One moment that stands out for me the most over the past six years is when my client Diane came into the salon. I remember Diane because she was the first client that I had had who had not changed her hairstyle in over a decade. At the time, she was in her sixties, and had a broad face and lovely bone structure, but had been concealing her face by having very long hair with heavy layers. I remember the last time she wore that length, because someone told her that long hair was “slimming”. I’ll never forget the look on her face when, after we finally took her to a bob that was structured with some movement around the jaw, and she looked in the mirror and was silent for over ten seconds, and then exclaimed, “That’s actually my face!” And it was. It was a massive transformation, but it was not about looking thinner or younger, it was just about looking like herself. I find that with face framing, there are a lot of misconceptions about the end goal. It really is not about minimizing structures, but allowing the hair to do the work.
From what I have learned, I would say that the biggest surprises often come from cut recommendations that deviate from the typical choices seen in magazines. A really good example of this is a round face, where a long layered look would be expected, but what ends up working is a pixie. The most unexpected outcomes are the most rewarding. I can say this knowing that about 25 of the cuts that I will show you from my portfolio, I recommend using all of them on the client sitting in my chair. I will have different justifications for each, and I will be candid about which ones are the most inspiring for me and which ones are just solid recommendations.
#1: Textured Bob with a Soft Fringe That Actually Does Something
I like how the bangs are functional and not simply for decoration. They help break up the forehead which maintain an open look to the face. The texture in the body of the bob helps prevent the look from being heavy or bulky. This is the type of cut that can create the illusion of more hair if your hair is on the finer side. The wave creates movement and is the most critical part of the cut as it avoids that flat, stuck to the head look that bobs can fall into. Some light texture spray on damp hair and you’re basically done!
#2 Silver Layered Bob with Just Enough Wave
All aspects in this cut are working in quiet harmony. It’s not about basic layers and using the right technique to create movement while keeping that end thickness. What strikes me is how the wave pattern sits beautifully to widen at the cheekbone and then taper, giving it a great natural flow around a rounder face. If you want to go silver, this length with the shoulder length shape is a good end point because it’s sleek without the effort and, unlike shorter silver cuts, it won’t age you.
#3 Shoulder-Length Curls with Soft Layering
Great layering done here that doesn’t disrupt the curl pattern, which is an issue I see too often. When cutting curly hair, if too much is taken out, you get dry pieces that flare out at odd angles, but this was done by someone who clearly understood how the hair would behave post appointment. Highlights were also positioned well, picking up light right where the curls are most dimensional. This is a nice, low maintenance cut for someone who wants to be polished without having to spend thirty minutes with a diffuser every day.
#4 Gray Shoulder-Length Cut with Layers That Stay Put
Thanks for being so restrained with this one. You can tell the layers aren’t working against each other because they’ve added just enough shape so that the hair doesn’t hang there like a curtain. On a fuller face, that small movement around the jawline helps a lot because it draws the eye along the line of the hair rather than straight across. White hair has its own texture. It’s usually a little coarser and wavier than it used to be, and this cut embraces that change instead of ignoring it.
#5 Textured Pixie with Lift Where It Counts
I know exactly how to get the most sincere enthusiasm from this. The height at the crown is doing what it needs to be doing, creating vertical energy to balance a wider face without going architectural or overdone. The precision of the layers is also really effortless, and the final product is someone looking clean and confident and like she has bigger fish to fry than to concern herself with her hair. This type of cut works in your favour with fine hair because it moves naturally and won’t bulk around the ears. Daily styling is literally nothing and you’ll need trims every four to five weeks to keep it sharp.
#6 Warm Brown Bob with Highlights That Add Depth
The highlights on this bob are what make it special. Look at how the highlights are woven throughout the hair, unlike other cuts that have a stripe effect. This creates warmth and depth with movement in the hair. On a wider face, the hair that falls just below the chin is ideal because it gives dimension to the face and doesn’t stop at the widest point of the jaw. This is a really subtle haircut. It’s the sort of style that people will compliment, but won’t be able to put their finger on exactly what it is that’s different.
#7 Curly Bob with Bangs That Soften Everything
I always want my clients to know that bangs on curly hair is a commitment. They really do have a mind of their own, and on humid days, bangs are going to do what they want. But when they do this, they create a really nice softness across the forehead that change the proportions of a wider face. The rest of the bob curl pattern will add just enough volume that everything will feel balanced. The bangs will be super divinely just keep a good anti frizz cream on hand and accept that every day will be a little different.
#8 Short Layered Cut with Bangs That Draw You In
These bangs do exactly what I want bangs for fuller faces to do. They take the focus to the eyes and keep the focus there. The side layers have just the right amount so the cut doesn’t look flat or helmet head, which is the danger with shorter styles on rounder faces. This style is just above the jaw line which is a length I go back to again and again for clients wanting something shorter but who aren’t ready for a full pixie. It’s a classic, well balanced cut that does the trick without being too showy.
#9 Copper Bob at Shoulder Length
I feel like the color is talking more than the cut here. The copper is warm without being red-orange and depending on your skin tone, it can give a glow that makes people look healthy and alive, which is hard to achieve with other colors. The bob cut is pretty standard, around shoulder length, with some face framing layers. It’s nothing too crazy, but with the color, it elevated the look. If you are considering going copper, just a heads up that it’s one of the fastest colors to fade. So a good color depositing shampoo is going to be part of your routine.
#10 Gray Bob with a Textured Fringe
The fringe is spot on for someone who has fuller cheeks as it’s not thick or blunt, instead is soft and slightly piecey so breaks up the forehead without shortening the face. The bob length which sits just above the shoulders keeps things feeling current and the fine hair texture works in this cuts favour as it gives the whole thing an effortless, slightly undone quality. This is one of those styles that looks better on day two than day one which is honestly the mark of a well thought out cut.
#11 Softly Curled Bob with Rich Brown Tones
This cut looks super natural! The curls are in the right spots and the hair looks great without looking like you spent an hour on it. This hair has great volume and gives the right balance for rounder faces. The warmth in those brown colors goes really well with the skin tone. If you have natural waves or curls, hair like this will really let you play into it.
#12 Textured Bob with Loose Curls
This bob looks nice. Loose curls give the style some movement and are suitable for different ages and face shapes. I must say that this cut is all about the styling. Without the curls it’s just a pretty simple bob, one length cut all around. If the idea of curling this in the morning with a large barrel iron sounds good, then you will enjoy this. If not, then it’s probably best to get something with a bit more structure instead.
#13 Short Bob in Deep Burgundy
The burgundy color here is doing something interesting in that it adds visual weight and richness to what is actually a fair cut that is fine haired. The cut has subtle layers that are arranged to create movement at the ends, and the overall length is right around the chin; good for softening the appearance of squarer or wider jaw areas. I find this cut more interesting than a lot of others on this list because the color and cut are clearly working as a single idea and not two separate choices. For burgundy, the color could go wrong quickly if it’s too bright or too muddy, but this color hits a nice deep tone.
#14 Chin-Length Bob with Gentle Bangs
In my opinion, chin length looks, especially on more rounder faces, are very under appreciated. It gives an endpoint to the overall silhouette so the face doesn’t look extra long, and it gives some structure without going too far down to emphasize width. I think blonde bangs also look so much better when they are wispy and not chunky, keeps the face open, shows the brows, and I always feels visible brows elevate the polish of a look so much. I this is a simple, easy style that you could do a round brush blow dry on and be ready in ten minutes.
#15 Curled Bob with Volume Through the Crown
I can see the style is very constructively thought out. What they are doing is creating height and volume through the upper half of the cut, so the proportions balance out against a rounder face. The warm brown color has warmth that complements medium skin tones, and the layers are cut in a way that encourages the hair to swing out a little more at the ends. It’s a pretty cut. I wouldn’t say it’s groundbreaking but it’s well executed. It would look lovely on the right person.
#16 Silver Blunt Bob with Clean Lines
What a blunt bob? That takes guts! Especially with a round face because there’s no layers to soften anything, no wisps or texture to distract, just a hard line that either works, or doesn’t. Here, it works, and that’s mainly because the length is right at the jaw, giving a visual anchor that lengthens the overall appearance of the face. The silver is amazing and very well maintained with no brassiness to pull it yellow. If you’re going to wear a blunt bob in silver, the upkeep is non-negotiable. A purple shampoo every other wash, and regular trims to keep the line crispy.
#17 Angled Bob with a Fringe That Frames Beautifully
I prefer subtler angles on bobs since steeper angles can be more attention drawing towards the width of the jaw by unbalancing the contrast between front and back lengths. This one graduates slightly and just enough to create visual interest and a cheek line without it being a statement cut. The fringe is soft and blends nicely with the sides. This is a really nice haircut that looks custom made for this face rather than some template.
#18 Textured Bob with Body and Dimension
The light layering you have done looks great with most going through the mid-lengths to keep the top smooth and keep the movement where you want it. With rounder faces, that controlled volume in the bottom half of the cut can actually make the face look thinner because the hair widens below the jaw instead of at it. The highlights are very understated which adds to the cost without a huge difference in added color work.n
#19 Classic Rounded Bob with Bangs
This cut has developed a reputation over time. The shape is quite rounded to sit close to the head through the crown and flare out at the jaw. This is great for someone with a wider face as it will help create a nice line. The bangs also sit at a good density, not so thick that they look heavy but also not so thin that they look like an afterthought. The good thing about this haircut is that if your hair is pin straight then this cut is basically self styling. Unfortunately, you’ll also be stuck with a strict trim schedule since this cut will lose shape very quickly as it grows out.
#20 Gray Textured Bob with Flattering Movement
Some silver hairstyles may be a bit on the boring side, but the texture on this gray bob adds a liveliness that is often missing. Gray hair can often look stiff with little to no dimension, but this style avoids that with a combination of cleverly placed layers, and what looks to be an amazing blow dry with product applied for hold. The layers that open around the face at just the right angle to soften broader features without gaps and without stringy bits tell me that the person who did this was able to work with the natural fall of the hair rather than against it.
#21 Chocolate Brown Layers with Bangs That Balance
I love how these face framing bangs do their job perfectly. They sit just above the eyebrows and blend to the side creating a more narrow look to the forehead. I love how rich and warm the chocolate brown color is without being too dull. The natural wave in the hair combined with the layering and the mid lengths gives a lot more to work with. I would be careful to add more layers than what is shown here. With hair that has this much natural movement, adding too many layers will get you from effortless waves to looking messy.
#22 Curled Bob with Soft Bangs and Crown Volume
The most noticeable thing here is the volume around the crown, which is often the missing element in styles for rounder face shapes. By having the back of the hair elevated, you change the proportions of the entire head and face, and everything looks more balanced, even if no one can articulate why. The fringe is soft and a bit curled under, and the length just above the shoulders adds a touch of elegance. If your hair is fine, you’ll probably need a root volumizing mousse to maintain that elevation in between washes.
#23 Silver Pixie with Soft Texture
A Silver Pixie haircut can totally make someone look incredible, or really wash someone out. Usually, the biggest factors are skin tone and confidence rather than the cut itself. Shorter hairstyles are great for bigger faces, as it adds some weight, and with this cut, the texture is soft and won’t be too harsh (which is the greatest risk of very short hair). There is enough movement created by the long enough layers at the top of this haircut, and the sides and back are spaced close enough to the head to create an elongating look. Overall if you’re ready for it, this is an excellent cut!
#24 Curly Bob with Face-Framing Bangs and Warmth
I love how the curls give this cut so much personality, and how the bangs aren’t sitting heavy and separately on the forehead, but instead are more integrated into the curl pattern. This really transforms how bangs can look with curly hair. The warm tones in the color nicely complement the complexion and work well with the texture. This is a cut that would really suit someone with naturally curly hair who just needs a good shaping cut as opposed to someone who is trying to create curl that isn’t there.
#25 Silver Bob with Layers That Know Where to Fall
These layers start just above the cheekbones and end at the collarbone. With that being said, they have an amazing effect on a round face, because they make the eye travel down instead of side to side. The even silver color is soft, while the light wave at the ends keeps the whole style from being overly serious or matronly. If you’re trying to keep your hair silver at home, it’s likely that you’ll start noticing brassy tones around the four-week mark, which means your toning routine is even more important with a color like this.
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