Picking the best hairstyle for a round face can be helpful because it can give the illusion of a longer face and highlight the best features. Long haircuts can be even more beneficial because they can make the face look less round and more oval.
Recently as I was tidying my workstation, I found an old photo from about six years ago of one of my clients. One of the round face rules she told me about was that she had always been told she should get a bob. Someone made that decision for her and she carried that like a rule. The moment I made her go for the long hair look, I couldn’t speak as she gazed at herself in silence for about a minute and then she just said “oh.” That “oh” is one of the many reasons I love this job.
Many people seem to think that round faces and length do not go together. This is simply not true. While it is true that round faces do not have the appearance of length, there are many other things that go into it, such as the placement of weight, where the hair falls, how the hair interacts with the jaw and cheeks, and so on. For example, a long hair style that just sits like a curtain is not going to help. Instead, a long hair style with the right sort of layering or texture in the right places can completely change the look of your face and how people look at your face. Most of the time, it just takes a few small changes, and it won’t be a huge change to your overall look. I have fifteen different ideas that I think work well to add length to a round face. This is a topic that I enjoy and am excited to share more ideas on.
#1: Chestnut Waves That Actually Move the Way You Want
This is a before and after. The difference is substantial. The layers are doing all the work. The placement is intentional to help show the wave patterns instead of getting swallowed up by bulk. I see a lot of people with dense hair who believe that waves are not in the cards for them, and it’s almost always a layering issue, not a hair issue. For a round face, these sit along the cheekbones and jaw create a really natural narrowing effect without looking like you’re trying to do anything. The tradeoff is I guess you’ll need to come back to see me (or whoever your person is) pretty regularly to keep those layers looking fresh, and you’ll have to spend a few minutes in the morning actually working with your curl pattern and not against it. A little bit of curl activating cream scrunched in while it’s damp is going to go a long way.
#2: That Balayage That Looks Like You Just Came Back From Somewhere Warm
I guess one of the best things about this balayage is how natural it looks. It has a beautiful blend of colors, and the super long layers are awesome because they give some movement to the style without losing a lot of length. If you have a round face, all that soft motion around the middle of the hair will prevent the look from feeling heavy and static around the jaw. You would definitely love how simple the styling is for this look. It’s literally just a little bit of volumizing mousse at the roots and a light blow dry and you’re good to go. The only thing I will say is that if you go a week without styling it, the layers may feel a little stagnant and like they’re just sitting there, but a quick scrunch will really revive it!
#3: Big Dark Curls with Bangs That Mean Business
Inspiration, provocation, and collaboration are my biggest passions, and there is something about this combination that draws me in, even if others don’t see it. There’s a nice juxtaposition to bangs that are straight and sleek and curls that have volume. It’s very cinematic to me. The bangs really draw focus to the eyes and cheekbones, and the curls fill the generous space (big round face energy) in the rest of the area. Don’t think this is a wash-and-go kind of style. You NEED to spend time on this in the morning, and a really good product is necessary to enhance the curls so that they stay defined and frizz-free. If you enjoy the ritual of styling your hair, this look will be very rewarding to you.
#4: Long Dark Layers That Do the Quiet Work
This haircut has good quality and the longer inner layers allow for lots of movement and body without chopping the hair. The face-framing layers counterbalance the fullness of rounder faces and help slim the look of the fullness. I love the hair cut for its simplicity, no wild colors or bangs, just a haircut that looks classy with dark straight hair. The natural volume from density is something people wish they had, but with it comes the ever present threat of frizz and tangles people with hair like this know all too well. Regular trims and a good deep conditioner will keep this hairstyle looking good for a long time.
#5: Blonde Ombre That Fades Like a Sunset, Honestly
I don’t typically compliment blonde hair, but this color change is absolutely gorgeous. The way the hair moves and transitions from warm golden roots to cool almost platinum ends is stunning and makes the hair look incredible! I understand how big of a deal it is for something to photograph nicely and I appreciate that this looks great in photos. The face-braming layers add to the look and create a soft and balanced look. I will say, this is definitely not a color for someone who doesn’t want to think about their hair. The darker roots will grow out and, and the platinum ends will require purple shampoo and frequent toning to avoid a messy look. This is a stunning look for medium to thick hair because it gives a lot of volume. For fine hair, I think we would have to do something different to prevent a look of diminished volume.
#6: Classic Chestnut Waves That Just Flow
I honestly just don’t think there’s any way to improve on this natural chestnut wave. I am always one to want to make changes, and for once I actually can’t get over how stunning the waves and texture of this hair are. The subtle layers are not showy, and yet they are the reason the waves fall gorgeously. The length is certainly elongating around the face, so round faces will definitely get good use out of this cut. The layers just refine it even more. I adore this cut because the combination of the color and texture is absolutely perfect, and there is no competing to be the one who stands out. Just so you know, hair at this length will need to be maintained. Plan on using a deep conditioning mask to keep your ends looking good. If your hair is fine, just be aware that this much length may begin to feel a little heavy and the hair may crown flat.
#7: Sleek Dark Layers with Just Enough Wave to Keep It Interesting
What I appreciate about this look is the polished quality and the low level of maintenance demanded to achieve it. The layers are ideal for thick hair, they allow the hair to move, rather than just sit there. The waves are added for some personality and movement – but they’re not for the full-on curling routine every morning. For rounder faces, this length is more flattering, it encompasses an elongating effect that is soft and draws the eye downwards. Overall it has impact without the commitment of a complicated style, which is perfect for younger clients. The upkeep is mostly about keeping the look glossy with regular conditioning and limiting heat used to style.
#8: Straight Walnut Layers That Catch the Light
I love how shiny this looks! The walnut brown color is so warm and rich, and the health of the hair makes it look expensive because it reflects the light beautifully! The longer, softer layers are great for framing the face because they don’t create too much texture. This style is great for rounder faces because it gives a more clean and elongated look! If your hair is naturally straight, you’re in luck because you can just wash it, blow dry, and be out the door. I know you need to hear that! Just a warning though, if you use a lot of flat ironing to achieve that sleek look, you will need to protect your hair from heat damage with a good heat protectant. The ends will look dry and split if you don’t, and it will ruin the look!
#9: A Shag That’s Actually Wearable, with the Cutest Bangs
I get inquiries about shags pretty often, and I usually try to dissuade clients from getting shags as they envision some wash-and-go hairstyle, and that is certainly not the case. That said, this iteration is actually one of the more functional ones that I’ve observed. The wispy bangs are softening on round faces, with the mixed layers providing a texture and volume that gives the illusion of more hair, even on finer hair. It’s got that effortless cool-girl aesthetic going on and, unlike most shags, this one doesn’t require you to become a whole different person in the morning to look presentable. You’ll need to stay on top of the trims though because once shaggy styles grow out past a certain point, they quickly shift towards just looking like hair that needs a good cut.
#10: Blunt Bangs on a Textured Lob, and Yes It Works on Round Faces
It is often suggested that blunt bangs are not suitable for round faces, and sometimes this is valid. However, paired with a textured and voluminous lob, these bangs actually become a complimenting feature rather than an opposing one. The messy, chin-length lob adds length to the silhouette of the face, while the bangs help shift the focus upward to the eyes. This is an excellent combination. To put it simply, this hairstyle requires thick hair. If your hair is fine, the bangs will become separated, the waves will not have the desired volume, and we would most likely have to rethink a different variation of this concept. The very slight layering at the ends will maintain the weight of the lob, but offer enough movement to the rest of the look, and that is a little detail that will make a big difference. Expect to do regular bang trims every three to four weeks. The rest of the cut is pretty forgiving as it grows, just not the bangs.
#11: From Flat to Full, a Curl Transformation That’s Worth the Effort
I can’t be the only one that gets this excited looking at transformation pictures. I love seeing what people can do with their hair! Looking at the two pictures, I can see how the ‘before’ shot looks boring and dull with a flat and straight and heavy look while the ‘after’ shot looks much more lively, bouncy and adds some curls that end up lifting the entire look up. For round shaped face like the one shown here, having more dramatic volume with evenly spaced curls that sit at the cheekbone level completely changes the look! I love that this hair style was able to keep the length that she started with. I know how important it is to have that length, especially when someone is even a bit nervous about how much length is going to be taken off. There is no doubt that these transformation pictures are total makeovers. I won’t say this style is going to be much work to maintain though. People are going to look at it and know that it’s going to need some upkeep like a curling iron and some product to keep the style. For so many, that tradeoff is completely worth it.
#12: Tousled Layers and Curtain Bangs, the Combination I Keep Coming Back To
I recommend this hairstyle at least three times a week, and I still haven’t gotten bored of it. That’s impressive. Curtain bangs work on just about everyone, but especially round faces as they draw focus to the middle of the face, and create a thinner look overall. The longer layers will give more movement and body while keeping the shape from being too heavy. It’s one of those styles that people will think it’s effortless, but we know you put work into it. The bangs will need to be trimmed more often than the rest of the hair, but the layers will be low maintenance and will grow out nicely.
#13: Wine Red Waves That I’m Honestly a Little Obsessed With
Let’s take a moment to appreciate this beautiful color. This deep wine red looks beautiful and for lighter skin tones, it dramatically brings out your complexion while still being wearable. The soft layers give the color movement and prevents it from becoming a solid heavy curtain of red. The color red and round face combination can look more elongating without needing any structural work. If I’m being honest though, red is the hardest color to maintain. It fades the fastest and keeping that brightness is a lot of work such as using color depositing shampoos, cold rinses, and salon visits. If you have to prioritize hair growth over appointments, then this color is probably not for you. But if you can commit to the maintenance, it is very rewarding.
#14: Soft Chestnut Curls with Bangs That Melt Into Everything
The thing I value the most about this style is how everything comes together. The bangs, curls, and color work together to create a look that seems effortless. I like how the soft curls make a nice frame for a round face. The bangs are positioned perfectly. They are neither too blunt nor too wispy. The color, especially with the curls, looks great. Chestnut brown is a nice choice because it is lower maintenance. The soft side bangs help define round jaws. This style works best with medium to thick hair. The curls loosen over time to make their look more effortless. I know this hairstyle looks effortless, but I promise you, it is not and will actually take more time than it looks like. Finer strands will lose their curl definition more quickly. If you have that hair type and are willing to use a bit of styling product, then I promise we will make it work.
#15: Tawny Waves with Highlights That Know When to Stop
I really appreciate the subtlety of this color work, and personally having gone overboard, I can say this with authority (on my own head, of course, never on a client). The contrast contributes a lot of depth and interest, while steering clear of that highlighted, stripy look that tends to age you. The waves look very relaxed and natural, and the volume around the mid-lengths and cheek area works wonders for round face shapes. It gives them extra dimension, which is especially beneficial in avoiding a flat look around the jaw. The lighter pieces look great when well-maintained, so I recommend a color-preserving shampoo and conditioner. Also, if you don’t have wavy hair, you will need to do a bit of large-barrel curling to get that movement. It may look like it takes a lot of time, but once you get the technique down, it will be pretty easy.
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