Selecting the most suitable haircut for the shape of your face is essential. Oval face shapes are particularly lucky because nearly all hairstyles are suitable for them. Here, we’ve compiled 15 hairstyles that highlight the features of your beautiful face. You can go for a striking look or a more understated option. There’s lots of inspiration below!
There is a good reason customers are initially hesitant for more drastic options when a new hairdressing style is in demand. Personally, I had a client that had a shoulder length, blunt cut hairstyle for over a decade because she received negative comments regarding her cut. When she allowed me to make the first change to her hairstyle that had some movement, she cried. Not because her old style was unattractive, but because she did not realize she had so much creative potential to explore different styles.
People with oval faces have a unique ability to pull off hairstyles that other face types cannot due to the balanced proportions. Each hairstyle affect everyone completely differently based on their individual attributes, extensiveness, facial features, hair lifestyle, etc. Similarly, the purpose of this collection of photographs was to showcase various cuts and hair colors that complement an oval face shape. Each of these images reflects a different concept that I found interesting.
#1: Warm Caramel Waves with a Slow Ombré Melt
I appreciate how the hair color looks. The transition from deep brunette roots to caramel ends gives it the effect of a natural warm up. The volume at the cheeks creates a softness that feels natural and like it’s just sitting there. The length is nice for being medium because it won’t weigh everything down and will allow it to form waves. For thick hair this cut will create a lot of movement instead of just sitting there. With this color you will have to keep up with the roots because the ombre will start to lose its color as it grows out.
#2: Chestnut Layers That Keep Things Easy
I like this style because it’s simple. The long layers create movement in the hair while still keeping the shape without being over textured. The chestnut brown color is rich and makes for a great option that films and photographs beautifully in different light settings. This color and cut will make your hair appear neat and presentable, and will allow you to spend less time on your morning routine. This is a style that you can air dry and look put together.
#3: Deep Glamorous Waves with Real Body
I appreciate the amount of volume this style has. It is beautiful and really compliments the symmetry of an oval face. The deep waves add a ton of dimension to the look and the length is perfect as it falls just below the shoulders but without looking overdone. I have to be honest though, this is not a five-minute hairstyle. You will need a really good heat protectant since a lot of heat will be used to style it. A good hydrating conditioner will also be needed since this is a dry hairstyle and you’ll lose that soft bounce. If you have time to do this style then it will certainly pay off. If your mornings are more on the rushed side then this may frustrate you more than anything.
#4: Blonde Balayage That Grows Out Gracefully
I really like that root-to-blonde balayage. It’s very hard to do a balayage in which roots blend into ends without looking stripy. When done correctly like this, it allows fine hair to look more voluminous just from extra color. Her layers are perfect to enhance the frame of the face and not too much. This option requires less maintenance because the roots are part of the design. However, she will need to get the blonde toned every so often.
#5: Rich Copper on Long Layers
Every day, I’m liking the color copper more and more. It really does something special for the right person! I love how it has enough depth to it so that it isn’t too bright or costumey, but rather warm and intentional. The layers are cut subtly enough that she frames the face without creating a lot of obvious shape change, which is nice because it lets the color do most of the talking. Copper can make you look like you’re glowing from the inside if you have warm undertones in your skin, unlike some cooler tones. The downside is that copper fades faster than almost any other shade, so staying on top of your color depositing shampoo between appointments REALLY does matter!
#6: Chestnut Waves with a Gentle Balayage Through the Ends
I respect your opinion, although I appreciate the artistry with this style (especially the chestnut colour). It gives grounding to the style, while the light ends provide just enough contrast to add interest. The longer layers will hold their shape well and will provide texture, so that it doesn’t look flat. Overall, it is a sensible and pretty cut that won’t require a lot of effort on a daily basis.
#7: Beach Waves with Golden Warmth Running Through
The golden highlights are great because they really seem to work well with the light. Highlights always shine, and look nice all over the head, rather than looking like just “blonde pieces.”. The oval shape face with the soft layers, provides the carefree sun-kissed vibe. The relaxed wavy and beachy texture adds to the carefreenness of the hair and keeps it casual without it looking messy. The kind of style is awesome for running errands and going to dinner: you definitely won’t need to change your hair. You will eventually have to redo these highlights, but the color placement isn’t close to the roots, so it grows out pretty well.
#8: Auburn Waves with Movement at the Ends
Although the crown may seem understated, I actually find the most liveliness in the cut with the mid-lengths, and I think that’s the most important part. While some may see the volume as a negative, I see it as a positive from a design perspective. The waves and movement all draw the eye down and create a flattering effect for oval faces as it draws the eye down along the face. Unlike an accidental box-dye job, the depth and warmth of the auburn hue looks intentional, and that represents the difference good formulation makes. For anyone who isn’t a natural dark, regular maintenance will be needed. Unfortunately, there are no real shortcuts for that.
#9: A Tousled, Low-Key Chestnut Lob
I would say this haircut looks like you have put just the right amount of effort into it. There’s a nice wave, the ends look good, and the layers aren’t too noticeable. Everything about this style works. For this shape of face and this length, it’s perfect. The cut is good because it compliments your features rather than competing with them. I also think this style fades out really well, and it’s good to keep that in mind because I know not everyone can get professional trims every six weeks. You could use a light texturizing spray for the days when it’s looking a little flat, but other than that you shouldn’t need to style it too much.
#10: Jet-Black Waves and Curtain Bangs That Actually Work
I receive questions about curtain bangs often. I mention that they can be good or bad depending on how they are done. That said, if someone has an oval face, the bangs will probably be a good fit’. This combination here with beautiful black hair and bangs that sit on the brow and go to the side is a prime example. This is a great example. The bangs conceal the forehead, and the waves cover the black color from feeling too dull. If your hair is straight, then holding these waves will take effort, and if you’re dying it black, going from lighter to darker will be pretty damaging to your hair. However, the end result is quite visually appealing in a way that feels more vintage than modern.
#11: Midnight Blue Ombré on Long, Dense Layers
I can’t say I usually recommend fashion colors, but if I had someone with thick dark hair and an oval face, I’d see this. The dark base and midnight blue is almost like a shadow, but it looks pretty when the light catches it. The layers keep the length of your hair from looking like a solid curtain. It adds some movement so that with the color change it becomes a lot more visible. This is the style that’s silently dramatic. From far away you can barely see it, but up close it becomes really interesting to look at. Keeping blue color vibrant is really hard and requires a lot of commitment. You will need to wash it with cold water, get sulfate-free shampoo, and do touch-ups more frequently than you would expect.
#12: Golden Layers with Soft Framing Pieces
This haircut is practical as well as versatile and offers you some options. Soft face-framing layers and mid-length cuts hit just right. You could wear this wavy today and blow it out straight tomorrow and it would feel like two completely different haircuts. That’s the beauty of a properly done layered cut at this length. It feels great to run your fingers through it and, yes, this may sound superficial, but it makes such a positive difference in how you feel about your hair everyday. It photographs nicely on medium density hair too! Some frizz is inevitable when you don’t use a good product. Humidity will be your biggest challenge at this length.
#13: Fine Hair Given New Life with Placed Blonde Highlights
Since we are still on looking at highlighted placements, we have to consider the fine, dense hair type. It can look really washed out depending on where the light pieces are placed, so it’s important to be thoughtful about this. Whoever did these, was completely intentional about the way the highlights contrast at the peak and receded valleys of the waves, giving the illusion of a lot more texture and thickness. The medium length also suits this hair type as it’s long enough to provide some movement and short enough for the finer pieces not to look thin at the ends. It is regular color maintenance and wave refreshing that creates these beautiful results.
#14: Ash-Blonde Layers with Cool Dimension
People have strong opinions about ash blonde, and I love it on cooler undertones. Warmer blonde shades tend to clash. The ash blonde feathery layers trim the face without adding bulk, which keeps the look sophisticated without the fluff. A blend of ashy blonde and low lights can be high maintenance due to the inevitable brassiness. Touch-ups every six to eight weeks and purple shampoo between visits are a must. If you can tolerate the maintenance, cooler hair is a look not everyone can (but it is a classy look).
#15 Textured Chestnut Layers with a Fringe That Opens Up the Eyes
I can always tell how a fringe completes a look, and this is a perfect example. The bangs are cut just above the brow so they can be swept to the side to not cover the eyes, making them look heavy or closed. The rest of the cut is soft and natural with nice layering to make medium to thick hair look effortless even though the cut is doing all the work. I will even say this type of cut looks a little better after being shampooed and washed, not right after the hair is cut. It’s an underrated phenomenon. Just keep the fringe trimmed because once the bangs reach a certain length they will work against you, and most definitely not for you.
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