Is shorter hair better for a rounder face?

Not necessarily. In fact, some long styles work just as well. It's more about angles, the cut, and what you're comfortable with.

Should those with a round face get a layered cut?

A layered cut can draw more attention to the face and create angles where there might not be any naturally (i.e. a rounder face).

Can those with a round face still rock curls?

Absolutely. Many curl cuts and styles can play with angles and volume to create the illusion of a face that isn't so naturally round.

36 Best Hairstyles for Round Faces

Mindy Kaling, Selena Gomez, and Michelle Williams — Getty Images / Byrdie

Characterized by curves rather than angles, round-face shapes are often considered to be youthful and sweet. The rounder chin and wide cheekbones can give the illusion of eternal youth, something many of us spend many pretty pennies to achieve. While rounded faces aren't limited in complementary hairstyles, there are some that can help create more definition and provide balance by elongating the face.

To be sure of what exactly those are, we turned to stylist Scott Ade and hair industry pros Adam Federico and Gretchen Friese for the rules of finding a flattering hairstyle for a round face. Plus, we selected some of our favorite cuts and styles from rounder-faced A-listers. Scroll through our gallery of 36 hairstyles that best suit round faces.

Meet the Expert

Scott Ade is a hairstylist with more than a decade of experience at John Frieda and five years spent working at Hershesons along with countless fashion shows in London.
Adam Federico is the director of content at haircare line R+Co and the creative director at Federico Beauty Institute.
Gretchen Friese is a BosleyMD stylist and certified trichologist. She has over 20 years of beauty industry experience and is based in Denver.

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Crinkled Lob

Mindy Kaling with tousled, side-parted at the 2023 ChainFEST Gourmet Chain Food Festival VIP Night — Rodin Eckenroth / Stringer / Getty

Mindy Kaling's loose lob gets lots of texture in this air-dried look. After air-drying the hair, spritz texture spray through the ends and scrunch with the fingers.

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Old Hollywood Waves

Chloe Bailey with glam old hollywood hairstyle at the 66th GRAMMY Awards — Lester Cohen / Getty

Chloe Bailey's silver-screen siren look isn't for the faint of heart. These perfectly coiffed, old-hollywood waves were meant to be seen (and admired!). To style, "Use a volumizing mousse, blow dry with a large round brush and add some definition to the curls with an extra-large barrel curling iron," says Friese.

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Textured Lob With Feathery Fringe

Jenna Ortega with tousled lob and feathery fringe at the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards — Amy Sussman / Getty

Jenna Ortega's textured lob is messy in the best way possible. "A little height in the crown will elongate the face shape perfectly, and a side parting will also help to complement your shape," says Ade. For this look, tease hair only slightly and use a product that will enhance dimension, such as Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($52).

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Long Blunt Waves

Isla Fisher's long waves help add depth and dimension to her hair, but the blunt ends keep the look modern. And when it comes to the proper hair routine, she knows what she's doing. "Every great style begins with what the hair was prepared with," notes Federico. He recommends misting the hair with a liberal amount of R+Co One Prep Spray ($35) which "acts as a primer balancing the porosity of the hair." To replicate the style, use a medium-barreled curling iron and brush the waves out with your fingers.

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Sleek Lob

Zoe Saldana with smooth, rounded lob — Mike Marsland / Getty

Sleek and bouncy are two adjectives that rarely go hand-in-hand, but Zoe Saldana's chic, rounded lob achieves exactly that. We love how the smooth style doesn't sacrifice a hint of volume.

Byrdie Tip

If you've got fine tresses, use a ceramic brush when you blow-dry, as it will help hair to better hold volume.

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Smooth, Barely-There Waves

Hayden Panetierre with long, side-parted hair with loose waves — @haydenpanetierre / Instagram

Long, side-parted hair is glam on its own, but add a loose, is-it-or-isn't-it-there wave and it's even more bold. Rather than tight curls, this look is about keeping the wave almost lived-in, so use your fingers to loosen it up.

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Long, Wavy Layers With Boosted Side Bangs

The ultimate red carpet hairstyle, long, cascading waves are the perfect accompaniment to round faces. Chrissy Teigen's quiff-like side bang boosts overall length even further by lifting and heightening the hair with help from a volumizing product like SexyHair Big Powder Play ($20) no doubt.

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The Ultimate Blowout

Selena Gomez with epic blowout on round face at 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards — Leon Bennett/GA / Getty

Selena Gomez's ultra-smooth, bouncy blowout is the stuff hair dreams are made of. While her layers are accentuated with tons of volume and body, there's not much curl to weigh them down. Unlike Chrissy Teigen's cascade above, this style is all about brushing the hair upwards and back—for the ultimate wind-swept perfection—to achieve a lifted look.

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Close Crop

Lupita Nyong'o with short, cropped hair — Rodrigo Vaz / Getty

Lupita Nyong'o's natural hair is absolute perfection, demonstrating how it's equally possible to elongate the face with short hair. The key is to go up and not out. Here, volume is added up top while the sides are kept really close to reveal a fantastic shape overall.

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Glam Mermaid Waves

Mindy Kaling with long glossy mermaid waves and yellow dress at 74th ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Christopher Polk/NBC / Getty

If we could only choose one hairstyle to live in all summer long, we would happily opt for Mindy Kaling's glossy mermaid waves. The waterfall of undulating waves lengthens her face, particularly since the volume is concentrated in the middle of the hair while the sweeping side part keeps the look from veering too casual.

Byrdie Tip

For beachy, relaxed waves, twist your hair in different directions as you curl in sections, so the look isn't too uniform.

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Rounded Bob With Deep Side Part

Taraji P. Henson with side-parted, rounded bob — Michael Buckner / Getty

You may have heard that round face shapes should steer clear of bobs, but that's not entirely true. Taraji P. Henson's bob works because the length sits just below her jawline to give the illusion of a longer face. Plus, the deep side-parting is super slimming.

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Retro Bob With Deep Side Part

Taraji P. Henson with retro, side-parted flipped-out bob at the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards — Frazer Harrison / Getty

Talk about versatility! Never one to let a hairstyle go stale, Taraji P. Henson flipped her rounded bob to the golden age of glamour. Literally. While the deeper-than-deep side part remains intact, the bob was completely transformed with those retro flips at the ends.

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Piecey Pixie

Michelle Williams with textured, side-swept pixie cut attends the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards — Amanda Edwards / Getty

We know, we know, if you have a round face, you have probably never even entertained the idea of a pixie cut, but Michelle Williams proves it can work. This is a super-cute way to stick to the round-face rules. Piecey, side-swept baby bangs? Check. Ultra-sharp deep part? Check.

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Bouncy Lob

A long bob, as seen on Jennifer Hudson, gives all the illusion of length without actually needing to grow it out. The lift at the roots, as well as the perfect center part, make this a style that would suit anyone but does wonders for those with rounder features.

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Ballerina Bun With Curtain Bangs

Miranda Kerr with ballerina bun and curtain bans attends The 2023 Met Gala — Kevin Mazur/MG23 / Getty

While some may consider a sharp bun too harsh for rounded features, Miranda Kerr's iteration is sweet as can be courtesy of those curtain bangs—just one of her many amazing hair moments. Note the positioning of the bun itself, capping the crown of the head and adding height to the face.

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Undone Messy Bun

Same, but different. Ana de Armas's perfectly undone messy bun offers a more unbuttoned alternative to the polished updo above. It's giving 90's it-girl and we're totally here for it.

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Curtain Bangs

Kirsten Dunst medium-length loose waves with bangs — Chelsea Lauren / Getty

Kirsten Dunst's curtain bangs are soft and eyelash-skimming. The slight part in the middle keeps them from being too heavy for a round face. "A good volumizing mousse and a medium-sized round brush can achieve this style. Concentrate on creating volume and bend in the hair. If more curl is desired, a large barrel iron will get you there," says Friese.

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Straight Tresses

Mila Kunis with straight, middle-parted hair — Frederick M. Brown / Getty

Mila Kunis's long, straight hair is flattering because there's lift at the root and a sharp center part to add some edge. "To complete the look, mist lightly with texture spray to give the hair added texture, volume, and attitude," says Federico.

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Loose Updo

Emma Stone with loose, side-swept updo — Anthony Harvey / Getty

Updos are another tricky area for anyone with a round face, but you can totally rock this look. Try a soft, low bun with—and this is key—a few tendrils left around the face to soften. And make sure to opt for a side-parting like Emma Stone.

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Center-Parted Tousled Lob

Gabrielle Union textured lob — Jim Spellman / Getty

Long layers give Gabrielle Union's hair dimension. "[Her] lob has textured ends that fall on her shoulders, drawing attention to her jawline. The middle part also helps elongate her face, which is why middle parts are common on round face shapes," comments Friese. This choppy cut looks beautiful with relaxed or natural hair.

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Asymmetric Bob

Jennifer Hudson has everything working for her with this asymmetric cut and style. Layers allow for volume, which she's boosted with retro, crinkle-like curls. For increased fullness and body, flip your hair upside down while you dry.

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Blunt, Shoulder-Length Waves

Miranda Kerr with center-parted blunt waves attends Create & Cultivate Wellness Means Business Summit — Amy Sussman / Getty

Shoulder-length hairstyles are universally flattering no matter your face shape. Miranda Kerr's 'do has enough length to provide balance to her features and the face-framing waves slim her cheekbones ever so slightly. Apply a thickening mousse before blow-drying with a large round brush, instructs Friese. Then "follow with a large barrel curling iron if more texture is desired," she adds.

23 of 36

Lived-In Beach Waves

Drew Barrymore with beach waves — Axelle / Getty

This hairstyle is not overly voluminous, but it has just enough height to give the impression that Drew Barrymore’s face is slightly longer. The beach waves around her face also give the illusion that it’s slimmer. To re-create this look, curl the hair (if it’s not naturally wavy) before misting with a texturizing spray like Sachajuan Ocean Mist Texturizing Spray ($38).

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Curly Pompadour

Janelle Monáe's head-turning curly pompadour may look intimidating, but it actually works on most hair types and textures. If you have fine hair and are looking to fake volume, make your mane appear thicker by spritzing in some texturizing spray before styling.

25 of 36

Boho-Chic Waves

Olivia Munn with loose waves — John Shearer / Getty

Long, wavy hair, with or without bangs, is a very boho-chic look that offers many opportunities to play with your style, as Olivia Munn does. For an at-home version of this look, flip your hair over while you roughly blow-dry using high heat. Once it's semi-dry, use a round brush to fully dry the hair, which will add volume.

26 of 36

Half-Up, Half-Down

Gemma Chan's 'do is stylish and practical. A few loose tendrils keep things casual and conveniently out of the face. And when it comes to flattering looks for round faces, Ade says, "A good choice of style would be half-up, half-down; it allows for a little height, and the loose hair can be tonged to soften the look."

27 of 36

Textured Bob With Center Part

Lucy Hale with textured bob and center part — Kevin Mazur / Getty

Lucy Hale's bob is kept casual thanks to plenty of matte texture. When sprayed over dry hair, a product like It's a 10 Miracle Texture Fiber ($22) adds lightweight dimension and guards against flyaways.

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Natural Curls

Tatyana Ali's natural curls open up her face and radiate with youthful energy. The slightly off-centered part narrows her gorgeous features and shows off those covetable cheekbones. To keep frizz at bay, invest in a leave-in conditioner, like Reverie Milk Anti-Frizz Leave-In Nourishing Treatment ($44).

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Pixie With Long Bangs

Ginnifer Goodwin pixie with long side-swept bangs — Michael Buckner / Getty

Actress Ginnifer Goodwin has sported a number of interesting pixie cuts, but this version—complete with a heavy, side-swept bang—highlights her face beautifully. "This pixie with the thick angled fringe helps to open up her round face. Apply BosleyMD Blowdry & Styling Gel to wet hair and use a flat or paddle brush to smooth the hair and create the separation at the fringe. Use a pomade or paste to piece out the style," instructs Friese.

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Lob With Razored Ends

Queen Latifah's glossy look adds some pizzazz to a standard lob. Ask your stylist to use a straight-edge razor blade, which will result in wispier strands. For some extra oomph, try Ghd Heat Protect Spray ($28), which will keep hair smooth and free from damage.

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Curly Updo

Sarah Hyland curly, loose updo — Walter McBride / Getty

Updos, both casual and fancy, are ideal in showing off a round face. Tight tendrils help frame Sarah Hyland's face as part of this curly updo. Those with round faces might consider similar voluminous updos, which will add height and create balance.

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Modern Mullet

Miley Cyrus blonde mullet — Steve Granitz / WireImage

The new version of the mullet is softer and more wearable than the mullet of the '80s. Miley Cyrus's modern take on this notorious style is elevated, thanks to varying lengths and layers. For a glossy look, Federico recommends R+Co Two Way Mirror Smoothing Oil ($37), "a smoothing oil that will add shine, keeping the hair looking luxurious."

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Blunt Bangs

Christina Ricci plantinum blonde bob with bangs — Slaven Vlasic / Getty

Christina Ricci always goes for lovely angular styles, and the piecey texture here makes her stunning eyes and round face truly shine. However, the heavy bangs are the star of the show. They sculpt and create a sense of balance, complementing a round face shape.

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Bouncy, Mid-Length Layers

Octavia Spencer medium-length wavy hair with center part — Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty

A medium-length, layered style like Octavia Spencer's works to complement her features. Friese explains: "The middle part and length of the hair makes the look symmetrical and draws attention to the jawline which elongates the face." Layers that hit just at or below the cheekbones, work like contouring (and they're much less messy than breaking out your bronzer).

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Long Layers

Kate Bosworth side-parted long blonde hair — Angela Weiss / Getty

Another way to wear long layers: Kate Bosworth's side part and lightly curled ends. "Long layers are a great way to frame a round face," notes Friese. To get the look, "Start with BosleyMD Bos Volumize Volumizing & Thickening Nourishing Leave-In ($19). Blow-dry with a large round brush and gently curl with an extra-large barrel curling iron. Set with a light hairspray," she instructs, adding, "The key is to not weigh down the fine hair with too much product."

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Side-Swept Waves

Lana Condor long, wavy hair with side flip — Jerod Harris / Getty

An asymmetrical style with a mixture of lengths brings sharpness and definition to rounder faces. Here, Lana Condor's hair is dramatically swept to one side, drawing the eye down and slimming her face. Consider adding a strong, angular bang to really accentuate your eyes.

FAQ

Is shorter hair better for a rounder face?

Not necessarily. In fact, some long styles work just as well. It's more about angles, the cut, and what you're comfortable with.
Should those with a round face get a layered cut?

A layered cut can draw more attention to the face and create angles where there might not be any naturally (i.e. a rounder face).
Can those with a round face still rock curls?

Absolutely. Many curl cuts and styles can play with angles and volume to create the illusion of a face that isn't so naturally round.