Finding the perfect hairstyle for a round face doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Round faces, where the width at the cheekbones is similar to the face’s length, are incredibly versatile and can pull off a wide range of styles. The key is to find haircuts that balance proportions and emphasize your bone structure.
“With round face shapes, you need to create interest and angles in the haircut to elongate the face,” explains Dom Seeley, Color Wow’s international creative director. “Longer lengths are more suited to this face shape for that reason too, and it’s always better to style it in soft waves, adding body and volume. This can help open up the cheekbone and jawline area and add width and angles to help offset roundness.”
Hairstylist Frederic Fekkai agrees, advocating for sharpness and angles to soften rounder face shapes. He recommends both longer layers and choppy pixie cuts as options to consider. “I love bangs and longer hair to help minimize roundness,” he says. “And a good styling tip is to wear hair swept to the side.” When it comes to bangs, keep them long and loose, rather than ultra short and bluntly cut, as this is more forgiving on the face.
Clever color placement is another tool for adding dimension to a haircut and making layers appear more prominent. “I love to place color around the face—we do it a lot at the salon,” says colorist to the stars Nicola Clarke, who works from John Frieda in London. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be dramatic, just a subtle difference to the overall color will add contrast and give the illusion of texture without layers.” Similar to turning on a light on your face, it also gives your skin a more youthful and luminous look.
Let’s take inspiration from the stars! Here are some of the best haircuts for round faces, showcased by celebrities:
1. Mila Kunis:
A bombshell blowout, like Kunis’s, is a fantastic choice for a round face. The highlights complement the style’s long layers, adding subtle shape.
2. Kirsten Dunst:
Dunst’s chop is slightly blunt, but a tousled finish and beachy, windswept bangs create movement and a flattering frame.
3. Lupita Nyong’o:
Nyong’o’s naturally curly pixie actually elongates her complexion, so if you’re looking for that illusion, take note. Embracing your natural texture helps create a close-crop that’s stylish, fun, and memorable.
4. Kate Bosworth:
Whether worn casually to the side or parted at center, tousled lengths snipped a few inches past the shoulder create an easy bohemian feel. Blend barrel curls with air-dried texture for a polished look.
5. Emma Stone:
Rather than blunt, single-length ends, Stone’s bob is all about subtle layers. Blended lengths, along with a side-swept bang and strategic styling, frame the actor’s face for a flattering, structural effect.
6. Cameron Diaz:
A rounded bob paired with a long and sweeping bang works with the shape of Diaz’s face rather than against it, resulting in a soft and glamorous overall look.
7. Gemma Chan:
Curtain bangs, or even the illusion of curtain bangs, as with Chan’s long-layered cut, beautifully frame round faces. To capitalize on the style, curl front sections away from your face at the cheekbone.
8. Drew Barrymore:
Leave it to Barrymore to embrace the bohemian vibe. Long, rumpled, air-dried waves flatter practically any face shape but deliver a certain Old World romance when paired with a round complexion.
9. Michelle Williams:
Williams is a queen of the pixie cut, and for good reason—the gamine style suits her and her bone structure. Even abbreviated, bangs pushed slightly to one side enhance this style.
10. Selena Gomez:
While Gomez has had many noteworthy hair moments, this cut feels particularly flattering. A bob (styled with a flip!) paired with a deep side part creates a cut that’s pretty and playful.
11. Miranda Kerr:
Smart styling can make any bob a great choice—even one cut on the blunt side. Kerr’s chop is instantly elevated with a deep part and soft curls, along with a sweet behind-the-ear tuck.
12. Gabrielle Union:
Leaning into your hair’s natural texture and curl pattern can guide you towards a perfect haircut. Union’s brushed-up, shoulder-skimming curls highlight her features rather than trying to obscure them.
13. Chrissy Teigen:
A rounded face is inherently soft, and Old Hollywood waves create a classic look. Think long, glossy, and luxurious—the ideal style for those who want to prioritize hair health.
14. Jennifer Hudson:
Similar to Stone’s bob, Hudson’s chop features upward layering for extra shape and texture. The actor’s natural curls, along with a full, brow-grazing bang, team up to create a lifted look.
15. Ginnifer Goodwin:
This bob is all about the bang. Though full, Goodwin’s fringe is cut in a quietly rounded arch and features a bit of romantic wispiness, the soft body of the style highlighting her face shape.
16. Isla Fisher:
Old Hollywood styling, but make it short. A deep side part and high-gloss curls transform a standard medium-length cut into something sumptuous and memorable.
17. Natasha Lyonne:
For those seeking a subversive hairstyle, Lyonne delivers in spades. This iteration is all about long layers (that go shaggy when air-dried) and a full bang.
18. Taraji P. Henson:
Henson’s triangulated chop works well when wavy. Piece-y texture and ample volume open and lift the complexion.
19. Christina Ricci:
Ricci has rocked an endless array of bangs, but this extra-long, single-sided take feels elongating and cool, especially when blended with subtle long layers.
20. Viola Davis:
Another example of letting organic growth lead the way, Davis’s almost-Afro echoes the shape of her face to an eye-catching effect, the style tempered by a slight side bang.
21. Sarah Hyland:
This round-face haircut has it all: soft and tousled waves, face-framing layers, and a wispy, rounded bang! Hyland’s haircut is the perfect choice for those who want something both contemporary and timeless.
22. Billie Eilish:
Fans of modern flair would do well to look to Eilish’s collection of coifs and chops. This funky style is all about a short and stylized curtain bang and rounded layers.
23. Jennifer Lawrence:
Lawrence’s glossy blonde is one of her most striking assets. While the actor has favored pixies and chops in years past, her luxurious, single-length, center-separated waves are a study in easy elegance.
24. Joey King:
King takes a cue from a ’90s-era Ricci with this simple medium-length cut. Though potentially risky for those who seek to distract from their features, this straight and center-parted style puts the actor’s face center stage—and it works.
25. Penelope Cruz:
Snipped to the shoulder with a super side-swept part, Cruz’s haircut exudes effortless glamour. Simply part at center to achieve a more casual, uniform length.
26. Zendaya:
Zendaya’s long, finger-raked curls provide a perfect frame for her delicately rounded face. The elongated ringlets would be equally flattering regardless of styling, but the dramatic side part offers a worthy option.
27. Miley Cyrus:
A two-toned shade is striking on its own. But we especially love Cyrus’s textured beachy waves, which give her subtle layers some added volume and frame her round face quite nicely.
28. Janet Jackson:
Only Jackson could make pigtails super chic. At a surprise appearance at the Thom Browne Fall 2024 show at New York Fashion Week, she wore her long black hair straight and sleek, split into two mega-long pigtails that cascade so regally down her back.
29. Octavia Spencer:
Not much is needed to accentuate a round face’s best feature. Take a cue from Spencer who wears her medium-length hair with long loose curls and a deep middle part for a simple glam look that anyone can recreate on their own.
30. Lana Condor:
This isn’t your middle school crimped hairstyle. Elevate the 90s classic like Condor by giving hair looser bends and ultra shine for the perfect going-out style.
31. Zoe Saldana:
Long live the lob. Saldana wears her short hair with a subtle side part and slight curls at the ends for an effortless glam vibe.
32. Mindy Kaling:
In another win for the classic bob, Kaling opts for retro Old Hollywood at this year’s Met Gala. Her short bob is styled with a deep side part and her ends curled for a really pretty look.
33. Ana de Armas:
Who doesn’t love a long pony? If you’ve got a round face, leave out some front pieces to frame your best features. We especially love De Armas’s ponytail accessory of choice, a lovely velvet bow to give it a more romantic feel.
34. Janelle Monae:
Any of Monae’s hair looks could make this list, but there’s just something extra special about her pixie cuts. Think Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday with a modern twist; Monae wears hers with styled edges.
35. Dakota Johnson:
No one does bangs like Johnson. Her long fringe sits right above her brows and pairs with her long layers nicely for that effortless “It” girl look we all hope to attain.
36. Adele:
Bring on the drama—at least with your hair. Adele adds luscious waves full of volume to her long hair and gives it a deep side part for the ultimate glam.
37. Kelly Clarkson:
Is the pouf back? Clarkson is making a strong case for it. She elevates a simple updo with added volume at the crown of her head. Consider this our go-to for every fancy event moving forward.
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