Short, mid-length and long, extra-long: choosing your length
Before the finish comes the length, and it reads at a glance.
By Manel, M BRUSH5 min read
N° 06
The appointment
The essentials
Three categories are enough to place your hair length. Short: at the nape, above the shoulders. Mid-length and long: from the shoulders to just above the bottom of the ribs. Extra-long: from the bottom of the ribs and beyond. The length is then confirmed before the blow-dry begins.
Before choosing a finish, the booking asks for your length.
The question seems simple, and yet we often hesitate: a bob that grazes the shoulders, is that short or mid-length and long? Curly hair that springs up, how do you measure it? Here are the three categories to answer in a few seconds, and without picking the wrong one.
Why length matters
The longer the hair, the more strands there are to work, and the more each strand needs passes of the brush, from root to tip. Length does not change the quality of the blow-dry, it changes the work it requires.
That is why it is chosen first. It lets you book a slot suited to your hair, so the session is never rushed.
The three landmarks
Forget centimetres: they vary with height, build, the way you hold the tape. Body landmarks, on the other hand, never lie.
- The nape. This is the boundary of short: the hair stops at the nape, above the shoulders.
- The shoulders. This is the boundary between short and mid-length and long.
- The bottom of the ribs. This is the boundary between mid-length and long and extra-long.
The nape, the shoulders, the bottom of the ribs: three landmarks, and the question is settled.
The three categories in detail
| Category | The hair stops |
|---|---|
| Short | At the nape, above the shoulders |
| Mid-length and long | From the shoulders to just above the bottom of the ribs |
| Extra-long | From the bottom of the ribs and beyond |
Short
At the nape, above the shoulders. This is the short cut, the clear nape, the small bob. The blow-dry here works mainly the root and the line of the ends. We devoted an article to it: what a blow-dry can do on short hair.
Mid-length and long
From the shoulders to just above the bottom of the ribs. This is the realm of the classic bob and the long bob. It is also the length of the flipped-end bob, very present in this year's trends: we explain how to shape it in the article on the flipped-end bob.
Extra-long
From the bottom of the ribs and beyond. The hair falls to the middle of the back, sometimes to the waist.
The autumn-winter 2026-2027 shows made it a trend in its own right, with sleek lengths or long bouncy curls. For these great lengths, our article on the blow-dry for long and extra-long hair details finish and hold.
Measuring yourself at home
It is not always easy to see where your own hair falls at the back. A few simple tips:
Measure on dry hair.In its natural state, parting in its usual place: wet, hair looks longer and clings to the back.
Stand up straight, head in line.A head tilted forward shortens the visible length at the back.
Use two mirrors.Or ask for a photo from behind: it is the most reliable method for mid-length and long and extra-long.
Look at the longest strand at the back.At the centre, rather than the strands framing the face, which are often shorter.
The case of curly hair
Curls spring up: curly hair looks shorter than it really is. Once smoothed with a blow-dry, it often gains visible length. Gently pull a strand downwards to see where it really reaches.
Between two categories?
It is common, especially with layers or ends that graze the shoulders. Choose the category that seems most accurate to you. In any case, the length is determined before starting, with these same three landmarks.
Length and finish
Not every finish expresses itself the same way depending on length.
- On short hair, soft and volume give movement and presence; sleek draws a clean line. Curls have little room to form.
- On mid-length and long hair, every finish finds its place: sleek highlights the length itself, and curls take on their fullness. It is the most versatile category.
- On extra-long hair, sleek lets the light run down the whole length; curls, with the brush or the iron, give that ample movement seen on the catwalks.
Good to know: the two curl finishes take a little longer than the others, whatever the length. To compare the five finishes side by side, see the menu.
Choosing your length, not cutting it
An important clarification: this is about identifying your current length, not changing it.
Manel, a qualified hairdresser, knows the trade in full, but cutting is not on the M BRUSH menu.
If you are thinking of a new length, a blow-dry remains a good way to rediscover the one you have: well-worked hair often reveals a cut you thought was tired.
Booking the right length
Booking takes two minutes online: your length, your finish, then a free slot.
Nothing is paid online, and no deposit is required. Come with clean hair, without oil, serum or styling product. The address: Avenue d'Yverdon 4, 1004 Lausanne.
Have you placed your hair? Book your blow-dry.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I know if my hair is short or mid-length and long?
- Look at your shoulders. If your hair stops at the nape, above the shoulders, it is short; if it reaches the shoulders or falls below, it belongs to the mid-length and long category.
- Where is the bottom of the ribs when measuring hair?
- It is the lower edge of the ribcage, roughly halfway down the back. Hair that falls to the bottom of the ribs, or lower, belongs to the extra-long category.
- Does length change how long a blow-dry takes?
- Yes. The longer the hair, the more strands there are to work with the round brush, and the more time the session requires.
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