Your face shape decides which haircuts look great on you and which ones fall flat. A style that suits an oval face can look wrong on a square face. The difference comes down to proportions.
There are seven main face shapes: oval, round, square, heart, oblong, diamond, and pear. Each one has different proportions at the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. Once you know your shape, picking the right haircut gets much easier.
How Do You Figure Out Your Face Shape?
You need three measurements and one observation:
- Forehead width. Measure across the widest part of your forehead, from one temple to the other.
- Cheekbone width. Measure across the tops of your cheekbones, from one side to the other.
- Jawline width. Measure from the tip of your chin to below your ear, then double it.
- Face length. Measure from the center of your hairline to the tip of your chin.
Now compare those numbers:
- Oval: Face length is about 1.5 times the width. No single area is widest.
- Round: Width and length are nearly equal. Cheekbones are the widest point.
- Square: Width and length are similar. Jawline is strong and angular.
- Heart: Forehead is widest. Chin is narrow and pointed.
- Oblong: Face is noticeably longer than it is wide. Sides run fairly straight.
- Diamond: Cheekbones are widest. Both forehead and jawline are narrow.
- Pear: Jawline is wider than the forehead.
Don't want to measure? Use our free face shape detector to find your shape with a photo.
What Are the Best Haircuts for an Oval Face?
An oval face has balanced proportions. The forehead is slightly wider than the jaw, and the face length is about 1.5 times the width. This is the most versatile shape for haircuts.
Best cuts: Almost anything works. Bobs, pixie cuts, long layers, blunt cuts, curtain bangs. The balanced proportions mean few styles look bad.
What to avoid: Very heavy bangs that cover the forehead and shorten the face. Styles with too much volume on the sides that make the face look round.
Celebrity examples: Beyonce, Jessica Alba, and Bella Hadid all have oval faces. Beyonce often wears long layers or a center part, which shows off the natural balance. Jessica Alba's shoulder-length lob is another classic oval face choice.
For a full breakdown of oval face styling, see our oval face hairstyles guide.
Which Hairstyles Suit a Round Face?
A round face has full cheeks and similar width and length. The goal is to add length and create angles that balance the roundness.
Best cuts: Long layers that fall past the chin. A-line bobs that angle down toward the chin. Side-swept bangs that create a diagonal line. High ponytails and top knots that add height.
What to avoid: Chin-length bobs that end at the widest part of your face. Blunt bangs that create a horizontal line across the forehead. Styles with volume at the sides.
Celebrity examples: Selena Gomez, Chrissy Teigen, and Ginnifer Goodwin have round faces. Selena often wears long, center-parted hair with face-framing layers. Ginnifer Goodwin proved that a textured pixie with height at the crown works beautifully on round faces.
| Face Shape | Key Feature | Best Haircuts | Avoid | Celebrity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oval | Balanced proportions | Almost anything: bobs, layers, pixie | Heavy, full bangs | Beyonce |
| Round | Equal width and length, full cheeks | Long layers, A-line bobs, side bangs | Chin-length bobs, blunt bangs | Selena Gomez |
| Square | Strong jawline, broad forehead | Soft layers, side parts, waves | Blunt bobs at jawline, center parts | Angelina Jolie |
| Heart | Wide forehead, narrow chin | Chin-length bobs, curtain bangs, layers | Short bangs, slicked-back styles | Reese Witherspoon |
| Oblong | Longer than wide, straight sides | Side bangs, shoulder-length cuts, waves | Very long straight hair, no bangs | Sarah Jessica Parker |
| Diamond | Wide cheekbones, narrow forehead/jaw | Side-swept bangs, chin-length styles | Slicked-back styles, very short cuts | Vanessa Hudgens |
| Pear | Jaw wider than forehead | Volume at temples, side-swept bangs, layers | Styles that add jaw volume | Kelly Osbourne |
Want more detail? Read our full round face hairstyles guide.
What Works for a Square Face Shape?
A square face has a strong, angular jawline and a broad forehead. The width at the forehead, cheekbones, and jaw is similar. The goal is to soften those angles or lean into them, depending on the look you want.
Best cuts: Soft, layered styles that hit below the jaw. Side parts that break up the symmetry. Textured waves that soften the jawline. Long curtain bangs that round off the forehead.
What to avoid: Blunt, one-length bobs that end right at the jaw. These emphasize the square shape. Center parts with straight hair can also highlight the width.
Celebrity examples: Angelina Jolie, Olivia Wilde, and Keira Knightley all have square faces. Angelina often wears long, soft layers with a side part. Keira Knightley uses textured bobs and waves to soften her angular jaw.
If you want to lean into the angles rather than soften them, check our angular face hairstyles guide. For styling tips specific to square faces, see is a square face attractive.
How Should You Style a Heart-Shaped Face?
A heart-shaped face is widest at the forehead and narrows to a pointed chin. Some heart faces also have a widow's peak at the hairline. The goal is to balance the wider top with the narrower bottom.
Best cuts: Chin-length bobs add width at the jawline, which balances the forehead. Medium-length layers that hit at or below the chin. Curtain bangs that narrow the forehead. Side-swept bangs that break up the wide hairline.
What to avoid: Styles that add volume at the temples or forehead (this makes the top-heavy look worse). Very short bangs that draw attention to the wide forehead. Slicked-back ponytails that expose the full forehead.
Celebrity examples: Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, and Kourtney Kardashian have heart-shaped faces. Reese frequently wears a chin-length bob with side-swept bangs. This adds fullness at the jaw while narrowing the forehead.
For a detailed guide on heart face styling, see our heart face shape hairstyles article.
What Are the Best Hairstyles for an Oblong Face?
An oblong face (also called rectangle) is much longer than it is wide. The sides run fairly straight, and the forehead, cheekbones, and jaw are similar in width. The goal is to shorten the face visually and add width.
Best cuts: Shoulder-length styles that don't drag the face down. Side bangs that break up the vertical length. Waves and curls that add volume at the sides. Layered bobs that hit at the collarbone.
What to avoid: Very long, straight hair with no bangs. This makes the face look even longer. Slicked-back styles and high buns that expose the full face length. Center parts with flat hair.
Celebrity examples: Sarah Jessica Parker and Liv Tyler have oblong faces. SJP usually wears curly or wavy mid-length hair that adds width at the sides. Liv Tyler's long curtain bangs help break up the vertical length.
For more on this shape, see our rectangle face hairstyles guide.
Which Haircuts Flatter a Diamond Face?
A diamond face has cheekbones as the widest point. Both the forehead and jawline are narrow, creating a tapered look at the top and bottom. The goal is to add width at the forehead and chin while showing off those cheekbones.
Best cuts: Side-swept bangs that add width across the forehead. Chin-length bobs that add volume at the jawline. Textured layers that balance the narrow top and bottom. Tousled waves at any length.
What to avoid: Slicked-back styles that narrow the forehead further. Very short crops that emphasize the diamond outline. Styles with volume only at the cheekbones, which makes the widest point look wider.
Celebrity examples: Vanessa Hudgens and Tyra Banks have diamond faces. Vanessa often wears long, textured layers with a center part that softens the angles. Tyra Banks uses side-swept styles and volume at the chin to balance her proportions.
Does Hair Texture Change Which Cut You Should Get?
Yes. The same cut looks different on straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair. Your texture affects how much volume and movement a style creates.
Straight hair tends to lay flat, which means you may need layers to create movement. Without layers, straight hair can look heavy on round or square faces. A blunt bob works better on straight hair with an oval face.
Wavy hair has natural movement that softens angles. This makes it great for square and heart-shaped faces without much styling effort. Wavy hair adds natural width, so people with round or wide faces should keep waves below the cheekbone.
Curly hair adds volume everywhere. If you have a round face and curly hair, longer styles work best because they pull the curls downward. For oblong faces, curly hair is a natural advantage since it adds width.
Coily hair has the most volume of any texture. Short styles like tapered cuts and TWAs (teeny weeny afros) work well on oval and heart-shaped faces. For round faces, height-focused styles like high puffs and elongated twist-outs add length.
| Hair Texture | Best For | Watch Out For | Best Styling Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | Oval, oblong (adds control) | Can look flat on round faces | Add layers for movement |
| Wavy | Square, heart (natural softening) | Adds width on round/wide faces | Keep waves below cheekbone for round faces |
| Curly | Oblong (adds natural width) | Adds volume everywhere | Go longer on round faces to pull curls down |
| Coily | Oval, heart (versatile styling) | Maximum volume in all directions | Use height-focused styles for round faces |
How Do You Talk to Your Stylist About Face Shape?
Knowing your face shape is only half the equation. You also need to communicate clearly with your stylist.
Before your appointment:
- Use our face shape detector or measure at home to confirm your shape.
- Save 2-3 reference photos of people with a similar face shape wearing styles you like.
- Note what you want to achieve: soften angles, add length, balance width, etc.
At the salon, say this:
- "My face shape is [shape]. I want to [add length / soften my jaw / balance my forehead]."
- "Here are photos of styles I like on people with my face shape."
- "What do you think would work with my face shape and hair texture together?"
Avoid saying:
- "Just do whatever you think looks good." This gives your stylist no direction.
- "I want this exact cut." A cut that works on one face shape may not work on yours. Let the stylist adapt.
A good stylist will look at your face shape, hair texture, thickness, and growth patterns before recommending a cut. Bring your research, but trust their expertise on the details.
What If You Still Can't Decide on a Haircut?
Start with a low-risk change. If you have long hair, try face-framing layers before committing to a bob. If you want bangs, start with curtain bangs (the easiest to grow out). If you want to go short, try a lob first.
Here are safe starting points for each shape:
- Oval: Try anything. You have the most options.
- Round: Start with long layers and a side part. See our round face guide for more.
- Square: Try soft waves at jaw length. See our angular face guide.
- Heart: Start with curtain bangs. See our heart face guide.
- Oblong: Try side bangs. See our rectangle face guide.
- Diamond: Try side-swept bangs with layers.
- Pear: Try volume at the temples with a round brush.
The best haircut is one that fits your face shape, your hair texture, and your life. If you're also curious about which face shape is most attractive, the research shows it matters less than you'd think. Use our face shape detector to get started, then explore the guides linked above for your specific shape.
