The Best (and Worst!) Haircuts for Every Face Shape

What to avoid: Stay away from wide or blunt bangs, as well as blunt bobs that hit your jawline. Both will over-emphasize the sharpness of the corners of this face shape, making it look wider.

What to get: You’ll want to ask for styles that soften angular features and any fullness at the temples. Add movement and dimension with mid-length and long layers, which will mellow the squareness of the face.

Examples: side-swept shoulder cut, face-framing bob, layered medium cut

What to avoid: Lucky for you oval-faced ladies, there’s not much to avoid. Though, any styles with too much volume up top will elongate the already-proportionate shape, making it look more oblong.

What to get: Most styles are universally flattering on this face shape. Proceed with caution, and have some fun.

Examples: long layered cut, shag cut, face-framing lob, curtain bangs

What to avoid: Don’t grow those locks out too long. Very long, flat hair can be too much for a long face shape to handle. In fact, most one-length styles will drag the oblong face down—and that’s the last thing you want.

What to get: Know that bangs are your best friend, and framing your face is something akin to magic. Bangs create the illusion of fullness on the sides (especially above the ear line), which will balance out this narrower face shape. Strong fringe covers the forehead, making your face shape look more akin to the ever-proportionate oval face. And it’s always a flattering touch to use a side part to break up the shape, as well.

Examples: Birkin bangs, curly shag, side-parted shoulder cut

What to avoid: Never—we repeat never—ask for short bangs or excessive short layering. Those styles will only accentuate the wider top half of a heart-shaped face.

What to get: A jaw-length bob will highlight the chin and balance out the narrowness there, and heart-shaped faces can also rock long styles with bangs like nobody’s business. (Reese Witherspoon, we’re looking at you.) These styles show off cheekbones and create the illusion of fullness and width.

Examples: chin-length bob, textured shoulder cut, side-swept bangs

What to avoid: It’s all about staying away from both extremes of the spectrum. One-length cuts are too angular, which emphasizes the roundness of the face shape. But over-softening a round face shape with too many layers will only enhance the rounded effect.

What to get: Be strategic. Ask for long layers that frame the face without being too harsh or too soft. The ultimate cut for round faces is a layered lob complete with a side part. (Trust us!) To elongate the face shape, go for strong angular fringe or add additional height at the top of the style.

Examples: layered lob, side-swept bob, asymmetrical cut