Long hair gives you the most options and, on a busy morning, the most indecision. This guide collects the best hairstyles for long hair in one place: haircuts that add shape without losing length, and everyday styles from two-minute ponytails to braids and updos.
Haircuts for long hair
A good cut is what makes long hair look styled even when it's just worn down.
- Long layers: Long layers are layers cut into long hair where the shortest layer still falls below the chin or shoulders.
- Butterfly haircut: A butterfly haircut is a long, layered cut with two sets of layers: shorter ones that fall around the chin and cheekbones, and longer ones below the shoulders.
- Face framing layers: Face framing layers are shorter pieces cut around the front of the hair, starting anywhere from the cheekbone to the collarbone and blending into the rest of the length.
- Curtain bangs: Curtain bangs are bangs parted in the center that sweep to each side of the face, shorter in the middle and longer at the edges, like a pair of open curtains.
- V cut: A V cut is a long haircut where the back is cut into a point, with the sides noticeably shorter than the center.
- Wolf cut: A wolf cut is a shaggy, heavily layered haircut that combines a shag with a soft mullet: short, choppy layers and volume at the crown, with longer, wispier lengths toward the ends.
- Shag haircut: A shag is a heavily layered haircut with choppy ends, shorter layers around the crown and usually a fringe.
- Hush cut: A hush cut is a soft, layered haircut from South Korea with wispy layers through the lengths, thinned-out ends and light, see-through bangs.
- Hime cut: A hime cut is a Japanese haircut with three parts: a straight fringe across the forehead, blunt sidelocks cut at cheek or jaw length, and long, straight hair at the back.
- Feathered hair: Feathered hair is a layered style where the ends are cut and brushed to flick back and away from the face, so the layers overlap like feathers.
- Blowout: a round-brush blow dry that makes layers bounce.
Everyday styles for long hair
- Beach waves: Beach waves are loose, slightly messy waves with straight ends, as if the hair had dried naturally after a day at the sea.
- Heatless curls: Heatless curls are curls or waves made without a curling iron, by wrapping slightly damp hair around something soft and leaving it to dry, usually overnight.
- Hollywood waves: Hollywood waves are smooth, glossy, uniform S-shaped waves that move together as one surface, usually worn with a deep side part.
- Half up half down hairstyles: A half up half down hairstyle gathers the top section of the hair, roughly from the temples up, and leaves the rest down.
- High ponytail: A high ponytail is a ponytail tied at or above the crown of the head.
- Braided ponytail: A braided ponytail is any ponytail that includes braids: the ponytail itself can be plaited, or the hair can be braided or cornrowed up into a ponytail of loose or braided lengths.
- French braid: A French braid is a three-strand braid that starts at the top of the head and picks up new hair from each side as it goes, so the braid lies flat against the head.
- Dutch braid: A Dutch braid is a three-strand braid made like a French braid, except that each strand crosses under the middle instead of over.
- Fishtail braid: A fishtail braid is a braid made with two sections instead of three.
- Waterfall braid: A waterfall braid is a braid that runs across the head, where one strand is dropped after each stitch and replaced with a new one.
- Crown braid: A crown braid is a braid that wraps around the head like a crown.
- Bubble braids: Bubble braids aren't braids at all: they're ponytails divided by hair elastics every few inches, with each section puffed out into a round bubble.
- Messy bun: A messy bun is a loose, relaxed bun with pieces left out on purpose, so it looks casual and undone.
- Chignon: A chignon is a low bun worn at the nape of the neck.
- French twist: A French twist is an updo in which the hair is gathered at the back, twisted upward into a vertical roll and pinned along the back of the head.
- Claw clip hairstyles: Claw clip hairstyles are updos held by a claw clip: a hinged clip with interlocking teeth.
Which long hairstyle suits your face?
- Round face: long layers that start below the chin, a high ponytail or half-up style for height. See hairstyles for round faces.
- Long face: curtain bangs and waves that add width at the cheekbones. See oblong face shape.
- Square face: soft face-framing layers and loose waves. See square face shape.
- Not sure? Use the free face shape detector.
Formal styles for long hair
For proms and weddings, see prom hairstyles and bridesmaid and wedding hairstyles.
FAQ
What is the easiest hairstyle for long hair?
A claw clip twist, a high ponytail or bubble braids. Each takes under five minutes.
What haircut is best for long hair?
Long layers with face-framing pieces suit most people. They add movement and keep the length.
How do I make long hair look fuller?
Ask for a blunt or U-shaped hemline with long layers, and style with a blowout or loose waves.
How can I see a haircut on my long hair before cutting it?
Upload a photo to a hairstyle try-on tool and compare cuts side by side.
Thinking about a bigger change, like a new cut, bangs or a different color? See it on your own photo first with the AI hairstyle changer and the AI hair color changer.
