Hairstyles for Heart Shaped Face: Best Cuts for Women and Men
A heart shaped face is widest at the forehead and tapers to a narrow, often pointed chin. The right haircut simply evens out the top and bottom. Here is how to recognise it, then 12 cuts for women and men with what to ask for.
By the RateMax AI team · Updated
Forehead widest, cheekbones slightly narrower, jaw tapering to a narrow, pointed chin.
How to tell if you have a heart face
A heart shaped face (also called an inverted triangle) is widest across the forehead and temples, with cheekbones slightly narrower and a jaw that tapers to a small or pointed chin.
Forehead is the widest measurement, followed by the cheekbones, then a clearly narrower jaw.
The chin is narrow and often comes to a soft point.
Many heart shapes have a widow’s peak, a V-shaped point in the hairline.
Face length is usually a little longer than the width. If the cheekbones are wider than the forehead, look at the diamond guide instead.
Balance a wide upper face with a narrow lower face. That means adding width and movement around the jaw and chin, and avoiding extra volume at the crown and temples.
Fringes cover part of the forehead and make it look narrower. For women, cuts fullest at chin level fill out the lower face; for men, keep the sides fuller rather than fading them high.
Best haircuts for heart face men
6 cuts with exactly what to tell your barber. Lengths are starting points for your barber to adapt.
01
Textured fringe
A messy, forward fringe over short-to-medium sides.
Why it works
Covering part of the forehead reduces its width and brings attention down toward the eyes.
Ask your barber
"Low taper, 5–7 cm on top pushed forward, choppy fringe that sits just above my eyebrows."
Maintenance
Trim every 3–4 weeks. Sea-salt spray and matte paste.
Hair type
Great for straight and wavy hair, and helpful for a high or receding hairline.
02
Side-swept medium length
Medium-length hair swept loosely to one side, with sides kept at scissor length.
Why it works
A diagonal sweep softens a broad forehead, and fuller sides avoid an exaggerated triangle.
Ask your barber
"Scissor cut all over, 6–8 cm on top, keep some length at the sides, no high fade."
Maintenance
Trim every 4–5 weeks. Cream or light pomade.
Hair type
Suits straight and wavy hair. Curly hair can wear it with defined curls swept across.
03
Curtains (middle part)
Medium-length hair parted in the centre and falling to either side of the forehead.
Why it works
The two curtains frame and partly cover the temples, the widest part of a heart face.
Ask your barber
"Grow the top to eye length, light layers, centre part, keep the sides tidy but not faded high."
Maintenance
Trim every 5–6 weeks. Blow-dry with a round brush, light cream.
Hair type
Best on straight and wavy hair. Very curly hair may need more length to fall.
04
Crew cut with soft fringe
A short, low-maintenance crew cut with the front left slightly longer and brushed forward.
Why it works
The low profile avoids height at the crown, and the short fringe trims down the forehead.
Ask your barber
"Number 3 on the sides, scissor cut on top, a bit longer at the front, brushed forward."
Maintenance
Trim every 3 weeks. Little product.
Hair type
Works on every hair type.
05
Messy medium flow
Chin-to-collar length hair with soft layers, tucked behind the ears or left loose.
Why it works
Length near the jaw adds visual width to the lower face, balancing the forehead.
Ask your barber
"Grow to chin or collar length, layered so it moves, keep weight around the jawline."
Maintenance
Trim every 6–8 weeks. Texture spray or leave-in.
Hair type
Ideal for wavy hair. Straight hair may need texture spray to avoid lying flat.
06
Curly fringe with taper
Curls left longer at the front so they fall forward over the forehead.
Why it works
Curly volume at the front, not at the crown, narrows the forehead and adds softness.
Ask your barber
"Low taper, keep the curls long at the front so they fall forward, shape with scissors."
Maintenance
Taper every 3 weeks. Curl cream and leave-in.
Hair type
For curly and coily hair. Wavy hair can mimic it with curl cream.
Best hairstyles for heart face women
6 hairstyles from short to long. Mention your hair type so your stylist can adapt the layers.
01
Chin-length bob
A bob that ends at the chin, with fullness and soft volume at the ends.
Why it works
Volume right at chin level fills out the narrowest part of a heart face.
Ask your stylist
"Chin-length bob, ends cut slightly bevelled so they have body, side part."
Maintenance
Trim every 6–8 weeks. Round-brush blow-dry, curling the ends out or under.
Hair type
Great for straight and wavy hair. Curly hair suits a rounded curly bob a little longer.
02
Lob with flicked-out ends
A collarbone-length bob styled so the ends flip outward.
Why it works
Outward ends create width at the jaw and shoulders, balancing a wider forehead.
Ask your stylist
"Lob just above the collarbone, light layers at the ends so they flick out."
Maintenance
Trim every 8 weeks. Flat iron or round brush.
Hair type
Works with most hair types; wavy hair gives natural movement.
03
Curtain bangs
A centre-parted fringe that sweeps to either side.
Why it works
Covers the outer forehead and temples, making the top of the face look narrower.
Ask your stylist
"Curtain bangs that are longest at the cheekbone and cover my temples."
Maintenance
Fringe trims every 3–4 weeks. Blow-dry with a round brush.
Hair type
Easiest on straight and wavy hair; curly bangs should be cut longer.
04
Long layers starting at the chin
Long hair with layers that begin at chin level and add body to the lower half.
Why it works
Volume below the cheekbones balances the face, while the top stays smooth.
Ask your stylist
"Long layers starting at the chin, smooth at the crown, volume at the ends."
Maintenance
Trim every 10–12 weeks. Volumising spray on the mid-lengths, not the roots.
Hair type
Works on every hair type. Curly hair looks great with curl volume at the bottom.
05
Pixie with long side fringe
A short pixie with a long, swept fringe and soft, wispy edges.
Why it works
Shows off the cheekbones, while the fringe reduces forehead width.
Ask your stylist
"Soft pixie with a long side fringe, keep it soft around the ears, not too short at the crown."
Maintenance
Trim every 4–6 weeks. Texture paste.
Hair type
Best for fine straight or wavy hair. Curly pixies should keep length at the front.
06
Shoulder-length curls
Natural curls or waves worn at chin-to-shoulder length.
Why it works
Curls are naturally fuller at the ends, adding width exactly where the jaw is narrow.
Ask your stylist
"Dry curl cut, shape the curls so they are fullest around my jaw, not at the crown."
Maintenance
Trim every 8–12 weeks. Curl cream and diffuser.
Hair type
For curly and coily hair. Wavy hair can enhance waves the same way.
Hairstyles to avoid with a heart face
Not banned, just harder to make flattering.
Height and volume at the crown. Teased crowns, high pompadours and top knots make the forehead look even wider.
Very high skin fades (men). Stripping the sides makes the top-heavy triangle more pronounced.
Slicked-back hair. Pulling hair tight and back exposes the full width of the forehead.
Short, choppy layers at temple level. They add width at the top of the face rather than the bottom.
Beard tips for a heart face
Beards are a great fit for a heart face because they add width and weight to a narrow chin.
A full beard, a short boxed beard or a ducktail all broaden the lower face. Keep the sides moderately full rather than tightly faded.
If you have a short beard, let the chin grow a little longer and squarer than the cheeks. Avoid very thin, pencil-line styles that highlight the narrow jaw.
Glasses and makeup for a heart face
Glasses
Choose frames that are wider at the bottom or have light, thin tops: rimless, oval or round frames all work. Avoid heavy, top-weighted styles such as bold browline or dramatic cat-eye frames.
Makeup and contouring
Contour lightly at the sides of the forehead and temples, and add a touch of highlight to the centre of the chin. Place blush slightly lower on the cheeks to balance the face.
Celebrities with a heart face shape
Commonly cited examples are Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Love Hewitt among women and
Ryan Gosling, Justin Timberlake among men. Shapes are judged from photos, so lists
vary between sources; use them as inspiration only.
Heart face hairstyles: FAQ
What is the best hairstyle for a heart shaped face?
For women, a chin-length bob or a lob with flicked-out ends, paired with curtain or side-swept bangs. For men, a textured fringe or a side-swept medium cut with fuller sides. All of them add width at the jaw and reduce it at the forehead.
Do bangs suit a heart shaped face?
Yes, bangs are one of the most flattering choices. Curtain bangs and side-swept bangs partly cover the forehead and temples, making the top of the face look narrower.
Is short hair good for heart shaped faces?
Short hair can work well, especially a pixie with a long side fringe or a chin-length bob. Avoid very short cuts with lots of height on top, which make the forehead look wider.
How do I know if I have a heart or diamond face?
Both have a narrow chin. A heart face is widest at the forehead, while a diamond face is widest at the cheekbones with a narrower forehead. Measure the forehead and cheekbones to compare.
What haircut should men with a heart shaped face get?
A textured fringe, curtains, a side-swept medium cut or a classic side part with a low taper. Keep some fullness at the sides, avoid tall volume on top, and consider a beard to widen the chin.
Which celebrities have a heart shaped face?
Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift and Jennifer Love Hewitt are often cited for women, and Ryan Gosling and Justin Timberlake for men. These labels come from photos and not every source agrees.
