If You Got a Quarantine Bob, It'll Be a Lob Soon—Here's How to Style It

If, like me, you took the plunge and got a dramatic haircut, you're probably in a bit of a bind right now. As fun as it is to change up your look, the grow-out process can be a bit challenging. It's going to be a minute before you'll be able to get back into the salon to maintain those shorter lengths, so if you were inspired to really go for gold with a short haircut (get it!), chances are your hair is going to reach shoulder length before you're able to pay a visit to your favorite stylist again. Gulp.

Medium-length hair has gotten some bad PR over the years as an awkward, cumbersome length. For some reason, long hair and short hair are deemed acceptable, while mid-length hair is written off as unwieldy when it's actually so versatile and endlessly cool. My theory is that this narrative took hold pre-internet, when finding hair inspiration was a lot harder than surfing Instagram to find mood board inspiration.

Sourcing hair inspo these days is as easy as going down an internet k-hole (or two or three), and lucky for you, that's one of my favorite pastimes! Whether your hair is thick, thin, coily, or straight, I've gathered the perfect collection of styles to get you excited about your mid-length tresses. Ahead, check out 35 shoulder-length hairstyles to inspire you to experiment with your length.

Chloë Grace Moretz

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(Image credit: @storyofmailife)

This deep side part is so easy, but smoothing the other side down behind your ear is a simple way to add a bit of polish.

Yara Shahidi

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(Image credit: @yarashahidi

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Curly girls know that shrinkage can make your locks appear a lot shorter than they actually are. This voluminous blowout is the perfect style to put your length on display.

Kristin Cavallari

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(Image credit: @kristincavallari

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We stan an asymmetrical cut. It's a bob on one side and a lob on the other.

Ashley Graham

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(Image credit: @ashleygraham

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Air-dried waves are always a winning look.

Chrissy Rutherford

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(Image credit: @chrissyford

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Hair clips are both stylish and functional for shoulder-grazing lengths.

Kristin Cavallari

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(Image credit: @kristincavallari)

This minimalist look is to die for.

Sophie Turner

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(Image credit: @sophiet)

These old-school waves bring the drama in the best way. 

Kerry Washington

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(Image credit: @kerrywashington

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Coily textures can get in on the shoulder-length fun, too. This twist-out is so cute.

Mindy Kaling

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(Image credit: @mindykaling

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Polished, curled tendrils are an easy way to amp up a low ponytail.

Mia Goth

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(Image credit: @georgieeisdell)

A sleek middle part is always a good idea. 

Get the look:

Thandie Newton

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(Image credit: @georgieeisdell

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There's honestly nothing more satisfying than a precise part.

Odette Annable 

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(Image credit: @georgieeisdell)

This easy style shows just how effortless medium-length hair can be.

Joan Smalls 

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(Image credit: @hungvanngo

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If you're toying with the idea of cutting your hair down to shoulder-length, a wig is a fun option to test the look without committing to a haircut. Plus, you can try out other elements, like bangs, at the same time.

Selena Gomez

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(Image credit: @selenagomez)

You don't have to have straight hair to rock bangs, though. Selena Gomez and her loose ringlets are proof.

Kim Kardashian West

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(Image credit: @kimkardashian

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These voluminous, retro curls are making a case for purchasing a set of hot rollers.

Get the look:

Diane Keaton

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Long layers are another medium-length hair hack to add some dimension.

Lucy Hale 

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(Image credit: @lucyhale)

This bob is right on the cusp of a lob, and the slight bend throughout the hair makes it look lived-in and effortless.

Angela Bassett

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(Image credit: @im.angelabassett

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When in doubt, embrace volume and buxom curls.

Kerry Washington

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(Image credit: @kerrywashington

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These shiny, beach waves are perfect at this length.

Jessica Alba

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Add a headband to bring an extra element to laid-back styles.

Get the look:

Kim Kardashian West

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(Image credit: @kimkardashian)

This snatched half-up, half-down style looks so chic on medium hair length.

Selena Gomez

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(Image credit: @hungvanngo)

Here's another spin, with solid curtain bangs and flipped ends. In all honesty, we're trying this.

Lizzo

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(Image credit: @lizzobeeating

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Natural girls, the half-up, half-down look is right for you, too. Just look at how Lizzo styles her glorious mane.

Dua Lipa

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(Image credit: @dualipa)

If your hair is on the thinner side and you'd like to infuse a bit of body, adding some texture, like these vintage waves, will make it look like you have twice as much hair.

Hailey Bieber

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(Image credit: @haileybieber)

Mrs. Bieber and her Baby Spice micro-ponytails are a vibe.

Get the look:

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Kourtney Kardashian
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The soft bend in these middle-parted tresses is so pretty.

Jessica Chastain

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(Image credit: @kdeenihan

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These barrel-curled bangs are giving us French-girl vibes.

Selena Gomez

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(Image credit: @hungvanngo)

Selena Gomez just might be the queen of shoulder-length hairstyles. This sleek lob is perfectly bumped under for that elevated Lord Farquaad hair look that's been bubbling up among the fashion set.

Dua Lipa

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(Image credit: @dualipa

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Dua Lipa is serving designer bandana realness, and we are feeling it.

Get the look:

Lucy Hale

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(Image credit: @lucyhale

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Scoop your curled hair into a high ponytail to get an extra day out of your style.

Dua Lipa

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(Image credit: @dualipa)

Leave it to Dua Lipa to make styling clips look cool. The resulting sleek, Old Hollywood waves are equally amazing.

Viola Davis

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(Image credit: @violadavis

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These soft waves are classic and chic.

Hailey Bieber

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(Image credit: @haileybieber

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Give us a deep side part any day.

Claire Most

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(Image credit: @claire_most

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If your natural mane is now grazing your shoulders, you're working with a whole lot of hair. This defined, curly afro is just dreamy.

Associate Beauty Editor

Courtney Higgs is a Cancer sun, Libra rising beauty enthusiast with about six years of experience in the editorial space. She was previously Who What Wear's associate beauty editor after spending many years working on the West Coast edit team at InStyle Magazine. She graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a BA in communication studies and pivoted to editorial after spending her college years working in the legal field. Her beauty philosophy is simple: She believes there are no wrong answers and that discovering our favorite beauty products and rituals is a journey, not a sprint. When she's not geeking out over products, she can be found adventuring around L.A. with her fiancé; watching reality TV with their French bulldog, Bernie Mac; or relating way too hard to astrology memes.