FACE SHAPES

Hairstyle guide

Hairstyles for a Square Face Shape

Styling for a square face often aims to soften the strong jawline with curves, while keeping enough structure elsewhere so the look doesn't feel flat.

Overall do's & don'ts

Do

  • Soft waves or curls, especially around the jaw, can help soften angular edges.
  • Side-swept layers and textured, broken-up fringes can soften a strong hairline.
  • Longer lengths past the jaw can reduce emphasis on the jawline's width.

Avoid

  • Blunt, chin-length bobs cut in a sharp straight line can emphasize the jaw's angles.
  • Thick, straight-across fringes can add to the squared-off look of the upper face.

By length — short styles

For both women’s and men’s short cuts, these general principles tend to carry over most directly:

Do

  • Soft waves or curls, especially around the jaw, can help soften angular edges.

Avoid

  • Blunt, chin-length bobs cut in a sharp straight line can emphasize the jaw's angles.

By length — medium styles

Chin-to-shoulder lengths give the most room to add or remove volume exactly where it helps:

Do

  • Side-swept layers and textured, broken-up fringes can soften a strong hairline.

Avoid

  • Thick, straight-across fringes can add to the squared-off look of the upper face.

By length — long styles

Longer styles offer the most flexibility for layering and framing, whether worn straight, wavy, or curly:

Do

  • Longer lengths past the jaw can reduce emphasis on the jawline's width.

Avoid

  • Blunt, chin-length bobs cut in a sharp straight line can emphasize the jaw's angles.
  • Thick, straight-across fringes can add to the squared-off look of the upper face.

Not sure which shape describes you?

Try the free Face Shape Detector — upload a photo and get an instant estimate of your face shape, then come back here for styling advice tailored to it.

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