Oblong Face Shape Hairstyles for Women — Add Width, Break the Length
An oblong face is longer than wide with a straight jawline. The right hairstyle adds horizontal width and creates visual breaks in the vertical length.
FaceShapeDetector Editorial Team
Oblong Face Shape Hairstyles for Women: The Starting Point
An oblong (also called rectangular) face is noticeably longer than wide, with a relatively straight jawline that runs nearly parallel to the forehead. Think Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, or Gisele Bündchen.
The goal: add horizontal width and create a visual break in the vertical line. Blunt bangs interrupt length at the top. Waves and curls add width at the sides. Short-to-medium lengths prevent hair from pulling the face even longer.
The One Rule
Anything that adds horizontal emphasis or breaks the vertical line helps. Blunt bangs create a horizontal bar. Side volume adds width. Chin-length cuts stop the length. Long sleek straight hair does the opposite of all three — avoid it.
Best Hairstyles for Oblong Face Women
- Blunt bangs / full fringe:: The single most effective tool. A straight-across bang creates a strong horizontal line that immediately cuts perceived face length. Brow-grazing works; shorter (above-brow) adds more impact.
- Bob at jaw to chin length:: A bob that ends at the jaw creates width at the widest part needed. The horizontal line of the cut's end adds apparent face width. Blunt ends work better than layered for oblong — they reinforce the horizontal emphasis.
- Waves and curls:: Natural or styled waves add horizontal volume. They widen the apparent face significantly compared to straight hair. Side-placed volume rather than top-placed is the key.
- Layered cut with volume at sides:: Layers that fall with volume at the cheek and ear level add width exactly where it's needed. Keep the layers oriented horizontally, not layered toward the crown.
- Side-parted short bob:: A short side-parted bob with a slight flip or curl at the ends adds width at jaw level. The side part adds asymmetry that breaks the straight-up-and-down look of an oblong face.
Oblong Face Hairstyle Guide
| Style | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
Blunt bangs / full fringe | ✅ Best | Strong horizontal break at top |
Jaw-length blunt bob | ✅ Best | Adds width, ends at right level |
Waves and curls with side volume | ✅ Best | Maximum horizontal width addition |
Layered cut with cheek-level volume | ✅ Good | Width where needed |
Long sleek straight hair | ❌ Avoid | Adds length — pulls face further down |
High bun or top knot | ❌ Avoid | Adds height at top — worst choice |
Center part with flat hair | ❌ Avoid | Creates visual tunnel, emphasizes length |
Very long layers | ⚠️ Caution | Can work with volume but risky if straight |
How Oblong Differs from Oval
Oval and oblong are frequently confused. Both are longer than wide — but:
- Oval: gently rounded curves, jaw tapers softly, cheekbones are widest point
- Oblong: straight, parallel jawline, more like a rectangle with rounded corners, face appears more uniformly wide from forehead to jaw
Oval faces need minimal correction. Oblong faces need deliberate width-adding strategies. Most people who identify as oblong are actually an oblong-oval blend — and the blend percentage determines how much intervention is needed.
Find Your Exact Blend
An 80% oblong face needs strong horizontal intervention. A 60% oblong + 40% oval blend has much more style flexibility. The percentage matters.
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