Best Hairstyles For Different Face Shapes
The best hairstyle for your face shape balances proportions: round faces look sharper with long layers and side-swept bangs, square faces soften with textured waves, and long faces benefit from shoulder-length volume. Oval faces suit most cuts, while heart-shaped faces shine with chin-length bobs and curtain bangs.
Why Face Shape Matters When Choosing A Hairstyle
Face shape changes how volume, length, and fringe sit around your features. A cut that flatters one person can feel “off” on someone else because it emphasizes the wrong area—like widening the cheeks, sharpening the jaw, or elongating the forehead.
Once you know your face shape, you can pick styles that create balance. You’ll still have plenty of room to express your personal style, but with a stronger starting point.
How To Identify Your Face Shape
Stand in front of a mirror with your hair pulled back and look at three areas: your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. Then compare them with the overall length of your face (from hairline to chin).
These quick cues usually help:
- Round: face length and width are similar, with soft curves and fuller cheeks.
- Oval: face is longer than it is wide, with a gently rounded jaw and balanced proportions.
- Square: forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are similar widths, with a strong jaw.
- Heart-shaped: wider forehead and cheekbones with a narrower, more pointed chin.
- Long/oblong: noticeably longer than wide, with straighter sides.
Best Hairstyles For A Round Face
Round faces often look best with cuts that add length and gentle angles. The goal is to draw the eye up and down rather than side to side.
Top picks:
- Long layers that start below the chin
- Side part with side-swept or curtain bangs
- Asymmetrical bob or angled lob
- Soft waves with volume at the crown
What to be careful with: blunt straight bangs, chin-length one-length bobs, and very short cuts that hug the cheeks can make the face look wider.
Best Hairstyles For An Oval Face
Oval faces are the most flexible, so you can choose based on hair texture and lifestyle without fighting your proportions.
Top picks:
- Sleek bob or blunt lob (great for straight hair)
- Beach waves and long layers (great for medium to thick hair)
- Pixie cuts and short crops (ideal if you like bold shapes)
Tip: if your face is very long-leaning oval, add a little width with waves or a fringe rather than extra length.
Best Hairstyles For A Square Face
Square faces have a defined jawline and a broad forehead. Styles with movement help soften angles and add a more oval-looking outline.
Top picks:
- Layered cuts with a side part
- Long waves or textured curls that start around the cheekbones
- Shoulder-length cuts with soft, piecey ends
- Curtain bangs or side-swept bangs to break up a straight hairline
What to be careful with: sharp, one-length cuts and sleek center parts can emphasize the jaw and make the face read boxier.
Best Hairstyles For A Heart-Shaped Face
Heart-shaped faces look great when you balance a wider forehead with more visual weight around the jaw and chin.
Top picks:
- Chin-length bob or lob with soft ends
- Side-swept bangs to reduce forehead width
- Loose curls or waves that add fullness near the jaw
- Long layers that start around the collarbone
What to be careful with: heavy volume at the crown or very blunt micro-bangs can pull attention upward and exaggerate the forehead.
Best Hairstyles For A Long Or Oblong Face
For long or oblong faces, the goal is to add width and avoid extra length. Cuts that sit at the shoulders and styles with side volume usually work best.
Top picks:
- Shoulder-length cut with waves
- Lob with side-swept layers
- Layered bangs (curtain or full fringe, depending on texture)
- Soft curls that add fullness at the sides
What to be careful with: very long, pin-straight hair without layers can make the face appear longer.
Hairstyles For Different Face Shapes At A Glance
Use this as a quick shortcut when you’re narrowing down ideas:
- Round: long layers, side-swept bangs, asymmetrical bob
- Oval: most styles work, including sleek bobs and pixie cuts
- Square: textured waves, layered cuts, side part
- Heart-shaped: chin-length bob, side-swept bangs, loose curls
- Long/oblong: shoulder-length waves, lob, layered bangs
Hair texture, density, and styling time still matter, so treat this as a starting point—not a rulebook.
FAQs About Hairstyles And Face Shapes
How do I know my face shape?
Pull your hair back and compare the widths of your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline, then check the overall face length. The widest area and the jaw shape usually make it clear which category you fit best.
Can I wear a hairstyle that isn’t “recommended” for my face shape?
Yes. Face-shape guidance is about flattering balance, not permission. If you love a style, you can often make it work with small tweaks like parting position, adding layers, or changing the fringe.
Do bangs work for every face shape?
Usually, yes—what changes is the type. Side-swept bangs suit round and heart-shaped faces, while curtain bangs flatter oval and long faces. Square faces often look best with softer, textured bangs rather than blunt lines.
Does hair texture change what’s most flattering?
It does. Fine hair often benefits from layers and strategic volume, while thick hair can look cleaner with structured shaping and weight removal. Curly hair typically needs cuts designed to keep the curl pattern balanced around the face.
How often should I change my haircut?
There’s no single schedule. Many people refresh their cut every few months to keep shape, while bigger changes happen less often. Aim for a style that fits your routine and keeps your hair healthy.
