Hairstyle guide
Hairstyles for a Rectangle Face Shape
A common approach is to add width visually at the cheekbones and temples while minimizing added height, to soften the overall sense of length.
Overall do's & don'ts
Do
- Styles with width at the sides, such as waves or curls starting at the cheekbone, can balance the face's length.
- A soft, full fringe can shorten the appearance of a tall forehead.
- Chin-length to shoulder-length cuts with volume at the sides are often suggested.
Avoid
- Very long, straight, flat styles with no side volume can emphasize the face's length.
- Added height at the crown can make a long face look even longer.
By length — short styles
For both women’s and men’s short cuts, these general principles tend to carry over most directly:
Do
- Styles with width at the sides, such as waves or curls starting at the cheekbone, can balance the face's length.
Avoid
- Very long, straight, flat styles with no side volume can emphasize the face's length.
By length — medium styles
Chin-to-shoulder lengths give the most room to add or remove volume exactly where it helps:
Do
- A soft, full fringe can shorten the appearance of a tall forehead.
Avoid
- Added height at the crown can make a long face look even longer.
By length — long styles
Longer styles offer the most flexibility for layering and framing, whether worn straight, wavy, or curly:
Do
- Chin-length to shoulder-length cuts with volume at the sides are often suggested.
Avoid
- Very long, straight, flat styles with no side volume can emphasize the face's length.
- Added height at the crown can make a long face look even longer.
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