19+ Medium-Length Haircuts for Thick Hair That Add Shape, Movement & Ease

Thick hair is a blessing—until it isn’t. When the weight starts pulling everything down or frizz becomes a daily battle, the right cut can truly change how your hair behaves. Medium-length haircuts are a sweet spot for thick hair because they deliver versatility without the heavy bulk of longer lengths or the sharp structure of short cuts.

In this guide, we’ve curated stylist-approved medium-length styles that enhance natural density, lighten weight, and bring out the texture you already have. Whether you want something low-maintenance, chic, edgy, or softly layered, you’ll find a look here that works with your hair—not against it.

Top 19 Medium-Length Haircuts That Transform Thick Hair

1. Sun-Kissed Layered Medium Cut for Fullness

It uses soft, face-framing layers blended with a rich balayage to break up the weight, making it an ideal medium-length option for thick hair that tends to feel heavy. The loose waves add beautiful movement and showcase the dimension of the color.

2. Polished Collarbone Lob with Smooth Volume

This blunt lob falls just past the collarbone, maintaining a strong perimeter that creates a sleek, expensive-looking fullness. The cut is ideal for medium to thick hair types that benefit from a well-maintained shape and minimal layering. It works beautifully styled with a slight, smooth bend at the ends to frame the face.

3. Textured Beachy Lob with Undone Blonde Waves

A blunt lob is given incredible, piecey texture through the ends, which is key for removing bulk while maintaining a full shape. The cut pairs perfectly with a dimensional root smudge and bright blonde balayage to enhance the messy, undone movement.

4. Voluminous Shag Cut with Full Curtain Bangs

It features deeply cut, sweeping layers around the face and through the back, instantly eliminating bulk while adding lift and movement. The full, soft curtain bangs perfectly frame the cheekbones and blend seamlessly into the layers. This style is the ultimate solution for thick hair, as the layering makes styling easier and lighter.

5. 70s Voluminous Layers for Blonde Medium Hair

This cut features dramatic, sweeping face-framing layers that start near the chin, instantly creating lift and movement while reducing the bulk of thick hair. The bright, buttery blonde color enhances the style’s luxurious fullness and shine. This layered technique is brilliant for controlling weight and making thick hair feel lighter and more dynamic.

6. Softly Layered Medium Hair with Face-Framing Curtains

The style incorporates soft, sweeping curtain bangs and subtle layering around the perimeter to lighten the load and prevent thick hair from looking heavy. The layers blend seamlessly, creating a gentle U-shape at the back and framing the face beautifully.

7. Layered Medium Cut for Defined Natural Curls

This medium-length cut uses strategic layering to encourage curl definition, reduce bulk, and prevent thick, curly hair from expanding horizontally. The volume is focused at the crown and sides, creating a soft, flattering shape that is easy to manage. This layered approach is the best way to handle the weight and density of thick curly hair.

8. Smooth, Layered Medium Cut with Face-Framing Lift

Polished, medium-length style uses long internal layers and soft face-framing sections to lift the front and remove unnecessary weight through the back. The smooth texture showcases the stunning platinum blonde color and the clean perimeter of the cut. This layering technique is fantastic for giving thick hair a lighter feel and effortless movement.

9. Rich Brunette Butterfly Cut for Gorgeous Volume

This medium-length butterfly cut uses generous, blended layers starting at the chin, expertly removing bulk to give thick hair incredible movement and bounce. The subtle, warm balayage highlights the flow and texture of the waves beautifully. This layering technique is the perfect way to manage the density of thick hair while achieving that coveted ’70s-inspired fullness.

10. Sleek Honey Blonde Layers for Face Framing

This style uses strong, tiered layers at the front that sweep back, instantly breaking up the weight and giving thick hair a lighter, more dynamic feel. The buttery blonde color is enhanced by the smooth, voluminous styling. This layered technique is brilliant for controlling volume and allowing easier daily styling of thick hair.

11. Soft Brown Layered Cut with Blended Ends

This medium-length cut features seamlessly blended layers, expertly shaped to reduce bulk and prevent thick hair from expanding unnecessarily. The rich, natural brown color looks sophisticated and enhances the hair’s natural shine and smoothness. This layering technique is fantastic for controlling the volume of thick hair while maintaining a gorgeous, flowing shape.

12. Bouncy Medium Layers for Coily Brown Curls

This medium-length style uses tailored layers throughout the crown and sides, which are essential for taking weight out of thick, curly hair while encouraging volume and bounce. The rich brown color enhances the spring and shine of the coily texture. This layered shape is the ideal cut for controlling density and ensuring curls dry evenly.

13. Deep Brunette Medium Layers for Maximum Movement

This medium-length cut features strong, tiered layers at the chin and collarbone, specifically designed to remove bulk and prevent thick hair from looking heavy or blocky. The deep brunette shade showcases the health and shine of the hair beautifully. This layering technique is essential for managing the weight of thick hair while ensuring easy, voluminous styling.

14. Short Mullet Shag with Vibrant Purple Color

This short, disconnected mullet features heavy, choppy layers on top for volume and longer, wispy pieces at the neck. The vibrant, multi-tonal purple color is perfect for creative expression. This highly textured cut is fantastic for removing bulk and shaping thick hair with an easy, low-maintenance vibe.

17. Glossy Medium Bob with Internal Shaping

It utilizes subtle internal layering near the bottom to expertly remove weight and prevent thick hair from looking bulky or triangular. The rich brunette color is enhanced with delicate caramel highlights, emphasizing the smooth, polished texture. This style is an ideal way to maintain the density of thick hair while achieving a chic, manageable shape.

18. Textured Shaggy Lob with Feathered Curtain Bangs

This medium-length shaggy lob uses deep internal layering and texturizing to expertly remove bulk and prevent thick hair from looking heavy. The soft curtain bangs blend seamlessly into the face-framing layers, creating beautiful movement and lift. This cut is ideal for thick hair that needs shape and a reduction in weight.

19. Deep Brunette Medium Layers with Voluminous Flip

This medium-length cut utilizes strong, tiered layers starting at the face and continuing through the back, essential for removing bulk and adding dramatic movement to thick hair. The rich, deep brunette color looks incredibly shiny, emphasizing the health of the strands. This expert layering is fantastic for controlling the weight of thick hair and ensures your blowout holds its voluminous flip beautifully.