6. The Claw Clip Updo for Medium Hair

The Vibe: Effortless, nostalgic, cool, and having the biggest fashion moment right now.

The claw clip updo has become one of the defining hairstyles of the current era — and for medium hair in summer, it is particularly perfect. The claw clip gathers medium hair into a loose, organic updo in under sixty seconds, keeps the full length off the neck, and creates a style that looks casually sophisticated in a way that more effortful styles sometimes fail to achieve.

What Makes It Perfect for Summer Medium Hair:

Medium hair creates the ideal claw clip updo size. Long hair in a claw clip creates an enormous, sometimes unmanageable cascade over the top of the clip. Short hair barely fills a claw clip. Medium hair fills a claw clip perfectly — creating a compact, beautiful arrangement at the back of the head with just enough hair escaping over the top of the clip to look deliberately styled rather than hurriedly gathered.

How to Create It:

Start with medium hair in any state — freshly washed, day-two, wavy, or straight. Gather all the hair loosely in one hand at the back of the head, mid-height. Twist the gathered section two to three times. Open a large claw clip and place it over the twist, catching the hair securely inside as you close the clip. Adjust the arrangement so some hair fans out naturally over the top of the clip. Pull two or three face-framing pieces loose at the front. That is the entire process.

Pro Tips:

  • The size of the claw clip matters significantly for medium hair — a clip that is slightly too large creates a fuller, more deliberate result than one that is perfectly sized
  • Tortoiseshell, marble print, and transparent acrylic claw clips are the most universally stylish options for the current aesthetic moment
  • Try twisting the hair to one side before clipping rather than gathering at the center back — the asymmetric claw clip updo feels more editorial and modern
  • For a more polished version of this style, smooth the hair with a paddle brush before gathering to reduce any puffiness at the sides of the updo

Best For: Medium hair of all textures and densities. This style is the great equalizer — it works beautifully on virtually every medium hair type.

Face Shape: Works on all face shapes. The loose tendrils at the front can be positioned to be flattering for any specific face shape concern.

How Long It Lasts in Summer: Full day. One of the easiest gym hairstyles to rebuild in thirty seconds if it loosens.

Occasion: Everything — from morning coffee to beach afternoon to casual summer dinner. The most versatile style on this list.