The 36 Best Haircuts for Round Faces
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If you have a round face, you’ve been gifted with a soft jawline, high cheekbones and a rounded chin. This shape is characterized by nearly identical width (cheekbone to cheekbone) and length (hairline to chin). However, the wrong haircut can easily put you in baby face territory. The best way to avoid this, explains celebrity hairstylist Jennifer Korab, is to choose a hairstyle that adds angles and structure. Here, the goal is to elongate your face, so long, layered hairstyles will go a long way in creating that illusion. You’ll want to avoid blunt bobs and bangs—both can highlight the roundness of your face (Edna Mode, anyone?). If you do want bangs, Korab advises opting for side-swept or diagonal fringe to create those coveted angles.
Luckily, we found tons of ultra-flattering styles that you can take to your next salon appointment. From a choppy lob and modern mullet to face-framing layers, tousled waves, and a textured pixie, we tapped eight celebrity hairstylists and searched the world wide web for the best haircuts for round faces.
Meet the Experts:
The 58 Best Haircuts for Women in 2023
1. Short and Textured
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This haircut can be customizable to fit your style—just look at Michelle Williams’s Oscars pixie. “Without a doubt, a side-swept shape always delivers on softening rounded shapes,” says Fowles. “It’s all about the angle’s length and texture, so you do not want your length to fall around the jaw.”
2. Choppy Lob
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Take it from Selena Gomez: Blunt ends create a flattering contrast with a round face, while the length—not quite skimming the shoulders—makes your neck appear longer. When requesting this chop, make sure to ask that your ends hit around three inches below your chin to maximize its effect.
3. Long Layers
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If flowing locks are more your speed, opt for a cut like Kate Bosworth’s that is full of dimension. “[This cut] suits everyone and the options are endless!” explains Fowless. The idea is to frame your face with soft curves that highlight your cheekbones and eyes, meanwhile creating a long silhouette that makes your entire face and neck region look modelesque.
4. Blunt Lob
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If a round face is often seen as extra young (which, no problem there), a sleek, almost severe cut and style will offset any sense of being too “cute.” Mila Kunis’s super-straight, side-parted lob creates a perfect, edgy balance.
5. Wavy Bob
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“This haircut is flattering, as it opens the face up with soft layers to give an elongated look. It can also soften features, giving it a more feminine, romantic feel,” says Korab. “By adding waves, it can create a gentle frame around the face for texture and movement.” To maintain texture like Emma Stone’s, Korab suggests applying a styling spray before blow drying or curling your hair.
6. Voluminous Pixie
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You might think a close crop would draw even more attention to the shape of your face, but as Jennifer Hudson proves, it actually does the opposite. The trick is to concentrate volume at the top of your head, which draws the eye up and down instead of side to side.
7. Face-Framing Layers
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“This is more flattering than a harsh blunt cut. By having long and layered hair, it will also help elongate your face shape,” says Korab. Once you sit in the salon chair, your stylist will create a center-part fringe that tapers softly around the cheekbone and right below the chin (like Chrissy Teigen’s look above) to avoid drawing any unwanted attention to your jawline. To maintain your fresh cut at home, Korab suggests applying a texturizing lotion to enhance the layers.
8. Curtain Bangs
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Curtain bangs have been a huge hit in the last few years—especially for folks with rounder faces. The blunt, straight-across fringe can shorten the face even more and add to that “young” factor, but trimming the front pieces into long, slightly angled bangs like Kirsten Dunst’s play a visual trick on the shape of your forehead and draw the eye downward, so the only roundness you’ll see is around your jawline.
9. Short Pixie
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“A pixie cut with tapered layers and volume at the crown can add height to your face. Your neck and jawline are also exposed, which draws attention away from the face and makes it appear slimmer and more defined,” explains Korab. When it comes to gaining that piece-y effect like Ginnifer Goodwin, reach for a styling balm that adds depth and definition.
10. Full Fringe
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Here’s your sign to take the leap and try bangs at your next appointment. Whether you’re rocking long layers or a short bob, this extra step can elevate your haircut. Similar to Gemma Chan’s updo, bangs can pull attention away from the jawline while bringing more awareness to your eyes and cheekbones.
11. Elevated Bob
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There are plenty of bob styles out there, but nothing quite like this one, which works perfectly for round face shapes. “This look doesn’t have layers, so it can be switched with a middle or side part and still frame the face,” says Pita. The angled bob sported by Selena Gomez is a universal option for every hair texture and hair type to try out. Tip: Apply a hair serum for more shine and less frizz along with some hairspray for volume.
12. Deep Side Part
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While Gen-Z isn’t too fond of the side part, it’s a clear winner for round faces. As seen on Jurnee Smollett, the classic style adds fullness to your look, and the long pieces help slim the widest part of your cheeks and create more symmetry.
13. Choppy Bob
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“The long bangs and layers help frame the face. I love styling this look with volume and tousled waves to really give it an edge,” says Pita. To recreate Cameron Diaz’s style, Pita recommends applying a volumizing spray that gives it a messy yet stylish finish.
14. Coily Pixie
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Being able to rock the pixie trend is not dependent on your hair texture. Coily gals like Lupita Nyong’o sport the classic short cut to bring more attention to the eyes, cheeks and lips (especially if they’re cherry red).
15. Jellyfish Haircut
This unique cut was the talk of the town in 2022. “This haircut is all about taking two sections of hair on both sides of the face and cutting them at chin length while leaving the rest of your hair long,” explains Pita. Part blunt bob, part mullet, this style lets you play with length while offering face-framing pieces to soften the jawline.
16. Curly Cut
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A curly cut is a great way to highlight your pattern and complement your face shape. For Gabrielle Union, it meant sporting a side part and trimming layers into a shoulder-length style. It’s also a universal cut that works on looser waves and tighter coils, too.
17. Mid-Length Bob
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“When it comes to having a round face, finding the right haircut can be difficult. However, adding layers around the face can create beautiful shadows that contours the face naturally,” says Bataille. “When getting this mid-length haircut, the sections around the face frame and elongate.” You have the option of keeping it sleek and blunt or adding layers for more movement, like Sarah Hyland above.
18. Tousled Waves
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When it comes to killer waves, there’s no need to hit the beach. Drew Barrymore’s tousled lob adds volume at the root, face-framing layers and a cascading pattern that lengthens her face. Just don’t forget to spritz your beachy locks with sea salt spray to minimize frizz and improve shine.
19. Shaggy Cut
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This shag haircut will never go out of style, especially for round faces. “The shag cut can really step up your hair game,” explains Bataille. “It’s all about the face-framing pieces and layers, so ask your stylist to create more movement around your face.” For even more body and fullness, Bataille recommends applying a golf ball-size amount of mousse and scrunching up the sections before blow drying or air drying.
20. Classic Bob
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Taraji P. Henson’s chin-length bob keeps things simple by having the ends leveled and parallel to the shoulders. FYI: Using a blow dryer and a round brush to curl the ends inwards can add depth and fullness to your look.
21. Side-Swept Bangs
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“Side-swept bangs can be a great way to draw attention away from the width of your cheeks and create a more flattering look,” says Cruz. To achieve this look, your stylist will cut the bangs diagonally and brush them to one side of the forehead. As Cruz explains, this style can vary in length, so consider covering the eyebrows or grazing the bangs across the cheekbones.
22. Modern Mullet
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In 2022, the modern mullet was born and celebs like Miley Cyrus proved it was worth exploring, especially for rounder face shapes. This updated version isn’t quite like the one folks wore in the ‘80s; it’s a softer, subtle version that involves a longer top and shorter sides (which can be turned into choppy layers for a more tousled look).
23. Textured Pixie Cut
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If you are looking for a low-maintenance style, the haircut modeled above by Julia Garner is a great option. “A textured, choppy pixie can add height and volume to the crown of the head. It can also elongate the face and make it appear more slender,” explains Cruz. “The hair is usually cut close to the head on the sides and back, with longer layers on top that can be styled in a variety of ways.” To maintain the look, Cruz suggests a styling wax that can create definition, hold and separation for an edgy yet fashionable look.
24. Loose Curls
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If you have a looser curl pattern, this cut helps draw the eyes down and elongate the face. It also makes some features (like the forehead) appear smaller and slimmer. Go for a center or side part like Tatiana Ali to add volume at the crown.
25. One Length Bob
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“This haircut is simple, timeless and easy to maintain,” says Nation. “The one length throughout the hair will help elongate the face shape.” To recreate Kelly Clarkson’s bob above, you’ll want to invest in a leave-in conditioner, a styling lotion and a mousse for more definition and body.
26. Sleek and Straight
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We’ve mentioned time and time again that long, flowing locks are the way to go for round faces. Just like Isla Fisher, keep things simple and snip the ends for a uniform look. Then, run your flat iron down each section to create a sleek, straight finish.
27. The Contour Bob
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“The contour bob uses the shape of the haircut to contour and balance the face,” explains Smith. “Asymmetry is a great choice when flattering round faces, so tucking one side will lift the cheekbone, draw the eye away from the wider area of the face and create angles in the hair instead.” To achieve Michelle Williams’s look, your stylist will cut the length by the chin (or a bit longer) and apply a smoothing cream to keep waves at a minimum for a slimmer effect.
28. French Bob
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This chic cut will make you feel like you’re strolling the streets of Paris. Let your stylist trim just above the chin to soften your jawline and add a full fringe like Ginnifer Goodwin.
29. Wispy Bangs
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There are a ton of fringe styles out there, but this piece-y technique is a great option for round faces. As Smith explains, “A full bang can easily close the face and make it appear wider. However, this style allows some of the forehead to show through to give the illusion of height to a round face.” This cut is often paired with face-framing layers to add angles and make the face appear shaper—along with wavy texture for more movement.
30. Short Curly Cut
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This short curly ‘do is a winner for round faces. As demonstrated by Malin Akerman, the haircut is pretty low-maintenance and easy to style (with a bit of styling cream, of course). Plus, the length grazes just above the chin to create softness and movement.
31. Bombshell Bangs
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“This cut creates more of a narrow shape and will cut the extra roundness of the cheek,” says Richards. “It’s possibly the flirtiest haircut ever and it’s a perfect cut for round faces because it divides the face into a third, accentuating the eyes and lips.” Although similar in some ways to the curtain bang trend, this cut adds a heavy front bang along with longer pieces to frame the face.
32. Pixie Bob
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This hybrid offers shortness up top and longer pieces by the nape of the neck. However, it’s the deep side part and swept bang that makes this a keeper for round faces—just look at Ginnifer Goodwin’s impeccable style above for proof.
33. A-Line Bob
“A-line bobs are great for elongating the face and creating an amazing profile,” says Richards. The cut consists of a short length in the back that gradually gets longer towards the hairline. Whether you have super-straight hair (like Ariana Madix) or curly locks, this style complements all hair textures. To add even more depth, Richards recommends using a flat iron or curling wand on small sections throughout the hair.
34. Blunt Waves
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This haircut adds the depth and dimension. As seen on Mila Kunis, the ends offer a very loose pattern that stretches the chin and makes your face appear longer. The real secret is to wrap the ends around a curling iron and brush the waves out for the blunt effect.
36. Chin-Length Bob
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Think the French bob without the full fringe. This cut sported by Christina Ricci features side-swept bangs that are a staple for round faces. Plus, the length lays just below the chin to soften your key features.
Is Short Hair Better for Round Faces?
“Both short and long hair can work well with round face shapes, but the key is in how you style it and cut the hair to create balance that complements your features,” Korab explains. Short hairstyles work well because they create the necessary angles and height that balance rounder features. If you go with a longer hairstyle, you’ll just want to make sure you steer clear of excessive width and that your stylist creates vertical lines.
Can Round Faces Pull Off Curly Hair?
According to Korab, the answer is yes, but again, the hair needs proper styling to work. When it does, curly hair can provide texture, dimension and angles that balance round facial features.
Should You Get Layers If You Have a Round Face?
The answer here is absolutely. As Korab explains, layers (at chin length and longer) elongate the face. Just be sure to avoid excessive volume and bulk at the sides of the cut.
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