Want a change? Shoulder length hairstyles are fun and stylish for any time of the year. This post will feature the most popular modern haircuts at the shoulder length to include as many hair types as possible. There are plenty of trendy options to inspire you from straight to wavy to layered cuts.
Clients ask for changes without extremes all the time, and shoulder length haircuts provide that answer most of the time. It’s a great option that lets you keep the most hair while still having the freedom to change things up. Wear your hair up or down, curled, straight, or simply let it air dry and it will look like you put in effort.
A few years ago, I had a client who thought that growing her hair out was just her thing. She grew it out for about three years, and finally let me cut it to her shoulders. That same week, she got asked out twice. I’m not saying that the haircut was the reason for that, but I wouldn’t say it was nothing. That length and style are just so flattering to so many people. It can really elevate someone’s face, boost their style, and improve their confidence. Here I’ve collected some images of different shoulder length hair cuts and styles, and these aren’t looks that are just perfect for the salon. Different styles will require different maintenance levels and I’ll be sure to let you know which ones will be more high maintenance.
#1: Copper Toned Wavy Bob with Soft Layers
Being assumed to have a natural hair color is quite the compliment! The waves here are so effortless which is ideal! The soft layers allow the movement to happen naturally. With medium to thick hair, this cut will fall into place without much effort. I can say that copper is one of the quicker fading colors so plan to get a color-depositing conditioner in between your appointments. The warmth that copper adds to your look is worth the maintenance. It looks expensive with out the price tag.
#2: Dark Chestnut Shoulder-Length Lob with Soft Waves
Dark Chestnut is my favorite choice. It’s a rich color but isn’t overly high-maintenance. It is a great compliment for many skin tones. The lob (long bob) adds a wave giving it dimension which is especially nice if your hair tends to be fine. The length is shoulder length and gives it a nice swing as you move and if you want more definition you won’t need to do much with a large barrel curling iron. A little texture spray will do the trick for the waves without being crunchy. I respect the cut for “out the door in 15 minutes” as it is pretty great.
#3: Soft Golden Blonde Bob with Textured Ends
The cut is what really matters. The textured ends here are doing all the heavy lifting; no volumizing product could create thickness like this. The gold shade of this blonde is warm and approachable at this length and especially glows on lighter skin tones. I won’t pretend that blonde is low maintenance because we both know that isn’t true. Regular toning appointments will be necessary along with a good purple shampoo at home. However, the simplicity of the cut balances that out. In about five minutes, you can style this cut, or you can let it air dry and it still looks intentional. That is the mark of a really good haircut.
#4: Smokey Ash Balayage with Soft Waves
Ash tones and this color look very cinematic! This balayage is super strategically placed, and the dimension you can see in the waves without being too stripy is indicative of a good colorist vs a great colorist. It glass lifts from a corporate look to dinner reservation vibes, which is honestly a quality some people really underestimate when putting together a look. The harsh reality is that ash tones fight you back. The brassy tones will come for you super quickly, especially if you’re on well water or swim a lot. So realistically, you need to ask yourself if you’ll keep up with toning. If you’re willing to, this is genuinely stunning!
#5: Subtle Dimensional Blonde Layers
I like the restraint shown here. The darker roots melting into lighter ends look like a hair has been sun-kissed over a long summer, not like someone has just come from the salon, and that’s the goal. The tousled layers give thin to medium hair a sense of fullness without that ‘I got layers’ look that can sometimes happen. This color and cut combination will grow out nicely, which should matter to people more than it does. With this dimensional blonde, you’ll get between eight to ten weeks with solid hair before it starts to look like it needs attention, which is about as good as it gets.
#6: Chic Shoulder-Length Cut with Face-Framing Layers
There are many things to appreciate about this haircut. The face framing layers offer a lot to the hair by making her face look more defined and the length is long enough to give styling options, without getting to that annoying ‘I can’t be bothered to do my hair any more’ length. I also appreciate the natural silvers that are growing in and have been left. There is such a modern and confident vibe in allowing the gray to come through rather than neglected. This really speaks to the quality of the haircut. For anyone contemplating backing away from the color appointments, this is a perfect example of how to ease back on appointments without feeling like you’re abandoning your hair.
#7: Effortless Beachy Blonde Balayage Bob
The word “effortless” gets thrown around a lot when talking about hair, but this one truly deserves it. It’s a good type of imperfection that the wave pattern looks good, and the cut has a flattering slight asymmetry around the face that is not overdone to the point where you notice it right away. With the right products and a diffuser, this will work in medium-thick hair (fine hair will take a little more effort). The subliminal balayage is going to grow out without stressing you out which is a big deal when real life gets busy.
#8: Sleek Beveled Blonde Bob
This looks like a basic cut but it is actually cut very well. She has highlights that are angled which draw the eye to the ends. This creates an inversion and gives fine to medium hair more body than it would normally seem to have. And she has some amazing movement! It’s so satisfying to watch it move as one unit. This is a fantastic busy bob with lots of movement and flow. Definitely props to the stylist! I’ll cut to the chase, this is going to take a flat iron and a round brush to get it to look like this on the average person and it could very well be the most polished cut you can get at this length. If you live in a humid climate, prepare for a battle with this cut. If you live somewhere dry, or you don’t mind doing some styling, it is very polished.
#9: Chestnut Waves with Soft Bangs
The right bangs can really change the overall look of a haircut and these bangs are done right. They are soft enough to not overwhelm the face but thick enough to draw attention to the eyes and add a youthful touch to the whole look. It is great how the chestnut waves match the bangs because there is enough movement throughout the rest of the hair to ensure the bangs don’t look like they belong to a different haircut. Honestly, bang are commitment, you really do need to be prepared to style them on most mornings and go in for a trim every three weeks or so. If that sounds like a fair deal for what bangs offer, and I happen to think it is, then this will be a great look to have.
#10: Deep Espresso Shoulder-Grazing Bob with Inward Curls
The retro polish looks much better than all the other options available that look more “undone”. The inward curls give structure without being too rigid, while the colour is a beautiful deep espresso brown that is very luminous. The best hair type for this is medium density hair because the strands will hold the desired shape and you won’t get that annoying flipped ends. You will also need a round brush and a hair dryer so a thermal protectant is essential, and the extra care will look good with your hair color. This style will give the impression that you have your life together, which is sometimes all you need.
#11: Sleek Midnight Black Shoulder Cut with Subtle Angling
No other color gives as much drama as jet black hair. I think this length and type of cut is very compelling. The angles of the face are almost architectural and instead of fighting with the cheekbone and jawline, she collaborates with them. Straight, thick hair is one of the textures that is very fortunate because their cut suits their hair type perfectly, which means they very little in terms of effort for the morning routine. The luster that comes from healthy jet black hair at this length is to die for. One small thing to keep in mind is that if your natural color is lighter than the black hair, you will have extremely obvious root maintenance that are very real and very glaring. Keep that in mind.
#12: Rich Chocolate Shoulder-Grazing Cut with Glossy Finish
That gloss. That’s what I mean. You could get the best haircut in the world and it will fall flat without that shine, and this is a great example of just how much the finish can make such a difference. The cut is neat and precise, sitting right at that sweet spot just above the shoulders where it swings but doesn’t tangle and those minimal layers keep it looking full and purposeful. Naturally wavy or curly hair? If you want that level of sleekness, you have to understand that this is a blowout look. It takes time and the right tools to achieve it. Straight hair will have to fuss less to achieve this look than you might expect; gloss treatment at the salon plus a good finishing serum will do the trick.
#13: Textured Brunette Bob with Soft Bangs
The whole hairstyle works because the bangs are uneven. The bangs are made uneven on purpose to keep the hairstyle from looking too polished. The bob and bangs styled together is casual in a way that’s the opposite of what people expect. It’s an ironic style because people expect hair like that to take a long time to do. This is a great style to suggest to someone who wants to look put together without having to put in the effort. The layers give the hair a lot of movement and volume which is great for hair that is medium thick because you really don’t need to do anything. Just use a little bit of styling cream and mess it up through the hair while it’s damp and you’re good.
#14: Soft Ash-Brown Balayage with Natural Texture
The base dark color fading into the soft ash brown creates a seamless ombre that has a vast color depth. The hair design appears quite spendy. The design is winning in that the natural texture is not opposed but is embraced. This look will favor hair that naturally bends or has a wave. The color combination gives thin hair an illusory fullness, and avoids the cut tricks – which is smart! The grow out on this is beautiful which means you aren’t a color schedule hostage. I appreciate that!
#15 Polished Brunette Transformation with Layered Ends
Before-and-after photos are great to see because they show the power of a great haircut and this one is no exception. Simple haircuts with one length on the ends can help bring life to a look that is dull and heavy, and the ends help to make the haircut look younger and more modern. This haircut is also great for medium to thick hair because it achieves that volumized look without the bulk. The length is also perfect; it is long enough to be pulled into a low ponytail if you need to, and short enough so it?s not a hassle to wear down. Rounder face shapes can benefit from having a stylist leave the front layers a bit longer to help elongate the face. That small adjustment can make a huge difference!
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