Hairstyles For Short Faces

Styling your bangs away from your forehead adds the illusion of length to a short face.

A short face, also known as a round face, is wide and curved. The best hairstyles for short faces maximize vertical space to provide the illusion of length. The key to creating length is to avoid covering your face or adding the look of width. That means heavy bangs, feathering and curls are out of the question.

Side-Part Pixie

A cropped pixie with side-parted bangs can make a short face seem longer, but only if you style it properly. A pixie consists of short, textured layers that follow the shape of the head. Thin medium-length bangs that sweep to each side of the forehead complement the cut without obscuring the area.

Styling a cropped pixie that complements a short face requires a root-lifting product, such as mousse, to give the crown area height and volume. A holding product, such as gel, helps keep bangs arched away from your forehead and to the sides. A dab of gel on the tips of each layer add a sharp accent to the look and keeps the hair sleek around the sides of your head.

Long Shag

A long, shaggy cut with bangs that tuck behind your ears give your face and neck the illusion of length. A long shag cut involves shoulder-length hair with chunky layers and layered long bangs. However, you need to avoid layers around the earlobe to chin area of your face or the cut will emphasize your short face area.

Styling the long shag requires parting the bangs on the side and sweeping them smoothly behind each ear. Mousse or gel around the crown area, behind the bangs, adds height to your head's outline to add the appearance of length. Leaving the tips of each layer straight and natural gives a soft touch to the style.

Casual Waves

Although heavy curls are unflattering on a short face, soft waves of long hair provide length and sensuality to the round area. The casual wave cut keeps the hair length to mid-back, with light bangs that end just below the cheekbone. Light layering preserves the cut's natural style and reduces the volume around the sides, creating a long line that appears to lengthen your face.

A casual, wavy cut can be styled in a variety of simple ways. Basic styling requires a smoothing product to help tame frizz and encourage soft waves. A holding product, such as hairspray, keeps all but a few wisps of your bangs swept to the sides of your forehead for a casual and thinning accent. You can also pull your hair up, leaving a few strands loose around your neck, and twist your hair into a high bun to create a fancy look that lengthens your face.

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