16 Flattering Haircuts & Hairstyles for Different Face Shapes
Choosing the perfect hairstyle can be a daunting task when you don’t have a specific look in mind. However, it’s essential to select a cut that complements your face shape and enhances your natural features. While you have the freedom to choose any shape or style for your hair, many hairstylists concur that certain cuts can be more flattering than others. These cuts are designed to accentuate your natural features or even help disguise aspects of your face shape that you may not be particularly fond of. In some instances, opting for a tried-and-true, reliable haircut that you know suits you well can be the most sensible choice.
To help you make the right choice, Time and Tonic consulted top hairstylists for their expert advice on hairstyles for different face shapes, including square, oval, round, or heart-shaped faces. Whether you prefer a long bob, a textured shag, or a side-swept pixie, there’s a style that’s perfect for you and your unique face shape. Continue reading for their professional guidance and bring along some reference photos to your next salon visit for a fool-proof and confidence-boosting haircut.
How to Identify My Face Shape?
If you’re wondering, “Which hairstyle is right for me?” begin by identifying your face shape. Examine the illustration provided below and use a mirror to match your face with the various male face shapes depicted. If you’re having trouble discerning your face shape, you’ll find more comprehensive instructions at the end of this article to assist you in finding the hairstyles for different face shapes.
How to choose the correct hairstyle for my face shape?
Just like clothing, haircuts are not one-size-fits-all. However, unlike your outfit, you can’t change a bad haircut after enduring a day of teasing from your colleagues. That’s why it’s essential to understand which haircut suits your face shape best before sitting in the barber’s chair. Even a small adjustment in length or adding some facial hair can significantly impact your appearance.
Whether you have a round face, a long or rectangular face, a square face, a heart-shaped face, a diamond-shaped face, or a triangle-shaped face, we’ve got you covered with haircut suggestions tailored to your specific face shape.
1. Best Haircut for Oval Faces
Long Bob
Bobs are currently a highly popular haircut trend, and their appeal is evident, especially when they feature an outgrown and tousled appearance. Two bob variations, the chin-length bob, and the blunt bob, have become the haircut of choice for individuals of all face shapes, with a particular emphasis on oval face shapes.
The chin-length bob and the blunt bob offer versatility that suits various face shapes, but they are especially well-suited for oval faces. These bob styles provide a clean and stylish look that complements the balanced proportions of oval faces.
Butterfly Cut
Individuals blessed with oval face shapes enjoy well-proportioned facial features, allowing them the flexibility to experiment with a wide range of hairstyles. Among the favored options for this face shape is the long layered haircut, often referred to as the butterfly cut. This style is renowned for its popularity among those with oval faces.
Long layers incorporated into the hairstyle serve multiple purposes. They introduce a sense of graceful movement to the hair, lending it an appearance of vitality and fullness. Regardless of your hair type, long layers can be a transformative addition, providing a voluminous and dynamic look.
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The Farrah Fawcett Cut
When it comes to oval-shaped faces, hairstylist Williams suggests going all out to make a statement. He advises that if you have layers in your hair, fanning them out can work wonders by redirecting attention away from the lower part of your face, effectively elongating your jawline. Oval-faced individuals sometimes feel self-conscious about the lower half of their face, making this styling technique particularly beneficial.
The key to this look is to frame your hair upward and outward. While achieving this effect relies more on styling techniques than a specific haircut, you can enhance it further by incorporating long, shaggy layers into your hairstyle. These layers provide you with the freedom to experiment with volume, giving you the opportunity to channel your inner Farrah Fawcett and embrace a truly glamorous and attention-grabbing look.
2. Best Haircut for Long Faces
Middle Part
A middle or center part in your hair can be a highly flattering choice, although it doesn’t suit all face shapes equally. According to stylists, this style is particularly stunning on individuals with long faces and heart-shaped faces. The beauty of the center part is that you don’t necessarily need a salon visit to achieve it – you can easily create it at home.
For those with long faces, a center part can help balance the proportions of your face, adding a harmonious symmetry to your overall look. On the other hand, individuals with heart-shaped faces can use the center part to draw attention to their well-defined cheekbones while softening the appearance of their forehead.
To achieve a perfect center part, all you need is a small rattail comb. Simply part your hair straight down the middle, and you’ll instantly achieve this stylish and flattering look. It’s a simple yet effective way to enhance your facial features and create a more balanced and appealing hairstyle.
Long Layers With Short Angles
To enhance and complement a longer or narrower face shape, the key element to focus on is adding volume. The most suitable haircuts for individuals with an oblong face shape are those that aim to create a more rounded and balanced appearance.
Consider opting for a hairstyle with long layers that incorporate shorter angles starting around your cheekbones or lips. This approach adds depth and dimension to your hair, effectively breaking up the elongated appearance of your face. By introducing these shorter angles, you draw attention to these key facial features, helping to create a more harmonious and flattering overall look.
3. Best Haircut for Heart-Shaped Faces
Sideswept & Layered
Heart-shaped faces typically exhibit a broader forehead in comparison to a more pointed chin. To achieve a harmonious balance in facial proportions, consider opting for a shoulder-length haircut that incorporates long layers and side-swept bangs. This particular hairstyle is well-suited to complement the distinctive features of a heart-shaped face.
The shoulder-length cut works wonders by softening the broader forehead, drawing attention away from it, and directing focus toward the chin area. The addition of long layers adds texture and movement to the hair, contributing to an overall more balanced and flattering appearance.
Flipped Bob
A Flipped Bob style is ideal for those with a heart-shaped face, which is characterized by a broader forehead and cheekbones, paired with a narrower jawline and chin. To flatter this face shape effectively, it’s recommended to opt for a bob or lob-length haircut that enhances and opens up the area around the narrow jawline.
The Flipped Bob style not only provides a chic and modern appearance but also complements the unique features of a heart-shaped face. By maintaining a length that extends around the jawline, this haircut helps balance out the facial proportions, drawing attention away from the narrow chin and emphasizing the more expansive forehead and cheekbones.
Face-Framing Shag
Celebrity hairstylists recommend opting for longer hairstyles when you have a heart-shaped face. One great example is shag haircuts with longer face frames. This choice serves to elongate the face and create a more balanced and flattering appearance.
The key principle here is to introduce length in your hairstyle. Longer face frames effectively draw the eye downward, helping to balance the broader forehead characteristic of heart-shaped faces. By elongating the face, you achieve a sense of harmony and symmetry that complements your unique features.
4. Best Haircut for Square Faces
Diamond Cut
Square face shapes are characterized by their distinct and sharper features, which call for a hairstyle that brings balance and softness to these angles. A diamond-shaped haircut emerges as a favorable choice to complement a square face. This haircut features a longer back and shorter front, creating a pleasing contrast that can soften the prominent features of a square face.
The longer back of the diamond-shaped haircut helps elongate the overall appearance, reducing the emphasis on the angular jawline and square forehead. This elongation contributes to a more harmonious and flattering look. To further enhance this effect, incorporating soft waves into the hairstyle can be particularly beneficial.
During your next salon visit, consider requesting face-framing layers that gradually lengthen toward the nape of your neck. These layers work to soften the square features, adding a touch of elegance and symmetry to your overall appearance. Embracing these styling techniques can help you achieve a hairstyle that beautifully complements your square face shape.
Frame Cut
Square-shaped faces often exhibit prominent features like a strong jawline and a broad forehead. To achieve a flattering look, it’s essential to soften these distinct attributes. One effective way to do so is by opting for a layered haircut that gracefully falls just below the chin. This style introduces a sense of elegance and softness to the face.
Shoulder-length cuts that incorporate layers and loose waves are also excellent choices for softening the appearance of a square face shape. These elements work in harmony to add a touch of gentleness to the overall look.
To further complement square faces, consider incorporating a side part into your hairstyle. This offsets the squareness of the face, creating a more balanced and appealing appearance. Additionally, soft layers can be strategically added to conceal the sharper angles, enhancing the overall aesthetic.
5. Best Haircut for Rectangle Faces
Curtain Bangs
When dealing with a square face shape, opting for outgrown curtain bangs can be a clever strategy to add a softening touch while highlighting the inherent strong features. Square faces are often defined by prominent cheekbones and a strong jawline, which can sometimes lead to self-consciousness. Sideswept and wispy curtain bangs come to the rescue in such cases.
These curtain bangs effectively draw attention away from the angular features, creating a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing look. They serve as a stylish frame for the face, helping to accentuate the eyes and softening the overall appearance.
However, it’s important to note that maintaining and styling curtain bangs can require some effort. To achieve the desired volume and shape, consider investing in Velcro rollers or a heat-styling brush. These tools can help you effortlessly style your bangs, adding that perfect touch of volume and flair to complete your look
Soft Layers
A diamond face shape is characterized by wide cheekbones, a forehead and jawline that are narrower than the cheekbones, and a pointed chin. This unique face shape offers several haircut options that can enhance its natural beauty. One effective strategy is to incorporate soft layers into long hair, which helps to harmonize the width of the cheekbones and create a more balanced and proportional appearance.
Layers can be strategically placed to achieve this effect. You can choose to add layers throughout the entire length of your hair, creating a sense of depth and texture. Alternatively, you can focus on framing the face by adding layers around the front, which draws attention to the cheekbones and complements the overall diamond shape.
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French Bob
For those with a rectangle face shape, hairstylists typically recommend opting for shoulder-length hair or shorter styles. This choice includes popular options like the lob (long bob) and even a shorter French bob accompanied by blunt bangs. The reasoning behind this recommendation is to create a harmonious and balanced look that complements the unique characteristics of a rectangular face.
Rectangle face shapes tend to have more elongated proportions, and longer hairstyles can inadvertently emphasize this length rather than provide a flattering effect. By choosing shoulder-length or shorter cuts, you can effectively mitigate the elongated appearance and create a more proportionate facial structure.
Specifically, the lob and French bob are excellent choices because they add depth and volume to the hair around the face, which helps to balance out the length. Blunt bangs can also contribute to this effect by drawing attention to the eyes and forehead, diverting focus from the elongated features.
6. Best Haircut for Round Faces
Voluminous Layers
A round face shape is characterized by its nearly equal length and width, resulting in a balanced appearance. Layered haircuts, known for their versatility across various face shapes, can also work well for round faces. However, it’s important to pay attention to the precise placement of these layers, as it can vary depending on individual features.
For individuals with round faces, the key is to opt for voluminous long layers that commence around the jawline. These layers add definition to the lower part of the face, creating a flattering contrast and helping to elongate the overall appearance. This choice of layers complements the round face shape by introducing a sense of length.
Textured Shag
Recently, on TikTok, there has been a surge in popularity for angular shag haircuts. This trend encompasses styles like the heavily layered wolf cut and the unique bilevel jellyfish cut. If you’re not ready for a full commitment to these dramatic cuts, you can still enhance your look by choosing a layered shag haircut.
Layered shag haircuts are an excellent choice for those looking to add definition to rounder facial features. The key principle behind these cuts is that wherever you place a face-framing layer, you’ll draw attention to that specific area.
This means you have the flexibility to tailor your layered shag to your preferences. If you want to emphasize your eyes, you can have layers framing that area. Alternatively, if you wish to accentuate your cheekbones or jawline, layers can be strategically placed there. This customization allows you to create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing appearance that complements your unique facial features.
Sideswept Pixie
Round face shapes typically feature wider cheeks and a rounded chin. To achieve the appearance of a longer, more oval-shaped face, it’s advisable to select hairstyles that focus on adding height and volume to the upper portion of your head. Two excellent options for achieving this effect are side-swept bangs and a layered pixie cut.
Hairstyles with height and volume on top, like side-swept bangs, work by drawing the eyes upward and elongating the face. They divert attention away from the roundness of the cheeks and chin, creating the illusion of a more oval face shape. Sideswept bangs, in particular, frame the face beautifully while adding the desired height and elegance.
7. Best Haircut for Large Foreheads: Any Form of Bangs
Discovering the ideal hairstyle for your face shape doesn’t always necessitate a dramatic transformation – sometimes a subtle change can work wonders. For individuals with a pronounced forehead, bangs emerge as a flattering and feminine choice. However, it’s crucial to take into account your hair’s thickness and texture before committing to this style transformation.
If you have thick or very curly hair, achieving traditional bangs can be challenging. In such cases, consider an alternative approach by opting for shorter layers, roughly chin-length. These layers can effectively frame your face and create a flattering look without the need for full bangs.
Alternatively, you can embrace your hair’s natural texture and play it up by adding waves and texture to your bangs, drawing inspiration from styles like Rihanna’s. This approach allows you to work with your hair’s characteristics, making it more manageable and in line with your face shape.
Bottom Line (Haircuts & Hairstyles for Different Face Shapes)
Choosing the right haircut or hairstyle to suit your face shape can make a significant difference in enhancing your overall appearance and boosting your confidence. In this blog post, we’ve explored a range of flattering haircuts and hairstyles for different face shapes. Whether you have an oval, round, square, heart, rectangle, or diamond-shaped face, there are options that can complement your unique features.
Remember that while these suggestions are tailored to specific face shapes, personal preferences, and lifestyle factors should also be considered when selecting your ideal haircut. Consult with a professional hairstylist who can provide expert advice and help you achieve the perfect look to highlight your best features.
If you’ve been searching for the ideal hairstyle to enhance your beauty, you’re now armed with the knowledge to make an informed decision based on your face shape.
FAQs:
While you have the freedom to choose any hairstyle you like, certain cuts and styles can enhance your natural features and create a more flattering look based on your face shape. Understanding your face shape can guide you toward hairstyles that complement your unique attributes.
It’s not uncommon to have a combination of face shapes. In such cases, consider focusing on the dominant features of your face when choosing a hairstyle. A skilled hairstylist can provide personalized recommendations to suit your specific situation.
These guidelines are meant to be helpful suggestions, but you should always feel free to experiment with different styles and express your individuality. Hair is versatile, and trying out various looks can be a fun and creative process.
Look for hairstylists who have experience working with different face shapes. Reading reviews, asking for recommendations from friends or family, and scheduling consultations with potential stylists can help you find the right professional to provide expert guidance and create a hairstyle that suits you perfectly.
