9 Trending Haircuts And Hairstyles For Long Hair

Hairstyles for long hair aren't a budding trend, and 2024 really opened the door to many different possibilities. Whether it's an XXL waist length that draws all the drama, swooshy curtain bangs, or even the light and breezy lived-in ponytail; there's a lot to enjoy. Those who enjoy retro vibes can give a boost to '70s layers and shags plus wolf cuts-all of which work well with a little extra length. Of course, let's not forget the whole preppy-girl trend – hair bows and sparkly pins making waves, and accessories can elevate long hairstyles for women.

One of the best things about hairstyles for long hair? The styling options are practically endless. Whether you pull it back into a sleek ponytail, twist it into a bun, braid it, or just let it flow, long hair gives you the freedom to experiment. You just have the option to switch it around with your mood, off your face for that hectic day or spend some time playing with the more complex styles.

Pin it, twist it, braid it or let it cascade down your back – waist-grazing tresses allow you to do so much when it comes to long-hair hairstyles for women. Besides its length, long hair garners so much of attention because it can smoothen sharp features much better than its shorter counterparts.

Okay, we know ‘how do you maintain it’ can be massively irritating after a point. So, unless you are on a mission to promote some magic hair potion, you probably won’t like answering the same rhetoric question, every other day. How about steering the conversation to ‘how did you style it’ instead? Time for a hair makeover, we’ve rounded up legit head turning hairstyles for long hair. Snip and style your way to some serious hair envy.

Straight Hair

1. Straight Hairstyles for Long Hair

i. Fishtail

• Step 1: Gather all your hair in a high ponytail and divide into two halves.
• Step 2: Pick a smaller section from the right half and cross it over to tuck it in under the left half.
• Step 3: Similarly cross over a section from the left half to the right half.
• Step 4:With each new stitch, add a thin section of hair from either side into your braid for a woven look.
• Step 5:Continue till the end of the length and secure your long braid hairstyle with an elastic. Finish off with a few spritzes of Gatsby Set & Keep Hair Spray Ultra Hard and be rest assured that your braid will brave the winds.

ii. Wrapped ballerina bun

• Step 1: A long hair bun that doesn’t give away in the first hour begins with a secure ponytail. So start by brushing your tresses back with the Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush Mini and create a high ponytail.
• Step 2: Twist the length of your ponytail gently and wrap it around the root finally securing it with a hair tie.
• Step 3: This is the part that will give your look a whole new dimension. Pick a vibrant scarf and wrap it around the bun.
• Step 4: Tuck the ends of the scarf under the hair tie to keep it in place.
• Step 5: Secure the updo in place with bobby pins. Want a more relaxed vibe? Tug at a few stray strands from your hairline.

iii. Middle Parting Queen

• Step 1: Before you even begin to style, your hair should be clean and prepped. Cleanse it with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner to tame frizz. Quick tip: apply a heat protectant spray like the BBLUNT Hot Shot Heat Protection Hair Mist with Grape Seed Oil, No Parabens to serve as a buffer for your hair from the next several heat styling tools.
• Step 2: Once you have towel-dried your hair, grab your blow dryer and paddle brush. The paddle brush will help smoothen that long hair in the drying process so that you can get it to come out sleek and straight from the get-go. Dry it in sections for that perfect finish.
• Step 3: Now it's the turn of your flat iron. For nice-looking hair, don't forget to straighten your strands in thin, equal parts. This gives that sleek, glass-like look popular in hairstyles for long hair. Don't rush it; take your time for a salon finish.
• Step 4: For an added wow factor, apply a shine serum or spray after your straightening. A little does wonders! This will not only smooth your stray strands but also add a great glossy and healthy touch to your long and straight look.
• Step 5: The final stylish flourish that'll top off your trendy long hairstyle for women – a timeless middle parting. Use a comb to do a sharp, clean part right down the middle.

2. Straight Haircuts for Long Hair

i. Long Layer cut with highlights

• Here’s the con that no one talks about, long hair can be a literal burden at times. To counter this, opt for long layer cuts to ease out the heaviness without compromising on the enviable length. Consider going for highlights if you want to spice things up a bit.
• Ace the Look: Make volume spray your BFF because with layers, the more volume the better.
• What We Love: Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray For Extra Body And Volume

ii. Simple U shaped haircut

• Hello to our Plain Jane in the house. You’re looking for a no-nonsense haircut that’s simple yet ridiculously flattering. Enter the classic U-shaped haircut. Need a reason more to be convinced? We’re yet to find a case where this cut has led to regret, so full points for reliability.
• Ace the Look: This haircut looks more defined when sleek and smooth. Reporting to duty: smoothing hair serum.
• What We Love: L'Oreal Paris Extraordinary Oil Hair Serum, Anti-Frizz Serum With UV Protection

Hime Cut

• Amp up your look with a cool edge, the hime cut is perfect for the straight when it comes to long hairstyles for women. This style features blunt, face-framing side bangs combined with equally long, sleek layers. It's a chic yet edgy situation, and a great hairstyle for long hair to try out when you're looking for something that doesn't take much maintenance but is still totally stylish.
• Ace the Look: Keep those blunt bangs sharp, use a smoothing serum like Argan oil to maintain sleekness and prevent flyaways, giving your straight, long hair that flawless, polished finish.
• What We Love: Brillare Argan Hair Oil For Dry & Frizzy Hair

Wavy Hair

1. Wavy Hairstyles for Long Hair

i. Braided top knot

• Step 1: Flip your head down and brush your hair with the Vega Premium Collection Hair Brush.
• Step 2: From the nape of your neck start creating a French braid. Keep adding thin sections of hair from either side into your braid for a woven look. Also, the French braid for long hair is summer-approved.
• Step 3: Continue braiding till you reach the crown of your head.
• Step 4: Now twist all your remaining hair into a top knot. Secure it with elastic bands and bobby pins.
• Step 4: Show the unruly flyaways where they belong (read nowhere) with the Schwarzkopf Taft Phyto-Keratin Hairspray Ultra Strong Hold 4 .

ii. Manbun

• Step 1: Gather just the top half of your hair (don’t bother to fish out the brush) and tie it into a tight ponytail.
• Step 2: Tease the tail of your ponytail with the Bronson Professional Termax Back Combing Teasing Brush to add some extra volume.
• Step 3: Gently twist the length of your ponytail and wrap it around its root.
• Step 4: Secure the bun with a hair tie.
• Step 5: Since the rest of your hair falls flat, scrunch it with an egg-sized dollop of the Kevin.Murphy Hair.Resort Beach Texturiser for effortless beach waves.

iii. Old Hollywood Chic

• Step 1: Give your hair some TLC. So, whether you've got those hairstyles for long hair with waves or truly straight hair, slather on a smoothing serum like Matrix Biolage Smoothproof Professional Hair Serum .
• Step 2: Now, section your hair into small parts-that's the trick for long hairstyles for women. Take a 1-inch curling iron, and curl each section away from your face. Keep it vertical and curl soft, retro waves that scream vintage glam. Classy flowy waves are what we are looking for, not ringlets.
• Step 3: Whenever you let loose any curl, roll it back up to the scalp and pin it in with a bobby pin. This can set the curl in place and give you much more defined waves. Old Hollywood style is very structural, so this step cannot be skipped.
• Step 4: Cool your curls and then carefully gently remove the pins and smooth out curls with a wide-tooth comb or soft brush. The waves should merge perfectly with one another for that glamorous flow. This is where long hairstyles for women are at their absolute best; long hair can pull off about any sort of wavy hair look.
• Step 5: Finalise everything by spraying some hairspray to set it all in place. If you feel like giving it a totally dramatic touch, finish off with the side part and add a hairclip with just a hint of drama. There! You've just styled one of the most iconic hairstyles for long hair.

2. Wavy Haircuts for Long Hair

i. Spiral waves

• A beach-ready cut that embraces your hair’s natural texture? Sounds just right to us. Since your waves call the shots in the low-maintenance haircut, throw in a killer golden ombre into the picture and count how many heads you turn. Beach or no beach, this haircut can create waves and how.
• Ace the Look: Add definition and contour to your mane waves with an oil-free texturiser.
• What We Love: Kevin.Murphy Hair.Resort Beach Texturiser

ii. Simple V-shaped haircut

• Travel back in time and give a shout-out to this heavily layered cut that adds intense depth and movement to your tresses. Talk about bold! The sharply defined V cut at the ends of your locks, fuel an edgy makeover.
• Ace the Look: Spritz some hair spray through the ends of your hair to draw attention to the V-shape.
• What We Love: Schwarzkopf Taft Power Hairspray, Cashmere Mega Strong Hold 5

iii. Layered Cut

• If you have long wavy hair, the best way to make it style it up without losing your length is through a layered cut. It helps in enhancing your natural waves, thus giving them movement and definition. Imagine soft, cascading layers that make the framing around your face while adding texture and volume still look effortless. This really doesn't hurt as long as the cut is right. Your waves could be falling in that perfect manner without feeling too heavy on your hair as long as this is not about putting weight and bunch on top of your head.
• Ace the Look: To ace the wavy layered cut, master the art of texturising your layers with a light touch—this ensures your waves flow seamlessly.
• What We Love: Toni&Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray beach Locks & Natural Waves

Curly Hair

1. Curly Hairstyles for Long Hair

i. Side swept curls

• Step 1: Create a deep side parting with the Gorgio Professional Carbon Pin Tail Comb GCT60.
• Step 2: Swoop all your hair over the shoulder on one side.
• Step 3: At the back of your head, slide pins heading upward to hold it in place.
• Step 4: Grab a section of hair from the hairline and cross over to conceal the line of pins.
• Step 5: To tame any wispy strays and keep the style in place, spritz some Osmo Extreme Volume Mega Styling Foam .

ii. Half up Bow bun

• Step 1: Gather your hair to create a half ponytail. Secure it with a hair tie.
• Step 2: Loosen the elastic with a finger and pass the length of the ponytail through the gap to create a loop in your ponytail.
• Step 3: To form a bow, separate the loop with your fingers and fan it out into a bow. You can keep tugging for a bigger bow.
• Step 4: Add the Soho Boho Studio Bob Pins Pack Of 50Pcs at the bottom of your long hair ponytail.
• Step 5: Pull the ponytail over the center of the bow and tuck it back all the way under the bow.

iii. Curl Bun

• Step 1: Before the curlers go on, the curls should be in top shape. Wash and condition them using prep products for curly hair. Once washed and conditioned well, apply some curl-enhancing mousse or cream and let your hair air-dry or use a diffuser to define gorgeous curls.
• Step 2: To get that messy bun look, you want to add a little texture. So put in some texturising spray like the BBLUNT Hotshot Hold Spray Delivers Instant & Firm Hold to curl up your locks, making it pretty easy to braid up into a bun; just spritz and scrunch!
• Step 3: Gather all your curls and put them all into a loose ponytail. It doesn't matter if it's a bit messy won't be necessary, remember? It's a messy bun! You can even pull your hair together using your fingers rather than a brush for a more undone look.
• Step 4: Now comes the fun part. Twist your ponytail around itself to create a bun, securing it all in place with bobby pins. Don't get too perfect- it's okay if it's a little wonky and some curls start to escape for that undone, slightly messy look. You can fix it as needed and pin it into place for the look you like.
• Step 5: Take a few soft, face-framing curls around your face to finish off the look. Take the can of hairspray and give everything a quick spritz to set; don't overdo it. This is not a stiff, hard-set look.

2. Curly Haircuts for Long Hair

i. Layered Coiled curls

• Layered coils have been flooding the ‘Gram lately and no reason why. It’s no secret that curls are adored over ironed hair. If you’re a sucker for showing off your natural curls, but are hesitant because you aren’t strong with the volume, the wait is over.
• Ace the Look: Since this haircut rests big time on the intensity and definition of your coiled curls, it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. Top secret here is the curl enhancing cream.
• What We Love: Curl Up Curl Defining Cream

ii. Front Fringe Haircut

• This layer-free dream mane hits all the right notes. Brow-grazing fringes? Check. Effortless curls? Check. Zero heavy duty styling? Double check. Need we say more?
• Ace the Look: Curls are disobedient, yes. Which is why investing in a curl defining cream makes sense.
• What We Love: Aveda Be Curly Intensive Detangling Masque for Curly Hair

iii. Bangs For The Win

• If you have long curled hair and want to refresh your look, add some bangs! Bangs might elegantly sweep around your face and give your curls a playful twist that you need. You must opt for the soft bangs that frame your face well and flow into your curls, giving you volume and style. The use of curtain bangs for this look is great, sweeping across your brow and nicely merging with the rest of your hair, providing a cool and ageless style. They are versatile in that they can be styled straight or curled up, depending on your mood.
• Ace the Look: To ace the bangs curly hair look, use a curling iron or a diffuser to define your bangs, ensuring they blend seamlessly with your natural curls and frame your face beautifully.
• What We Love: Agaro Hair Curler

Conclusion

Looking for hairstyles for long hair? Whether you have straight, curly, or wavy hair, there’s a perfect cut for you! For those with straight hair, sleek, blunt bobs are trending big time, offering a sharp, polished look that’s easy to maintain. If you're craving more volume, consider long layers to add movement and dimension. Curly-haired beauties can embrace their natural texture with a layered cut or go bold with a shoulder-length shag, which adds a retro yet modern vibe. For a more defined look, a short curly bob is super chic. Meanwhile, wavy-haired girlies can rock the classic long beach waves, or for something edgier, try a mid-length cut with curtain bangs for a soft, romantic feel.

FAQs

1. What face shape looks good with long hair?

   Long hairstyles tend to complement square or oval face shapes the best. If you have a strong jawline, it's worth considering whether a long hairstyle could enhance your overall look.

2. Is a V-cut flattering for long hair?

   The V-shaped haircut is a stylish option, particularly for long locks. Rather than having a straight edge, the hair is layered at the ends to create a “V” shape, which looks especially striking when worn down. This cut adds movement and dimension to long hair, offering a fresh look without making it too heavily layered.

3. Which hairstyles work best with long hair?

   Blunt bangs can enhance almost any long hairstyle, but combining full fringe with long, blended layers is especially attractive. Bangs that brush the lashes can also be styled as curtain bangs, giving you two looks with a single cut.

4. Which haircut will suit a round face?

   If you have a round face shape, opt for a long bob with a centre part to create a more elongated look. It's best to avoid hairstyles that closely frame the face, as they can emphasize its roundness. Another great option is a long, side-swept bang or an asymmetrical cut, which helps break up the roundness for a more balanced appearance.

5. How do I determine my face shape?

   If your face is longer than it is wide, you likely have an oval face shape. If it's wider than it is long, you might have a round or heart-shaped face. A face that is about twice as long as it is wide suggests a rectangular shape. If the length and width are nearly equal, your face may be diamond or square-shaped.