The best haircuts for a round face add height on top or length below the chin, so the face reads a little longer than it is wide. Long layers, a long bob, a deep side part and short cuts with lift on top all work. If you are not sure your face is round, check it first with our free face shape detector.
What makes a face round
A round face is about as wide as it is long, with full cheeks as the widest point and a soft jaw that curves into the chin with no clear corner. It often reads as youthful and friendly. Our guide to the round face shape covers the traits in detail.
The idea behind every cut below is simple. Lines that run up and down, and volume above or below the widest part of the face, add length. Volume right at the cheeks adds width.
Short haircuts for round faces
- A pixie with height. Keep the sides close and leave length on top, styled up or swept to one side. The height pulls the eye upward.
- An asymmetric pixie. A longer piece on one side adds an angle that cuts across the curve of the cheeks.
- A short shag. Choppy, piecey layers with lift at the crown add texture without width.
- Go easy on full, rounded short cuts that sit at the cheeks, which add volume right at the widest point.
Medium haircuts for round faces
- A long bob. A bob that ends at or just below the collarbone is one of the most popular choices, because the length runs past the jaw.
- An angled bob. Longer at the front than the back, it creates a diagonal line from the cheek down.
- Shoulder length layers. Layers that start below the chin keep volume away from the cheeks.
- Go easy on a blunt bob that ends exactly at the chin, which puts the volume and the strongest line at the widest part of the face. Go a little longer or a little shorter.
Long haircuts for round faces
- Long layers. Start the shortest layer below the chin so the lines run down past the face.
- A butterfly cut. Lifted layers at the crown add height, with long lengths below the shoulders.
- Soft waves below the cheeks. Let the waves start around the jaw rather than at the temples.
- Go easy on very long, flat hair worn in a center part, which can make the cheeks the widest thing in the frame.
Bangs and parts for round faces
- Side swept bangs cut across the forehead at an angle, which breaks up the curve of the face.
- Curtain bangs parted in the middle frame the face with two diagonal lines.
- A deep side part adds height on one side and an asymmetric line.
- Heavy, blunt bangs straight across the brows make the face look shorter. If you love them, keep them wispy and a little long.
Haircuts for round faces for men
- A quiff or a pompadour. Height on top with shorter sides adds length.
- A textured crop with lift. Short and easy, with the top pushed up rather than forward.
- A side part. A clean part adds structure and an angle.
- A fade. Short sides make the top look taller.
- A beard. Longer at the chin and shorter at the sides, a beard lengthens the face and adds a jaw line.
Match the cut to your hair type
Face shape is only half of a good haircut. Your hair texture matters just as much.
- Fine hair. Shorter, blunt ends at the collarbone hold their shape better than very long layers.
- Thick hair. Ask for weight to be taken out around the cheeks so the cut does not widen there.
- Curly hair. Long, layered curls with volume at the crown suit a round face well. Ask for layers cut dry so they sit where you expect.
- Straight hair. Long layers and a side part stop straight hair from hanging flat beside the cheeks.
Check your face shape first
Many faces that look round in a mirror are oval or square when measured, and the advice changes a little for each. A square face has the same short length but a straight jaw with a clear corner, and suits softer layers more than extra height. An oval face suits almost any cut.
Our face shape detector measures your face length and the widths of your forehead, cheekbones and jaw from a selfie, then names your shape and a runner up. If you want to know why we never call one shape better than another, read our guide to the most attractive face shape.
Everyday styling for a round face
The right cut does most of the work, and a few daily habits help it along.
- Lift at the roots. Blow dry the crown with your head tipped forward, or use a round brush at the roots, to add height on top.
- Keep the sides smooth. Let the hair fall close to the face at the cheeks rather than puffing out.
- Change your part. Switching from a center part to a side part adds instant height and an angle.
- Tuck one side. Tucking hair behind one ear creates an asymmetric line that breaks up the curve.
- Use texture. A light texture spray adds movement at the ends without width at the cheeks.
Haircuts for round faces with glasses
Glasses add a strong horizontal line across the face, so a haircut with height on top or length below the chin balances them well. Angular frames suit a round face, and a side part keeps hair from crowding the frames. Avoid heavy bangs that sit on top of the frame, which can hide your eyes.
Growing out a cut on a round face
When you grow out a short cut, the awkward stage often puts volume right at the cheeks. Ask your stylist to keep the back a little shorter than the front, so the hair grows into a long bob shape rather than a round one. Keep up trims every eight to ten weeks to shape the ends.
How to talk to your stylist
- Bring two or three photos of cuts you like on people with a similar face shape and hair type.
- Say what you want to change, for example more height on top or less volume at the sides.
- Ask where the shortest layer will fall. For a round face, below the chin is usually the goal.
- Ask how long the cut takes to style each morning, so it fits your routine.
Face shape is a guide, not a rule. If you love a cut that is meant for a different shape, wear it with confidence. Our guide to facial thirds explains another way to think about the balance of a face.