38 Flattering Haircuts for Square Faces, According to Experts

Presumably you clicked this article because you think you have a square-shaped face. Here's a quick test if you’re not entirely sure: Looking straight on into a mirror, are your forehead and cheekbones roughly the same width? Do you have a strong jawline with sharp angles on either side? If so, you’re in the square face club with the likes of Zendaya, Olivia Wilde, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz—which is to say, you’re in good company.

Meet the Experts:

How to Choose the Right Hairstyles for Square Faces

If you’re looking for haircut ideas to flatter your face shape, there is one main guidepost that celebrity hairstylist Joseph Maine recommends. “Try styles that begin at the collar bone or longer to elongate the overall appearance of your face.” This goes for any layers or bangs as well. Keep them on the longer side so they don’t visually cut off your features, and instead, offer balance to your facial proportions. Maine adds, “You always want to concentrate the cut towards the ends of your hair, so it lengthens the face and softens the outer corners.” Ahead, 38 of the most flattering haircuts for folks with square-shaped faces.

Let’s Settle This What Face Shape Do I Have?

1. Long and Layered

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“A long, layered cut is a classic choice for square face shapes, as it offers movement but concentrates the style towards the ends so it will still elongate the face and close off the corners,” says Maine.

2. A Long Lob

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Similar but a bit sharper and sleeker, a lob is another good option because “it lengthens the face and is typically created without any shorter layers, so it frames your face by closing off the edges of the jawline a bit,” explains Maine.

3. A Side-Parted Lob

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Once you have a lob, you can always switch up the part to one side, which changes up the look considerably. (It’s also a great way to disguise day two oily roots in a pinch.)

4. Side-Swept Bangs

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“If someone with a square face is considering bangs, I recommend a long side swept bang that doesn’t start too deep on the side,” says Maine. “The long nature of a side swept bang will soften the overall look without pulling the face horizontally the way other bang types (i.e., straight across or blunt bangs) might.”

5. A Soft Bob

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Have the ends cut just a couple inches below your jawline and pair the style with tousled waves to soften up any angular features like Natalie Portman here.

6. A Sharp Bob

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“One haircut I love for a square face is a sharp, angled bob, that hits about an inch below the jaw line,” shares Scarlett. “A great tool for styling these types of haircuts is a ceramic heated brush, which is the fastest and gentlest way to get sleek hair,” he adds.

7. A Slightly Longer Bob

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Same idea, but a bit longer, with the ends hitting the sweet space between your jawline and tops of your collarbones like Lucy Liu here. (A tip for deciding the length of your bob: Consider the fullness of your face. According to Bryce, “the fuller the face the longer the bob should be.”)

8. A Shag with Bangs

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“I also love a layered shag with bangs. Think modern Farrah Fawcett. This shape really opens up the corners of the jaw, again highlighting the sharpness of the jaw line yet leaving lots of soft hair around the face,” says Scarlett.

9. Teased Roots

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“For styling any of the cuts above, I recommended adding some volume into the hair using a blow dryer and root boosting spray,” shares Maine. Volume on top lengthens the appearance of your face overall, which has a balancing effect on square shapes.

10. Soft Waves

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For those of you with naturally curly or wavy hair, rocking your natural texture is a good way to effortlessly soften any sharper features. Bryce recommends misting a dry texturizing spray throughout to keep your hair “full and flowing.”

11. Deep Side Part

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No matter the length or texture, a deep side part is always flattering option for square shaped faces. Bonus tip: Keep extra volume up top to maintain an overall elongating effect.

12. A Tapered Pixie

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Always wanted to try a pixie but worried that it might not work with your features? Here’s proof that a cropped cut can work for you. Keep the overall length shorter in the back and a few inches (think four to five) long in the front and along the sides of your face to frame it nicely.

13. A Curtain Bang

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The ever popular curtain bang looks especially flattering on square shaped faces when paired with long layers that fall beneath the collarbones. The bangs themselves should also be on the longer side, parting to either side and blending softly into the rest of your hair.

14. Bouncy Waves

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Here’s Jen Garner showing the power of a little volume. Bigger, bouncier hair adds a touch of softness to more angular jawlines. To style, use a texturizing spray and a 1.5-inch curling iron to add a few bends throughout the lengths of your hair. Brush through them to break apart the waves and give a final mist of spray to set it all in place.

15. Flipped Out Ends

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If the whole bouncy blowout look isn’t for you, take a page from J.Lo’s book and try a sleeker style with flipped out ends instead. You can tailor this look to fit your face by keeping the ends beneath your collarbones and ever-so-slightly parted to one side.

16. Stick Straight Bob

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You can also opt to have the ends cut in an A-line shape (shorter in the back and gradually longer towards the front) to gently hug the sides of your face like Sandra Bullock here.

17. Long, Loose Waves

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A classic square faced beauty, Keira Knightley rocks a perfectly balanced cut with long, loose waves and a center part. Tip: Using a shine serum or spray as a finishing touch to add soft definition (and sheen).

18. Curly Lob

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No surprises here, the former First Lady’s sensibility extends beyond her sartorial choices. This textured lob has all of the right elements to flatter her face shape: volume on top, soft texture and a collarbone skimming length.

19. Beachy Waves

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GP has been wearing some iteration of this style for many years and for good reason: it works. The longer, subtly layered locks and center part softens the angles of her lower face, while keeping her high, sharp cheekbones on full display.

20. Tapered Ends

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When in doubt, a lob is a failsafe bet for square face shapes. The collarbone length is extremely versatile for styling (see Mandy Moore's half bun here) and takes the eye line away from a stronger jawline and puts the focus on the overall length of your hair. Ask your stylist to keep the ends tapered and light so they fall nicely against your shoulders without adding bulk.

21. Round Bob

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Using a round brush, curl the ends of a blunt bob inward so they curve in just below the chin to soften the angles.

22. Natural Curls

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Naturally curly hair and a square face shape are a match made in heaven. The bouncy spring lends a softness to an angular jawline, creating a nice balancing effect.

23. Rounded Layers

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Thicker hair works really well with longer, rounded layers. And longer, rounded layers, as you know, work well with square face shapes.

24. Tapered Bangs

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Soft, tapered bangs that fall on and around the forehead take attention away from the jawline and puts it on the upper third of your face.

25. Cropped Pixie

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One of the hallmarks of a square face is sharp cheekbones. And what better way to show off that incredible bone structure than with a cropped pixie like Indya Moore here?

26. Volume Waves

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A loose, tousled blowout with plenty of volume is always a good look—no matter your face shape—but it's especially flattering on angular faces.

27. Graduated Layers

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Graduated layers are great for square face shapes because they soften the jawline and create height and volume in the crown. Plus, they're versatile, as you can wear your hair parted down the center or swept over to one side.

28. Slicked-Back Bob

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Kristen Bell balances her sleek style with her face shape by slicking her strands over to one side to add some height to the crown and tucking both sides behind her ears.

29. Asymmetrical Curls

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Volume is key when it comes to working with a square face, and Yara Shahidi's buoyantly coiffed curls are perfection. We love the way the cut is slightly asymmetrical which removes any weight or bulk from the ends.

30. Side-Parted Lob

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Actress Gemma Chan softens her just-below-the-collarbone cut (and angular jawline) with an off-centered part and loose curls. Tip: After curling your hair, finger-comb the ringlets out so the overall look is polished without looking stiff.

31. Voluminous Lob

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Fact: Full and fluffy looking hair complements a square face. The easiest way to fake volume if you have finer strands is to add a little bend throughout using a flat iron and a generous misting of texturizing spray.

32. Zig Zag Part

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Can't choose between a center or side part? Try an uneven part like Kate Moss, which adds more volume on top and brings the gaze upwards. The blend of highlights and barely-there waves further soften her sharp features.

33. French Fringe

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The French sure know their fringe. Just ask Jeanne Damas, whose feathered bangs are cut in that perfectly uneven length with just enough forehead peeping through. And their slightly curved shape adds roundness to your angles.

34. Face-Framing Tendrils

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Regardless of the cut or color, a failsafe way to flatter square-shaped faces is to pull out some face-framing pieces in front.

35. Choppy Bob

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Pair it with a center part to elongate your features, which has an overall balancing effect on the rest of your face. Bonus: Choppy ends also add fullness to fine strands.

36. Retro Waves

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Tessa Thompson's medium-length style is simple and sleek (and perfect for any holiday fête you might have coming up).

37. Side-Parted Pixie

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Katie Holmes complements her features with a side-parted pixie that maintains some length and height at the crown, which keeps the overall cut from shortening her face.

38. Long, Full Fringe

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Ending things with an (ahem) bang is Ciara, with her full fringe that has choppy ends of slightly varying lengths. Hitting right below her brows, they work to draw attention to her eyes.

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