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Your Guide to the Best Short Haircuts and Hairstyles to Flatter A Round Face

They’re all chic and timeless.

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My mom warned me as a young girl, onlooking at my peers with chiseled cheekbones and defined jawlines, that my round face would one day become an asset. “You’ll appreciate a fuller face when you’re older,” she’d say whenever she caught me vigorously contouring my jawline. It took a while to appreciate the softness of my features, but I believe she’s finally right. I love my round face.

"Just like there’s no such thing as a 'perfect' body shape, the same goes for face shapes," says celebrity hairstylist Jon Reyman. One of the biggest ways I got to this—admiration, not even just acceptance—was getting a short haircut for a round face. Listen: My hair is fine and thin; as much as I love the idea of long, flowing locks that hide my face, it just won’t happen without the help of extensions. Short hair is just what looks best. But I did have to play around a bit to find the right short haircut for my round features. Once I did that? Love at first sight.

"Short hairstyles do work well for round faces, but it’s all about the cut, length, and styling," Reyman explains. If you need some inspo for your next cut, keep scrolling. I asked Reyman for his top tips for haircuts for round faces and compiled a ton of celebrity pics to take to your appointment (along with exactly what to ask for to get a similar result).

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1

Lob Haircut With Bangs

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Forget everything you were told about bangs making your face look “too round.” To be fair, I see nothing wrong with the roundness. But it actually highlights the soft curves of your face, especially when paired with this lob length.

2

Bixie With A Side Bang

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All of the long lines in this haircut make your face look more angular, if that’s what you’re doing for. If you already have a short cut (specifically, a bixie, like Jessie Buckley’s, which is a mix between a pixie and a bob), try parting on the side and using a styling wax to give your hair more structure.

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3

Tapered Afro

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Reyman is a fan of Taraji P. Henson’s natural cut because “the sides are narrow, and there's height on top, whichhelps create the appearance of something less wide.” To help define your natural texture, use a hydrating curl cream for both moisture and definition.

4

Choppy, Razor-Cut Bob

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Rachel Evan Wood can definitely be considered a hair chameleon. When it comes to selecting the right cut, "it’s important to pay attention to what you want to accentuate," says Reyman. For example, if the length of the cut is below the chin, it naturally draws the eyes downward toward the jawline. But remember: "A haircut is nothing without the style, especially with lobs where the hair falls and frames the face," he adds.

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5

Edgy, Deep-Parted Pixie

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Volume on top is key to balancing out a rounder face shape. "The darker root color—as seen on Mary J. Blige—also helps draw the attention to the corners of the head," says hair colorist George Papanikolas. Here's a trick: Help maintain a brilliant blonde color with a brightening purple-based shampoo thrown into your current wash routine.

6

Slicked-Back Lob

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According to Reyman, Chrissy’s style works especially well because it "falls past her shoulders, which brings the eye downward” to her clavicle. Also, since her hair is slightly slicked back, it helps “open up her face," he says.

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7

Sleek, Middle-Parted Bob

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Selena Gomez’s beautiful, angled bob is the perfect style for elongating her face. “Choosing a bob style that is longer than chin, along with an on-trend middle part, will create the illusion of length,” says hairstylist Brittney Ounanian.

8

Messy Pixie

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Typically, round faces tend to be fuller in the cheeks, so "by adding height to a style, like Ginnifer Goodwin does, you can instantly elongate your facial profile," says hairstylist Olivia Flores. Try “faking” thicker roots with a volumizing dry shampoo for “an instant lift and grip that will last all night.”

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9

Side-Swept Pixie

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If the idea of a pixie cut freaks you out, have your stylist cut longer, forehead-sweeping bangs so you can style them forward to create the illusion of length. Kaley Cuoco is a prime example of how to rock bangs IRL.

10

Finger-Wave Pixie

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Not only are finger waves an ideal wedding look for short hair, but they also help create texture on an otherwise traditional pixie. "Make a side part, then comb your wavy bangs to one side for a stunningly dramatic look," says Papanikolas. You can also try using a non-flake mousse, like Cécred Volumizing Mousse, to help prolong your '20s-inspired style.

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11

Bangs and a Soft Bob

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Unlike the ultra-blunt bobs you expect (the c*nty bob, if you will), Billie Eilish’s has soft texture and movement. There are a few layers throughout; for the most part, they blend in and add dimension, but they’re great for reducing the weight of your bob for thick and coarse hair textures. Reyman also nods to bangs that have some airiness to naturally break up a rounder face shape. Another major plus? Choppy, layered bangs are easier to grow out, since they longer they get, the more purposeful they look.

12

Textured Lob

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A textured lob like Jennifer's is the perfect hairstyle for round faces, since it's not too long or too short. "This cut works because she kept it a few inches below the chin, which makes the face appear longer, while theswept-across bang creates angles on a round face," says hairstylist Leona Wilson. Her pro tip? Ask your stylist for long, choppy layers to give your face the illusion of angles.

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13

Tousled, Curly Bob

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Soft curls look great with any face shape, but to make them extra flattering on a round face, Papanikolas suggests cutting curls that hit below the chin line to add some width in all the right places. After curling your hair, don't forget to add a spritz of hairspray for a bit of hold.

14

Deep Side-Parted Bob

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Sometimes an imbalance produces more balance. “A deep side part like Gabrielle Union’s makes the eye travel from side to side, instead of around the face,” says Ounanian. Keep your hair looking sleek (and flyaway free) by smoothing on a few drops of glossing drops. My favorite? Sachajuan Shine Serum.

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15

Pixie With Full Bangs

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A choppy cut like Viola Davis's quite literally cuts the face in half, giving you the appearance of a heart-shaped face. Pro tip: Rub and rake a dab of hair paste, like R+Co Control Flexible Paste, through the ends of your cut for a piece-y finish.

16

Pixie With Shaved Sides

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Just like with a deep side part, an asymmetrical haircut that sweeps over one side of the face makes a rounder bone structure look more oval. Ounanian suggests curling the longer side of your hair, like Alicia Quarles, for added dimension.

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17

Wavy Lob

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"A shaggy lob with a side part like Sarah Hyland's cuts right through a rounder face to elongate it a bit," says Ounanian. For those of you looking to add texture to naturally straight hair, try one of these DIY wavy-hair hacks.

18

Sleek Pixie

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Michelle Williams's pixie cut works particularly well for her face shape "because the sides are kept sleek and tapered, while the bangs are kept longer," says Wilson. Just remember to schedule a trim every four to six weeks to keep your pixie looking super sharp.

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19

Wavy Lob

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"The holy-trinity style for round faces are asymmetry, body, and collar bone," says Flores, "or as I like to refer to it, the ABCs of perfect styling.” And according to Flores, Mindy Kaling's hair nails all three. Just remember to keep your cut above the collar bone to create just enough length in the cheeks, while also directing some attention to your décolleté, she adds.

Meet the experts:

  • Jon Reyman is a hairstylist and cofounder of Spoke and Weal with salons in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Austin, and more.
  • Leona Wilson is a hairstylist and owner of Leona Wilson Studio in New York, NY. She’s well-versed in working on every hair texture, type, and style.
  • Olivia Flores is a hairstylist and owner at Bloom Salon and Studio in San Antonio, TX.
  • Brittney Ounanian is a hairstylist and educator for Amika based in Detroit, MI.
  • George Papanikolas is a hair colorist at Andy Lecompte Salon in Los Angeles, CA. He’s His notable clients include Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian, and KATSEYE.

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories.

Headshot of Beth Gillette

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months. 

Headshot of Janell M. Hickman-Kirby

Janell M. Hickman-Kirby is a writer and editor based in New York.

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