:
- “Shaggy layers, choppy on top.”
- “Fringe that falls just over the eyebrows.”
- “Feather the back so it isn’t one solid line.”
Styling is mostly hands off. Rough dry it with a blow dryer, add a pinch of texture paste, and twist a few pieces. If it starts looking too neat, you used too much product.
5. Medium Wolf Cut
The wolf cut mixes a shag with a mullet. Volume sits at the crown, the sides are layered close to the head, and the back trails down in longer, wispy pieces.
At medium length it’s softer and easier to wear than the dramatic versions you see online.
It works on straight, wavy, and loosely curly hair. Very fine hair can look thin at the back, so ask for fewer layers through the nape.
Wolf cut vs. shag: a shag keeps the length fairly even all around. A wolf cut is shorter and fuller on top, with the length concentrated at the back.
Air drying suits it best. Scrunch in a little mousse, flip your head forward while it dries, and shake it out at the end.
6. Tucked Behind the Ears
Once your side hair is long enough to tuck, the awkward stage is mostly behind you. This is the most relaxed style on the list, and it takes zero product if you want.
The hair is pushed back from the face, and the sides are tucked behind the ears. That clears the face and stops the sides from puffing out.
It works at almost any medium length, from around four inches on top. It also suits men who wear glasses, since the arms of the frames help keep the hair in place.
Quick tip: ask your barber to thin out the hair right above the ears. It makes the tuck sit flatter and stay put longer.
A light leave in conditioner is plenty. Run it through damp hair, tuck, and let it dry in place.
7. Slicked Back Medium Hair
When you need medium hair to look sharp, slick it back. It’s the fastest way to turn a relaxed cut into something that fits a suit or a wedding.
The modern version has a soft shine, not a wet helmet. You should still be able to see the comb lines and a bit of movement.
You’ll want at least four inches on top so it reaches the crown and lies flat. Thick, straight, or wavy hair holds it best.
For a soft look: a light cream, combed through with your fingers.
For a sharp look: a medium shine pomade, combed back with a wide tooth comb.
Apply the product to damp hair, comb everything straight back, and press it down with your palms. A quick blast of cool air from the dryer locks it in.
8. Side Swept Medium Fringe
A long fringe swept across the forehead softens the face and hides a high hairline. It’s an easy look to grow into, because the fringe gets longer and better with every month.
The front needs to reach the eyebrows at the very least. The sides and back can stay a little shorter while you wait for the rest to catch up.
It’s a good pick for straight or slightly wavy hair. Tight curls tend to spring up instead of sweeping across.
Blow dry the fringe in the direction you want it to fall, using your fingers or a flat brush. Finish with a small amount of cream so the ends stay soft and separate.
9. Medium Length Quiff
The classic quiff usually comes with short, faded sides. This version keeps the sides long, so the whole cut has a fuller, softer outline.
You get the lift and polish of a quiff without needing a barber visit every three weeks.
Thick hair holds the height best. If your hair is fine, use a volume spray at the roots before you blow dry.
Here’s how to build it:
- Apply a little volume spray at the roots on damp hair.
- Blow dry the front up and back with a round brush.
- Push the sides back with your palms as they dry.
- Work a small amount of matte clay through the top and shape with your fingers.
10. Half Up Top Knot
The half up knot is a lifesaver in the middle of a grow out. It pulls the front off your face while letting the rest of your hair keep growing below.
You only need enough length on top to reach the crown, roughly five or six inches. The bottom half can be any length.
Keep the knot small and loose. A big, tight knot looks forced, and pulling the same spot tight every day can stress your hairline.
Quick tip: use a soft fabric hair tie or a spiral tie instead of a thin rubber band. They grip without snagging or snapping your hair.
Gather the top section from your temples back, twist it once, and loop it through the tie. Pull a couple of pieces loose at the front so it looks relaxed.
11. Low Bun at the Nape
You don’t need long hair for a bun. Once the back reaches past your collar, a small low bun is possible, and it looks calmer and more grown up than a high man bun.
It’s practical too. It keeps your hair out of the way for work, the gym, or cooking, then comes down in seconds.
Shorter pieces around the face will fall out at first. That’s fine. Leave them loose or tuck them behind your ears.
Brush the hair back with your fingers, gather it at the nape, and loop it through a tie until it folds into a small bun. A tiny bit of cream on the shorter pieces keeps them from frizzing.
12. Chin Length Bob
This is the 90s grunge look, updated. The hair falls to around the chin, usually with a center or slightly off center part, and the ends are cut soft instead of blunt.
It works best on straight or lightly wavy hair with some thickness. Fine hair can look flat at this length, so ask for light layers around the face.
Square and angular faces look great in it, because the soft length balances a strong jaw.
What to ask for:
- “Chin length, soft ends, not a blunt line.”
- “Slightly shorter at the back so it curves under.”
- “Light layers around the face.”
Air dry it with a little leave in conditioner, or blow dry it straight down for a sleeker finish.
| Face Shape | Try These | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Oval | Almost anything, especially curtains and the flow | Balanced proportions handle any shape |
| Round | Medium quiff, slicked back, half up knot | Height on top makes the face look longer |
| Square | Chin length bob, shag, surfer waves | Soft length softens a strong jaw |
| Long | Side swept fringe, wolf cut, tucked sides | Fringe and side width shorten the face |
| Heart | Middle part curtains, low bun, side part | Fullness near the jaw balances a wider forehead |
13. Loose Curls With a Soft Taper
Curly hair grows out, not down. That means curls hit medium length in a different way, and the cut has to plan for shrinkage.
The best shape keeps most of the length on top and around the crown, with a soft taper at the neck so the back doesn’t grow into a wide block.
Ask the barber to cut your curls dry, one curl at a time if possible. Curls can shrink by half when they dry, and a wet cut can take off much more than you wanted.
Quick tip: skip the towel rub. Squeeze water out with an old cotton t shirt, then scrunch in a curl cream while your hair is still soaking wet.
Let it air dry without touching it. Once it’s fully dry, scrunch gently to break up any crunch from the product.
14. Medium Length Twists
Two strand twists are one of the best ways to grow out coily hair. They protect the ends, cut down on daily styling, and give the hair a clean, defined look while it gets longer.
At medium length, the twists reach the eyebrows at the front and fall toward the neck at the back. Many men pair them with a low taper to keep the edges clean.
They’re also a stepping stone. Twists can be worn as they are, unraveled into a twist out, or left to mature into locs.
Twist on freshly washed, moisturized hair, using a twisting cream or butter. Sleep with a satin durag or bonnet, and refresh the roots every week or two.
15. Medium Length Locs
Locs at medium length have settled in. They have weight, they swing a little when you move, and they no longer stick straight up the way starter locs can.
At this stage you can wear them down, push them back, or tie the top half up. Each option looks deliberate.
Keep the roots tidy with regular retwists, about every four to six weeks. Retwisting too often can thin the roots over time.
Quick tip: dry your locs completely after every wash. Damp locs left too long can develop a musty smell.
A light oil on the scalp and a satin bonnet or pillowcase at night are the core of the routine.
16. Undercut With a Long Top
Not ready to grow out the sides? Keep them short and let the top do the growing.
A disconnected undercut has short clipped sides with no blending, and a long top that can be five or six inches or more. The top can be pushed back, swept to the side, or worn messy.
It’s ideal for very thick hair, because it removes most of the bulk. It’s also an easy way to try longer hair without dealing with the side puff.
The catch is maintenance. The undercut needs a clipper cleanup every two to three weeks to stay sharp.
When you’re ready to grow the sides too, just skip the clippers. The top is already long, so the grow out is shorter than starting from scratch.
17. Soft Grown Out Mullet
A soft mullet keeps the sides at a medium length instead of shaving them, and leaves the back just a few inches longer. It’s a much easier version to live with than the bold one.
It’s also a natural grow out shape. Hair at the back grows past the collar long before the sides look finished, so you can lean into it.
Wavy hair suits it best, because the bend at the back gives it shape. Straight hair can add movement with a sea salt spray.
What to ask for:
- “Soft mullet, keep the sides medium, don’t buzz them.”
- “Texture on top.”
- “Leave the back a few inches longer, and take weight out so it isn’t a block.”
Air dry with a little texture spray, then twist a few back pieces so they curl instead of hanging flat.
18. Korean Comma Hair
Comma hair gets its name from the front. The fringe parts slightly off center and curves inward at the forehead, shaped a bit like a comma.
It started as a popular Korean style and has spread to salons everywhere. It looks neat but soft, and it works well on straight, thick hair that can be trained to curve.
You need the fringe to reach somewhere between the eyebrows and the eyes.
The curve comes from blow drying, so the morning routine matters:
- Start with damp hair and a light cream.
- Blow dry the top down and slightly forward.
- Use a round brush to curl the front section inward toward your forehead.
- Set it with a quick blast of cool air.
19. Gentleman’s Medium Side Part
The side part doesn’t have to be short. At medium length it looks relaxed and a little old Hollywood, with more movement than the tight barbershop version.
The top is combed across, the sides are long enough to cover part of the ear, and the back sits just above the collar.
Find your natural part before anything else. It usually lines up with the swirl at your crown. Forcing a part on the wrong side means fighting your hair every morning.
Comb a light pomade or cream through damp hair, set the part, and push the top across. Finish with your fingers so the comb lines soften.
It’s an easy style to wear to an office, a wedding, or a dinner where you want to look put together.
Book a shape up trim every 8 to 10 weeks to clean the neckline and take bulk off the sides.
Tell your barber your goal length so they don’t cut the top.
Use a conditioner every time you wash. Longer hair dries out faster at the ends.
Cutting it all off on a bad hair day. Month three is the hardest, and it gets easier.
Shampooing every single day. It strips the oils that keep medium hair soft.
Heavy gel. It makes longer hair look stiff and greasy.
20. Hockey Hair Flow
Hockey players are known for this one, because the hair that sticks out from under the helmet is the only part anybody sees. The top and sides stay medium, and the back grows long enough to flip out over the collar.
It’s sometimes called “lettuce” or “salad” in locker rooms, and it’s one of the easiest shapes to grow into, since the back is always the first part to get long.
Wavy hair flips best. Straight hair can get the same curl with a quick blow dry, rolling the ends out with a round brush.
Keep product light. A small amount of cream on the ends helps the flip hold without making it look stiff.
21. Pushed Back With a Headband
Every man growing his hair out hits a week where nothing works. A thin headband fixes it in about five seconds.
The front gets pushed straight back, the band holds it behind the hairline, and the rest of the hair falls loose behind it. Footballers have worn this look for years, and it fits right in at the gym or on a weekend.
Choose a thin elastic band in black or a dark color. Thick or patterned bands pull focus away from the hair.
Quick tip: slide the band on from the back of your neck up toward the forehead, then push it back into place. You’ll catch all the loose front pieces in one move.
22. Silver Swept Back Medium Cut
Grey hair at medium length looks distinguished in a way short grey hair often doesn’t. The extra length shows off the mix of silver and darker tones.
The shape is simple. The top is swept back with soft waves, the sides go behind the ears, and the back rests on the collar.
Grey hair is often coarser and drier than it used to be, so moisture matters most here. Use a hydrating conditioner, and try a purple shampoo once a week to keep silver from turning yellow.
Style it with a light cream on damp hair, push it back with your fingers, and let it air dry. Heavy products can make grey hair look dull.
Growing your hair out doesn’t mean never seeing a barber. Ask for a shape up every couple of months and say the words “I’m growing it out.” A good trim at the right time is what gets you past the awkward stage.
Getting the Most Out of Medium Length Hair
Medium hair rewards a little patience and a light touch. Most of the styles above need one product, a few minutes, and a trim every couple of months to keep the shape clean.
Start with your texture. Waves lean toward the flow, the shag, and surfer styles. Straight hair suits curtains, comma hair, and the chin length bob. Curls and coils do best with shapes that plan for shrinkage, like loose curls with a taper, twists, or locs.
Then pick a style for each stage of the grow out. A headband or half up knot can get you through the hard months, and the flow or slicked back look is waiting at the other end.
These mens medium length hairstyles cover every texture and every stage, so save this list to your hair ideas board and come back to it each time you book a trim.