Hairdressers Confirm—These 10 Contemporary Hairstyles Flatter Round Faces

Round faces possess a distinctive charm with their soft curves and balanced proportions, yet selecting the right hairstyle can transform one’s entire appearance. Professional hairdressers across the country have identified specific contemporary cuts and styles that work harmoniously with rounded facial structures, creating visual length whilst celebrating natural features. These expert-approved hairstyles offer versatility, modern appeal, and the ability to enhance your best attributes without compromising on style or personality.

What is a round face ?

Understanding facial structure forms the foundation for choosing flattering hairstyles. A round face shape exhibits specific characteristics that distinguish it from oval, square, or heart-shaped faces.

Defining characteristics of round faces

Round faces display several key features that professional stylists consider when recommending hairstyles. The width and length measurements appear nearly equal, creating a circular silhouette. Full cheeks provide a youthful appearance, whilst the jawline curves gently without sharp angles. The chin typically appears soft and rounded rather than pointed or angular.

• Equal proportions between face width and length
• Soft, curved jawline without prominent angles
• Fuller cheeks that add dimension
• Rounded chin and forehead
• Absence of sharp or angular features

The styling objective for round faces

Professional hairdressers emphasise that the primary goal when styling round faces involves creating the illusion of length. This doesn’t mean hiding your natural face shape, but rather enhancing it through strategic cuts and styling techniques. Adding height at the crown, incorporating angles through layers, and framing the face appropriately all contribute to a balanced, elongated appearance.

These foundational principles guide the selection of contemporary hairstyles that genuinely flatter round facial structures, leading us to explore specific cuts that professional stylists recommend.

Side-swept lob

The side-swept lob has emerged as one of the most versatile and flattering options for round faces, combining modern aesthetics with practical styling benefits.

Why the lob works for round faces

This long bob typically falls between the chin and shoulders, creating crucial vertical lines that elongate the face. The side-swept element introduces asymmetry, which counterbalances the natural roundness of the face shape. Professional stylists note that the lob’s length draws the eye downward, whilst strategic layering adds movement and dimension.

Styling techniques for maximum impact

To achieve optimal results with a side-swept lob, hairdressers recommend incorporating long layers that begin below the chin. This placement ensures the fullest part of the face receives flattering coverage whilst maintaining length. A deep side parting further enhances the asymmetrical effect, creating height on one side and soft framing on the other.

• Request layers starting below the chin line
• Create a deep side parting for added drama
• Add subtle highlights to enhance dimension
• Style with a slight wave for texture
• Use volumising products at the roots

Maintenance and styling requirements

The side-swept lob requires moderate maintenance, making it ideal for those seeking style without excessive daily effort. Regular trims every six to eight weeks maintain the shape, whilst simple styling with a round brush or straightener keeps the look polished. This practical aspect makes the lob particularly appealing for busy individuals who still want a contemporary, flattering hairstyle.

Whilst the lob offers structure and definition, some individuals prefer slightly longer lengths that provide additional styling versatility.

Waves on medium-length hair

Medium-length hair with soft waves creates a romantic and dimensional look that beautifully complements round faces through strategic movement and texture.

The science behind waves and face shape

Waves introduce angles and texture that naturally break up the roundness of the face. Unlike straight hair, which can emphasise circular proportions, waves create diagonal lines that guide the eye vertically. Professional hairdressers explain that shoulder-length cuts with waves offer the perfect balance between coverage and elongation.

Achieving the perfect wave pattern

The ideal wave pattern for round faces features loose, flowing curves rather than tight ringlets. Starting waves below the jawline ensures the fullest part of the face appears slimmer, whilst maintaining volume through the mid-lengths adds body without width at the sides.

Layer placement for optimal results

Strategic layering proves essential when combining waves with medium-length hair on round faces. Hairdressers recommend light layers throughout rather than heavy, chunky cuts. These subtle layers enhance the wave pattern whilst preventing the hair from appearing too bulky at the sides, which could widen the face visually.

• Begin layers at cheekbone level
• Avoid blunt cuts that add width
• Incorporate face-framing pieces
• Maintain length past the shoulders
• Use texturising products for definition

For those seeking even more facial framing and definition, incorporating a fringe element can further enhance the overall look.

Curtain fringe and long hair

The curtain fringe has experienced a remarkable resurgence, offering round faces a sophisticated framing technique that creates instant definition and visual length.

Understanding the curtain fringe advantage

This style features a centre or slightly off-centre parting with longer fringe sections that sweep to either side, resembling curtains. For round faces, this strategic framing draws attention to the cheekbones whilst creating vertical lines down the centre of the face. The result is a slimming effect that maintains softness and femininity.

Pairing curtain fringes with long hair

When combined with long hair, curtain fringes create a harmonious balance. The length of the hair extends the face shape vertically, whilst the fringe adds structure and interest around the facial features. Professional stylists recommend keeping the fringe sections long enough to tuck behind the ears, typically reaching chin length or slightly longer.

• Maintain fringe length between cheekbone and chin
• Create a soft, gradual blend into longer hair
• Style with a round brush for volume
• Consider subtle layering throughout the length
• Use lightweight styling products to avoid heaviness

Versatility and styling options

One of the most appealing aspects of curtain fringes involves their remarkable versatility. They can be styled fully parted for maximum definition, swept to one side for asymmetry, or even pinned back when desired. This flexibility allows for different looks whilst maintaining the core benefit of facial framing.

Whilst curtain fringes offer structured framing, some contemporary styles embrace a more textured, undone aesthetic that equally flatters round faces.

The modern shag

The modern shag represents a contemporary evolution of a classic cut, offering round faces exceptional texture, movement, and dimension through carefully crafted layers.

What defines the modern shag

Unlike its 1970s predecessor, the modern shag features softer, more blended layers that create texture without appearing choppy or excessive. This updated version incorporates varying layer lengths throughout the hair, with shorter pieces at the crown adding height and longer sections providing movement. For round faces, this multi-dimensional approach creates visual interest that draws the eye in multiple directions.

Layer placement and face-flattering techniques

Professional hairdressers emphasise the importance of strategic layer placement in shag cuts for round faces. The shortest layers should begin at or above the crown to create lift, whilst face-framing layers start around the cheekbones. This graduated approach ensures volume at the top, which elongates the face, and definition around the features.

• Crown layers create essential height
• Cheekbone-length pieces add definition
• Collarbone length provides optimal face elongation
• Razored ends enhance texture and movement
• Wispy pieces soften the overall effect

Styling the modern shag for round faces

The beauty of the modern shag lies in its effortless styling potential. Air-drying with texturising products creates a casual, lived-in look, whilst blow-drying with a round brush adds polish and volume. The inherent texture of the cut means it looks intentionally styled even with minimal effort, making it ideal for those who prefer low-maintenance routines.

For those who prefer shorter styles with equally dramatic impact, asymmetrical cuts offer another flattering option for round faces.

Asymmetrical bob

The asymmetrical bob delivers bold, contemporary style whilst providing the visual elongation that round faces benefit from through its inherent imbalance and angular lines.

The power of asymmetry for round faces

Asymmetrical bobs feature one side cut shorter than the other, creating a dramatic diagonal line that counteracts facial roundness. This intentional imbalance introduces angles and edges that round faces naturally lack, resulting in a more sculpted appearance. The longer side typically falls between the chin and shoulder, whilst the shorter side may graze the jawline or sit higher.

Variations and customisation options

Professional stylists can customise asymmetrical bobs to suit individual preferences and face shapes. Some variations feature subtle differences between sides, whilst others embrace dramatic contrasts. For round faces, hairdressers generally recommend maintaining enough length on the longer side to create vertical lines, typically keeping it at least chin-length.

• Subtle asymmetry: 2-3 centimetre difference between sides
• Moderate asymmetry: 5-7 centimetre variation
• Dramatic asymmetry: 10+ centimetre contrast
• Graduated layers for added dimension
• Angled cutting lines for sharpness

Styling considerations and maintenance

Asymmetrical bobs require regular maintenance to preserve their shape and impact. Trims every four to six weeks ensure the cut maintains its intended proportions. Styling typically involves blow-drying with a paddle brush to emphasise the sleek lines, though adding texture through waves or tousled styling creates a softer interpretation of the look.

Colour techniques to enhance asymmetrical bobs

Strategic colouring can further enhance the face-flattering properties of asymmetrical bobs. Highlights on the longer side draw the eye vertically, whilst darker tones underneath add depth. Balayage techniques create dimension that emphasises the cut’s angles, making the asymmetry even more pronounced and visually interesting.

These contemporary hairstyles demonstrate that round faces possess numerous flattering options, each offering unique benefits through strategic cutting, layering, and styling techniques. Professional hairdressers emphasise the importance of personalising these styles to suit individual hair texture, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Whether choosing the structured elegance of a side-swept lob, the romantic appeal of medium-length waves, the definition of curtain fringes, the textured dimension of a modern shag, or the bold statement of an asymmetrical bob, round faces can embrace contemporary trends whilst enhancing their natural beauty. Consulting with an experienced stylist ensures the chosen cut receives proper customisation, maximising its face-flattering potential and creating a look that feels both current and uniquely suited to you.