Finding the perfect hairstyle can transform your entire look, especially when you understand your unique oblong face shape. Whether you’re considering a dramatic chop or subtle layers, the right cut can create balance, enhance your natural features, and boost your confidence. From short hairstyles for oblong faces to long flowing locks, this comprehensive guide reveals expert-approved styles that work harmoniously with your elongated features.
Understanding the Oblong Face Shape
The oblong face shape, also known as a rectangular face, is characterized by its length being noticeably greater than its width. This unique facial structure features a forehead, cheekbones, and jawline that are typically similar in width, creating a long, elegant appearance. Unlike oval faces, which are considered the “ideal” proportions, oblong faces present distinct styling opportunities.
Key characteristics of oblong faces include a high forehead that may be slightly wider than the chin, cheekbones that aren’t particularly prominent, a long and straight jawline with minimal curve, and often a rounded or slightly squared chin. Think of celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, or Kim Kardashian, who all showcase the beauty of this face shape.
The elongated nature of oblong faces means that the primary styling goal is creating visual width while minimizing the appearance of length. This doesn’t mean hiding your features—rather, it’s about achieving harmony and balance that celebrates your natural bone structure.
Pair this look with a flattering cut — our hairstyles for oval face guide shows you exactly how.
Key Features to Consider When Choosing Hairstyles for Oblong Faces
Creating Visual Balance
The ideal hairstyles for oblong faces are those that add width, soften angles, and create a balanced look. The most effective cuts work by breaking up the vertical length of your face with horizontal elements, texture, or strategic volume placement.
Essential Styling Principles
Width is your best friend. Adding volume at the sides of your face, incorporating face-framing layers, or opting for styles that add fullness to the cheek area helps create the illusion of broader proportions. This principle applies whether you’re choosing short crops or long layered styles.
Avoid excessive length. The longer the hair, the more it will lengthen your face more than it already is. While long hair isn’t off-limits, strategic layering and styling become crucial to prevent your face from appearing even more elongated.
Embrace texture and movement. Long faces are more likely to benefit from textured and layered hairstyles as they add volume to otherwise flat locks. Smooth, straight styles that lie flat against the head can emphasize length rather than creating the desired balance.
The Power of Bangs
Blunt bangs are one of the best oblong face shape hairstyles for a reason, they tend to be flattering. The key is to soften the bluntness. Bangs create a horizontal line across the forehead, instantly reducing the perceived length of your face while drawing attention to your eyes.
Best Short Hairstyles for Oblong Faces
The Textured Crop
This contemporary cut features a textured fringe and carefully crafted volume around the temples, creating an ideal balance for oblong faces. The textured crop works by adding width at the temples while the fringe reduces the apparent height of the forehead.
Bob Variations
The Classic Bob: A bouncy bob that flatters the features with elongated facial shape is suitable for straight hair type as well as curly hair type. It looks great with or without bangs but blunt bangs or side bangs are a sure hit.
The Rounded Bob: Bob with rounded ends can boast major volume even if it is not long. Just use some volumizing spray with a medium round brush before blow-drying your locks. This style creates the perfect balance of structure and softness.
For a full breakdown of what works best, see our heart shaped face hairstyles guide.
Curly Shag
If you’re rocking curly hair and an oblong face shape, a curly shag haircut can be your best friend. The shag’s all about texture and layers, which are ideal for adding width and breaking up the elongated look. The choppy layers create natural volume and dimension that perfectly balances oblong proportions.
Flattering Medium-Length Hairstyles for Oblong Faces
The Long Bob (Lob)
The Layered Lob is one of the most perfect oblong face shape hairstyles. By adding more volume and texture to your hair, this hairstyle helps shorten the length and soften your jawline. The lob hits at the ideal length—just at the collarbone—avoiding the face-lengthening effect of longer styles.
Face-Framing Layers
Medium-length cuts with strategic layering offer incredible versatility. A medium-length cut is your best bet if you want to balance out an oblong face. You can play up the layering of the cut with large, bouncy waves to really round out your appearance.
Styling Tips for Medium Lengths
- Use volumizing products to create fullness at the sides
- Incorporate waves or loose curls for added width
- Consider side-swept bangs to break up forehead height
- Style with a deep side part for asymmetrical interest
The Textured Shag
Modern shag cuts work exceptionally well for oblong faces because they combine multiple flattering elements: texture, layers, and often bangs or fringe. A wispy shag with airy bangs captures attention with strategically placed layering and a slightly disheveled texture. It reduces the length of the face and adds symmetry.
Long Hairstyles That Suit Oblong Face Shapes
Long Layers with Movement
Long hair with waves and curls looks good on people with oblong face shapes. The key is ensuring your long hair doesn’t hang straight and flat, which would emphasize length rather than create balance.
Strategic Layer Placement: Long Layers With Short Angles add width and volume at the sides of your face, balancing out the elongated shape. These angled layers create the illusion of a more oval silhouette.
Voluminous Styles
For those who love length, focus on creating volume and body throughout the hair. Volume is critical for balancing out the sharpness at the bottom of long facial features. This long but textured look with beach waves is proof positive that the right hairstyle can alter your face shape.
Long Hair with Bangs
Combining long hair with bangs creates the perfect balance of length and proportion control. Curtain bangs are having a bit of a moment in the fashion world. This type of bangs doesn’t exactly hide your face length, but they do accentuate your other features – beautiful eyes and high cheekbones.
Styling Tips to Add Width and Balance to an Oblong Face
Product Selection and Application
For Volume: Light mousses, sea salt sprays and texturizing powders add volume and texture, especially on the sides. These products help create the horizontal fullness that oblong faces need.
For Different Hair Types:
- Thick Hair: Use pomades or styling cream with medium to high hold
- Fine Hair: Opt for matte clay or volumizing powder to avoid weighing hair down
- Curly Hair: Apply curl cream or leave-in conditioner to maintain shape
- Wavy Hair: Light mousse or sea salt spray brings out natural texture
Not sure which option suits you? Our bangs vs no bangs guide breaks down the key differences.
Styling Techniques
Blow-Dry for Width: Apply volumising mousse to damp hair, blow-dry whilst directing hair forwards and outwards at temples. This technique creates width exactly where oblong faces need it most.
Strategic Parting: A deep side part is even better! It will create a diagonal line breaking up the length and add visual interest. Avoid center parts that can emphasize facial length.
What to Avoid
Super straight and long hair generally isn’t very flattering for oblong faces because they emphasise the length of the face, making it appear even longer. Without any added texture or volume, this style lacks the width and balance that’s needed.
Additional styles to avoid include:
- Slicked-back looks that expose the entire face
- Very tight fades without adequate top volume
- Hairstyles that add excessive height without width
- Completely flat, textureless styles
Professional Styling Recommendations
Work with a stylist who understands face shapes and can customize cuts to your specific features. As a stylist, I would suggest trying on wigs of both long and short hair that are close to the style you are interested in, to see which one you like and looks better.
For more style inspiration along the same lines, browse our sleek straight ponytail guide.
Accessory Integration
Opt for wide, embellished headbands to draw attention horizontally and make your face appear less long. Add statement clips or barrettes on the sides of your head to add width to your face. These accessories work in harmony with your hairstyle to enhance the balancing effect.
Choosing the right hairstyle for your oblong face is about understanding and celebrating your unique proportions rather than trying to hide them. Whether you prefer the sleek sophistication of a bob, the textured movement of a shag, or the flowing elegance of long layers, the key is incorporating elements that create width and visual balance. Remember that great hair starts with understanding your face shape, but it flourishes when you choose styles that make you feel confident and beautiful. With these expert tips and style recommendations, you’re equipped to work with your stylist to create a look that not only flatters your oblong face but also reflects your personal style and lifestyle needs.
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