Haircuts for Long Square Face Shapes

A strong jawline, raised forehead and elegant cheekbones are the reasons why longer faces have historically been considered the most regal shape of all. Since the jaw runs with equal width to the sides of your forehead, your hair will hang with more fullness around the face.

“No matter how you cut a square face shape, you want to focus on a softer feel,” says Guido, YouBeauty Hair Advisor. “It’ll take away from you if you do anything too blunt or harsh.” And if there’s one clutch move for a softer look, it’s the side-swept bang; not only is it alluring, but it practically sketches bone structure into your cheekbones.

QUIZ: What's Your Face Shape?

Getty ImagesKristen Wiig

If you have straight or wavy hair

With such a geometrically striking face shape, you’ll want to stay away from extreme cuts that go too far in either short or long direction, as they’ll exaggerate the length of your face. A safe bet is classic shoulder length, accompanied by lots of flowing layers that start not much higher than the chin, to add fullness to the strands that fall below.

While bangs usually end at the point where your eyebrows end, you can strike balance on a long face shape by cutting bangs a bit further beyond that point, and feathering some layers into the outer portion of the bang for a flawless transition.

Getty ImagesOlivia Wilde

If you have curly hair

The good news is that you’ve hit the genetic lottery. “Curly hair is great for long faces because it adds width before you even do anything to it!” says Guido. As with anyone with a square jawline, it’s advised you keep bulk away from the chin, so as not to overwhelm the face. Instead, look to long, rounded layers for an especially dramatic effect. If your hair is short, cascade layers above the chin, so that they move inwards towards the face, and accentuate bone structure.