12 Easy Ways to Style Awkward In Between Length Hair

My hair hit my shoulders last year. It flipped out at the ends constantly. I felt frustrated looking in the mirror every morning. You probably feel exactly the same way right now. The mid length phase tests your patience heavily. You just want your long hair back quickly. Those short bobs feel like ancient history to you. I spent six months testing different daily styling tricks. I found exactly what works for this specific length. You can make this middle stage look incredible today. I will share my personal favorite daily routines with you.

Black and gold hair dryer, flat iron, curling wand, hair ties, and hair pins arranged on a white marble countertop.

You will master twelve specific styling routines right now. You need less than ten minutes per morning. I tested these specific tricks over six past months. We cover hidden pinning tricks and easy braids. You will see current prices for my favorite styling tools. Brands like Oribe and Ouai make styling super simple. We skip complicated routines entirely to save you time. Your awkward hair phase ends completely today. You get straight forward advice right here. I share honest opinions on top styling products. This routine saves you serious time every single morning.

Table of Contents

1. Master the Messy Half Up Top Knot

Woman with a half-up bun wearing a white sweater sitting at a cafe table with a latte and notebook.

A half up top knot saves you on dirty hair days. I rely on this specific Hair Tutorial every single week. You gather the top section of your hair first. Tie it with an Invisibobble spiral tie. These ties cost about eight dollars online. They never leave dents in your mid length hair.

Pull the top third of your hair straight back.
Twist the section into a messy bun shape.
Tie the bun tightly with your spiral hair tie.
Pull out two face framing pieces in the front.

My hair always looked flat before I tried this. The top knot gives you instant height at the crown. You fake having much longer hair effortlessly. I wear this to the office constantly.

2. Style a Loose Fishtail Braid

Blonde woman with a side fishtail braid standing in a rose garden at sunset.

Braids hide uneven layers perfectly well. A side Fishtail Braid looks incredibly chic and undone. I failed at French braiding for years. The fishtail style requires only two main sections.

Split your hair into two equal side sections.
Take a tiny piece from the outside left.
Cross it over to the inside right section.
Repeat this motion on the opposite side continuously.

Tie the end with a clear elastic band. Pull the edges gently to make the braid wider. This trick makes thin hair look thick instantly. I wear this look to dinner parties constantly. You will love how easy this feels.

3. Create Faux Volume with Hidden Bobby Pins

Close-up of hands using a tortoiseshell comb to style hair sectioned with three small gold hairpins.

Flat roots make awkward lengths look terrible. I found a genius trick using simple hidden pins. We love smart Hair Hacks for busy mornings. You need Kristin Ess bobby pins for this. They cost five dollars at target right now.

Lift a small section of hair at your crown.
Tease the root gently with a fine tooth comb.
Slide two bobby pins in an X shape underneath.
Drop the top layer of hair over the pins.

The pins hold the hair up all day long. You get a perfect lift without sticky hairspray. I use this trick before taking photos outside. Your roots will never fall flat again.

4. Embrace the French Twist

A woman with an updo hairstyle wearing a black slip dress stands on a terrace with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

You need a chic option for formal events. A Coiffure Facile like the French twist works beautifully. Mid length hair twists up easier than very long hair. Long hair gets heavy and falls out quickly. Your awkward length is actually perfect for this style.

Gather your hair into a low ponytail shape.
Twist the entire ponytail tightly upward toward the ceiling.
Tuck the ends inside the twisted roll neatly.
Pin the seam with four strong hairpins.

I bought French pins from Amazon for twelve dollars. They hold the twist tighter than standard clips. This style makes you look incredibly put together instantly. You feel elegant wearing this updo.

5. Tie a Low Sleek Ponytail

Young woman with dark hair in a ponytail wearing a navy blazer in a modern office.

Sometimes you just want your hair out of your face. Short Hair Styles Easy searches always show sleek ponies. You need a good smoothing serum for this look. I highly rate the Color Wow Dream Coat spray. It costs twenty eight dollars and stops frizz instantly.

Spray your damp hair heavily with the smoothing spray.
Blow dry your hair aiming the nozzle straight down.
Gather the hair tightly at the nape of your neck.
Tie it securely with a silk scrunchie.

The silk prevents breakage on your delicate ends. I use Slip silk scrunchies daily for protection. This style looks professional for morning office meetings. You will look incredibly sharp and clean.

6. Frame Your Face with Soft Waves

Portrait of a woman with bouncy waves holding a professional hot air styling brush in a bright bathroom.

Straight hair shows every uneven layer harshly. Styling soft waves hides the awkward transitions beautifully. This is my favorite Aesthetic Hair routine. I use the Dyson Airwrap for this specific look. Yes it costs five hundred ninety nine dollars. It protects your hair from severe heat damage though.

Section your dry hair into three even layers.
Wrap one inch pieces around the hot styling barrel.
Hold for ten seconds until the hair sets perfectly.
Release the curl and let it cool completely.

Brush the curls out with a wide tooth comb afterward. You get a bouncy blowout look in ten minutes. I do this every Sunday for the work week. The waves distract from the blunt length completely.

7. Try the Double Mini Bun Look

Close-up of a happy woman with space buns and pink sunglasses at a crowded outdoor summer music festival.

You want a fun weekend style for brunch. Cute Hair Up Styles hide greasy roots perfectly. Double mini buns look playful and fresh. I started wearing these to outdoor music festivals recently. You only need two clear elastic bands.

Part your hair perfectly down the middle.
Gather the top half of the left side.
Twist it into a small bun and tie it.
Repeat the exact motion on the right side.

Leave the bottom half of your hair down. This style keeps hair out of your eyes outside. I get compliments on this fun look constantly. It takes literally three minutes to finish.

8. Use Headbands to Hide Choppy Layers

Portrait of a blonde woman wearing a thick cream turtleneck and a pearl-embellished headband by a snowy window.

Sometimes styling feels like too much work. Headbands hide awkward front pieces instantly. I rely on padded headbands during busy travel days. Lele Sadoughi makes gorgeous pearl headbands. They retail around forty nine dollars online.

Part your hair cleanly in the center.
Brush out any tangles gently with a wet brush.
Slide the headband right behind your ears tightly.
Pull two tiny baby hairs forward softly.

The accessory distracts from uneven hair lengths completely. You look styled without doing any actual work. I keep three different headbands in my work bag. They rescue me on crazy busy mornings.

9. Texture Spray Tricks for Mid Length Lobs

Smiling woman in a tank top using a black bottle of hair spray while her wavy hair flips to the side.

Flat lobs look lifeless and dull. You need gritty volume to make the cut work. Every person in the Hair Stylist Life knows this trick. Dry texturizing spray changes your hair completely. I buy the Oribe Dry Texturizing spray religiously. It costs forty nine dollars a bottle.

Flip your head upside down completely.
Spray the product directly onto your dry roots.
Wait thirty seconds for the spray to dry entirely.
Flip your head back up and scrunch the ends.

Your hair instantly gets that cool messy look. The spray absorbs oil just like dry shampoo does. I use this trick on second day hair always. It gives incredible grit and hold instantly.

10. Try The Deep Side Part

Portrait of a woman wearing a black velvet top in a dimly lit, upscale restaurant setting.

Center parts make awkward lengths look highly geometric. A deep side part softens your face shape instantly. I switched my part last month with great success. You create an illusion of sweeping volume on top.

Find the highest spot of your left eyebrow.
Use a rat tail comb to draw a line straight back.
Flip the majority of your hair to the right side.
Spray the part lightly with flexible hold hairspray.

This takes five seconds to do every morning. Your hair looks immediately thicker on the heavy side. I use the Ouai flexible hold spray for this. The spray costs twenty six dollars at Sephora.

11. Pin Back the Front Pieces

Close up of a woman wearing two minimalist gold hair barrettes in her wavy brown hair.

Letting your bangs grow out feels like pure torture. The front pieces never reach your ponytail. I use decorative clips to fix this annoying problem. You can buy cute gold clips anywhere right now.

Take the shortest pieces near your face gently.
Twist them slightly backward toward your ear.
Snap a gold clip flat against your head.
Do the exact same thing on the other side.

This stops you from touching your face all day. Touching your hair makes it greasy very fast. I keep clips in my car console always. They save me when the wind blows hard.

12. Sleep in Heatless Curlers

Blonde woman in pink pajamas sleeping on a white satin pillow while wearing a silk heatless curling rod.

Morning styling takes up precious sleep time. Heatless curlers style your hair while you rest quietly. I bought the Kitsch heatless set for sixteen dollars. It totally transformed my morning routine this year.

Dampen your hair slightly with a fine mist spray bottle.
Place the silk rod over the top of your head.
Wrap small sections of hair tightly around the rod.
Tie the ends securely with the included silk scrunchies.

You wake up pull the rod out and go. The curls last all day long without any heat damage. I save twenty minutes every single morning now. The silk keeps your hair perfectly smooth overnight.

Styling Tools Comparison Guide

Top-down view of various hairbrushes, hairspray cans, essential oil bottles, and combs on wooden background.

I tested six popular styling tools over three past months. I scored them based on speed and hold. Here is my honest breakdown of the top choices.

Tool Name	Current Price	Best For	My Rating
Oribe Texture Spray	Forty Nine Dollars	Creating messy volume	Ten out of ten
Color Wow Dream Coat	Twenty Eight Dollars	Sleek straight looks	Nine out of ten
Dyson Airwrap	Five Hundred Ninety Nine Dollars	Bouncy soft waves	Eight out of ten
Slip Silk Scrunchies	Thirty Nine Dollars	Preventing split ends	Ten out of ten
Kitsch Heatless Curler	Sixteen Dollars	Overnight soft curls	Nine out of ten
Kristin Ess Bobby Pins	Five Dollars	Hidden root lift	Ten out of ten

The Oribe spray wins for pure styling speed. The Dyson takes longer but gives a salon look. I buy the Kitsch curler for gifts constantly. It truly works wonders on awkward length hair.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the awkward hair phase last?

Usually this phase lasts about four to six months. Hair grows about half an inch every single month. Regular trims make it feel a bit longer unfortunately. You just have to wait it out patiently.

Should I cut my hair back into a bob?

I felt this exact urge three times last year. Do not grab the scissors when you feel frustrated. Wait two full weeks before making any drastic cuts. Try the top knot style instead to hide it.

Why do my ends flip out at the bottom?

Your hair hits your collarbone and bends naturally. The shape of your shoulders forces the hair outward. You can fix this by curling the ends inward. A round brush helps smooth this bend easily.

Does dry shampoo help styling mid length hair?

Yes dry shampoo gives incredible grit and texture instantly. Clean hair falls flat and slips out of clips easily. I use Batiste dry shampoo on day one always. It makes braids hold together much better.

Can I wear extensions during the awkward phase?

Clip in extensions work wonderfully for this exact length. They blend seamlessly if you curl the hair together. I wore Barefoot Blonde hair extensions for two months. They cost around two hundred dollars online.

How often should I wash my in between hair?

I wash my hair exactly twice a week now. Washing it daily makes the ends very dry. Dry ends look frizzy and make the length worse. Use a good shower cap on your off days.

What is the best brush for this length?

The Wet Brush detangles wet hair without breaking it. A boar bristle brush smooths dry hair perfectly. I own both and use them every single day. Good brushes stop your hair from breaking off.

How do I hide thinning edges when putting hair up?

I use a root touch up powder on my edges. Color Wow makes a great powder for thirty dollars. You just brush it onto your scalp gently. It makes your hairline look completely full instantly.

Do silk pillowcases actually help hair grow?

Silk stops friction while you toss and turn asleep. Less friction means fewer broken ends in the morning. Your hair retains its natural length much better. I highly rate the Slip brand silk pillowcases.

Why does my ponytail look so short and stubby?

Your hair has too many uneven layers right now. Try the double ponytail trick to fake length. Tie one ponytail high and one directly below it. The top hair falls over the bottom hair beautifully.

Can I use straighteners on this length daily?

Daily heat damages your delicate ends very quickly. Damaged ends break off and keep your hair short. Try the heatless curler step I shared above instead. Save your hot tools for special weekend events.

What hair ties prevent dents in short hair?

Coil hair ties work the best for this issue. They distribute the pressure evenly around the ponytail. Silk scrunchies also prevent harsh creases in your hair. Throw away your tight elastic bands today.

Conclusion

A smiling woman with wavy hair wearing a floral dress and black denim jacket walking on a stone paved city sidewalk.

You have twelve solid ways to handle your hair now. This awkward phase will pass faster than you think. I survived it using these exact daily styling tricks. Start with the messy half up top knot tomorrow morning. I bet you will love how it looks instantly. Tell me your favorite trick in the comments below. Have you tried the heatless overnight curlers yet? Share this post with a friend growing her hair.

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell — Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Sarah Mitchell is the founder and editorial voice behind Hair Level Up. A licensed cosmetologist with more than 15 years of experience, she has styled A-list celebrities for editorial shoots and red carpets, with work featured in Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. Early in her career, she trained under the legendary hairstylist Oribe in New York, an apprenticeship that still shapes her editorial eye today. Sarah founded Hair Level Up in 2020 after one bad haircut convinced her that women deserved a destination that felt like a magazine, taught like a stylist, and inspired like an art gallery. She oversees every story from concept to publication, guided by a simple belief: a good story teaches you something, but a great one makes you feel beautiful while it does.