Hairstyles for Oblong Face Shapes: Best Cuts for Men and Women
An oblong face, also called a long or rectangular face, is clearly longer than it is wide, with fairly straight sides. The right haircut makes it look shorter and fuller by adding width and breaking the vertical line. Here is how to tell, plus 12 cuts that do exactly that.
By the RateMax AI team · Updated
Clearly longer than wide (well over 1.5 ×); forehead, cheekbones and jaw similar; straight sides.
How to tell if you have an oblong face
An oblong face is noticeably longer than it is wide, with a forehead, cheekbones and jaw of similar width and fairly straight sides. A high forehead or a long chin are common.
Face length is well over one and a half times the cheekbone width.
Forehead, cheekbones and jaw are similar widths, so the sides look straight.
The jaw can be rounded (a long oval look) or angular (sometimes called rectangle).
If the face is long but tapers clearly to the chin and is widest at the cheeks, you may be oval.
Shorten and widen. A fringe cuts the length of the forehead, and volume at the sides, especially at the cheekbones and ears, makes the face look wider.
Avoid height at the crown and long, flat hair that hangs in vertical lines. Chin-to-shoulder length is the sweet spot for women; men should keep some length at the sides.
Best haircuts for oblong face men
6 cuts with exactly what to tell your barber. Lengths are starting points for your barber to adapt.
01
Side part with scissor-cut sides
A classic side part where the sides are cut with scissors and left 2–3 cm long instead of being faded to the skin.
Why it works
Fuller sides add width and the sideways sweep makes the face read shorter.
Ask your barber
"Scissor cut on the sides, about 2–3 cm, 6 cm on top swept to the side, no high fade, keep the top flat rather than lifted."
Maintenance
Trim every 4 weeks. A light pomade or cream, combed across rather than up.
Hair type
Straight and wavy hair hold the shape best. Curly hair can wear a looser part; coily hair suits a shaped side part with a soft taper.
02
French crop
A short cut with a textured fringe pushed forward over the forehead and a low-to-mid taper.
Why it works
The forward fringe covers part of a high forehead, which is the quickest way to shorten a long face.
Ask your barber
"Low or mid taper, 4–5 cm on top pushed forward, fringe cut straight or slightly textured just above the brows."
Maintenance
Trim every 3 weeks. A little matte paste or sea-salt spray.
Hair type
Great on straight and wavy hair, and it hides a receding hairline. Curly hair gives a softer, piecey fringe.
03
Caesar cut
A short, even cut with a short, straight fringe brushed forward.
Why it works
The horizontal fringe line and a low, flat profile take height off the top of the head.
Ask your barber
"Number 3 or 4 on the sides, 2–3 cm on top brushed forward, straight fringe line."
Maintenance
Trim every 2–3 weeks. Little or no product.
Hair type
Works on every hair type, including coily hair, where it can be worn as a short even crop.
04
Curtains
Medium-length hair parted in the centre that falls to either side of the forehead.
Why it works
The two curtains add width at the temples and cover part of the forehead, balancing length.
Ask your barber
"Grow the top to eye length, centre part, light layers, keep some length on the sides."
Maintenance
Trim every 5–6 weeks. Blow-dry outward and finish with a light cream.
Hair type
Straight and wavy hair are ideal. Curly hair needs more length so the curtains fall instead of lifting.
05
Curly mid-length
Medium curls with volume at the sides as well as the top, over a low taper.
Why it works
Curls naturally add width and break up straight, vertical lines.
Ask your barber
"Shape the curls into a rounded outline, low taper only at the neck, keep width above the ears."
Maintenance
Taper every 4 weeks, shape every 6–8. Leave-in and curl cream on damp hair.
Hair type
Made for curly and coily hair. Wavy hair can get a similar effect with a diffuser.
06
Shoulder-length layers
Chin-to-shoulder length hair with layers for natural volume, often tucked behind the ears.
Why it works
Length and body at the sides add width; layers stop it from hanging flat and stretching the face.
Ask your barber
"Grow to chin or shoulder length, layers for volume at the sides, no long single length."
Maintenance
Trim every 8 weeks. Texture spray or leave-in.
Hair type
Best on wavy and curly hair. Straight hair needs texture spray or it will hang in long vertical lines.
Best hairstyles for oblong face women
6 hairstyles from short to long. Mention your hair type so your stylist can adapt the layers.
01
Shoulder-length wavy bob
A bob that ends between the chin and the shoulders, worn with soft, loose waves.
Why it works
Waves push hair outward at cheek level, and the length stops the vertical line early.
Ask your stylist
"Bob just above the shoulders, soft internal layers, keep fullness at the sides rather than the crown."
Maintenance
Trim every 6–8 weeks. A wave wand or texture spray.
Hair type
Natural for wavy hair. Straight hair can be styled with a wand; curly hair should be cut a little longer for shrinkage.
02
Blunt full bangs
A straight-across fringe that sits at or just below the brows.
Why it works
The most effective way to shorten a long face, especially with a high forehead.
Ask your stylist
"Full blunt fringe at brow level, slightly longer at the outer edges so it blends into my sides."
Maintenance
Fringe trims every 3 weeks. Blow-dry it flat with a paddle brush.
Hair type
Best on straight and wavy hair. Curly and coily hair suit a fuller curly fringe cut dry.
03
Curtain bangs
A soft, centre-parted fringe that sweeps out to each side.
Why it works
Shortens the forehead and adds width at the cheekbones without the commitment of full bangs.
Ask your stylist
"Curtain bangs, longest at the cheekbone, blended into my layers."
Maintenance
Fringe trims every 3–4 weeks. Round brush or a velcro roller.
Hair type
Easiest on straight and wavy hair. Curly curtain bangs should be cut longer.
04
Wavy lob
A collarbone-length lob with loose, piecey waves.
Why it works
The waves add width and the mid length avoids the long vertical lines that make a face look longer.
Ask your stylist
"Collarbone lob, soft layers, most movement around the cheekbones and jaw."
Maintenance
Trim every 8 weeks. Texture spray or a wave wand.
Hair type
Works on every type. Coily hair can wear it as a rounded, shaped lob.
05
Shag cut
A layered, choppy cut with a fringe and volume through the sides.
Why it works
Side volume and a fringe both shorten and widen the face.
Ask your stylist
"Shoulder-length shag, curtain fringe, volume at the sides, not at the crown."
Maintenance
Trim every 6–8 weeks. Mousse or texture spray, air-dried or diffused.
Hair type
Wavy and curly hair are ideal. Straight hair needs texture spray to show the layers.
06
Voluminous curls
Big curls or coils worn at chin-to-shoulder length.
Why it works
Width from curls balances length better than almost any other texture.
Ask your stylist
"Dry curl cut, shape it so it is fullest at the sides and not tallest at the crown."
Maintenance
Trim every 8–12 weeks. Leave-in, curl cream or gel, diffuser.
Hair type
For curly and coily hair. Straight and wavy hair can get the look with heatless curls or a curling iron.
Hairstyles to avoid with an oblong face
Not banned, just harder to make flattering.
Long, flat, straight hair. Vertical lines past the shoulders make a long face look longer.
High pompadours and tall quiffs. Height at the crown adds even more length.
High skin fades. Stripping the sides narrows the face, which is the opposite of the goal.
Slicked-back hair. Exposes the full length of the forehead.
Centre parts with flat hair. A vertical line down the middle emphasises length.
Beard tips for an oblong face
Keep the chin short and the sides fuller, as in a short boxed beard or stubble kept even along the cheeks.
Avoid long, pointed beards and goatees, which add length below the chin.
A moustache adds a horizontal line across the middle of the face, which helps to break up length.
Glasses and makeup for an oblong face
Glasses
Choose deep (tall) frames, wide frames or ones with decorative temples, all of which add width and break up length. Avoid small, narrow frames.
Makeup and contouring
Contour along the hairline and under the chin to visually shorten the face, and apply blush horizontally across the cheeks rather than upward toward the temples.
Celebrities with an oblong face shape
Commonly cited examples are Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, Gwyneth Paltrow among women and
Adam Driver, Ben Affleck among men. Shapes are judged from photos, so lists
vary between sources; use them as inspiration only.
Oblong face hairstyles: FAQ
What is the best hairstyle for an oblong face?
For women, a shoulder-length wavy bob or lob with curtain or blunt bangs. For men, a side part with scissor-cut sides, a French crop or curtains. They all shorten and widen the face.
Do bangs suit an oblong face?
Yes, bangs are one of the best options. Full, curtain and textured fringes cover part of the forehead, which makes a long face look shorter and more balanced.
Should oblong faces have long hair?
Long hair can work if it has layers, waves or curls for width and ideally a fringe. Long, flat, straight hair is the least flattering choice because it adds vertical lines.
What haircut should men with a long face avoid?
Avoid tall quiffs, pompadours and high skin fades. They add height and narrow the sides. Choose low tapers, fringes and side parts instead.
Is an oblong face the same as a rectangle face?
They are very similar. Both are clearly longer than wide with straight sides; rectangle usually describes an oblong face with a more angular jaw. The same hairstyles suit both.
Which celebrities have an oblong face?
Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler and Gwyneth Paltrow are often cited for women, and Adam Driver and Ben Affleck for men.
