Oblong face shape hairstyles that soften an elongated look
An oblong face looks longer than it is wide, so the right cut adds width instead of height. Here are the bangs, bobs, and face framing layers that flatter long faces, the styles to skip, and what the upkeep really costs.
The quickest way to make an oblong face look shorter has nothing to do with growing your hair out. It's about where you put the width. Oblong face shape hairstyles work by adding fullness across the cheeks and jaw and breaking up the long vertical line that runs from forehead to chin.
If your face is longer than it is wide, and your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw sit at about the same width, you've got a long face shape. The good news is that the best haircuts for long faces are some of the most wearable cuts around: a soft fringe, a blunt bob, a shaggy mid length. Here's how to pick one, what it costs to keep up, and the few styles worth skipping.
What makes a face read as oblong
An oblong face, sometimes called rectangular or elongated, is taller than it is wide. The forehead, cheekbones, and jawline measure roughly the same across, and the chin is gently rounded rather than pointed. Actors like Sarah Jessica Parker and Liv Tyler are the usual reference points.
The extra length usually comes from a taller forehead or a longer run between the nose and chin. None of that is a flaw. It just means a handful of cuts flatter you more than others, and one or two will fight you.
How to tell if your face is long
Pull your hair back, look straight into a mirror, and measure with your eyes. If your face is clearly longer than it is wide and the sides run mostly parallel, you're likely oblong. Not sure where you land? Our guide on how to find your face shape walks through the quick measurements.
The one rule behind oblong face shape hairstyles
Every good choice here follows a single idea that stylists repeat for oblong faces: add width, not height. You want to interrupt the vertical line of a long face and push volume out to the sides, near the cheekbones and jaw. Do that and the face reads shorter and more balanced almost at once.
The rule for a long face is simple. Add width at the cheeks, never height on top.
That's why a good cut for long face proportions leans on bangs, blunt ends, and layers that sit low. It's also why tall, piled up styles do the opposite and stretch the face further.
Bangs are the fastest fix for a long face
If you change one thing, make it bangs. A fringe covers part of a tall forehead and drops a strong horizontal line across the face, which shortens it in a second. Stylists usually cut bangs to graze the brows and texturize the ends so they don't sit heavy. Bangs for long faces do more visual work than any other single change.
Curtain bangs are the easy version. They part in the middle, sweep toward the cheeks, and grow out without an awkward stage, which is why they've led the bang trends for a couple of years. Want something softer at longer lengths? These wispy curtain bangs pair well with layers.
Best haircuts for long faces, short to long
Past the fringe, length is your main lever. The best haircut for long face shapes keeps weight and movement around the middle of the face, not piled at the crown. A few cuts flatter almost everyone.
The chin length bob
A blunt or slightly angled bob that ends at the chin drops a horizontal edge right where you want width. A French bob is a low upkeep take that sits at or just above the jaw.
The wolf cut and textured shag
Shaggy cuts pack in choppy layers that build width at the sides. The wolf cut and its softer cousin the shag both work, as long as the shortest layers land around the cheekbones instead of the crown.
| Cut | Best length | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|
| Curtain bangs | Any length | Trim 3-4 weeks |
| French bob | Chin | Cut 6-8 weeks |
| Textured shag | Mid to long | Cut 8-10 weeks |
| Long layers | Collarbone | Dust 10-12 weeks |
A chin length bob ends its horizontal line exactly where a long face needs width the most.
Face framing layers that add width, not length
Layers are where a long face wins or loses. Face framing layers cut around the front, starting near the cheekbones, pull the eye sideways and soften a tall forehead. Long straight hair with no shape does the reverse and drags everything down.
Add a soft bend or wave and you gain even more width. That's the whole point of elongated face hairstyles built on waves: curl or flick the mid lengths outward so the outline gets rounder. Keep length if you love it, but keep the face framing layers for long face shapes doing the shaping up front. A butterfly cut is a long option made almost entirely of face framing layers for long hair.
What long face hairstyles cost to keep up
None of this is pricey, but bangs and bobs do ask for regular upkeep. A women's cut runs about $35 to $90 at most US salons, with budget chains near $40 and higher end places around $90.
Bangs are the ongoing cost. Because they grow into your eyes fast, most people trim them every 3 to 4 weeks, and many salons do that quick trim for $15 to $50, sometimes free between full cuts. Budget another $20 to $50 a month for the styling spray and heat protectant that keep waves full.
| Service | How often | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Womens haircut | 6-8 weeks | $35 to $90 |
| Bang trim | 3-4 weeks | $15 to $50 |
| Styling products | Monthly | $20 to $50 |
Bangs cost less in cash than in calendar time. Plan on a quick trim every three to four weeks.
See oblong face shape hairstyles on your own photo first
A cut that looks great on someone else can feel wrong once it's on you. That's the case for trying a style before the scissors come out. With Fravyn, you upload one photo and preview more than 50 hairstyles and 29 colors on your own face, so you can see how bangs or a bob actually sit.
It also reads your face shape and suggests cuts that fit, which takes the guessing out of hairstyles for long faces. Test three or four before your appointment and walk in knowing exactly what you want to ask for.
Common questions about long face hairstyles
What is the best haircut for a long face?
Bangs plus a cut that adds width at the cheeks. A blunt or curtain fringe with a chin length bob or a textured shag is the safest bet. The best haircut for long face shapes always breaks the vertical line and keeps volume low, not stacked on top.
Do bangs suit an oblong face shape?
Yes. Bangs are the single most flattering move for an oblong face shape, since they hide part of a tall forehead and add a horizontal line that shortens the face. Curtain, blunt, and side swept fringes all work, so pick the one that fits your routine.
Should a long face avoid long straight hair?
Not entirely, but long straight hair parted down the middle with no layers makes a long face look longer. If you love your length, add face framing layers and a soft wave so the front still builds width. That keeps long face shape hairstyles balanced.
What hairstyles should oblong faces skip?
Skip tall volume on top, high slicked ponytails, and one length hair with a center part, since each one stretches the face. Very short crops with no side width can do the same. Almost everything else is fair game.
Ready to see how these styles look on you? A long face changes the math on bangs, bobs, and layers, and the easiest way to find your match is to try them on first. Preview more than 50 styles on your own photo in seconds, then take your favorite to the salon. Get the app here: iOS.
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