A long face is elegant, versatile and easy to flatter — once you know the trick. The best haircuts for long face shapes all work the same way: they add width, volume or movement at the sides, and they break up the vertical line that runs from forehead to chin. Bangs are your best friend here, medium lengths beat very long ones, and texture is worth more than length. Get those three things right and almost any style works, from a pixie to long layers.
How to Tell If You Have a Long Face
Stand in front of a mirror and check three things. First, the distance from your hairline to your chin is about one and a half times the width across your cheekbones. Second, your forehead, cheeks and jaw are roughly the same width, with a long, straight outline rather than a wide one. Third, your chin is softly rounded or slightly pointed, not square. If all three are true, you have a long or oblong face — and the cuts below are built for you. The golden rule to remember: add width at the cheeks and jaw, and never let flat, straight hair run past your shoulders unchecked.
The Full Fringe with Shoulder-Length Hair
A full fringe is one of the most effective tools for a long face, because it instantly covers a third of the face and shortens the forehead. Paired with shoulder-length hair, it creates a balanced, modern look that never feels heavy. Choose a fringe that falls just below the eyebrows for the best effect, and keep the ends of the hair soft rather than blunt so the shape stays light. This is the fastest single change you can make, and it suits straight, wavy and slightly curly hair alike. Our baby bangs guide covers shorter fringe lengths if you want to go bolder.
Curtain Bangs and Bardot Bangs
If a full fringe feels like too much, curtain bangs are the softer answer. They part in the middle and sweep out to each side, framing the face at cheek level and adding width exactly where a long face needs it. Bardot bangs work the same way with a little more fullness: a longer, feathered fringe that hits towards the bottom of the cheeks or near the chin. Both styles break the forehead’s vertical line without hiding the face, and both blend easily into layers as they grow out. Our curtain bangs guide covers lengths and styling in detail.
Medium-Length Waves
Medium-length hair with soft, bouncy waves is one of the most flattering options for a long face, because the volume through the sides creates a wider, more balanced silhouette. Keep the length around the shoulders — long enough to move, short enough not to drag the eye down. A side part adds asymmetry and stops the face from reading as one long, straight line. Add waves from cheekbone level downwards with a large-barrel iron or a round brush, and finish with a light texturizing spray so the shape holds without going stiff.
The Chin-Length Bob
A chin-length bob is a secret weapon for a long face. It creates the illusion of width right at the jawline, which is exactly where the face needs interruption, and it stops the eye from travelling straight down. Keep it soft: a little volume at the sides, curved ends, and a side fringe or deep side part to break the symmetry. An A-line lob with the back a touch shorter than the front adds the same effect with more length. Avoid a very long, flat bob with a centre part, which only repeats the face’s vertical line. Our lob haircut guide covers blunt, layered and wavy versions.
The Layered Bob with Side Fringe
If you want a shorter style that still feels soft and wearable, a layered bob with a side fringe is the standout choice. The layers take attention away from the length and help the face appear wider, while the side fringe softens the forehead and draws the eye across the face instead of down it. Ask for layers that build volume around the cheeks and jaw, and keep the fringe long enough to sweep to one side. This cut works on straight and wavy hair, and it grows out gracefully between appointments.
The Curly Bob
If you are blessed with curls, a textured curly bob is one of the best styles for a long face. The layers stop the hair from going puffy, the curls add width at the sides, and the shape frames the face instead of lengthening it. Ask your stylist to cut curls dry, because curls shrink as they dry and a wet cut can end up shorter than planned. Keep the fullest volume around the cheeks and jaw, not up at the crown, where height only adds to the length. Our curly haircuts for women guide covers shapes for every curl type.
The Bixie for Side Volume
The bixie — a hybrid of a bob and a pixie — is highly flattering for long faces, because it builds softness and side volume without adding height on top. Ask for longer, piecey layers at the sides that sit around the cheeks, and a soft side fringe that sweeps across the forehead. The result reads shorter and wider than the face, which is exactly the balance you want. It is low fuss in the morning, too: a little paste, a quick tousle, and the shape is done. Our bixie haircut guide covers the style in full.
Long Layers with Gentle Waves
If you want to keep your hair long, face-framing layers with gentle waves are the way to do it. The layers add movement around the jawline and give a more oval appearance, while the waves build width at the sides so the length stops reading as one long drop. Keep the shortest layers at cheekbone level and avoid a flat, centre-parted style with no movement, which only emphasises the length. A deep side part and loose, tousled waves finish the look. Our layered haircuts for women guide covers lengths and layering in full.
The Shag and Butterfly Cut
A shag with curls is a strong choice for a long face, because its many layers break the vertical line and pile volume at the sides. The butterfly cut works the same way with a softer, more polished finish: shorter, face-framing pieces over longer lengths build lift and movement up top while the long lengths keep flowing. Both cuts add the horizontal interest a long face needs, and both look best with a fringe or curtain bangs to shorten the forehead. Our shag haircut and butterfly haircut guides cover both styles in detail.
Haircuts to Avoid with a Long Face
Some cuts work against a long face, and knowing them saves a bad appointment. Long, straight hair with no layers falls in one flat sheet and makes the face look even longer. Very short pixie cuts can emphasise facial length, unless they are styled to add width at the sides. Short layers that add volume on top only add further height. And a sleek, tight ponytail or updo pulls everything back and shows the face’s true length — choose a loose, tousled style with flowing wispy strands instead. The fix is almost always the same: add width at the sides, add a fringe, and keep the length at or above the shoulders.
| Cut | Why it works for a long face | Ask your stylist for |
|---|---|---|
| Full fringe | Covers a third of the face, shortens the forehead | Fringe just below the eyebrows |
| Curtain bangs | Width at cheek level, breaks the vertical line | Bangs to the cheekbones or chin |
| Medium waves | Side volume balances the length | Shoulder length, waves from the cheeks |
| Chin-length bob | Width at the jawline | Soft volume at the sides, side part |
| Curly bob | Curls add width, frame the face | Dry cut, volume at the cheeks |
| Bixie | Side volume without height on top | Piecey side layers, soft side fringe |
FAQs
What haircut suits a long face?
A: The most flattering options are layered styles, fringes and medium-length cuts — they add width and balance, making the face appear more proportionate.
How can I make a long face look shorter?
A: Choose styles with volume at the sides, avoid very long straight hair, and add a fringe. These break up the vertical line and visually reduce the length.
I have a long face — what haircut should I get?
A: If you are unsure, start with a layered shoulder-length cut or a bob with a fringe. Both suit a wide range of hair types and textures.
Does a bob suit a long face?
A: Yes — a chin-length or layered bob with a side fringe is one of the best choices, because it adds width at the jawline. Avoid a long, flat bob with a centre part.
Can long hair suit a long face?
A: Yes, if it has face-framing layers and gentle waves that add width at the sides. Long, straight hair with no layers will make the face look longer.
Written by the New Light team. Fancy trying one of these shapes? Send us a message and bring your favourite photograph when you visit.
