The Best Hairstyles for Oval Faces

Looking a little long in the face? Your haircut might be to blame.

By Julie Ricevuto, redbook

If you've got an oval face, count yourself lucky! This face shape can pull off a variety of hairstyles. But yes, some styles are more flattering than others, so give these expert-approved cuts a try for a no-fail, complementary look.
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Pixie

A super-short pixie cut is a bold choice, but if you want a softer look, leave some extra length on the top like Charlize Theron. Use a round brush to blow dry your (short) bangs to one side and keep them extra soft.

Curved Bangs

Jessica Biel's curved bangs fall right above her eyebrows, which offers a softer look than more blunt fringe. Blow drying bangs with a round brush adds more softness and helps frame her eyes. Finish with a light hairspray to hold them in place, but not make them too tacky.
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Low Side Pony

Use the low ponytail to your advantage: It shows off your features, looks elegant, and is easy to style. To add a little more volume, tease your hair at the crown before pulling it back. Then, add some finishing spray to tame flyaways and provide a little extra shine.

A Shaggy Lob

A shaggy lob with choppy layers adds extra width at the jawline and along the cheekbones (this is where an oval face is typically the thinnest!). A shagged hairstyle like Jessica Alba's adds edginess and softness to your look without requiring much upkeep day-to-day, according to Jennifer Matos, stylist at Rita Hazan Salon in New York City.
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Pin-Straight With Layers Beginning at the Chin

If there's one hairstyle that oval-shaped faces should avoid at all costs, it's an extra long, blunt-cut hairdo. "Hair that is all one length and longer than chest-length will look flat and make the face appear too long," says Edward Tricomi, master stylist and co-founder of Warren-Tricomi Salons. Instead, Tricomi recommends playing with layers that begin at the chin and keeping your hair ultra-straight — just look to Jennifer Aniston for a classic example.

Tiered Curls

Oval-shaped faces are typically longer than they are wide, so anyone with this face shape is going to want to balance their proportions out by adding width along the sides of their face rather than building volume along the top or bottom of the face. Try out curls that are cut in tiered layers, like Iman's. By cutting layered curls along the cheekbone, you'll emphasize your delicate bone structure without drawing attention to the length of your face.
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A Textured Bob

"A bob with texturized layers definitely adds both width to an oval face and movement to the hair as a whole," explains Matos. The volume around the face — as well as extra layers cut into the bob — can actually add shape to an oval face (like Rihanna's) that lacks prominent cheekbones or a defined

Long, Side-Swept Bangs

Nervous to experiment with bangs? Don't be. If you have an oval-shaped face, there aren't many bang options that won't flawlessly flatter your face. Although, according to Matos, side bangs like Chrissy Teigen's are your best bet in terms of framing the face and bringing attention to your eyes.
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A Deep Side Part

By sweeping the hair into a deep side part à la Blake Lively and adding some texture to the ends, you'll instantly create a complementary appearance. Simply comb your hair into a side part and spritz your strands with a wave-enhancing spray like the MoroccanOil Dry Texture Spray. Not only will this style balance out the oval silhouette, but it's also the quickest way to switch up your look on those extra busy mornings.

Side Volume

Add the illusion of width with a cut that's voluminous along the sides of the face (side swept curls live Eva Mendes' work great for this!). For fine hair, you can fake a messy, undone texture by first spritzing hair with a thickening spray at the roots and then coating the ends with a texturizing spray like the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray.

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Cheekbone-Grazing Fringe

"A Bridget Bardot-like fringe enhances the cheekbones and gives oval face shapes more width," says Matos. Bonus: The multi-length ends help to break up the oval structure and fill out the face (see Liv Tyler for proof).

A Sleek Bob

When opting for a shorter chop, don't be afraid to try out a sleek bob like Emma Watson. "A bob definitely works, but it has to balance the face," confirms Tricomi. Have your hairstylist give your ends a piecey appearance and choose an off-center part when styling in order to frame your face and accentuate your cheekbones.
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Hooked Ends With a Middle Part

While, yes, a deep side part is advised for oval faces, a middle part can easily be pulled off as well — if done right. "If the hair is parted in the middle, it has to be tailored out at the bottom so it hooks under and works with the cheekbones," explains Tricomi. To get Megan Fox's look on your own, blow dry your hair with a round brush while pulling the ends in underneath. Apply a protective shine serum like the Urban Moisture Hydro-Nourishing Double Serum on the ends of your hair to give it an extra sheen.

See more at: redbook