Medium hair is quite the-best-of-both-worlds when it comes to hair length. It’s easy to care for, just as shorter hair, but still very versatile, like long hair.
If you need a bit of styling inspiration to fully take advantage of your medium hair, here are +50 ideas of updos and half updos to choose from!
Twisted & Embellished Low Bun
Low buns are eye-catching and easy to make – the perfect choice for special occasions you don’t want to be late to! For an extra touch of style, add some scattered flower hair clips!
High Bun With Braided Back
This updo is not only gorgeous to look at, but also very secure! Both the high bun and braided back will make sure that you can work all day or dance all evening without your hair getting in your way.
Low Ponytail With Statement Hair Accessory
Statement hair clips, clamps & bands are our not-so-secret weapon to make any minimalistic hairstyle look a million bucks!
Afro Side Updo For Medium Hair
This cheeky updo is the right fit for those of you with medium hair with a kinky texture. Although classy and suited even for formal occasions, the asymmetry makes it very eye-catching and unique!
This delightful down-do has two versions. Both involve three symmetrical braids in the upper part of your head, but one ends with a ponytail & one with a low bun. We just can’t decide which we like more. Can you?
Casual Half Updo For Medium Hair
Half updos are a great way to look like you put effort into styling your hair, without actually spending too much time or energy with it. This cute lil’ half updo is the perfect choice to liven up an everyday look!
Classy Low Bun
This classy low bun is the perfect choice for a formal or work-related event. It best suits straight hair – and if that is your thing, make sure to check out this list for more gorgeous ideas for straight hair!
Braided Crown For Medium Hair
Braided crown updos are a trusty friend of girls with longer or medium hair. Charming, bohemian, and surprisingly practical, they’ll make any look seem much more whimsical!
Victory Rolls Half Updo
Everything vintage is back in style & we’re not complaining. This swanky half updo involves the iconic victory rolls, which will require a bit of practice to get just right – but the result is so visually stunning it’s worth it!
Natural Medium Hair & Statement Headband: Two Looks
A good quality statement headpiece can oftentimes be worn in more ways than one – take advantage of that! Here we see a gorgeous metallic hairband in two different, but equally stunning updos.
Beehive Bun & Cheeky Bees
We don’t know if the pun was actually the intention of this hairstyle – a beehive bun with bees on it – but we’re loving it! It works great on long or medium hair, for either casual or fancier occasions.
A super practical choice for medium hair which will last you through any workout or party (when the pandemic allows it, of course)! If you don’t know how to do Dutch braids, you can always substitute them with French braids.
Curly & Messy Updo For Medium Hair
If you have medium hair of curly or kinky texture, this extra easy updo is for you! Just take advantage of the natural volume & playfulness of your mane.
Audrey Hepburn Inspired Ponytail
A sleek, simple ponytail can still work wonders to show your natural beauty! As exemplified by the one and only Audrey Hepburn, simplicity is often the key to true elegance.
Statement Hair Clamp Updo For Medium Hair
Hair clamps are a must-have for any girl with medium or long hair – even more so for lazy or perpetually late girls!
Braided Low Updo
This charming hairdo creates so much texture and volume we can barely believe it does not involve super long hair or a handful of hair extensions!
Mermaid Side Braid
Mermaid (aka fishtail) braids are known to add length & volume to your hair. This side braid is made extra chic by the surely-intended messiness in the upper part of the hairdo!
Finger Waves For Medium Hair
So vintage, yet so avant-garde! This look will suit a true fashionista with medium hair, adding class & sass to any well-thought outfit.
Rope Braids Half Updo
This dreamy half updo gets its magic from the hair color, the loose rope braids & the pretty little hair clips – all in all, what a magical sight!
Dark & Shiny Low Updo
This twisted & tangled low bun creates the illusion that your mane is super long and thick, even if you have medium hair that’s on the thinner side. The bright accessories also look amazing on dark hair!
Braided Faux-Hawk Low Ponytail
What an edgy look! You don’t have to commit to super short hair to look rebellious – your medium hair will do just fine for this hairdo which involves a braided faux hawk!
Natural Medium Hair & Golden Headpiece
A hairstyle that’s worthy of a goddess – and so easy to pull off! If you are endowed with natural hair, the simplest updo will be elevated by a statement golden headpiece!
Brigitte Inspired Bouffant Half Updo
One of the most beautiful women to ever grace Earth, Brigitte’s most iconic hairdo is her bouffant half updo. If your hair is long & thick enough and you have a passion for retro styles, why not try this?
Elegant Side Bun
This elegant side bun is a great option for more fancy or formal occasions. It is very versatile and can be customized according to your own preferences.
Low & Twisted Updo With Vintage Headpiece
A vintage statement headpiece is a perfect addition any time you want to make sure you’ll be the center of attention – for all the right reasons! Pair it with a matching low updo, and you’re ready to shine!
Fishtail Braids For Medium Hair
Start braiding your mermaid braids tightly from the very top of your head if you want to look preppy, put together & also have extra security with your hairdo!
Flower-Embellished Crown For Curly Hair
A braided crown updo is one of those styles that looks equally astonishing on straight and curly hair alike. If your hair is curly, the texture will only do you favors; embellish it with some flower or rhinestone hairpins and you’ve become the queen of any room you walk into!
Marilyn Inspired Updo
We might picture the famous Marilyn Monroe with her signature short blonde curls, but she also had periods in which she sported medium hair! Here is a simple yet charming updo from such a period.
Headband Updo: The Casual Version
A headband adds to the trendiness of your look while keeping hair out of your face! That’s a win-win situation, especially if you were used to having shorter hair, that’s easier to manage.
Headband Updo: The Fancier Version
Headbands aren’t only for casual outfits – they are also life-saving for fancier hairdos, such as this one! The right, outfit-matching headpiece will make it easy for you to style hair of medium length or longer with minimal effort.
Low Pigtails For Medium Hair
Pigtails are youthful and adorable, but also have a certain cheeky look to them. Wear them with your favorite pink dress or black leather jacket – either way, it is a statement!
Beret & Bow Combo
Feminine and oh-so-chic, adding both a French Beret and a bow to an otherwise basic low ponytail create a truly head-turning look!
Braids-To-Pigtails Look
What do you get when you combine two of the cutest hairstyles in one? This look, obviously! If you’re undecided between pigtails or braids, here’s the happy middle way.
Scarf Updo For Medium Hair: Four Looks
Scarfs are wonder-working accessories – and not only for your outfits but for your hairstyles, too! Here you can see four of the many ways to integrate a stylish scarf into your updo or half updo.
Braided Bun For Kinky Medium Hair
This bun for medium, Afro hair is both secure and stylish. The multiple braids will keep your unruly locks in place …. And keep all eyes on your hairdo!
Blooming Loose Braid
A loose braid (be it French, Dutch, fishtail, or another style) adds texture, thickness & length to medium hair such as yours. Embellishing it with a few tasteful hairpins, like in the picture, will take it to the next level!
Swanky Updo With Pearls
Bored with your usual hairdos? Just add pearls. Does your updo look kind of dull? Pearls! Want to make it fancier, but not too opulent? Yes, you guessed it: pearls are the answer!
Braided Space Buns Half Updo
Space buns are, on their own, a fun and playful look! Combined with the braids on this half updo, ideal for medium hair, they create the most mesmerizing sight!
Bubble Braid For Medium Hair
A bubble braid is hypnotic to look at, but surprisingly easy to do, and the perfect way to spice up your hairstyling routine if you think you’ve already tried all there is!
Flapper Inspired Look
For your next (post-Corona) dance party or costumed ball, go for the Flapper look – it’s time for the new 20s, right? And make sure to check out even more 20s & 40s inspired styles here!
French Twist
Timeless and elegant, a French Twist updo will never disappoint you. Be it a business setting or a fancy dinner, it is there for you to make sure you look the part!
High Ponytail & Loose Side Strands
The high ponytail is a practical hairstyle that means business while being extremely cute. It works great on short, long, and, of course, medium hair!
High Bun With Scrunchie
Scrunchies – a staple of the 2000s that is still trendy & useful! This high bun is a cute yet fuss-free styling choice for medium hair.
Minimalistic Hair Clamp Down-do For Medium Hair
How can a hairstyle that literally takes less than a minute to put together look so chic? We don’t know, but we don’t question it. Must be the magic of hair clamps!
Low Bun With Flower Detail
A messy yet charming low bun? Good idea. Adding a tasteful flower accessory? Great idea!
Conclusion
We hope that now you have the right updo idea for the next few days – at least! Pin or save this list for later, so you never feel uninspired when it comes to arranging your medium hair in new and exciting ways.