7 Trendy Laced Hairstyles That Transform Medium Hair

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Finding the perfect laced up hairstyles for medium hair completely changed how I approach my daily beauty routine. When it comes to capturing that dreamy romantic aesthetic I honestly believe that elevating a basic shoulder length cut with intricate ribbons is the absolute ultimate secret. I have found that these completely doable styles deliver maximum impact and perfectly capture that sweet hyper feminine energy for any occasion without requiring hours in an expensive salon chair or needing extra long extensions.

Best Laced Up Styles For Medium Lengths

Before I break down my favorite styling tips here are seven realistic concepts that provide stunning options using your natural shoulder length texture as the perfect romantic base.

The Half Up Corset Bow

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Take the top section of your medium hair and divide it into two mini French braids moving toward the back of your crown. Use a delicate lace ribbon to weave back and forth between the two braids tying a beautiful oversized bow where they meet in the middle. Leaving your shoulder length ends completely free brings a soft flowing energy that beautifully balances the intricate lacing while keeping your face framing layers secure.

Best for: Layered medium hair and oval face shapes

The Laced Up Space Buns

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Split your hair exactly down the middle and create two high voluminous space buns at the crown of your head. Take two thin velvet ribbons and cross lace them straight up the back of your head leading directly into the base of each bun. I personally love this one because the bold lacing technique completely transforms a trendy festival look into something highly structured and undeniably creative.

Best for: Thick medium hair and round face shapes

The Ribbon Woven Low Chignon

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Gather your medium lengths at the nape of your neck and roll them upward into a sleek tight chignon pinning it securely. Take a piece of metallic ribbon and weave it delicately through the outer edges of the rolled hair wrapping around the base. I always recommend this brilliant hack because the ribbon perfectly hides any blunt ends that might pop out of the chignon adding the exact right amount of dramatic romance.

Best for: Straight medium hair and diamond face shapes

The Corset Ponytail Base

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Pull your shoulder length hair into a sleek mid level ponytail. Because medium hair ponytails can sometimes look a bit short create a highly structured base by wrapping a thick satin ribbon around the elastic and cross lacing it tightly down the first two inches of the tail. In my opinion this architectural detail gives the illusion of a much longer style while looking incredibly fresh and pretty.

Best for: Straight hair and heart face shapes

The Laced Dutch Accent Braid

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Create a single thick Dutch braid down one side of your head sitting just above your ear and stopping at the nape of your neck. Thread a brightly colored ribbon exactly down the center seam of the braid like a shoelace leaving the rest of your medium hair completely loose and deeply parted. This brilliant styling trick adds a massive pop of color and structured interest perfectly suited for lob haircuts.

Best for: Wavy hair and square face shapes

The Zig Zag Ribbon Crown

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Part your hair down the middle and create two tiny flat twists wrapping around your front hairline. Take a vibrant ribbon and cross lace the two twists together exactly across your center part. This frames your face perfectly and manages any short face framing layers while allowing the rest of your medium volume to stay wild and completely free around your shoulders.

Best for: Curly medium hair and round face shapes

The Undercut Illusion Corset

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Flip your head over and create a single wide Dutch braid moving straight up the very center of the back of your head starting from the nape and stopping at the crown. Gather the braid and the rest of your hair into a messy top knot. Cross lace a thick ribbon tightly up the center of that back braid. This offers the edgy look of an undercut while protecting your hair and keeping all your shortest layers completely secure.

Best for: Layered medium hair and oval face shapes

Why I Love This Trendy Aesthetic For Medium Hair

When my readers ask me why I constantly recommend laced up styles for clavicle and shoulder length cuts I always tell them that combining your natural texture with intricate fabric weaving is the absolute ultimate cheat code. The woven ribbon naturally draws the eye creating incredible visual interest that makes a medium length cut feel deeply intentional and styled.

Perfect Layer Management

Medium length hair often comes with heavily textured layers that refuse to stay put in standard braids or ponytails. Adding a structured laced element actually gives you incredible control over those shorter pieces. You can use the laced ribbons to tightly pin back specific stubborn layers while letting your longer sections flow beautifully.

Instant Storybook Elegance

This aesthetic relies heavily on the soft bounce of medium hair combined with structured details. Because ribbons naturally carry a timeless handcrafted energy you can easily skip heavy hot tools and complex extensions. I love how weaving a simple velvet string into your natural braids perfectly elevates your lob keeping you feeling highly glamorous.

Styling Tips For Perfect Lacing

If you want to know the secret to mastering these gorgeous looks for medium hair it always comes back to foundational grip and using the proper techniques.

Build A Strong Foundation

Medium length hair can sometimes slip out of intricate styles faster than very long hair. Always build your structural foundation using strong clear elastics first before you begin lacing the beautiful fabric over top. Tying off your braids before lacing ensures your style will not unravel throughout the day.

Use A Plastic Threading Needle

Pushing soft ribbons through tight braids with your fingers is incredibly frustrating and can cause your shorter layers to poke out. I highly recommend buying a large plastic craft needle to easily pull your fabric directly through the braids without snagging your beautiful natural texture.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Using Ribbons That Are Too Wide

Thick massive ribbons can easily overwhelm the proportions of a shoulder length haircut making the style look bulky instead of elegant. Always opt for thin delicate ribbons or lightweight velvet cords that beautifully complement your medium length without completely hiding your actual hair.

Lacing Too Tightly

Yanking your ribbons incredibly tight against your scalp causes awful tension headaches and completely squashes your natural braid volume. Thread the fabric gently and let it rest softly against the hair so your natural volume can still stand up nice and tall holding your layers securely but softly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these woven styles work on fine medium hair?

Yes they absolutely do! I always tell my readers with fine hair to spray a little texturizing spray or volumizing powder at the root before braiding. Gently pull the loops of the braid outward before you begin lacing to create the illusion of massively thick hair under the ribbons.

How do I hide my blunt ends in a laced updo?

If you have a very blunt lob your ends might aggressively poke out of buns and twists. You need to use a tiny amount of styling paste on your fingertips before you tuck the ends away. The paste acts like a soft glue keeping those blunt ends completely hidden inside the woven ribbon sections for a flawless finish.

Are laced up styles appropriate for professional settings?

They definitely are. While they look incredibly gorgeous for weekend dates I personally wear a classic ribbon woven low chignon to the office all the time. Using a simple thin black velvet ribbon makes the entire look completely professional and highly elegant for a serious meeting.

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