Let’s start with the good news: If you have an oval face shape
(that is, it’s equally wide as it is long), you have a sea of options
when it comes to choosing the right haircut. That’s because your
oh-so-symmetrical features look good with just about any style.
Seriously—consider yourself lucky. Some of us are contending with
fiveheads (that’s an XL forehead, mind you) and chipmunk cheeks that
belie our age.
Still, no matter your face shape, we understand how daunting it
can be to choose which cut you want to commit to (especially when the
world is your oyster). This is where we—along with some famous faces you
may recognize—come in. Presenting the 20 best haircuts for oval faces.
1
Long Layers
Steve Granitz/Getty Images
Take it from the woman who broke the world record
for fastest person to reach a million followers on Instagram: There is
nothing wrong with adopting a signature cut. Jennifer’s long, sweeping
layers are easy to style and frame her face nicely on either side.
2
Shoulder-Length Waves
Axelle Bauer Griffin/Getty Images
3
Full Fringe
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
A set of blunt bangs works great with oval face shapes (particularly
if you have a larger forehead). Customize their thickness to suit your
individual texture, but make sure the length sits at or just below your
eyebrows for the most flattering effect.
4
Layered Bob
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Similar to Julia’s tousled lob above, this cut is a touch sassier thanks to its shorter length but is equally flattering on oval-shaped faces. With subtle layers throughout for added movement and choppy ends, this cool shag cut is a great option for ladies with natural waves.
5
Side-swept Pixie
Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images
6
Cropped Pixie
Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images
Or you can go even shorter and keep some volume on top for an elongating effect like Lupita here. Tip: This is also a great cut for petite ladies, as the shorter length draws your eyes up (and doesn’t weigh down a smaller frame).
7
Polished Curls
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
For a classic cut that’s both low-maintenance and easy to style at
home, keep the length just below the collarbones but above the chest.
Using a large-barreled curling iron (we’d recommend 1.25 to 1.5 inches
depending on how thick your hair is), add loose curls throughout the
mid-lengths and ends.
8
Sleek Lob
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Paired with a center part and stopping just below your jawline to
complement your impeccable bone structure, of course. Option to tuck
both sides behind your ears to further open up your face (and keep your
hair out of the way).
9
Lob with Side-Bangs
Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images
Take a page from Julianne’s book and try long, side-swept bangs.
Choose one side (you know, the one you always angle toward the camera
when taking photos) and have your stylist cut long bangs in sweeping
layers to accentuate your jawline.
10
Long Waves
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Here’s another cut that will never go out of style: Long, polished
waves with soft layers around the face (aka the Jessica Alba). The loose
curls soften your features and are easier to execute than you’d think.
Prep your strands with a thickening spray at the roots and blow-dry.
Next, wrap large sections of hair around a curling iron and let your
curls cool for a few minutes before brushing them out to finish.
11
Banged Bob
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
Zooey Deschanel is no stranger to bangs. In fact, we dare say she is one of the celebrities who is most responsible for popularizing full fringe in the last decade. Whether worn with long, loose curls (Ã la her 500 Days of Summer look) or a chic and sleek bob, her bangs remain virtually unchanged with tapered ends and a brow-skimming length that always complements her oval face. Tip: For fringe that doesn’t look overly curled, blow-dry bangs using a paddle brush (never a round one) and move the hair from one side to the other until they are completely dried.
12
Side-Parted Pixie
Neil Mockford/Getty Images
It’s hard to imagine Katy with long dark hair at this point because
her platinum pixie suits her features so well. With a deep side part,
some longer pieces on top and cropped sides, this cut perfectly frames
oval faces and adds volume to straighter strands. All you need is a
little pomade or styling cream to keep the ends polished.
13
Grown-Out Pixie
Raymond Hall/Getty Images
And when the top starts to get longer, sweep your hair over to one
side like Jada here, while you transition into your next style. (Or you
could rock this length indefinitely because damn if it isn’t cool.) Word
to the wise: You’ll want to keep your sides and back shorter while you
grow things out or things can quickly veer into a mullet territory.
14
Wavy Bob
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
If you do decide to grow out a pixie cut, we would
recommend trying a wavy bob next. The loose, beachy texture offers a
great disguise for uneven ends (which is inevitable when you’re between
styles). To get a similar look at home, mist a texturizing spray on damp
strands and scrunch them to coax out natural waves; if you have
straight hair, use a flatiron to add some bends throughout.
15
Shoulder-Skimming Lob
Patrick McMullan/Getty Images
Here’s another (sleek) iteration of the ever-popular lob. Take a cue
from Emma and add long, blended bangs on one side to soften up your
features. At home, make sure to run a flatiron over your strands and apply some shine serum on the mid-lengths and ends for a lustrous
finish. Tip: Massage the serum over your hands first, before applying it
to your hair to control the amount that’s being applied.
16
Long Shag
Gary Gershoff/Getty Images
Or a very long shag cut, as demonstrated by Jessica Biel
here. With longer pieces that hit the tops of your cheekbones on either
side, this cut opens up like a set of drapes that subtly frame your face
without getting in the way (in case a full set of bangs aren’t your cup
of tea).
17
Mid Shag
Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
Similar to Jessica’s cut above, but with a slightly heavier bang on
either side and a couple inches shorter. Tip: Add a blend of highlights
around your face to brighten and lowlights throughout to create
dimension.
18
Angled Lob
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Remember when we said the lob is the most flattering cut for anyone?
Case in point: It’s a great length for ladies with natural curls
because it gives you enough weight to keep your hair from puffing out
(but not so much that it drags down your ringlets). Tip: If you don’t
have one already, get thee a diffuser to direct the air flow of your
blow-dryer so you can speed up styling without disrupting your curls.
Finish with a light misting of shine spray.
19
Feathered Shag
Presley Ann/Getty Images
Meet the modern day take on the iconic Farrah Fawcett cut. With a
side-swept bang (that’s easy to grow out) and feathered layers
throughout, the biggest difference in the two styles lies in the
texture—which is beachier and looser now, less curled and perfectly
coiffed as it once was.
20
Shaggy Lob
Jackson Lee/Getty Images
And we can’t talk about a shag without mentioning Alexa Chung, the
British "it" girl who is pretty much the poster child for the cut
itself. Worn with a set of curtain bangs and trimmed to a
collarbone-skimming length, the look is equal parts edgy and effortless.
To get Alexa’s tousled texture at home, you just need some sea salt
spray and a flatiron to add a few extra bends (particularly if your hair
tends to fall on the straight side).
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