Soft romantic medium hair looks with coquette energy are the absolute best way to bring a playful and dreamy aesthetic right into your daily routine. When it comes to styling collarbone to chest length cuts I honestly believe you do not need a professional stylist to look like you just stepped out of a vintage movie scene. Whether you are grabbing coffee or taking pictures for your feed I think balancing delicate ribbons with easy execution is the absolute sweet spot for this specific hair length. Let us look at seven completely doable looks that deliver massive impact and perfectly capture that sweet main character energy.
Best Mid Length Styles To Try
Medium hair is honestly the perfect canvas because it is long enough to hold beautiful twists but short enough to keep bouncy volume at the roots. Here are seven realistic concepts that I think you will absolutely love.
The Braided Velvet Crown
Weave two simple braids starting from your temples and pin them securely across the back of your head to form a delicate halo. Tie a deep red velvet ribbon right where the braids meet in the back. I personally love this one because the velvet adds a rich texture that completely changes the vibe of a basic braided crown into something incredibly elegant.
Best for: Thick hair and oval face shapes
| Style Details | |
|---|---|
| Face Shape | Oval, Round |
| Hair Texture | Straight or wavy |
| Hair Type | Great for thick hair |
| Difficulty Level | Beginner |
| Time to Style | Takes 10 minutes |
The Soft Pearl Half Updo
Gather the top layer of your medium hair and pull it loosely to the back of your head securing it with a clear elastic. Push tiny pearl pins evenly throughout the gathered section. I honestly believe that adding delicate pearls to a standard half up style makes it look incredibly expensive and undeniably cute.
Best for: All hair types and heart face shapes
| Style Details | |
|---|---|
| Face Shape | Heart, Square |
| Hair Texture | Wavy |
| Hair Type | Great for all hair types |
| Difficulty Level | Beginner |
| Time to Style | Takes 5 minutes |
The Cascading Lace Tie
Take exactly two wavy front sections of your hair and sweep them smoothly away from your face pulling them to the back. Secure them together using a sheer piece of vintage white lace shaped into a floppy bow. Natural waves falling right around the shoulders look so immensely cute underneath sheer lace and I think this soft energy makes the style pop beautifully.
Best for: Layered cuts and diamond face shapes
| Style Details | |
|---|---|
| Face Shape | Diamond, Oval |
| Hair Texture | Wavy or curly |
| Hair Type | Best for layered cuts |
| Difficulty Level | Beginner |
| Time to Style | Takes 5 minutes |
The Twin Silk Bows
Split your hair evenly down the middle and tie the top sections into two loose bouncy pigtails resting high on the back of your head. Add a bright pink silk bow to each elastic. I think flipping the traditional half up into a double romantic style is a genius way to make medium length cuts feel super sweet for a weekend outing.
Best for: Medium thickness and round face shapes
| Style Details | |
|---|---|
| Face Shape | Round, Heart |
| Hair Texture | Straight naturally |
| Hair Type | Best for medium thickness |
| Difficulty Level | Beginner |
| Time to Style | Takes 5 minutes |
The Bouncy Curled Lob
Use a large barrel curling iron to completely flip the ends of your medium hair outward creating massive volume at the bottom. Pin one side of your hair smoothly back behind your ear using a delicate gold barrette. Flipped out ends look so immensely cute on shoulder length hair and I think this energetic style perfectly captures that retro sweetheart feeling.
Best for: Straight hair and oval face shapes
| Style Details | |
|---|---|
| Face Shape | Oval, Square |
| Hair Texture | Straight naturally |
| Hair Type | Best for blunt medium cuts |
| Difficulty Level | Intermediate |
| Time to Style | Takes 15 minutes |
The Woven Pink Plait
Create a single loose braid straight down your back while intertwining a thin strip of baby pink satin ribbon directly into the woven sections. Leave plenty of face framing layers out in the front. I am a massive fan of this lived in look because the intertwined ribbon highlights the delicate storybook detail that makes this specific aesthetic so incredibly special.
Best for: Fine to medium hair and heart face shapes
| Style Details | |
|---|---|
| Face Shape | Heart, Diamond |
| Hair Texture | Straight or wavy |
| Hair Type | Great for fine to medium hair |
| Difficulty Level | Intermediate |
| Time to Style | Takes 10 minutes |
The Fluffy Pastel Claw Clip
Twist all your medium lengths upward and secure them tightly with a large pastel colored pearl claw clip right at the middle of your head. Let the textured ends spill out generously over the top of the clip. In my opinion using a beautifully designed claw clip is the ultimate cheat code for medium hair because the spilled over ends give you amazing volume exactly at the crown.
Best for: Wavy hair and round face shapes
| Style Details | |
|---|---|
| Face Shape | Round, Oval |
| Hair Texture | Wavy |
| Hair Type | Best for layered cuts |
| Difficulty Level | Beginner |
| Time to Style | Takes 2 minutes |
Styling Tips For Mid Length Hair
Layer Your Volume Mousse
Distributing the weight of your hair properly stops your mid length layers from falling flat against your head. I highly recommend avoiding stiff holding sprays and instead using a lightweight volume mousse at the roots before you begin styling. This gives your medium hair internal lift so your bouncy curls and heavy ribbons hold securely all day long without needing a crunchy outer layer.
Secure With Clear Elastics
You absolutely need a good foundation to keep your satin ribbons from sliding right off your hair. Tie your half up styles or braids with a clear elastic band first before adding any fabric on top. The rubber gives the ribbon something to grip so it stays tied tight without moving. This tiny step saves you from constantly adjusting your hair during the afternoon.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Tying The Ribbons Too Tight
Pulling your ribbons too tight against your scalp causes awful tension headaches by the afternoon and ruins your volume. I used to pull my bows as tight as possible thinking they would stay better but it just flattens the crown. Tie the fabric gently and let it drape a little bit for a relaxed and effortless vibe. Your head will feel much better and the style will look more authentic.
Smoothing Out All The Volume
Trying to make your hair lie totally flat ruins the playful nature of this aesthetic especially with medium length layers. I made the mistake of brushing out all my natural waves to get a neat style once and it looked far too harsh. Those little messy flyaways and loosened baby hairs give your hair its authentic charm. Embrace the messy pieces because they make the look feel lived in and incredibly sweet.












