Hairstyles for a round face

The rule

A round face is about as wide as it is long, widest at the cheeks, with no angles. Hair can change that reading more than any other tool: it can add height above the face, length below it, and a diagonal across it. It can also, if the cut is wrong, add width exactly where the face is already widest.

So the rule is add height or length, add a diagonal, never add width at cheek level.

Long hair

Long hair suits a round face well provided it is not cut into wide layers at cheek height. Long layers that begin below the chin keep the sides of the face flat and let the length pull the outline down. Soft waves are fine; large, wide curls at the sides are not.

A side part with long hair is the easiest win for a round face. It puts more hair on one side than the other, which breaks the symmetry and creates a diagonal line. A deep side part with a long, sweeping fringe does it even more strongly.

Medium length: keep it below the chin

The one length to be careful of is the chin. A bob that ends exactly at the chin draws a horizontal line at the widest part of a round face and makes it look wider. A long bob that ends at the collarbone, or a shoulder-length cut with layers starting below the chin, keeps the length and avoids the problem.

If you want a bob, ask for an angled one: shorter at the back and longer at the front, so the front pieces reach below the chin and create a diagonal.

Short hair

Short hair can work on a round face if it has height. A pixie with volume and texture on top and close-cut sides adds length above the face; a pixie cut flat with width at the ears adds width. Ask for the sides to be kept close and the top to have lift.

Asymmetric short cuts, with one side longer or a long sweeping fringe, are also flattering because of the diagonal.

Bangs and fringes

Blunt, straight-across bangs shorten the forehead and widen the face, so they are the one fringe a round face should usually avoid. A side-swept fringe is the most flattering. A long curtain fringe that starts at the bridge of the nose and sweeps to the sides works too, because the opening in the middle adds a vertical line.

Men's hairstyles for a round face

Height is the aim. A quiff, a pompadour, a textured crop with lift on top, a faux hawk or a side part with volume all lengthen a round face. Keep the sides short: a fade or a tight taper removes width at the ears and cheeks and makes the height on top count for more.

Avoid styles that are flat on top with weight at the sides, such as a bowl cut, a long shaggy cut without lift, or a buzz cut with no taper, which shows the round outline plainly.

Hair texture

Curly and coily hair adds volume in every direction. To use it well on a round face, keep the volume on top and the sides tighter, and let the length sit below the chin. Fine straight hair benefits from root lift at the crown and a side part.

What to avoid on a round face

• Chin-length blunt bobs.
• Blunt straight-across bangs.
• Wide curls or volume at the cheeks and ears.
• Cuts that are flat on top with weight at the sides.
• A centre part with no fringe, which splits the face into two symmetrical halves and emphasises width.

Check your proportions first

The face shape test reports your length-to-width ratio. A round face typically sits between 1.1 and 1.3. The closer to 1.1, the more height and length your cut should add; near 1.3 you can be more relaxed about it.