Hairstyles for Round Faces: Best Cuts, Bangs and Styling Tips

Which Haircuts Make a Round Face Look Slimmer?

The goal is to create the illusion of length. Round faces have nearly equal width and length, so the right haircut shifts that ratio to look more oval.

These cuts work best:

The common principle behind all of these: they either add height, create diagonal lines, or narrow the visual frame of the face. A 2017 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that hairstyles creating vertical or diagonal lines were consistently rated as more flattering on round face shapes.

Not sure if your face is truly round? Try our face shape detector to confirm before choosing a cut.

Should You Get Bangs With a Round Face?

Yes, but the type of bangs matters a lot.

Side-swept bangs are the safest choice. They create a diagonal line across the forehead that breaks the circular shape. Selena Gomez wears these often, and they add structure without hiding her features.

Curtain bangs work well too. They part in the middle and fall along the sides of the face, creating a frame that narrows the appearance. Dakota Johnson is known for this style, and it suits round faces because the opening at the center adds vertical emphasis.

Wispy, textured bangs are a good middle ground. They're light enough that they don't add bulk across the forehead but still break up the roundness.

Blunt, straight-across bangs are risky. A thick, heavy fringe cuts the face horizontally, which can make it look wider and shorter. If you want blunt bangs, keep them on the longer side so they blend into the face frame.

Micro bangs should be avoided. (They can work on oval faces, but not round ones.) They expose the full width of the forehead and emphasize the round shape.

The key question to ask your stylist: "Will these bangs create a horizontal line or a diagonal one?" Diagonal is what you want.

What Is the Best Hair Length for a Round Face?

Medium to long hair is generally the most flattering. Here's why each length works or doesn't:

Below the chin is the sweet spot. Hair that falls past the jawline elongates the face. A lob that hits the collarbone is one of the most popular choices for round faces. Chrissy Teigen often wears this length with subtle waves.

Chin-length is tricky. A blunt bob that ends right at the jaw can emphasize the widest part of the face. If you want chin-length hair, add layers or angle the cut so it's slightly longer in the front.

Long hair works if you add layers. One-length long hair that hangs flat will drag the eye down without adding the vertical lines you need. Start layers at the cheekbones and work down. Miranda Kerr's layered long hair is a good reference.

Short hair can look great. Ginnifer Goodwin proved that a pixie cut on a round face can be striking. (Pixie cuts also work well on rectangle faces, but for the opposite reason: they add width instead of height.) The key is volume on top and tapered sides. This adds height where you need it and reduces width at the cheeks.

How Should You Part Your Hair With a Round Face?

Your part affects the shape of your face more than most people realize.

Side part is the top recommendation. It creates an off-center line that breaks the symmetry of a round face. The deeper the side part, the more elongating the effect. This is why nearly every stylist recommends it for round faces first.

Deep side part takes it further. Sweeping a large section of hair to one side adds volume and height on the heavier side. This creates a strong diagonal that makes the face look longer and narrower.

Center part can work if you add volume or texture on both sides. Flat hair with a center part will highlight the round shape. But waves, curls, or curtain bangs with a center part can look balanced. Miranda Kerr pulls this off by keeping her hair wavy and voluminous at the sides.

Zigzag part is an underrated option. It adds texture and breaks up the clean horizontal line that a straight part creates. It works well on medium-length hair.

One thing to avoid: pulling all your hair straight back with no part at all. Slicked-back styles expose the full round shape of the face with nothing to break it up.

Which Updos Flatter a Round Face?

Updos can look amazing on round faces when done right. The key is height and looseness.

High bun or topknot. Placing the bun at the crown or slightly above adds vertical height. This is one of the easiest ways to elongate a round face. Keep it slightly messy with a few loose pieces around the face for softness.

High ponytail. Same principle as the bun. A ponytail placed high on the head draws the eye upward. Ariana Grande's signature high ponytail is a good example of how height changes face proportions.

Loose, low chignon with face-framing pieces. If you prefer a low updo, pull out a few strands around the temples and cheekbones. These pieces break up the round outline and add softness.

Half-up, half-down. This gives you height at the crown while the hair that stays down frames the face and adds length.

What to avoid:

• Tight, slicked-back low buns with no loose pieces. They expose the full round shape.
• Updos with volume at the sides but not on top. This widens the face.

For more on how your face shape affects style choices, see our guide on face shapes for women. If you have a heart-shaped face, the updo rules are different since you want volume at the jaw, not the crown.

How Do Celebrities With Round Faces Style Their Hair?

Real examples are the best guide for finding what works.

Selena Gomez is the most referenced celebrity for round face hairstyles. She cycles through many styles but consistently favors long layers with a side part. When she wears her hair down, it's usually with soft waves that start below the ears. She also wears side-swept bangs well. Her approach: length and texture, never flat and blunt.

Ginnifer Goodwin made the pixie cut famous on a round face. Her version has volume and texture on top with short, tapered sides. She keeps the top slightly longer so it adds height. The look is bold but proves that short hair can absolutely work on round faces.

Chrissy Teigen leans toward medium-length styles. Her go-to is a lob or shoulder-length cut with soft waves. She often uses a side part or deep side part. The combination of length just past the chin and gentle texture creates a flattering frame.

Kirsten Dunst favors soft, romantic styles. She wears her hair at medium to long lengths with natural wave. Her cuts tend to have face-framing layers that start at the cheekbones. She rarely goes for sharp, angular cuts, proving that softness can still flatter a round face.

Emma Stone has a slightly round face and almost always wears a side part. She favors lobs and shoulder-length cuts with layers. Her approach shows that you don't need to drastically change your hair to get a flattering look.

What Styling Products Work Best for Round Faces?

The right products help you achieve the volume and texture that flatter a round face.

1. Volumizing mousse or foam. Apply at the roots before blow-drying. Focus on the crown area to build height. Avoid applying at the sides where you don't want extra fullness.

2. Texturizing spray. Use on dry hair to add grip and movement. This helps create the "undone" waves that add dimension without bulk. Sea salt spray works for beachy texture, while dry texture spray gives a more polished result.

3. Root-lifting spray. Spray directly at the roots on the crown and lift sections with a round brush while blow-drying. This gives lasting height.

4. Light-hold hairspray. A flexible spray keeps volume in place without making hair stiff. Heavy hairspray can weigh down the top and flatten the height you've built.

5. Dry shampoo at the roots. Even on clean hair, dry shampoo adds grip and volume at the roots. Focus on the crown and the part line.

Products to use sparingly: heavy serums and oils at the roots. They weigh hair down and kill volume, especially at the crown where you need it most. Save them for the mid-lengths and ends only.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid With a Round Face?

These are the most common styling errors that make a round face look rounder:

• One-length blunt cuts at chin level. This hits the widest part of the face and emphasizes the circular shape. Add layers or angle the cut.
• Heavy, straight-across bangs. They create a horizontal line that widens the face. Go for side-swept or curtain bangs instead.
• Volume at the sides with no height on top. Side volume makes the face look wider. Always balance it with height at the crown.
• Center parting flat, straight hair. This creates two equal halves that mirror the round shape. Switch to a side part or add waves.
• Tight, slicked-back styles. They remove all softening and framing from the face. If you want a pulled-back look, leave face-framing pieces out.
• Very short, uniform cuts. A buzz cut or very short crop with no variation in length gives no opportunity to add height or angles.

The general rule: if a style creates horizontal lines or removes all framing, it will emphasize the roundness. If it creates vertical or diagonal lines, it will flatter.

How Do You Tell Your Stylist What You Want?

Bringing the right information to your appointment makes a big difference.

1. Say "I have a round face and want to add length." This gives your stylist the goal right away. Most experienced stylists know exactly what to do from there.

2. Bring reference photos. Find two or three photos of celebrities with round faces (Selena Gomez, Ginnifer Goodwin, Chrissy Teigen) wearing styles you like. Photos communicate better than words.

3. Ask about face-framing layers. If you're getting layers, ask where they should start. For round faces, starting at the cheekbone or below is usually best.

4. Discuss your parting. Ask which side part looks best on you. Your stylist can try both sides and show you the difference.

5. Ask what to avoid. A good stylist will tell you which trends won't work for your face shape. This saves you from a cut that looks great on someone else but not on you.

For more about how face shapes affect hairstyle choices, read our guide on the 7 face shapes or browse hairstyles for every face shape.