Medium Length Haircuts for Women with Thin Hair: Volume-Boosting Styles

Looking for medium length haircuts for thin hair? You’re certainly not alone. Many women experience thinning hair. The good news? Thinning hair doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to chop your hair into a pixie cut (though if you want to, you do you!). There are many medium length haircuts that work equally well for thin hair. 

Medium length haircuts are the perfect balance between versatility and volume. Unlike longer styles that can weigh down fine strands, medium length hairstyles provide the perfect canvas for adding body and movement to thin hair. But they’re also long enough that you can quickly pull them into a ponytail or twist them into a claw clip on days you don’t feel like doing your hair. 

This comprehensive guide will explore the best volumizing haircuts for thin medium hair, from modern layered styles to strategic cuts with bangs. You’ll discover professional styling techniques, maintenance tips, and product recommendations that will help you achieve and maintain fuller-looking hair. We’ll also address common mistakes to avoid and provide answers to frequently asked questions about medium length hairstyles for women with thin hair. 

Why Medium Length Hairstyles Are Ideal for Women with Thin Hair

Medium length hairstyles for women offer the perfect balance between manageability and styling versatility, especially for thin hair. This length range––typically falling between the chin and shoulders––provides numerous advantages that make it particularly flattering for those with fine or thinning strands. 

The Balance Between Length and Volume

The physics of hair weight plays a crucial role in why medium lengths work so well for thin hair. When hair grows too long, gravity naturally pulls it down, causing fine strands to lie flat against the scalp and eliminating any natural lift at the roots. Medium length cuts remove this excess weight while maintaining enough length for versatile styling options. 

What is the best medium haircut for fine, thin hair? The answer depends on your hair’s natural texture and personal style preferences. But universally, cuts that hit between the jawline and the collarbone tend to maximize volume potential. This length allows the hair to maintain its natural bounce and movement without being weighed down, creating a fuller appearance. 

Styling Versatility

One of the greatest advantages of medium length hairstyles is their remarkable styling versatility. How to style medium length haircuts for thin hair becomes less of a challenge and more of an opportunity for creativity. These lengths can be worn straight for a sleek look, curled for romantic volume, or tousled for effortless texture. 

Depending on length, you can still style your favorite easy up-dos. Collarbone length hair can still be styled into a ponytail or bun with the help of a few bobby pins, while shorter lengths can be styled into pigtails or pushed back with a headband when hitting the gym. 

Best Medium Length Hairstyles for Thin Hair

Medium length haircuts for thin hair offer incredible versatility and can be styled in various ways to add volume and dimension. The following styles are expertly curated and grouped into categories––layered cuts, blunt cuts, cuts with bangs, and other popular styles––making it easy to find the perfect match for your hair type and lifestyle. 

Layered Cuts

Medium length layered hairstyles are particularly effective for creating the illusion of thickness and adding movement to fine hair. These cuts work by removing weight strategically while maintaining fullness where it counts most. 

Wolf Cut

The wolf cut has emerged as a modern, edgy layered style that adds volume and movement to thin hair. This contemporary take on the shag features choppy, disconnected layers that create texture and fullness throughout the hair. The style works particularly well for thin hair because the varied layer lengths prevent the hair from lying flat against the head. 

When styling, apply a lightweight volumizing mousse to damp hair and blowdry with your hair flipped upside down. For extra lift at the crown where thin hair often needs it most, add Toppik Hair Filler Volumizing Micro-Fibers. These fibers blend seamlessly with existing strands to create instant density and fullness. 

Butterfly Cut

The butterfly cut is another popular layered hairstyle for thin hair, featuring shorter layers around the crown that gradually lengthen towards the ends, creating a wing-like silhouette. This cut adds movement and body to thin hair and works well with straight, wavy, and curly textures. 

If you’re not into spending time styling your hair, this one’s for you. The cut’s inherent volume means minimal product is needed. Just a touch of texturizing spray can enhance the natural movement of the layers. 

Modern Shag

The modern shag is a contemporary interpretation of the classic 1970s style, featuring softer, more blended layers that create texture and volume. Unlike its predecessor’s dramatic, choppy layers, today’s shag incorporates subtle graduation and face-framing pieces that add dimension to fine hair. 

To style a modern shag, use texturizing products like sea salt spray or mousse to enhance your hair's natural texture, then either air-dry or blowdry with a diffuser for volume. 

Blunt Cuts

Volumizing haircuts for thin medium hair don’t always require layers. Blunt cuts can create the illusion of thickness by maintaining density at the ends where thin hair often appears most sparse. 

Blunt Bob

The blunt bob is a timeless option for women featuring a sleek, polished appearance that makes thin hair appear thicker and fuller. This precision cut features a sharp, straight edge that typically falls between the chin and shoulders, creating a solid line that gives the impression of fuller, denser hair. 

The key to making a blunt bob work for thin hair lies in the styling. Apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair before blowdrying with a round brush, focusing on creating lift at the roots. Use a flat iron to further smooth the look. 

Textured Bob

The textured bob offers a modern twist on the classic bob by incorporating subtle texture throughout the cut while maintaining a primarily blunt baseline. This chin-to-shoulder length style works well for thin hair by creating the illusion of density with strategic texture through minimal internal layers of point-cutting techniques. 

To style, apply a volumizing mousse or texturizing spray to damp hair. Rough-dry hair with a blowdryer until it’s dry, then use a curling iron or flat iron to create loose, messy waves. Alternate the direction of the curls for a natural look. Once the hair has cooled, gently separate the curls with your fingers and finish with hairspray. 

Cuts with Bangs

Medium length hairstyles with bangs add fullness to thin hair while drawing attention to your best features. 

Bottleneck Bangs

Bottleneck bangs are narrower at the top and gradually widen towards the bottom, framing the eyes and cheekbones. 

It is easiest to style bangs when they are wet, so either start with damp hair or wet bangs with a spray bottle. Use your fingers and a blowdryer to dry your bangs side to side and forward until they are about 90% dry at the root. This helps remove the natural split and adds initial volume. 

Using a small- to medium-sized round brush, place it under the center section of your bangs. Roll the brush outwards (away from your face) and downwards as you dry, directing the air towards the bridge of your nose. This creates a soft C-shaped bend. For the longer side-frame sections, hold the round brush vertically. Roll the hair away from your face to create the signature tapered "bottleneck" slopes that frame the cheekbones. To create the appearance of thicker-looking hair, apply Toppik Fill Me In Hairline Filler to the part. 

Curtain Bangs with Medium Cut

Curtain bangs are soft, face-framing bangs that blend seamlessly into a layered medium length haircut. The gentle sweep of the bangs draws the eye to your features while adding volume around the face. 

To style curtain bangs, use a round brush and blowdryer to sweep them away from your face when they are about 90% dry. Alternatively, you can use a flat iron to shape them and give them a slight outward flip. 

Other Styles

Beyond traditional cuts, these medium length hairstyles for women add volume and texture to thin hair, creating the illusion of thicker hair. 

Beach Waves

Beach waves are loose, tousled waves that add instant body and texture. They work well for both everyday wear and special occasions. 

Start by applying a sea salt spray to dry hair. Divide hair into sections and use a flat iron or curling wand to add waves to the hair, making sure to alternate the direction of the waves for an effortless look. The key to beachy waves is to leave the ends out (or straighten them if your hair is on the curlier side). Think casual, cool waves, not ringlets. Once hair is cooled, gently separate the waves with your fingers. 

Curly Shag

The curly shag combines lots of layers with natural curls for tons of volume. This medium length hairstyle is perfect for women with naturally curly or wavy hair that’s on the fine side. 

To enhance curl definition, apply a curl cream to damp hair and scrunch gently. Allow to air dry or use a blowdryer with a diffuser attachment on low heat. For areas where the scalp might be visible through the curls, particularly at the part line, apply Toppik Hair Filler Volumizing Micro-Fibers to create the appearance of thicker hair. 

Hush Cut

The hush cut is a soft, layered style that gently frames the face. This is perfect for women who prefer a natural, understated look, because the cut adds movement without a lot of styling. 

To style, apply a texturizing spray to damp hair. Allow to air dry or use a round brush to blowdry, focusing on overdirecting the roots to add volume at the crown. 

How to Do Medium Length Hairstyles for Thin Hair at Home

Creating volumizing medium-length hairstyles at home is all about the right techniques and tools. How to do medium length hairstyles for thin hair successfully depends on following these styling methods:

1. Blowout with Round Brush for Volume

Apply volumizing mousse to damp, clean hair. Section your hair into four sections and secure with clips. Using a round brush, lift each section at the roots while directing heat from your blowdryer downward. Roll the brush through the ends, creating tension and continue to blow downwards. Repeat until all the hair in the section is completely dry before moving on to the next section. 

2. Loose Waves with Curling Iron

After applying a heat protectant, section dry hair horizontally. Using a one-inch curling iron, wrap sections around the barrel, leaving out the ends. Hold for 8-10 seconds, then release and allow the curl to cool in your palm before letting it fall. Once all sections are curled and cooled, gently shake out the curls with your fingers. 

3. Sleek Straight with Flat Iron

Blow dry hair smooth using a paddle brush, then section hair horizontally. Pass a flat iron over each section from roots to ends in one smooth motion, being careful not to pause in any spot. Finish with a light mist of shine spray for a healthy, glossy appearance. 

For updos or styles with visible part lines, Toppik Fill Me In Hairline Filler can perfect your hairline and create the appearance of thicker hair along parts. Its 3-in-1 applicator makes it easy to build, fill, and blend for natural-looking results that enhance any style. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Medium Length Hairstyles for Thin Hair

Understanding what not to do is just as important as knowing the right techniques when styling thin hair. These common mistakes can sabotage your efforts to achieving fuller-looking locks:

1. Over-layering – While layers add movement and volume to thin hair, too many layers can have the opposite effect on thin hair. Excessively layering removes too much hair, leaving hair looking sparse and wispy rather than full. Work with your stylist to find the right balance. 

2. Using Heavy Products – Heavy creams, oils, and serums can weigh down fine strands and make them look even thinner. Instead, opt for volumizing mousses and texturizing sprays that add body without extra weight. 

3. Skipping Regular Trims – Thin hair is particularly susceptible to breakage and split ends, which can make hair appear even more sparse at the ends. Regular trims every 6-8 weeks help maintain the shape of your cut and keep ends looking thick and healthy. 

4. Overuse of Heat Tools without Protection – Heat damage can be devastating for thin hair, which is why it’s important to always use a heat protectant before styling and use the lowest possible heat setting on your hot tools to achieve your desired style. 

Testimonials from Toppik Users:

Hair Filler Volumizing Micro-Fibers:

Having more confidence about yourself

“I’m so happy with this product, I wasn’t sure what to do about my thinning hair and someone told about Toppik now I feel so much better about my hair nobody even knows l have thinning hair”

Fill Me In Hairline Filler:

Great for hairline!!

“Toppik fill me in is so good for the hairline. It helps with filling, building and blending the hairline! It’s made with keratin hair fibers and argon oil to make it full and natural looking hairline!!” (from a customer who received product in exchange for an honest review)

H2: Conclusion

Medium length hairstyles are ideal for women with thin hair because they’re easy-to-style, versatile, and add plenty of volume where you need it. With the right medium length haircuts for thin hair––and products like Toppik Fill Me In Hairline Filler and Hair Filler Volumizing Micro-Fibers––you can enjoy the appearance of fuller-looking hair. 

This article was originally published on January 15, 2019. It has been updated with new information.