15 Face-Sculpting Short Haircuts That Perfectly Frame Round Faces

Key Points

• Round faces feature full cheekbones and a smooth jawline.

• Face-framing layers, short crops, and voluminous styling help to sculpt and contour the face.

• Pixie cuts, bouncy bobs, and curtain bangs are great looks for round face shapes.

A round-shaped face is characterized as soft and romantic, with a fullness to the cheekbones and a smoothness around the jaw. The right haircut can help amplify your strongest features. Hairstylist Seamus McKernan says this face shape should lean toward cuts that highlight the areas either just above or just below the widest point on the face.

“For example, if that’s the cheeks, then cutting fringe that sits just below the cheeks will help to carve them out and create a slimmer silhouette,” says McKernan. “Face framing and layers work well because they create a contouring effect. “If you keep this in mind, there really isn’t any haircut I’d avoid on a round face silhouette—it’s all about using the hair to create a contour.”

If you’re considering a new cut, hairstylist Adam Livermore says to make the most of the parts of your face you love the most. “My advice is to pick your strongest, or most favorite features, and showcase them,” says Livermore. “Tell the story of your own unique beauty.” Ahead, you can explore 15 looks to help you get the best look for you.

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Shaggy Lob

In a recently shared selfie, Kirsten Dunst shows off a shag cut’s little sister, slightly longer than a bob but with all the volume of a textured cut. It’s got more body at the roots before tapering out towards the ends.

Choppy Layers

“In shorter hair, tighter sides and height on top can have an elongating effect,” says Livermore. Jennifer Lawrence’s hair is layered inward along the line of her cheekbones to amplify their shape.

Face-Framing Half-Up

“Half-up is always good because you can keep the sides close to the head but build some volume and shape on top and leave a face frame out, which does a lot,” says Livermore.

Straight-Edge

Gabrielle Union’s hair is cut above her chin, creating a line that accentuates her cheekbones with a blunt, straight-across end to tie it together.

Tight Pixies

Emma Stone rocks a neat, tightly cropped pixie cut that pulls her hair out of her face and lies directly against the lines of her contour, carving out her cheekbones.

Shaggy Layers

Even though Sophie Thatcher’s hair is long, the precise, face-framing layers of a shag allow it to sculpt like a shorter crop. “If it’s long hair, it’s all about the face frame,” says Livermore. McKernan adds: “You can never go wrong with a good shag.”

Sleek Flip

Selena Gomez’s short cut takes a futuristic turn with a gelled-down base and a mod-flipped finisher towards her ends. The flip adds weight toward the bottom of the cut, balancing out the sleek sides.

Bouncy Bob

The volume on Sarah Hyland’s short cut pulls the eye towards the top of her face, while the layers around her face add dimension.

Cool Girl Curtain

“[This model has] fuller cheekbones, and I wanted to carve out shape around their cheekbones and eyes to create the most flattering shape,” says McKernan of this carefree, cool girl cut.

Certified Curly Girl

“Hair type and texture are always a factor,” says Livermore. “With curly or textured hair, you can take it short and almost create a new head shape, and use the natural bends in the hair to create the best face frame.”

Voluminous Half-Up

“I love a good half pony with bangs, think Jennifer Coolidge! Having a fringe that curves around the face creates a really flattering shape,” says McKernan.

Reverse Blowout

Taking a slightly different direction than the more common layered styles, Selena Gomez cuts her hair short but keeps it all one length, pulling the ends in to follow the line of her jaw and carve out her chin.

Beach Waves

Chrissy Teigan’s hair pushes its length past traditional lob territory here, with a loose curl for extra dimension.

Blunt Bob

Jennifer Hudson wears her hair in a blunt, middle-parted bob that’s chopped straight across the ends.

Soft Wave

If you’re looking for a softer style, Hayden Panettiere styles her shoulder-length strands in a delicate wave with minimal layers.

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