Hairstyle guide
Hairstyles for an Oblong Face: 7 Cuts for Women and Men
An oblong, or long, face is clearly longer than it is wide, with forehead, cheekbones and jaw of similar width. Haircuts for an oblong face add width at the sides and avoid adding length: bangs, waves and cuts that end near the jaw.
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What a haircut can do for an oblong face
A typical oblong face on our face shape detector is about 1.31 times as long as it is wide at the cheekbones, the longest of the six shapes. Its widths are close to an oval face's, so the length is what stands out.
Hair can make the face read shorter in two ways. A fringe covers part of the forehead and moves the visible top of the face down. Volume at the sides, from waves, curls or a cut that ends near the jaw, adds width. Height on top and very long, straight hair do the opposite.
For how the shape is measured and how to tell it from its neighbours, read the oblong face shape guide.
Hairstyles for women with an oblong face
Full bangs
A full fringe at eyebrow level shortens the visible length of the face more than any other change. Soft volume at the sides balances it.
Ask for: Full, straight bangs ending just above the brows, shoulder-length hair with body at the sides.
Chin-length bob with side volume
A bob that ends near the chin puts the hair's width beside the lower face, which widens an oblong outline. Slight waves add more width.
Ask for: A chin-length bob with soft layers for volume at the sides and a side part.
Shoulder-length waves
Full waves at cheek and jaw level add width where an oblong face is narrow for its length. Keeping the crown flat avoids adding height.
Ask for: Shoulder-length layers with waves from cheek level and no lift at the roots.
Lob with curtain bangs
Curtain bangs shorten the forehead without a heavy fringe, and ends flicked outward add width at the jaw.
Ask for: A long bob above the shoulders, curtain bangs ending at the cheekbones and ends flicked out.
The pictures are AI-generated previews: the women's cuts are edits of one example face and the men's of another, with only the hair changed. Real results depend on your hair's texture and density.
Haircuts for men with an oblong face
Textured fringe
A fringe brushed forward covers part of the forehead and shortens the face. Keeping the sides medium rather than faded tight adds a little width.
Ask for: About 6 cm on top worn forward into a textured fringe, with scissor-cut sides or a long clipper grade.
Side part with fuller sides
A side part combed flat adds no height, and leaving the sides fuller keeps the head from looking narrow and tall.
Ask for: A side part with medium length on top and no lift, sides left at about 2 cm.
Medium-length tousled cut
Hair falling forward and over the ears adds width at the sides and covers some of the forehead, the two things an oblong face benefits from.
Ask for: About 8 cm all over, textured and worn forward and to the sides.
- Not sure you have an oblong face?
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Cuts to approach with care
None of these is off limits; they are the cuts that work against the shape, so they need more thought or a variation.
A tall pompadour or quiff
Height on top adds length to the longest face shape.
InsteadVolume at the sides, or a fringe.
Very long, straight, one-length hair
Long straight hair falling flat on both sides draws vertical lines that make the face look longer.
InsteadAdd layers, waves or a fringe.
A skin fade with a long top
Very short sides with a tall top narrow the head and stretch it upward.
InsteadA softer taper that keeps some width at the sides.
Frequently asked questions
01What hairstyle makes a long face look shorter?
A fringe does the most: full or curtain bangs cover the top of the forehead. Waves or volume at the sides and cuts that end near the jaw add width, which also makes the face read shorter.
02Is long hair bad for an oblong face?
Not if it has layers, waves or a fringe. Long, straight, one-length hair with no fringe is the version that makes an oblong face look longest.
03What men's haircut suits a long face?
Cuts with a forward fringe, or a flat side part with fuller sides. Avoid tall pompadours and very tight fades, which add height and narrow the sides.
04Oblong or oval: what is the difference?
Both are longer than wide, but an oblong face is longer, about 1.31 times its width on our detector against 1.23 for oval, with straighter sides. The oblong face shape guide compares them, and the face shape detector measures yours.