We all love a trip to the salon, but trying out a new cut can be a nerve-rattling experience — especially when you're not totally sure what kind of style is best suited for your round face shape. And, unfortunately, not all stylists know what's up when it comes to matching a cut to face shape, either.
That just means it's up to us to do the research and figure out exactly what will look best before we even sit down in the chair. We've got some pro tips, featuring advice from hair expert Karen Shelton of HairBoutique.com.
First, is your face really round?
Before we even discuss some great styles for you, you need to know how to determine the shape of your face. To find your real face shape, measure it with a tape measure or ruler. Take (and write down) the following:
- Measure your face across the top of your cheekbones, then measure across your jaw line, between the widest points.
- Measure across your forehead at the widest point. Generally the widest point will be somewhere about halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline.
- Measure from the the widest point of your forehead to the bottom of your chin. (Remember that you are measuring your face — not your entire head — and mid-forehead to chin will usually do the trick.)
There are lots of other ways women have used to figure out this shape — from outlining the face on a mirror with lipstick to draping it with a towel and asking others to help figure out the structure.
You can try any of these tips or use the steps outlined above. Whatever your method, do remember that this is more about art than science! (And the fact that nobody really has a round-as-a-basketball head.)
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Round face dimensions
If you have a round face, it will be about as wide as it is long. This may vary a little where your face is not quite as wide as it is long, but it's usually pretty close.
You will have fullness at and below your cheekbones. People with round faces also tend to have wide hairlines, less-pronounced chins, and their necks often seem short.
Below are the most common face shapes besides round. Most people will fit into one of the major categories, which also include:
- Oval Face - Length equal to one and a half times width.
- Long - Longer than it is wide.
- Heart - Narrow at jawline, wide at forehead and cheekbones.
- Square - Forehead, jawline and cheekbones are almost equal in width.
- Diamond - Wide cheeks, narrow forehead and jaw line.
Hot hairstyles for round faces
There really is no one "perfect" hairstyle for a round-shaped face; many things factor into the total equation. For example, the length of your hair, its texture and weight, your age and lifestyle requirements all play a part in what is ultimately the best.
There are good general guidelines that you can follow, but the best solution is to find a style that works best for you and all your beauty needs.
If your face is round, the best hairstyles generally include:
- Layered bangs rather than straight or heavy bangs.
- Short styles which give height.
- Styles that add length.
- Styles that keep the sides of your hair short or close to the face.
- Curls around the crown -- but never near the cheeks -- to create height. Keep the sides of your hair short with a curly style.
- Longer to very long styles, with bangs and a graduated shag or layers so that the face and the neck are given a slenderizing shape.
Next Up: Find the best hairstyle for your round face shape
Updated by Sarah Long on 2/10/17
Consider your facial features
- If you have a double chin, keep the hair around your face above chin level to draw the eyes upwards. The back may be grown a little longer -- a bob would be ideal.
- If you have a short neck, a short cropped style will make a shorter neck appear longer. Long hair worn up will give the same effect. Well-placed highlights will also slenderize the face. Highlights that are woven around the face in an "angel halo" effect will also help an overly round face appear thinner.
- Long hair can be worn just as easily as short or medium-length hair as long as you wear your hair "forward" onto your face to create a more "oval" appearance. Don't be afraid to wear your hair any length that you like!
- While you select your style, be sure to take into consideration the texture of your hair. If your hair is thick and coarse, you would do well with a style that benefits from the "bed head" look around the crown.
- If you have curly hair, you can use the curls by letting them add height at the crown. You can also wear your curly hair longer, with the bulk of your hair pulled back behind your ears, or with just a very few ringlets along your face to minimize the fullness.
Breaking the rules
Camryn Manheim is a classic example of someone letting her hair be the way she wants it to be and not following the strict rules for a round face. And remember Baby Spice? Her very round face is often coiffed in styles that would not normally be considered the "perfect" style for her face shape — but they still work!
One great way to find the best style for your face shape is to buy fashion, beauty and hair magazines and look through them for examples of hairstyles that you like and think would be flattering to your face shape and hair texture. Make a special hairstyle scrapbook of the styles you like best and then take the entire book to your stylist and ask them to advise you on some styles.
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What makes you comfortable is more important than what's trendy
One thing to keep in mind is to find a style that you enjoy. There is no point is selecting "the perfect style" if it is impossible to maintain, it feels unnatural, or you just don't like wearing it. One trend that is definitely emerging in the hair and beauty industry is individuality. If you see a style that you love and it doesn't fit the "rules," wear it anyhow — or modify the style slightly so that it works well for your face.
The bottom line is to have fun with your hair. If you love your look — whether it fits the rules or not — you will look better because you'll be happy with yourself!
Read on to the next page to see how actresses with round faces rock their hair.
Next Up: Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta Jones elongates the look of her round face with an updo. Any type of hairstyle with some height will lengthen the look of your face and be flattering for those women with round face shapes.
Catherine Zeta Jones also looks beautiful with her hair left long. With her curls at the bottom, it lengthens the look of her neck to give a slenderizing appearance to her face.
Next Up: Christina Ricci
Christina Ricci
Christina Ricci looks fabulous with short hair and bangs. Though she has a bit of a heart-shaped face, this hairstyle works well for her because it is shorter than chin level.
Christina Ricci's hair pulled away from her face makes her round cheeks a little more pronounced. With her pointed chin, she may fare better with a hairstyle that is a bit closer to her face.
Next Up: Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore
Here you can see Drew Barrymore's ponytail look from the side. Drew has worn her hair in almost every way possible. She's so cute that most hairstyles look flattering on her. If she wanted to slenderize her face, an updo with some height would work well rather than a slick ponytail.
Next Up: Ginnifer Goodwin
Ginnifer Goodwin
Ginnifer Goodwin has round cheeks and a pointed chin. With a chin-level hairstyle like this, it widens the look of her chin, balancing out her face. The sideswept bangs are also quite flattering.
Next Up: Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow has a bit of a square face which is softened with her side-part. One haircut you should avoid if you have a square shaped face is a straight chin-length bob with blunt bangs.
Next Up: Kara Tointon
Kara Tointon
Kara Tointon slenderizes the look of her round-shaped face with her beautiful shoulder-length hair. Hairstyles shoulder-length and longer with layers elongate the look of your face, toning down the roundness of your cheeks.
Next Up: Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson has an oval shaped face with a slightly pointed chin. Oval faced women are lucky because hairstyles both long and short can look great.
Next Up: Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst's layered modified bob adds length to her round face. To avoid that cherub-like look, layered bangs like Kirsten's are normally best for round shape faces, rather than heavy bangs.
Next Up: Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus' messy updo provides some texture and draws the attention away from her round cheeks. Graduated, wavy layers like Miley's hair takes the emphasis off the roundness of your face, making it appear more slender.
Next Up: Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez has very round cheeks but a pointed chin. Her face is what you would call a rounded heart shape. Her long and gorgeous curtain of hair helps to slenderize her face.
Next Up: 4 hairstyle trends that are a godsend for round faces
Long bangs for round faces
Long, sideswept bangs and long layers slenderize a round face. Avoid heavy bangs and short layers around the cheeks if you want to give the appearance of a longer, slimmer face.
Long layers for round faces
Long or extra long straight hair is an ideal hairstyle for women with round faces. If you want to have bangs, sweep them to the side rather than leaving them blunt and heavy.
Wispy layers for round faces
Long, wispy layers draw the eyes downward, lengthening the look of your neck and face. This hairstyle is a great look for women with round faces. For special nights out, it's also easy to pull this style into a high updo -- which is also a terrific hairstyle for round shaped faces.
Messy bob for round shapes
A messy bob can be flattering to some women with round faces. The key is to avoid a bob that is too short and adds width to your face. Add little pomade and give your bob cut a little texture and height up top. Another tip to slenderize the look of your face with a bob hairstyle is to add a pair of dangling earrings.
Perky bob for round faces
If you have a round face and short hair, try to keep the sides close to your face. This hairstyle flairs out too much on the sides, adding even more width to an already round face.
Next Up: Flattering hair cut techniques for round faces
Pixie cut for round face shapes
Don't think you can't have short hair with a round face. A pixie cut with a little spiky height at the top and layered bangs can actually slenderize the look for your face. If you have curly hair and a round face, keep the curls on the crown and away from the cheeks.
Textured layers for round faces
A terrific hairstyle for women with round faces is shoulder length hair (or longer) with razor cut textured layers. The length of the hair slenderizes the look of your face. Also pulling hair back away from the forehead can add a slimming effect.
Short bob for round face shapes
Many women with round faces steer away from short bobs, but you have to figure out what works with your own face. This hairstyle is very cute because of the textured layers. If the bangs were a little longer and swept to the side it would balance out the round face even more.
Razor cut bob hairstyle for round faces
If you have round cheeks and a slightly pointed chin, you can balance out your face with a razor cut chin-length bob. By keeping the sides of your hair close to your face, you can take the emphasis off of your cheeks.
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Face-framing bob for round face shapes
A smooth, face-framing bob can work well with a round face and short, straight hair. However, you should avoid this style if you have a round shaped face and curly hair. The curls near your cheeks will make your face look even rounder. Also by pinning your bangs to the side, you can open up your forehead and elongate the look of your face
Next Up: More flattering hairstyles for round faces
Rounded bob for round faces
Should a round faced woman wear a rounded bob? Not usually. But it can work if it's the right length. A short bob that hits above chin level and bangs that are swept to the side will add the right angles to balance out a round face.
Accent curls for round face shapes
To draw the attention away your round cheeks, you want to put the emphasis on the length or the height of your hair instead. With this hairstyle, the soft layers and curly ends of the hair provide a slimming effect by drawing your eyes downward to the curls.
Outward bend for round faces
Layers are the name of the game when you are trying to slenderize the look of your face. If you have a round shaped face, soft layers with an outward bend and choppy bangs can add dimension and texture to your look. This is a fabulous hairstyle for shoulder length hair and longer.
Long layer hairstyles for round faces
A round shaped face looks more slender with sweeping bangs and long layers. This hairstyle is very flattering for round shaped faces with a slightly pointed chin. Since it's just below chin-level, it draws the attention downward (slenderizing the face) as well as adds some needed width to the chin area.
Tapered cut for round faces
Many times women with round faces avoid short hairstyles. But if you love short hair, go for it. Just experiment until you find the right style for you. A tapered cut with sweeping bangs can work well for a round faced woman with straight hair.
Before you go, check out our slideshow below.
