Choosing a haircut by face type – bringing the face closer to the ideal oval with a haircut

A well-chosen haircut can significantly alter the appearance of your face. It’s important to find a style that accentuates your individual features rather than merely following trends. You can accentuate your inherent beauty and get your face closer to the perfect oval shape by getting a haircut that fits your face shape.

The first step is to know what type of face you have. Regardless of your face shape—round, square, heart-shaped, or long—certain haircuts can enhance your best features and balance your proportions. You can get a more unified look by modifying your hairstyle a little.

This guide will walk you through various haircut options for every face shape, providing advice and inspiration to help you strike the ideal balance. You’ll discover ideas to make your next haircut genuinely attractive, whether you’re planning a big overhaul or a more understated revision.

Face Type	Recommended Haircuts
Round	Layered cuts with volume on top, long bobs, and side-swept bangs to elongate the face.
Oval	Almost any style suits this face type, but soft waves and blunt bobs highlight the natural balance.
Square	Soft, layered cuts, waves, and side parts to soften strong jawlines.
Heart	Chin-length bobs, side parts, and curls to balance a wide forehead and narrow chin.
Diamond	Chin-length cuts, straight across bangs

Haircuts and face types

A face’s shape or type is determined by a combination of features that classify it as one of six geometric shapes.

The face’s shape can be:

• Oval;
• Round;
• Triangular;
• Rectangular;
• Square;
• Diamond-shaped.

Every kind has unique qualities. For instance, a triangle’s narrowed chin and a square’s massive jaw are indicative of their respective shapes.

Measure your face to find its width and length in different areas, or assess it visually to determine what kind of face you have. Connect the measurements you obtain to the attributes of the previously mentioned figures.

Finding a haircut that will cover up flaws and make your face shape more oval-shaped is the key to choosing a haircut for your face shape. We will next examine the women’s haircuts that will best balance your appearance and cover up flaws.

Oval face

The most trouble-free type is oval. For this kind of face, almost any hairstyle that is available to stylists is appropriate.

Features that define an oval:

• Elongation;
• Expressive cheekbones;
• Pointed chin, but with smooth outlines;
• Soft transitions along the border.

An infinite variety of haircuts are available for people with oval faces. You can grow long curls or very short styles; the decision is based on your preferences, age, profession, and style.

Three useful tips for an oval:

1. Bangs will help to emphasize and highlight the eyes. You can experiment with the type of bangs – try a curtain, a straight or torn style, micro bangs;
2. Long front strands stretch. Don"t make the front strands too long, otherwise the ideal oval will turn into an elongated one, and it will not look so harmonious;
3. A side parting will add variety. If you want to make a pretty face more dynamic, consider a haircut with an offset parting.

Short

For an oval face type, short haircuts are a daring yet tasteful option. They elongate the neck, accentuate the lovely collarbones, and add sexiness to the picture.

You’ll fit in with the following:

• Pixie – a short bold haircut with short temples and the back of the head. You can complement it with bangs – a long braid, torn or micro bangs;

• Garson – similar to pixie, but looks more conservative. Does not have obvious length transitions. Appropriate for business ladies who always want to look sophisticated and businesslike;

• Undercut – bold, daring. With a short or even shaved bottom and an elongated crown. The style will suit young girls who are not afraid of surprised looks.

Very brief choices such as crop and military will work well too.

Medium

Because of the oval face shape, medium haircuts for oval faces can also be freely chosen based on personal preferences. You don’t have to worry about appearing out of sync to follow trends or concentrate on your goals and way of life.

Curvy girls’ medium-length hairstyles that are stylish:

• Shaggy – flighty and shaggy. Distinguished by naturalness and ease of styling. Suitable for problem hair and those that lack volume;

• Kare and bob – classics. Both hairstyles are conservative, so they will suit adult women or girls who like stability and haircuts without frills;

• Mullet – a hairstyle in the style of rock musicians. Oval – one of the few types for whom an extravagant mullet with a short top and an elongated back suits. If desired, combine it with a torn, straight or asymmetrical fringe.

Long

If your face shape is oval and elongated, you shouldn’t wear your hair long. In this instance, length will work against it, making it even longer.

Please try this on if you have a classic, moderately elongated oval:

• Ladder – a haircut with a stepped cut line;

• Cascade – a multi-layered haircut that adds volume;

• Fox tail – a sexy long haircut with an angular cut.

A straightforward, uncomplicated cut is suitable for people who do not wish to experiment. Here, make sure the hair appears healthy, update the ends on a regular basis, moisturize it, consider lamination or Botox, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water.

Round face

A face with roughly equal length and width is referred to as round. Though broad, the cheekbones blend in with the skin, making them barely noticeable. When a round face is trimmed properly, the features are stretched and become more oval-shaped.

It is advised that a woman with a round face go for styles that have expressive, or even harsh, lines because they will help the circle become more geometric and sharp.

Practical advice for a circle:

1. Use asymmetry. Bangs on one side, offset parting and asymmetrical haircuts will help make the face less round;
2. Choose styles with elongated front strands. They will stretch the face into an oval and hide round cheeks.

Short

A pixie is ideal because it visually lengthens the face into an oval shape by adding height to the face from the longer strands on the crown.

Look for a pixie with an extended oblique bang, ideally with a ripped edge, as this will lessen the prominence of the roundness.

Medium

Med-length hairstyles for circular faces:

• Kare. The front strands of a bob do a great job of visually stretching a circle, but only if they end below the chin. Take a closer look at the asymmetrical bob, as well as the lengthening style with front strands to the collarbone;

• Medium-length ladder. A stepped haircut solves two problems at once – it visually stretches the face and adds dynamics to it due to the uneven cut.

Long

One of the greatest haircuts for girls with round faces is a long hairstyle. They make the circle appear to be stretched into an oval. It’s acceptable to just let your hair grow and give it a trim, or go for a trendy haircut:

• Cascade with slight thinning is a haircut that adds volume and is perfect for a round face. An excellent option for thin or fine hair;

• Ladder. A long ladder with a front strand below the chin hides the width and makes the face livelier, more active.

Any of the round-faced haircuts available can be enhanced with asymmetrical or ripped bangs.

What haircuts do not suit a round face

Girls with round faces are advised by NAILS Magazine to stay away from:

• Straight bangs. A sharp contrast enhances disproportionality;
• Chin-length bob. Emphasises roundness, makes the face flat.

You can try different looks, keeping in mind the girl’s overall appearance.

Special attention should be paid to hairstyles; forget about tight braids and tiny curls. Make gentle waves if styling is necessary.

Triangular face

A triangle has a narrow chin to balance the wide forehead and cheekbones. Since it is hard to make a triangle resemble an oval, it becomes more important to conceal the stark contrast between the top and bottom.

Practical advice:

1. Style your hair with a straight parting. Parting the hair in the center is the best option for a triangle;
2. Don"t avoid long strands near the face. In your case, they help hide expressive cheekbones;
3. Take a closer look at elongated styles of bangs. Long side bangs work great on proportions – they reduce cheekbones and mask a pointed chin.

Short

Selecting the appropriate short haircut for a triangle-shaped face can be nearly impossible. In actuality, short hair draws attention to a wide top and a narrow chin. A harmonious image can only be produced in certain situations, such as when the features of the face are generally bright and the eyes are large and expressive.

Medium

It is advised to: when selecting a medium length for a face with a triangle shape.

• Avoid strands exactly at the level of the chin;
• Abandon haircuts with volume on the crown, so as not to increase the width of the top of the face.

The following individuals handle these tasks flawlessly:

• Elongated bob. A cut line below the chin will help add width at the bottom without enhancing the top;

• Medium cascade. A cascade hairstyle adds volume, makes hair visually thicker, smoothes out the angularity of the chin;

• Torn bob. A bob with torn, as if chopped ends is a dynamic and bright haircut for active women and girls. Add missing roundness and distract attention from flaws.

Long

Wearing long hair with a straight cut is not advised for a triangular face because it will not balance the shape in any way and will draw attention to any flaws if the hair is thin and sparse.

If having long curls is important to you, consider the following:

• Cascade. A long cascade with multi-level strands adds volume, makes the chin less sharp and hides angular cheekbones;

• Shaggy. A universal haircut for all types of faces and a triangular one is no exception.

What haircuts do not suit a triangular face

• Classic bob. In the traditional version, a bob is cut just at the level of the chin or slightly higher, which draws attention to its sharpness;
• Pixie. Adds unnecessary volume at the top, enhancing the width of the forehead;
• Undercut and other bold styles. Too open and draws attention to the features of appearance.

By enhancing your natural features and bringing your face closer to the ideal oval shape, the right haircut for your face type can help you look more confident and balanced. You can choose a haircut that best suits your face shape and accentuates your best features by learning how different haircuts fit different face shapes.

Rectangular face

The elongated rectangle face type has a large jaw and a broad forehead. Hide the exceptional width is the task at hand.

Square-faced people should have complicated haircuts, ideally with multiple layers. In this instance, a straightforward bob or conservative garcon is inappropriate because it does not draw attention away from the structure’s features.

Overall suggestions for selection:

1. Do not emphasize the chin. Regardless of the style of the haircut, make sure that the front strands do not end at the level of the chin;
2. Use bangs. They help to "break" the pronounced geometry and angularity. Oblique options, as well as a rare curtain, are well suited.

Short

A rectangular face is not the ideal candidate for a short haircut. These hairstyles highlight the flaws by exposing the neck and face. An elongated pixie with moderate volume on the crown might be an exception, but it doesn’t work for everyone; you have to consider all of the aspects of your appearance.

Medium

The ideal haircut for a rectangular face is a medium-length cut. The ideal complement to the image would be:

• Ladder. This option is worth choosing if the hair is thick and does not need additional volume. The front strands of the ladder perfectly mask the width, but only if they end above or below the chin;

• Aurora. A multi-level haircut with a light cap on the crown with torn or asymmetrical bangs – copes with the placement of accents and shifting attention perfectly.

Long

Any lengthy hairstyle works well on a rectangular face. Volumetric styles have a harmonious appearance.

• Cascade. A medium cascade will smooth out the elongation a little and distract attention from the overall massiveness. Cascade is a haircut for a rectangular face that adds volume, so it is perfect for girls with thin hair;

• Shaggy. Works the same way as a cascade, but additionally adds an image of mischief and dynamics.

What haircuts are not suitable for a rectangular face

• Any short options. Pixie, garcon, undercut, tomboy – all these options will only emphasize the features of the type of appearance and make the image heavy;
• Straight cut on long straight hair. Even those with thick hair are not recommended to choose a simple straight cut – it will increase the width of the jaw and forehead;
• With straight thick bangs. Straight bangs to the eyebrows – an additional amplifier of the rectangular type.

It is preferable to style your hair without using an iron to straighten the strands. A massive face will appear more harmonious and lighter with light waves or casual styling.

Square face

It’s critical to identify the features of a square face in order to know how to cut hair with it. A square face features a large jaw, prominent cheekbones, and a broad forehead. The face’s length and width are roughly equal.

Although the structure of a square and a rectangle are similar, a square’s face is less elongated, making it challenging to visually correct and reshape it to resemble an oval.

Practical advice:

1. Choose long or medium haircuts. They are ideal for styling in large curls or waves that soften the angles;
2. Cover your cheeks. Avoid open-face haircuts like mullet. You need front strands to hide the width and expressiveness of your cheekbones, forehead and jaw.

Short

A short haircut won’t be able to make a square face shape better. Hairstyles such as pixie, garson, and "boyish" ones elongate the face, enhancing its angular and massive features.

Medium

• Shoulder-length bob. The haircut will help to lengthen the face and distract attention from the angular jaw;

• Torn bob. Leave the length of the hair below the chin and ask the hairdresser to profile the strands well to create the effect of lightness and carelessness – in the case of a square type, this is an excellent correction tool;
• Cascade. A multi-layered cascade haircut is suitable for thin and sparse hair that needs volume. Due to the oval silhouette of this hairstyle, the face will look more rounded.

Long

Long hair can work well on a square face, but only if the cut is asymmetrical, twisted, or curly—triangular, for example.

Although you are free to select the style, we suggest a cascade or shaggy cut because they are round and full, which makes them great for minimizing angles.

For girls with square faces, it’s important to disregard the straight parting. Use a zigzag or side parting to style your hair. The traditional center parting of the hair makes the face appear heavier.

What haircuts are not suitable for a square face

• Chin-length bob. The hairstyle focuses on a wide jaw and makes the problem more pronounced;
• Pageboy. Pageboy and other styles with volume on the crown turn a square into a rectangle;
• Short bob. Opens the face, makes all the flaws obvious, enhances the contour of the square.

Rhombus-shaped face

Faces with a rhombus are uncommon, at least in Russian girls. A pointed chin, broad, expressive cheekbones, and a narrow forehead are characteristics of a diamond.

The goal of choosing a hairstyle is to create the illusion of narrowing the cheekbones and widening or masking the forehead.

Suggestions:

• Do graduation. Uneven, as if torn strands add volume and compensate for a narrow chin and forehead;
• Forget about volume on the crown. Any haircut that adds volume at the top is taboo. They increase the imbalance of the face, make the flaws more pronounced.

Short

A short hairstyle is not a wise choice for a face with a diamond shape. It will widen the face and accentuate all the structural features, drawing attention to the pointed chin and highlighting the wide cheekbones.

A pixie with thinned strands and a medium-obliquely torn fringe is the only option. It will add volume and visually widen the forehead.

Medium

The following are appropriate medium haircuts for people with diamond-shaped faces:

• Bob. Choose a style without volume in the cheekbone area – it is better to shift it to the upper part of the hairstyle to brighten up a narrow forehead;

• Elongated bob. The front strands will help to cover the cheekbones, disguise their expressiveness and width;

• Graduated or torn bob. Recommended for girls with thin and fine hair – graduation will help add volume and thickness.

Long

It is acceptable to have long hair and a diamond-shaped face if you have curly or wavy hair or are prepared to style your hair every day. It’s crucial that long hair isn’t overly strict or straight because this will increase angularity.

These work well for a face shaped like a diamond:

• Cascade. Softens facial features and makes the chin wider due to layering;

• Shaggy. Shaggy on long hair works the same way as a cascade, and due to the inherent carelessness of the haircut, it distracts attention from imperfections.

What haircuts do not suit a diamond-shaped face

• All short except pixie. Military, garcon, cap, caprice, Chelsea and other short styles are an unsuccessful option for a diamond. An open face in your case is not the best choice;
• Ladder. A stepped haircut looks quite geometric, and the rhombus has enough angles anyway;
• Mullet. A rocker haircut opens up the face and works in the same way as short styles – it draws attention to an imperfect oval.

6 techniques for correcting your appearance with a haircut

You should consider your entire appearance when selecting a haircut. Once you’ve determined which hairstyle and face shape best suit you, consider other factors. This will enable you to adjust, enhance, or change your chosen hairstyle to best fit your particular appearance type.

Bangs will save a long nose. Volumetric bangs of any known style are a salvation for those who want to reduce the nose;

Parker, Sarah Jessica

A short neck needs to be opened. Take a closer look at haircuts that leave the neck open – bob, square, short styles. This will visually lengthen it, make it thinner.

Ears are easily hidden in multi-layered haircuts. If you are shy about your ears, choose a multi-layered haircut with expressive volume – a cascade or the now fashionable shag. Thinning makes the hair more airy and voluminous, masking the problem.

High forehead – side bangs. If you think your forehead is too high, mask it with side bangs.

Suvari Mina

Liv Tyler

Rita Ora

Questions

To whom will a short haircut fit?

On an oval face, short haircuts look appropriate. You must exercise caution when selecting a short hairstyle for other shapes.

How can I determine which hairstyle is best for me?

You can get in touch with a reputable hairstylist or try on a hairstyle using online services. A specialist will assist you in deciding which option best suits your needs and how to update it to match your style.

Among the short ones, a bold pixie remains at the top. We are still actively doing medium-length shaggy and cascading hairstyles this season, along with the mullet, which is making a comeback. A bob and a bob are also welcome as classics.

What qualities belong on a beautiful face?

Beauty is a personal definition. When discussing widely accepted notions, a moderately elongated oval is regarded as the standard. We think that everyone has a beautiful face; all you need to do is choose a hairstyle that brings out that beauty.

How can one narrow the square face?

Long hair in the front will be beneficial because it elongates and conceals the face’s edge.

When the strands progressively thicken from the back of the head and peak close to the face, an extension-style bob will work well. The job can be completed with a ladder, fox tail, or even just long hair that has been cut evenly. To be more specific, we looked into which hairstyles and haircuts thin the face separately.

Hairstyles with multiple layers, such as shaggy or cascading, can help accentuate facial volume.

Share with friends!

Popular on the topic Hair

What varieties and technologies are available for hair extensions?

What is a fade and what are the nine men’s faded haircuts?

How to repair hair damaged by chemicals

The top brands of scissors for hairdressing professionals

An assortment of the top hair oils

How to decide on a braided hairstyle and apply them

Ideas for wedding hairstyles

What kinds of combs for hair are there?

Techniques and hairstyle suggestions for varying hair lengths: the graduated haircut

The top-rated Korean hair color products

Magazine Sections

Express your opinion or ask a question! Cancel reply

Making the appropriate haircut choice for your face shape can have a big impact on how you look overall. You can draw attention to your best features and achieve a more balanced look by knowing your face type and choosing a style that works with it.

There are haircuts that can accentuate your natural beauty, regardless of the shape of your face—round, square, oval, or heart-shaped. It all comes down to making small tweaks to your face to get it closer to the perfect oval shape.

Always remember that the secret is to try out a variety of looks until you discover the one that works best for you. Never be scared to seek individualized advice from a hairstylist. You can feel more confident and like your best self every day with a great haircut.

Video on the topic

Selection of hairstyles. Haircuts for a triangular face. How to choose a hairstyle.