What Haircut Suits My Face Shape? A Stylist's Guide to Every Shape

Short answer: oval faces can wear almost anything, round faces look best with height and length past the chin, square faces soften with layers and a side part, heart-shaped faces need fullness near the jaw, and long faces need width and bangs rather than more length. Face shape doesn't ban any cut. It tells you where the volume, the part and the ends should sit.

Below is a two-minute way to figure out your shape, the cuts that work for each one, and the small adjustments a good stylist makes (where layers start, how long the fringe is, which side the part goes on) that matter more than the name of the haircut.

How do I figure out my face shape?

Pull all your hair back with a headband, stand about an arm's length from a mirror and look straight ahead. Trace the outline of your face on the glass with an old lipstick or eyeliner, from the hairline down around the chin. Step back and look at the shape you drew, not at your face.

Then compare three widths: forehead, cheekbones and jaw. Also compare the full length of your face with its widest point. If the length is about one and a half times the width and the jaw is a little narrower than the forehead, you're oval. Most people are a mix of two shapes, so go with the one that describes your jaw and the length-to-width ratio best.

• Oval: longer than wide, gently rounded jaw, forehead slightly wider than the chin.
• Round: length and width almost equal, full cheeks, soft jaw with no sharp angles.
• Square: forehead, cheekbones and jaw all similar in width, strong angular jawline.
• Heart: wide forehead and cheekbones, narrow and often pointed chin.
• Long (oblong): clearly longer than wide, with fairly straight sides.
• Diamond: cheekbones are the widest point, forehead and jaw are narrower.

Best haircuts for a round face

The goal is to add a little length and some angles. Long layers that start below the chin work well because they create vertical lines past the widest part of your face. A long bob that ends two or three inches below the chin is another safe bet, especially with a deep side part. A pixie can look great too if it keeps some height on top and the sides stay close to the head.

What usually doesn't work: a chin-length blunt bob with a center part, which draws a horizontal line right across the fullest point, and heavy straight-across bangs. If you want a fringe, curtain bangs that sweep away from the face are a much better fit. There's a full breakdown in are curtain bangs right for me.

Best haircuts for a square face

A square face has a strong jaw, which is a great feature. The trick is not to frame it with a hard line. Soft waves, layers that fall around the jaw and a side part all break up the angles. Long wavy hair is one of the most flattering looks on this shape, and curtain bangs soften a wide forehead.

Be careful with a blunt cut that ends exactly at the jawline. It turns your jaw into a ruler. If you love blunt ends, go either a couple of inches shorter (cheekbone level, which works on fine features) or longer, at the collarbone, where the line no longer echoes your jaw.

Best haircuts for a heart-shaped face

Here the forehead is wider and the chin is narrow, so you want to balance the bottom half. A chin-length or slightly longer bob is ideal because the fullness lands right where your face narrows. Side-swept bangs or long curtain bangs take some width off the forehead.

Avoid lots of volume at the crown and temples, like a teased top or a tight high ponytail with nothing around the face. If you're thinking about going short, a longer, side-swept pixie works better on this shape than a very cropped one. Our guide on whether to get a bob covers the bob lengths in more detail.

Best haircuts for a long or oblong face

Long faces need width, not more length. Bangs are your best friend because they visually shorten the face: blunt bangs, curtain bangs or a side fringe all work. A bob at chin level, waves that add volume at the sides, and medium lengths around the collarbone are all strong options.

The look to skip is very long, sleek, straight hair with a center part. It drags everything down. A high ponytail or a lot of height on top has the same effect, so keep volume at the sides instead.

Oval and diamond faces

If you're oval, you have the most freedom. Choose based on your hair texture and how much styling time you have rather than your face. The one thing to watch is heavy bangs that cover your forehead completely, since they can hide your best proportions.

Diamond faces have wide cheekbones with a narrower forehead and jaw. Chin-length cuts and bobs add width at the jaw, while bangs or a fringe fill out the forehead. Tucking hair behind the ears shows off the cheekbones nicely. Earrings play a role here too: our post on the best earrings for your face shape follows the same balancing logic.

What matters as much as face shape

Face shape is one input. Hair texture is just as important. Fine hair looks thicker with blunt ends and fewer layers. Thick hair often needs layers to stop it from turning triangular. Curly hair can shrink 20 to 50 percent when it dries, so any length you plan should be measured on dry curls.

Neck length, glasses, and your morning routine matter too. A cut that needs a 20-minute blowout isn't the right cut if you have 5 minutes. Before you book, run a few cuts on a photo of yourself with Lody's hairstyle try-on and see which one actually looks like you. Rules get you to a shortlist. Seeing it on your own face makes the decision.

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