When you have a round face, certain haircuts can draw attention to your face.
Women with your face shape must choose their haircuts wisely to bring out their best features. Often, the latest “it” cut might not work for you unless you know how you need to modify it.
That’s why I put together this guide and gallery below on the best haircuts for women with round face shapes. In just a few minutes, you can look at any hairstyle and know whether it’ll make you look stellar.
What is a Round Face Shape?
A round face shape is characterized by a round front hairline, round chin line, and equal size in face width and length. (Source)
The easiest way to confirm you have a round face shape is by measuring. A flexible measuring tape works best. But a ruler will do in a pinch, too. If your face is a bit wider side-to-side than long, the odds are good you have a round face shape.
Confirm by looking at the shape of your front hairline and chin. Are these features round, too? If so, it’s time to look at haircuts for women with round face shapes.
But don’t worry about saying goodbye to your favorite hairstyle. You see, it’s true that long hairstyles are very flattering for round face shapes. But medium-length cuts can elongate your features, too.
Finally, forget anything you’ve read about avoiding short haircuts for round faces. With the right shape and layering, even bobs and pixie cuts can be super-slimming.
♀️ The Best Haircut for Your Facial Features
So, you’ve confirmed your face shape. But as humans, we are unique in our appearance. Did you know even identical twins aren’t truly identical? (Source)
Every one of your facial features impacts your overall appearance. And when you’re aware of these features, you can choose a hairstyle that’s 100% flattering.
Check out my recommendations for your specific features below. Then, keep them in mind while you scroll through the gallery of photos.
- Wide or large forehead. You can wear your hair any length so long as you ask for facial framing and bangs. Ideally, your framing will start around your temples or cheekbones. But you can opt for starting at the chin if you’re nervous about making a drastic change.
- Narrow forehead. You’ll want layers that feather back away from your forehead without much volume. Think less Farrah Fawcett and more Jennifer Aniston. If you want a pixie cut, a pompadour or faux hawk style would be very flattering.
- Crooked nose. An asymmetric haircut with a side part would be gorgeous on you. A bob or lob is the perfect way to achieve this look in a timeless, classic way. For a punky option, ask your stylist about shaving one side to create asymmetry.
- Small nose. A small nose can make you look too childlike when paired with certain haircuts. The ideal haircut for you would have natural volume and no bangs. A medium or long shag with volume at the top will help you look youthful and polished.
- Large or prominent nose. Lots of softness around your face will elongate your features and add balance. Try wispy facial framing, starting at your cheekbones and blending to your ends. This will make any haircut suit you perfectly.
- Small chin. Your hair should be swept up and away from your face to balance this proportion. But remember to avoid volume through the sides. Otherwise, your round face will look wider. Consider a shaggy bob with choppy layers or a short shag to check all these boxes.
- Large chin. Stay away from chin-length styles. So long as your hair is longer or shorter than your chin, your face will look longer, slimmer, and balanced. If you want facial framing, ask your stylist not to cut it shorter than your chin.
Do Bangs Work with Round Faces?
When you’re a woman with a round face, you must be cautious about bangs (also called fringe). The wrong type can make your face look even shorter and wider.
But the right bangs can be your best friend in creating the illusion of an oval face. I’ve broken down popular variations so you can achieve this effect for yourself:
- Straight or blunt bangs. These are never a good choice for women with round faces. No matter the length, blunt bangs will make your face look shorter and wider.
- Side-swept or swoop bangs. Angles and softness are your best friend. So, a side-swept fringe is a great option for you. Think about your forehead size and desired level of maintenance to pick the right length.
- Curtain bangs and bottleneck bangs. This type of fringe is here to stay! And even better, both options are perfect if you have a round face. Either one will be incredibly slimming for your face and easy to style in the morning.
- Curly bangs. When cut properly, curly bangs look amazing with a round face. The natural texture and movement keep your face from looking too squat or wide. Just know you’ll need frequent bang trims to keep them looking good.
- Long fringe. A long fringe—almost more like facial framing—can be super flattering on a round face. But long bangs look best with long hair. When paired with a bob, pixie, or lob, your face will look very short.
- Layered or wispy bangs. Round-faced women worldwide are rocking layered, wispy fringe with their haircuts for a good reason. The texture keeps your hair close to your face, which creates the illusion of length. I highly recommend this option.
- Baby bangs or micro fringe. Very short, wispy fringe (called baby or micro bangs) is perfect for making your face look longer. But they also create a trendy, edgy look. Consider your own personal style before making the chop.
Hair Type Considerations
I aim to empower you to choose a gorgeous haircut that flatters your round face shape. The thing is, you can’t make this choice based on face shape alone.
Your hair type greatly impacts which styles will or won’t help you achieve the illusion of an oval face. Keep these tips in mind once you start browsing the gallery below. A haircut that looks gorgeous on a woman with coily hair won’t have the same effect if you have straight hair, for example.
Here are my tips for making your haircut as flattering and low-maintenance as possible:
- Wavy. Wavy hair can be deceptive during the cutting process. This is because it shrinks up quite a bit when dry. If your haircut has ever turned out shorter than desired, ask your stylist to err on the side of caution while they cut.
- Curly (including perms). Curly hair tends to grow wider rather than longer. If your haircut has even grown out into the dreaded “pyramid,” you’ve experienced this. Find a stylist who specializes in curls for the best results.
- Coily. Coily hair comes with its own set of challenges. Asking for shorter, blended layers will add volume on top. This makes your face look longer, and the short layers will grow nicely.
- Straight (including relaxed hair). The key to your hair type is adding the right amount of volume. Try face-framing layers to add height and elongate your features. Getting too many layers will remove all your volume and make your face look shorter.
- Fine. The wrong haircut on fine hair can make your face look shorter. Even worse, this makes your features look disproportionately large. A stacked angled bob will lengthen your face and create balance.
- Thick and/or coarse. Thick, coarse hair needs a style that strikes the right balance between length and volume. You’ll want layers no matter what type of cut you choose.
- Gray. In my experience, gray hairs have 1 of 2 extreme textures. They’re either super soft and hard to style or very wiry and hard to smooth out. Consider the texture of your grays. Opt for face-framing layers if they’re soft. If yours are wiry, longer hairstyles will help weigh them down and keep them under control.
- Damaged or heavily processed. It’s hard to wear long hairstyles when your hair is very damaged. The split ends, and breakage will get worse. But longer hair will create the illusion of an oval face—a bit of a paradox. Get your ends point-cut to remove split ends, and add short or medium layers to trim off even more breakage.
How to Style Your Hair When You Have a Round Face Shape
The best haircuts for women with round face shapes make it easy to add volume and height or show off natural curls. But I know how challenging it can be to style your hair as nicely as your stylist.
So, I’m sharing my best tips for making styling at home easy, depending on your hair type.
Fine to Medium Hair
If you fall into this category, you know how hard it is to achieve all-day volume. But you need this to lengthen and slim your face. I have fine hair myself, and I’ve tried every trick in the book for easy, long-lasting volume.
My secret weapon for over a decade has been Big Powder Play. You apply this volumizing powder to your roots once your hair is dry. It offers volume and hold for up to 48 hours! Whether I’m taking the time to tease my hair or want a bit of a boost, I reach for this stuff.
My other favorite thing about this volumizing powder is its easy use. No blow-drying upside-down or round brushing required. Just sprinkle a bit on your hair, brush through with your fingers, and go. It’ll fit in perfectly with your existing hair care routine.
Thick or Damaged Hair
Having this hair with a round face can be challenging. You want volume on top to elongate your face, but you want sleekness on the sides and ends. It’s sometimes a difficult balance to strike, especially since you’re also fighting major frizz.
A lightweight, super-nourishing styling product is going to be your best friend. I always recommend It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Lite. This leave-in conditioner is truly the best of both worlds. It enhances your natural volume, but it’s also a weightless detangler. It fights frizz and protects from heat damage and humidity, too.
Mist this product liberally on damp hair, starting at your ends. Do a lighter spritz on your roots and mid-shafts, and style as desired.
➰ Wavy, Coily, or Curly Hair
Clients tell me that having a round face and coily, curly, or wavy hair is a curse. I get why you might feel that way. For these hair types, most hairstyles will grow wider and poofier before they grow longer.
This is because curls, coils, and waves need extra weight to pull them down. And the last thing you want with a round face is to look even wider! So, styling to achieve that elongated effect can take some practice.
But you can simplify all that nonsense with the right hair products. To show off your natural texture, I suggest Davines Oi All In One Milk. This lightweight product is super-hydrating, boosts shine, and controls frizz. It’s the best option for keeping your hairstyle from getting too poofy or wide without weighing you down.
Mist it on your damp hair after towel drying. You can also spray it onto your hands, rub your hands together, and scrunch it in.
If you prefer to straighten your hair, opt for Davines This is a Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid. I adore this product because it’s truly made for curly girls. It adds all the moisture and heat protection your curls need, but your straightened hair won’t be greasy or heavy. It also fights humidity.
Apply a dab to your hands, rub them together, and apply to damp hair. Brush through and blow-dry or air dry, then you’re ready to straighten.
♀️ Maintaining Your Haircut
Before you scroll through the gallery of haircuts for women with round face shapes, I need to cover one more thing: maintenance. This includes both your salon visits and your daily styling time.
There’s nothing worse than walking out of the salon feeling gorgeous… to get frustrated when you can’t duplicate the look at home or when it grows out too fast. You should always think about this upkeep, your hair type, and your face shape before trying a new style.
Haircut frequency:
- Annual or biannual salon visits are ideal for you. Ask for a low-maintenance cut that’ll look great as it gets longer. This will likely be a bob, lob, shag, or layered cut. Decide what length you want and go from there. Pixies and edgy hairstyles won’t be a good fit.
- You don’t mind popping in for a trim every couple of months. Any haircut from the gallery below will look great if it matches your hair type. If you want bangs, tell your stylist you can only trim them every 8 weeks. They’ll work with you to find the right low-maintenance length.
- You’ll visit the salon every 2 weeks if that’s what your haircut calls for. Explain to your stylist that you don’t mind bang trims or clean-ups as often as needed. Decide ahead if you want something super punky or a more classic, precise cut like an angled bob. Show your stylist your favorite photo from the gallery below, and they’ll handle the rest!
Daily styling:
- You have higher priorities than styling your hair each day. Whether the kids have you up early or you’re rushing off to work (or both), try to find photos of hairstyles that match your natural texture. If you have straight hair and show your stylist a curly inspiration photo, you’d need to spend an hour achieving that look daily. And know that bangs normally need daily styling regardless of your hair type.
- You have 15 – 30 minutes to do your hair every morning. Feel free to try out bangs, facial framing, or even shorter layers you tease daily. But you’ll still want to find an inspirational photo that mostly matches your hair type. Curling straight hair (and vice versa) can eat up your entire morning.
- You’re comfortable spending up to an hour styling daily. When you have this time, you can pick any haircut for women with round faces. But remember the potential damage from daily hot tool usage. Make sure you use a heat protectant. Your hair will also appreciate a day off from heat styling every week. Try having a “lazy hair day” during your weekend to cut down on damage, if possible.
The Top Haircut Ideas for Round Face Shapes
Now, you have a clear understanding of your face shape and the effect you want to create. Haircuts for women with round face shapes should elongate and slim your features. Take a look through the gallery below to inspire your next hairstyle!