When your face is round, and you’re over 40, the goal isn’t just to “slim” your look—it’s to bring balance and movement without adding width. Medium length cuts are perfect for that sweet spot: long enough to elongate your face, but short enough to keep things fresh and low-maintenance. A layered lob that hits just below the chin, with soft face-framing pieces, can instantly lengthen your silhouette and keep fullness in all the right places.
Also, avoid blunt ends that sit right at the jawline—they’ll only box things in. Ask for internal layering or slide cutting around the cheeks to prevent bulk and create that natural contouring effect without needing makeup. If you’ve been feeling stuck between growing it out or chopping it off, there’s a sweet middle ground that works beautifully at this stage.
Scroll through these ideas and let’s find the one that works for your face shape and your lifestyle.
#1 Face Framing Layers With Wispy Ends
Face-framing layers and airy ends add movement to this medium copper brown style. It’s a smart option for women over 40 with rounder faces, as the long layers elongate the cheek area while softening the jawline. This cut works best on medium to thick hair with a natural wave or light texture. The feathered edges reduce bulk around the sides—great for fuller face shapes. Less structured than a lob, but still polished.
#2 Shoulder Grazing Lob With Feathered Ends
Feathered ends and a shoulder-grazing length make this cut flattering for women with round faces. The deep side part and stacked layers open up the face while slimming the jawline. Ideal for medium-density hair with natural volume. The feathering at the ends gives the look bounce without heaviness. It’s low-maintenance but chic, perfect for women in their 40s who want to keep some length without committing to long hair.
#3 Soft Shag With Curtain Bangs
The tousled texture and curtain bangs give this soft shag a lived-in, effortless look. A great style for women over 40 who want shape without stiffness. It’s especially flattering on round faces thanks to the layered volume on top and the way the curtain fringe divides the width of the forehead. Works well with naturally wavy or voluminous hair and medium to thick density. Bonus: it’s perfect for glasses wearers, too.
#4 Angled Bob With Blended Layers
This angled bob, cut slightly longer in front, brings sharpness and lift to rounder face shapes. The smooth finish and minimal layering allow the natural red tone to shine. Great for women over 40 who want something structured yet feminine. The elongation at the front visually narrows the face. Best on straight to slightly wavy textures and medium density. Just keep in mind—this shape needs regular trims to stay crisp.
#5 Medium Choppy Cut With Side Part
Choppy layers and a deep side part give this shoulder-length style a casual yet flattering shape. It’s perfect for women over 40 with round faces—the off-center part adds asymmetry, while the choppiness brings volume without puffiness. Best suited for fine to medium hair textures. The soft waves create movement and work well for those who don’t want overly polished styling. A nice in-between cut that’s modern but wearable.
#6 Rounded Lob With Face Hugging Layers
Smooth and sculpted, this rounded lob flatters round face shapes by tapering just under the chin. The face-hugging layers create gentle structure without harsh lines. The warm ginger color enhances the cut’s dimension. Great for straight to slightly wavy hair with moderate density. Ideal for women in their 40s who want something elegant but not stiff. Just note: this sleek look needs blow-drying or a flat iron to keep its shape.
#7 Soft Waves With Collarbone Length Cut
This collarbone-length cut with voluminous waves and a sweeping side part lifts the face and brings soft elegance. The subtle layering creates body at the sides without adding bulk around the cheeks, which makes it especially flattering for rounder face shapes. Best for medium to thick textures with some wave. The side part draws the eye diagonally, helping elongate and refine facial proportions.
#8 Sleek Shoulder Cut With Middle Part
A sleek, shoulder-grazing blunt cut with a precise middle part adds structure and balance to fuller face shapes. The sharp ends visually lengthen the face while keeping the look modern and clean. Ideal for fine to medium, straight hair textures. While this cut does require flat ironing to stay smooth, it gives a very polished appearance—perfect for women over 40 wanting a minimal yet bold style.
#9 Blended Medium Layers With Light Waves
Soft beige-blonde tones and gentle waves make this mid-length cut flattering and wearable. The layers are seamlessly blended, avoiding any harsh lines that could widen a round face. The wave pattern starts around the cheekbones, which helps elongate the face and add softness. Great for medium-density hair with a natural bend. This look is super low-fuss, and it grows out gracefully between trims.
#10 Low Maintenance Shag With Flipped Ends
A low-maintenance shag with flipped-out ends and layered fringe adds energy and softness to a round face. The shorter layers near the crown add lift, while the flicked-out ends elongate the jawline and neck area. A fantastic pick for women over 40 with medium-density hair and natural wave. It grows out gracefully and doesn’t need daily styling—just some dry shampoo and texture spray.
#11 Side Parted Lob With Soft Curls
Soft, defined curls and a clean side part give this blonde lob a classic elegance. The face-framing curls narrow the cheeks, making it a smart choice for round face shapes. Works best on medium to thick hair that holds curl, or with a curl iron and setting spray. For women over 40, this style adds polish without looking overly structured. Ideal for events but wearable daily, too.
#12 Medium Cut With Layered Curtain Fringe
This soft, layered medium cut is elevated with curtain fringe that opens up the cheekbones and lengthens the face. The layers fall just at the collarbone, adding movement and keeping it from looking bottom-heavy. Great for women over 40 with rounder face shapes and medium-density hair. It grows out well and transitions easily between air-dried or heat-styled finishes.
#13 Wavy Shoulder Cut With Off Center Part
This shoulder-length cut features soft waves and an off-center part that shifts volume away from the widest part of the face. It’s a subtle but impactful adjustment that helps flatter round face shapes. Works well on medium to thick hair with natural body. The color dimension and layered finish give the style some extra oomph without extra effort—great for daily wear.
#14 Classic Lob With Bounce And Body
A classic lob with just enough bounce and subtle inward layering for volume control. The middle part keeps the look modern, while the rounded ends soften jawlines on round faces. Best for medium-density hair with straight or slightly wavy texture. It’s versatile and pairs well with casual or polished looks. A reliable go-to for women over 40 wanting structure without stiffness.
#15 Airy Layers With Side Swept Bangs
Airy layers and a side-swept fringe help lift and elongate rounder face shapes without sacrificing softness. The subtle wave throughout adds fullness in all the right places while keeping the cheeks from appearing too round. This cut works nicely on medium to thick textures and is perfect for those looking to balance volume without going too short. Very wearable with minimal daily styling.
#16 Medium Razor Cut With Tousled Finish
The razor-cut layers and textured bangs give this tousled style a laid-back, flattering shape. It’s great for softening fuller cheeks and breaking up roundness, thanks to the movement built into the midshaft and ends. Works best on medium-thick hair that’s naturally wavy or heat styled. The soft lift around the face adds subtle structure without feeling rigid or overdone.
#17 Soft Blunt Cut With Textured Styling
This softly waved blunt cut brings a modern twist to a classic shape. The ends are kept full but not bulky, which balances rounder face shapes beautifully. A great choice for women over 40 who want simplicity with a little styling versatility. Best on thick or coarse hair that holds curl well. The center part keeps the look symmetrical, but soft waves keep it from feeling too boxy.
#18 Disconnected Layers With Soft Volume
Disconnected layers give this shoulder-length brunette cut some extra movement and lift without puffiness. The soft volume at the crown adds height, helping to visually elongate rounder face shapes. Ideal for medium to thick hair, especially if it has natural wave or curl. The shape feels modern without being too trendy, making it a great option for women over 40.
#19 Shoulder Length Waves With Subtle Highlights
Natural-looking shoulder-length waves paired with sun-kissed highlights create depth without widening the face. The loose bends start around the cheekbones, which helps slim fuller cheeks and draws the eye downward. This cut works well for medium-density hair with a bit of natural texture. Easy to style and forgiving on second-day hair—perfect for low-effort mornings.
#20 Medium Haircut With Inward Curled Ends
Inward curled ends and gentle layering give this cut a classic, softly styled finish. It’s especially flattering on round faces since the inward curl draws the eye downward and elongates the overall shape. Works beautifully on medium-thick straight or slightly wavy hair. A solid choice for women over 40 who like refined but not overly styled hair. You’ll need a round brush and blow dryer to get that polished curve at the ends.
#21 Layered Collarbone Cut With Swoop Bangs
This collarbone-length cut with swoopy bangs helps soften full cheeks and adds dimension. The layers create shape without bulk, making it a great pick for women with rounder face shapes and medium-density hair. The light blonde color enhances the texture and makes the swoop fringe pop. A lovely option for women over 40 who want a youthful look without going short. It does take some blow-dry work to maintain that clean swoop.
#22 Middle Part Lob With Soft Ends
A center-parted lob can be tricky on round faces, but soft ends and long layers keep this one flattering. The length grazes the collarbone, helping to visually elongate the neck and slim the face. The gentle layering adds movement without volume overload. Works best for medium-density straight or softly wavy hair. Great for women in their 40s who prefer low-effort styles that still look put together.
#23 Textured Cut With Long Side Bangs
With tousled layers and long sweeping bangs, this cut adds lift and dimension to rounder face shapes. The fringe pulls attention diagonally across the face, helping balance fullness in the cheeks. Best for medium to thick hair types, especially with some natural wave. Ideal for women over 40 looking for movement without sacrificing length. A quick spritz of texture spray brings this style to life in seconds.
#24 Sculptress Haircut
Layered with precision and shaped for softness, the Sculptress haircut is all about refined structure. The ends are styled with a slight curl under, helping contour around the chin and neckline—great for round faces. Light face-framing and minimal layering keep the look full without being bulky. Best on medium-thick hair that can hold a bend. Works beautifully as a day-to-night transitional style.
#25 Velvess Hairstyle
The Velvess style features multi-layered flicked ends and light volume through the mid-lengths—perfect for lifting fuller features. The golden brown tone adds warmth and dimension, while the curtain-style fringe and flipped edges frame the face without closing it in. Ideal for women over 40 with medium-density hair and a little natural movement. Just a round brush and dryer will keep this looking polished.
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