Just how winged eyeliner can affect the shape of your eyes and a highlight/contour combo can change the appearance of your cheekbones, the right hairstyle can also play a major role in the way your face looks. So just the way you use make-up to play up your best features, you should be doing the same with your hairstyle. 

Your most flattering haircut depends on the shape of your face. Most people have a distinct face shape. They are generally categorized into six shapes: oval, long, square, round, diamond, and heart-shaped. The most flattering hairstyles for a round shape flatter the soft curves of the face. These are hairstyles that make the face look longer, squarer and sharper.

A round face has soft angles, where the sides of the face curve slightly outward. Three things determine face shape — the widest part of the face (forehead, cheeks and jaw) the jawline (round, square, or pointy) and the length of the face (short or long). You have a round face if:

• Your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline fall in the same line and are almost the same width
• The width and length of your face are roughly the same size
• You have soft features and no sharp angles on your face

If you have a round face, these are our top tips and hair hacks for styling.

• Avoid a center-part, it will make your face appear rounder. 
• Try not to wear your hair any longer than collarbone length. Long hair can become flat and accentuate a round face. 
• Keep bangs fairly sharp. An asymmetrical fringe that is shorter on one side and longer on the other looks best on a round face.
• If you curl your hair, opt for big, loose curls as opposed to tighter ones as they make your hair look fuller downwards and add length to your face. 
• Tight hairstyles like taught ponytails and pulled-back braids bring your face front and center, making roundedness even more prominent. 
• If you have a round face, adding too much volume with hair volume products can make it look rounder. Focus on lengthening your face. Add height to your hair — not volume. If you have fine hair, choose hairstyles that make only the bottom of your hair look fuller.
• Draw the eye downward. Long layers in long hair create the illusion of elongation.

photo by Melanie Guille

Grab some inspo for your next appointment with your hair stylist. These are the best hairstyles for a round face.

A long bob that hits right below the jaw, is the absolute best hairstyle if you want to make your face look thinner. This is an ideal haircut for round faces as it really frames the face. Opt for a lob at least three inches below chin-length. It can extend down to your collarbone, but make sure to ask your hair stylist to add some layers to help define your face. To add separation and definition to your lob after styling, lightly spritz a texturizing spray for fine hair throughout your strands.

We already warned you about hairstyles with too much volume — this is a definite don’t when it comes to flattering looks for round faces. But a smooth, sleek ‘do will help to accentuate the roundness of a face rather than hiding it. To get this hair look, protect your strands with a heat shield for hair, then use your flat iron hair until your hair is totally straight. Follow up with a hair oil on your ends for extra shine.

If you prefer your hair on the longer side, opt for long shaggy layers. Layers help create a soft shape and help elongate a round face. Jena Pickle, Hair Stylist and Co-Owner of Ladybird Society, a Davines salon in Austin, suggests throwing in some soft layers around the cheekbone in the form of a face frame. “A face frame flatters the face the way your favorite jacket or blazer does your body — hitting all the right spots. It’s really flattering against a round face,” Jena says. In terms of styling, face framing layers don’t take too much effort and are extremely versatile. With the right hair styling products you can air-dry for a move lived-in look or blow-dry smooth for a sleeker finish.

Ombré hair color is a degradation of colors from dark to light. The hair color is generally darker at the roots through the mid-shaft and then gradually gets lighter from the mid-shaft to the ends. Because the eye is drawn to the light at the end of your hair, ombré gives the illusion of a longer face. Effortless to style and wear, the ombrè effect will do wonders for both curly and straight hair against a round face.

A shaggy side-swept bang is a great hairstyle to help elongate the face. Side-swept bangs are ideal for downplaying roundness and draw attention to the eyes. And most styles can be worn with side-swept bangs. Ask your stylist to cut no shorter than halfway down your nose and leave the ends wispy. Style your bangs into a deep side part by warming up a dry wax in your hands and patting the part gently with your palm.

The pixie hairstyle is one of the edgiest short hairstyles for round face shapes. This cut is tight on the side and back and more square toward the top and round of the head. This creates height and slims the face at the same time. The only products you really need on hand for styling a pixie is a molding gel and a strong hairspray. Want more on how to wear a pixie cut? See our previous post "The Pixie Cut: Three Different Ways to Wear It" for styling ideas.

A bob might seem like a basic hairstyle but this version is anything but. Blunt ends that fall right below the chin look so chic — especially against a round face. This classic but always in style cut frames the soft angles of the cheeks and jawline perfectly.

Beachy waves are another go-to hairstyle if you have a round face. Waves give the illusion of length and make your neck seem longer, which help balance out a round face. Beachy waves add just enough volume to the crown area, creating the illusion of a longer face. And bonus if you’re struggling with thinning or fine hair beach waves are perfect for faking thicker hair. Styling these bends is as easy as scrunching your wet hair and spraying with a beach hair spray. See our previous post "Easy Methods for Achieving Beachy Waves" for more on how to get beachy waves.

This hairstyle works best if you have face framing layers (see number 3) but even without them, a messy updo is a must to have on hand for round faces. This is ideal for medium length hair, but you can make it work on shorter hair too. Just gather your strands on top of your head, twist them into a bun and secure the ends with a few bobby pins. 

The undercut is a short hairstyle with one or both temple areas cut very short or shaved. An undercut can can elongate the appearance of your face by reducing its width. This makes it another perfect short haircut for slimming round faces.

The most flattering hairstyles for this shape flatter the soft curves of the face. These are styles that make the face look longer, squarer and sharper. That’s not to say if you have a round face and like a hairstyle that’s not on this list you can’t rock it. If you like a style and it makes you feel good, go for it! But if your goal is to trick the eye, creating more definition and elongating a round face, these are the styling tips, hair hacks and top ten hair looks to do it!

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor

cover photo by @goldandglowco