Having a round face shape can sometimes feel limiting when it comes to choosing the right haircut.
Many tend to default to longer styles to elongate the face, but medium length cuts can also be incredibly flattering.
The key is choosing a style with the right balance of length, layers and shape to add definition and create the illusion of an oval face.
The Textured Bob
Going for a bob cut is a great way to add structure and shape to a round face.
Aim for a length hitting just below the chin.
This provides some framing while avoiding additional width at the sides.
Ask your stylist for lots of layered texture through the ends to add movement and body.
The jagged ends help slim the cheeks while the slight curl creates the illusion of an oval face shape.
Part your hair slightly off-center and sweep bangs across to one side to further elongate the face.
This cut works well with thick, straight hair that holds the layered shape.
Use some sea salt spray when air drying to enhance the natural texture.
Run your hands through the ends to break up the layers.
The piece-y, imperfect style is ultra flattering for round face shapes.
The Angled Lob
Want to add some edge to your round face shape?
Opt for an angled lob.
This modern medium length cut features longer layers in the front that graduate down to shorter layers in the back.
This graduated shape is perfect for creating the illusion of oval face proportions.
Ask for the back to be tapered in towards the neck and keep the front layers long, falling past the collarbone.
The angled shape slims the jawline and adds strong lines to soften a round face.
Make sure to add in lots of layered texture for movement and bounce.
The ends should not be blunt.
Flip the ends out and away from your face when styling to maximize the slimming effect.
This cut works best on straight to wavy hair types.
The Curly Shag
Embrace natural texture with a curly shag!
This medium length shaggy style allows curls to bounce free while still framing the face.
Shorter layers are chopped throughout, with the longest layers hitting around the collarbones.
This removes any bulk or width at the sides of the face, creating a slimming effect.
The carefree layers also take attention away from any roundness in the cheeks.
Allow your curls to air dry or diffuse with minimal handling to maximize volume.
Scrunch in some sea salt spray at the roots for a beachy, piece-y finish.
The naturally tousled texture will perfectly complement a round face shape.
The Wispy Lob
For fine to medium hair types, a wispy lob is an effortlessly chic choice
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Lob styles (long bobs) are compromised of long layers reaching collarbone length, with subtle face framing layers throughout.
The key is keeping ends very thin with soft, wispy layering.
This creates movement while removing volume from the sides of the face.
Ask your stylist to point cut the ends by cutting inwards with the scissors to remove bulk.
The longest layers towards the front should fall past the jawline, with gradual tapering towards the back.
Part off center and style the front pieces away from the face.
Blow drying with a round brush to add volume at the crown while smoothing sides will maximize the slimming effect.
The Wavy Shag
If you have naturally wavy hair, a medium length wavy shag is a gorgeous option.
For this style, hair is cut to about collarbone length, with shorter layers stacked throughout to create lots of texture and movement.
The mix of shorter and longer pieces removes bulk from the sides of the face, slimming a round shape.
Soft waves and texture also serve to soften any rounded angles.
Ask your stylist to point cut the ends to keep them wispy and light.
Finger style waves using sea salt spray and allow hair to air dry for effortless texture.
Part off center and sweep the front pieces away from the face.
The Layered Lob
A layered lob is a fail-safe medium length style that flatters most face shapes, including round.
For this cut, hair is left longer towards the front – hitting just below the collarbone – and tapers up towards the back in long layers.
The graduated shape serves to elongate the face rather than accentuating width at the sides.
Make sure layers are chopped throughout – not just in the length but also around the face.
Shorter pieces falling at the cheekbones help slim a round shape.
For fine hair, ask your stylist to point cut the ends to remove bulk and encourage movement.
Those with thick hair can opt for blunt ends and bouncy curls.
Part slightly off center and style longer front pieces away from the face.
The Curtain Bang Lob
Curtain bangs are perfect for framing a round face without overpowering it.
The key is keeping them long and layered.
Ask your stylist for bangs that graduate down past the cheekbones towards the jaw.
Blend these long bangs in seamlessly with the rest of your collarbone-grazing lob cut.
The length at the front will serve to elongate the face.
Choppy layers throughout remove bulk at the sides for a slimming effect.
When styling, blow dry bangs away from the face and towards the longer sections at the sides.
This creates a beautiful framing effect that complements round features.
Soft waves or curls also complement the layered shape.
The Dimensional Balayage Lob
Here’s a hot styling tip – adding balayage highlights to your medium length cut can help sculpt and shape a round face.
The key is opting for dimensional tones blended softly from mid-lengths to ends.
Ask your colorist for a full head of babylights with a warm balayage effect.
Keep the roots darker to streamline the shape of the face.
The lighter ends widen and narrow in all the right places, creating the illusion of an oval shape.
Whether you opt for a wavy lob or something straighter, make sure to show off those melty highlights!
Part your hair off center and style the front pieces forward to frame the face in a flattering way.
The Stacked A-Line Bob
For straight hair types, a stacked A-line bob is the perfect way to add structure while slimming a round face.
This cut features stacked short layers at the back tapering towards longer layers at the front.
The graduated shape creates beautiful angled lines, elongating the face rather than accentuating width at the sides.
Piecy stacked layers at the back also serve to slim volume below the cheekbones for a sculpted look.
Have your stylist point cut the ends to prevent bluntness – especially around the chin area.
Style your bob sleek and straight using a round brush to turn ends slightly under as you blow dry.
The precise shape of this cut complements soft round facial features.
The Collarbone Pixie
Don’t be afraid to go shorter!
Contrary to popular belief, pixie lengths can actually be incredibly flattering on round face shapes.
The key is keeping the sides long and the cut rounded to create the illusion of an oval face.
Ask your stylist for a pixie with longer layers on top – approximately hitting the collarbones.
Keep the back and sides slightly shorter, but still rounded and not too tapered.
Soft face framing layers falling to the cheekbones break up overall width.
Add lots of texture on top, styling pieces forward onto the forehead to elongate the face.
Smooth the sides back behind the ears.
Allow the top layers to fall naturally.
Finish with wax for light hold and definition.
The Textured Chin-Length Bob
This chin-length bob is a great hybrid length, perfect for those not quite ready to take the plunge to a full pixie.
The cut features textured ends hitting the chin, which serves to draw the eye down and elongate a round face shape.
Ask your stylist for lots of point cut layers throughout the ends and sides to remove bulk.
Stacked layers at the crown also help create height, ideal for longer face shapes.
Give the bob lots of lift by blow drying the roots.
Add texturizing product like sea salt spray for piece-y ends with movement.
Tuck one side behind the ear and sweep the rest of the hair across to one side.
The Shoulder-Length Shag
Shag haircuts are universally flattering.
The key to making them work for round faces is keeping the length below the shoulders to avoid width at the sides.
Ask your stylist for a medium length shag hitting around shoulder level.
Incorporate lots of layered texture, especially around the sides.
Shorter pieces falling forward at the cheekbones serve to slim width.
Longer layers towards the bottom balance out the shape.
Let your natural waves shine by enhancing texture with salt spray and finger styling.
Create a deep side part and sweep pieces over to one side for a slimming effect.
Play up the effortless volume on top.
The Wispy Chin-Length Bob
Wispy chin-length bobs are gorgeous options for fine to medium hair types with round face shapes.
These cuts end bluntly at the chin line which immediately helps elongate a round face.
Ask your stylist for fine, soft layers throughout – avoid any thick chunks.
Layering around the face should be very subtle to keep width to a minimum.
Point cutting the ends makes them move beautifully while removing excess bulk.
Blow dry using a round brush to flip the ends under slightly.
This creates a pretty curled shape that beautifully frames round facial features.
Add shine serum for glossy texture and lightly tousle ends with fingers for bounce and movement.
The key to choosing a medium length style to suit a round face shape is all in the details.
Look for cuts with longer layers towards the front to elongate, textured ends to slim, and avoid width at the sides.
Cuts like lobs, shags and bobs can all be adapted to flatter a round face when cut correctly.
Don’t be afraid to embrace natural texture for softness and movement.
With the right layers, lengths and finishes, medium haircuts can be irresistibly beautiful on round face shapes.
Consult an experienced stylist and work together to find your perfect match!
