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  4. Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Haircut for Your Face Shape

Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Haircut for Your Face Shape

By InStyle Staff
Updated Aug 04, 2020 @ 3:00 pm
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; Cindy Ord/Getty

It sounds like a corny Pinterest quote (and it probably is), but it's the truth: Confidence is all you need to pull off literally any haircut. 

And while we think you should go with whatever style you want, there’s also nothing wrong with taking note of your face shape before deciding on a look. This approach will help to draw attention to your unique, gorgeous facial features — and it might also just give you some peace of mind as you sit and wait for the finished product.

Here, we rounded up the best short, medium, and long haircuts for every face shape. Keep scrolling to see them on your favorite celebrities, along with the best styling tricks for each hairstyle. 

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1 of 12

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Round Face: Short

Credit: Dan MacMedan/Getty

THE CUT

A pixie with spiky layers sliced all around the crown like Ginnifer Goodwin's chop.

WHY IT WORKS

"If you're going to go short, go short all the way," says celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of R+Co Garren. "The choppy pieces up top add height, lengthen your face and emphasize your eyes."

TO STYLE
For a straighter, piece-y look like Goodwin, use the Eva NYC Mini Healthy Heat Ceramic Flat Iron ($30; target.com). Because of its miniature size, you can actually grasp your shortest strands.

1 of 12

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Round Face: Medium-Length

Credit: Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic

THE CUT

Show off your features with a choppy, layered bob like Taraji P. Henson.

WHY IT WORKS

Honey Artists hairstylist Michael Lollo says short hair is particularly flattering on those with a round face shape. "It works here because she's chosen a side-part, so it gives something for the eye to follow," he says. If you have bangs and want a side-part, the stylist says the first piece of your bang should break at your eye.

TO STYLE
Add in beachy waves with T3 Whirl Trio ($300; sephora.com) a product we swear by with interchangeable barrels. 

2 of 12

3 of 12

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Round Face: Long

Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty

THE CUT

Long, barely there layers that hit at the jawline.

WHY IT WORKS

Selena Gomez's long, staggered layers are an easy way to make your hair seem fuller. A scattering of light layers on the bottom keeps volume away from the sides and focuses near the ends. Long layers also bring attention to the dimension in your hair color, and can prevent fine hair from appearing stringy.

TO STYLE

You can play up your natural texture (and avoid damaging heat) by adding in a bit of product. We prefer Pantene Pro-V Level 4 Extra Strong Hold Texture-Building Hairspray ($5; target.com) for all-day volume and extra hold.

3 of 12

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4 of 12

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Heart Face: Short

Credit: Chris Weeks/WireImage

THE CUT

A pixie that’s clipped evenly on the sides and nape of the neck with short layers on top.

WHY IT WORKS

Halle Berry’s tousled, choppy cut balances out the jawline.

TO STYLE

To extend the life of your tousled pixie, try Verb Sculpting Clay ($18; sephora.com). It's weightless so that your strands stay upright without any crunchiness or stickiness.

4 of 12

5 of 12

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Heart Face: Medium-Length

Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

THE CUT

A collarbone-length cut with sweeping bangs and uniform layers.

WHY IT WORKS

Reese Witherspoon's shoulder-skimming layers draw your eyes away from the chin area and add balance.

TO STYLE
For a full-bodied look like Witherspoon's, we swear by the ghd Air Hair Dryer ($199; sephora.com). It's powerful enough to cut down on drying time while leaving hair soft, shiny, and frizz-free.

5 of 12

6 of 12

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Heart Face: Long

Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty

THE CUT

Long hair with longer layers or fringe.

WHY IT WORKS

"I definitely think for women with heart-shaped faces, going longer is great," says Lollo. "But one thing you want to do is have some layers that break at the cheekbone and the chin to bring some of the attention to that area." 

TO STYLE 
For tousled waves like Ciara, try a texturizing spray or let your hair air-dry with a product like Living Proof Perfect Hair Day In-Shower Styler ($26; sephora.com). It enhances your hair's natural texture and leaves hair softer and shinier. 

6 of 12

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Oval Face: Short

Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty

THE CUT
A blunt bob with minimal, subtle layers.

WHY IT WORKS
"This face shape is the easiest to carry off any kind of haircut," says Lollo. Go for a strong lob with a little bit of face-framing like Rihanna.

TO STYLE
Because this cut is blunt by nature, play up your natural texture in the styling and stick with a center part. If you have curly hair, try OUAI's Wave Spray ($26; sephora.com) in your styling routine. It enhances natural curls and bends, all while keeping the hair super moisturized. 

7 of 12

8 of 12

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Oval Face: Medium-Length

Credit: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

THE CUT

A sleek blowout that hits at the shoulder Kate Middleton's.

WHY IT WORKS

Kate Middleton's layers may look uniform, but the difference is there. The subtle variations in length keep your strands from lying flat against your head and helps your hair look more voluminous and thicker.

TO STYLE

For a high-gloss finish like Middleton's, we're turning to Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Strengthening Treatment Hair Oil ($30; sephora.com).

8 of 12

9 of 12

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Oval Face: Long

Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

THE CUT

Long strands paired with a retro texture and sweeping fringe.

WHY IT WORKS

Side-swept bangs like Emma Stone's can balance out oval faces just as effectively as a bob. This way, though, you won't lose any length. "You're covering the area between your hairline and brow, removing several inches from your face," says Garren.

TO STYLE
You can easily create old-fashioned waves with a large-barrel curling iron, a paddle brush, and hair pins. Curl, gently brush, and pin back the sides to get the look. 

9 of 12

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10 of 12

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Square Face: Short

Credit: Tony Barson/WireImage

THE CUT

A short layered bob with subtle bangs.

WHY IT WORKS

Cameron Diaz's cut brings the focus higher and puts the emphasis on your cheekbones, rather than your jaw.

TO STYLE
Before blow-drying, spritz in Moroccanoil Perfect Defense ($28; sephora.com) to eliminate heat damage. This is especially important if you have a platinum hair color similar to Diaz. 

10 of 12

11 of 12

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Square Face: Medium-Length

Credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage

THE CUT

Light shoulder-length layers all around that start a few inches above the ends with sweeping bangs.

WHY IT WORKS

Feathery layers (which can be achieved with a razor) like Olivia Wilde's flatter a strong chin. Celebrity hairstylist Garren recommends parting at the side for an asymmetrical effect, which also balances out the squareness of the jaw.

TO STYLE

Even if you don't have a wavy hair texture like Wilde's, you can still get that effortless bend with amika Bushwick Beach No-Salt Wave Spray ($25; sephora.com).

11 of 12

12 of 12

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Square Face: Long

Credit: Amy Graves/WireImage

THE CUT
Collarbone-skimming strands with slight bangs that hit at the cheekbone.

WHY IT WORKS
Avoid a "simplistic" look with blunt ends, says Garren. He adds the light scattering of layers softens the entire face, top to bottom. 

TO STYLE
The Bio Ionic Long Barrel Styler Pro Curling Iron ($140; sephora.com) works like a charm and this one with a 1" barrel will give you loose curls like Jessica Simpson's. Just be sure to gently brush the curls out when you're done with the iron. 

12 of 12

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1 of 12 Round Face: Short
2 of 12 Round Face: Medium-Length
3 of 12 Round Face: Long
4 of 12 Heart Face: Short
5 of 12 Heart Face: Medium-Length
6 of 12 Heart Face: Long
7 of 12 Oval Face: Short
8 of 12 Oval Face: Medium-Length
9 of 12 Oval Face: Long
10 of 12 Square Face: Short
11 of 12 Square Face: Medium-Length
12 of 12 Square Face: Long

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Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Haircut for Your Face Shape
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