20+ Long Face Shape Hairstyles Ideas You’ll Want to Save

A long face is longer from the forehead to the chin than it is wide across the cheeks, and that shape changes which hairstyles flatter you most. The best cuts add fullness at the sides, soften the forehead, and stop the eye from traveling straight down. Long, flat hair with no layers can stretch the face even more, and lots of height on top has the same effect. The fix is simple once you know it: add width where the face is narrow, and break up the long vertical line.

This list shares 21 long face shape hairstyles that do exactly that, from side swept bangs and wide barrel curls to chin length bobs, pretty braids, and low twisted buns. The rule behind every idea is the same. Keep the width at the cheeks and jaw, use a fringe or a side part to shorten the look of the forehead, and pick a length that ends at the shoulder or above, or add waves and curls at the sides if you keep it long. Each section tells you what to ask your stylist for, how to style it at home, and who it suits best.

Use this list like a salon menu. Save the photos you love, read the styling notes in each section, and bring two or three favorites to your appointment. Tell your stylist whether your hair is straight, wavy, or curly, and whether it is fine or thick, since the same cut behaves differently on each hair type. Point out the exact length, fringe, and width you want in the photo so you both leave with the same plan.

Side Swept Bangs

Side swept bangs soften a long face in the simplest way. The diagonal sweep breaks the forehead into uneven parts, which stops the eye from traveling straight down, and the fullness along the bangs adds width where the face needs it most. Ask your stylist for bangs that start from a deep side part and blend into the front layers, then blow dry them to the side with a flat brush for a smooth finish. This fringe suits straight and wavy hair, and it hides a high forehead without the weight of full bangs. Do not let the bangs get cut too short, or they will flip up instead of sweeping across. A trim every four weeks keeps the sweep in place.

Wide Barrel Curls

• Wide curls add sideways volume that shortens the look of a long face.
• Make them with a large barrel iron, about one and a half inches wide.
• Start the curls at ear level so fullness sits at the cheeks.
• They work on long and medium hair with medium to thick density.
• Brush through the curls gently for a soft, modern finish.

Curl wide sections away from the face and let them cool before you touch them, since cool curls hold their shape much longer. A light hold spray keeps the shape without stiffness, and a gentle brush through at the end turns the curls soft and modern. This style flatters long faces because the width sits exactly where the face needs it, at the cheeks and jaw. It suits parties, dates, and days when you want extra bounce. Avoid a small barrel iron here, since tight curls fall narrow and do the opposite of what you want.

Layered Shoulder Cut

Ask for shoulder length layers that start at the chin and move downward, and keep the ends full rather than thinned, so the cut holds its width. A few drops of shine oil on the ends finish the style with a healthy glow. A layered shoulder cut sits in the sweet spot for longer face shapes. It is short enough to stop the eye from dropping too far, yet long enough to feel feminine, and the layers push outward to add movement around the jaw. Style it with a round brush for a smooth bend, or let it air dry for easy waves. Avoid heavy thinning at the ends, since thin ends lose the width that makes this cut work. This length suits most hair types and grows out gracefully.

Flipped Out Ends

Before: flat medium length hair falls straight and lets a long face look even longer. After: flipping the ends outward builds width at the cheeks and balances the face at once. Ask your stylist for layers that begin at the cheekbones, then blow dry each section with a round brush and roll the ends away from the face. The outward flip takes only a few minutes and works on straight and wavy hair, so it is one of the easiest tricks for adding side fullness. Keep the flip at the ends only, and do not flip the hair up near the crown, since height on top stretches the face again. A light spray holds the flip without making it stiff.

Long Pixie Shag

1. Ask for a pixie with longer textured layers on top.
2. Keep the sides fuller near the temples, not shaved short.
3. Style with a matte paste for soft piecey definition.
4. Trim every five weeks to hold the shaggy shape.

A longer pixie shag flatters a long face when the sides keep their fullness. The width at the temples balances the length of the face, while the textured top keeps the look soft instead of severe. This cut works on straight and wavy hair with medium density, and daily styling takes only a few minutes with a small amount of matte paste worked through the ends. Avoid shaved or very short sides, since they narrow the face and undo the whole point of the cut. Ask your stylist to point cut the top so the layers stay light and piecey.

Curtain Bang Lob

A lob with curtain bangs is a balanced pick for longer face shapes. The collarbone length stops the eye from traveling down, while the parted bangs add horizontal movement across the forehead. Ask for the bangs to hit near the cheekbones so they frame the face, then shape them with a round brush for a soft bend. The cut grows out gracefully and suits many hair types, from straight to wavy. Avoid a center part with no bangs on this length, since an open forehead makes a long face look longer. A little texturizing spray at the ends keeps the lob from falling flat.

Low Twisted Bun

• Do keep the bun low at the nape of the neck.
• Do leave soft tendrils around the face.
• Do add gentle volume at the sides of the head.
• Do pin the twist loosely for a soft finish.

• Do not build the bun high on the crown.
• Do not pull the hair back too tightly.
• Do not skip the face framing strands.
• Do not forget a few pins for all day hold.

A low twisted bun suits long faces because it keeps the focus low instead of adding height. The twist adds gentle texture, and the loose pieces soften the cheeks, so the whole updo feels relaxed rather than severe. It works for weddings and formal days, and it holds well with pins and a light mist of hairspray. Style it in about fifteen minutes by twisting the hair at the nape and pinning it loosely. Avoid a high bun or a slicked back crown, since both stretch the face upward. Pull out two thin strands at the front before you pin, and the bun will frame your face softly all day.

Half Up Curls

• Styling time: About 12 minutes with a curling wand.
• Maintenance: Refresh curls with a little water and cream on day two.
• Skill level: Easy; pinning and curling are both beginner friendly.
• Best for: Medium to long curly or wavy hair.

Half up curls lift a long face without pulling the hair too far back. The top section adds soft height at the crown while the loose curls fill the sides with width, so you get a sweet balance instead of a long, pulled back look. It works for parties, dates, and days when you want an easy refresh, and a small clip or bow makes a pretty finish. Pin the top section loosely and keep the sides soft, and do not pull the top too tight or too high, since that narrows the face. Curl the loose lengths away from the face so the width lands at the cheeks.

Dutch Side Braid

A chunky side braid shifts the hair weight to one shoulder, which breaks the long vertical line of an oblong face. The braid thickness adds visual width near the cheeks and jaw, so the face looks shorter and softer right away. Braid loosely and pull the edges apart gently for a fuller look, then leave two thin strands out at the front to soften the face. This braid works on long hair with some texture, and it holds well all day with a clear elastic. It is a relaxed style that suits weekends, travel days, and casual outings with friends. Avoid a tight, narrow braid, since it pulls the hair flat and loses the width that makes this style flatter a long face.

Wispy Bottleneck Bangs

• Bottleneck bangs are narrow at the temples and widen near the cheeks.
• The shape adds width right where a long face needs it most.
• They grow out softly into curtain bangs with time.
• They suit straight and slightly wavy hair best.
• Trim them every three to four weeks to keep the shape.

Ask your stylist for a fringe that starts slim and opens up like a bottle neck, with the wider ends blending into face framing layers for a smooth transition. Style them with a round brush for a soft bend, and keep the texture wispy so the forehead looks shorter without heavy weight. This fringe shortens the forehead while adding flattering width at the cheeks, which is exactly what a long face needs. Avoid a thick, blunt version of this fringe, since heavy bangs can look boxy on a long face. The grow out is gentle, so you can wear them into curtain bangs as they get longer.

Blunt Chin Bob

The blunt bob should end right at the chin with full, even ends. Ask your stylist to keep the baseline sharp and avoid thinning the ends, then use a flat iron for the sleek finish this cut needs. A blunt chin bob stops the eye exactly at the jaw, which makes a long face look shorter right away, and the full ends add weight and width near the cheeks. It suits straight hair with medium density and looks polished with little daily effort. Trim it every six weeks to keep the edge clean, and do not let the ends get wispy, since thin ends lose the width that makes the bob work. For more ways to add width at the jaw, see these long face cut hairstyle ideas that balance oblong shapes.

French Twist Style

Before: hair worn loose and flat draws the eye down the full length of a long face. After: a French twist sweeps the hair upward and outward, adding soft width at the sides and a polished finish. Smooth the hair to one side and roll it into a vertical twist, pinning as you go, and keep the sides slightly loose so they add width near the temples. This classic updo suits formal events and office days, and it works best on medium to long hair. Finish with a light mist of hairspray, and pull out one thin strand at each temple to soften the face. Avoid pulling the sides flat and tight against the head, since slick sides narrow the face and undo the width the twist creates.

Cropped Curly Bob

1. Ask for a rounded bob that sits just above the chin.
2. Keep the layers short on top for a full, lifted shape.
3. Dry with a diffuser on low heat for maximum width.
4. Use curl cream on damp hair to define each ringlet.

A cropped curly bob packs width into a short cut, which is ideal for longer faces. The rounded shape fills the sides while the short length lifts the face, so the whole silhouette looks balanced instead of stretched. This joyful cut flatters natural curl patterns and needs little heat styling, since the diffuser does most of the work. A trim every eight weeks keeps the round shape neat, and a weekly mask keeps the ringlets soft. Avoid brushing the curls when they are dry, since that breaks the curl pattern and turns width into frizz. Use a wide tooth comb only on wet hair.

Swoop Fringe Waves

A swoop fringe paired with medium waves gives a long face gentle, flattering movement. The diagonal line of the fringe breaks the forehead while the waves push fullness outward at the cheeks. Ask your stylist to cut the fringe long enough to tuck behind the ear, then sweep it aside with a round brush for a soft bend. This style grows out softly and suits most hair textures, from straight to wavy. Avoid a heavy, straight across fringe on this cut, since it can look boxy on a long face. Keep the waves loose, since tight curls hide the clean diagonal line of the swoop.

Braided Low Bun

• Do braid loosely so the bun looks full and soft.
• Do place the bun at the nape, not on the crown.
• Do pull a few strands out around the temples.
• Do secure the coil with bobby pins that match your hair color.

• Do not braid too tightly; it narrows the look of the face.
• Do not smooth the sides flat against the head.
• Do not skip texturizing spray on fine hair.
• Do not build height at the top of the head.

A braided low bun combines texture with a face friendly shape. The braid adds width near the cheeks while the low placement keeps the eye from rising too high, so the face looks shorter and softer. It is a lovely choice for weddings and summer parties, and it suits medium to long hair and holds for hours with pins. Braid loosely, coil the braid at the nape, and pull a few strands out around the temples before you pin. Use texturizing spray on fine hair so the braid grips and looks fuller. Avoid a tight braid or a high bun, since both pull the face longer instead of wider.

Side Part Waves

• Styling time: About 10 minutes with a medium barrel iron.
• Maintenance: Sleep on a silk pillowcase to keep waves fresh.
• Skill level: Beginner; the part does most of the work.
• Best for: Shoulder-length hair of any texture.

A deep side part with loose waves is one of the simplest ways to flatter a long face. The part breaks the forehead into uneven sections, and the waves add soft width at the cheeks, so the face looks shorter with almost no effort. It looks relaxed yet polished, and it suits workdays, dinners, and days when you want an easy refresh. Part the hair while it is damp, then wrap wide sections around a medium barrel iron and brush through gently. Avoid a center part here if width is your goal, since a center part splits the face evenly and shows its full length. A silk pillowcase keeps the waves fresh for day two.

Wispy Full Bangs

Wispy full bangs cover the forehead with a light touch, so a long face looks shorter without heavy weight. The airy texture keeps the fringe soft and easy to style, and it pairs beautifully with shoulder length hair that has gentle layers through the ends. Ask your stylist to point cut the bangs for a feathery edge, then use a quick pass with a round brush each morning to keep them in place. This fringe suits fine to medium hair and hides a high forehead gently, and it blends into layers as it grows out. Avoid cutting the bangs blunt and heavy, since a solid wall of fringe can look harsh on a long face. Keep the ends wispy and the fringe will move with the rest of your hair.

Layered Curly Lob

• Layers keep the curls light and stop the cut from looking heavy.
• The collarbone length adds width without dragging the face down.
• Shorter top layers build a rounded, full shape.
• Diffuse on low heat for the best volume and definition.
• Pineapple your hair at night to protect the curls.

A layered curly lob is a cheerful pick for long face shape hairstyles. The curls stack fullness from the cheeks down, which balances an oblong shape naturally, and the collarbone length adds width without dragging the face down. This cut flatters natural curl patterns and thick wavy hair, and it stays bouncy when the layers are cut to follow the curl pattern. Ask your stylist for shorter layers on top to build a rounded shape, then diffuse on low heat for volume and definition. Keep it hydrated with a weekly mask so the spirals stay soft, and avoid a one length cut, since it turns curly hair into a heavy triangle with no width at the cheeks.

Twisted Half Updo

Take two sections from the front, twist them back, and pin them at the crown. Leave face framing pieces out to soften the cheeks, and the whole style takes under ten minutes. This twisted half updo adds gentle lift at the crown while the loose waves keep width around the jaw, so it is a sweet balance for long faces because nothing pulls too far up or too far down. The style suits school, work, and casual parties, and a small clip makes a pretty finishing touch. Twist loosely and pin low at the crown, and do not pull the twists tight, since a tight pull narrows the face. Curl the loose lengths with a medium iron so the width lands at the cheeks.

Double French Braids

Before: long hair worn loose can make an oblong face look plain and stretched. After: two French braids add texture and width at the sides, giving the face a softer, more balanced frame. Braid each side loosely from the temples down and pull the edges apart for fullness, so the braids sit wide against the cheeks instead of flat. This sporty style suits workouts, school days, and travel, and it works on long and medium hair with some texture. A little texturizing spray helps the braids grip and look fuller, and a clear elastic keeps the ends neat. Avoid braiding too tightly, since tight braids pull the hair flat and narrow the face instead of widening it.

Wavy Pixie Bob

1. Ask for a pixie bob with length through the sides.
2. Keep the waves loose with a small barrel iron.
3. Use a sea salt spray for soft, touchable texture.
4. Trim every six weeks to keep the rounded shape.

The wavy pixie bob, often called the bixie, gives long faces a short option with real width. The full sides balance the length of the face while the waves add playful movement, so this bold cut feels soft instead of severe. It suits straight and wavy hair with medium density, and it is low effort on busy mornings, since a little sea salt spray and a quick scrunch are all it needs. Ask your stylist to keep length through the sides, and do not let the sides get cut too short, since short sides lose the width that flatters a long face. The cut grows out neatly, so it stays wearable between trims.

Conclusion

These 21 ideas prove that the right cut can make a long face look balanced and beautiful. Small choices like side swept bangs, wider curls, or cheek level layers change the whole picture, and the best long face shape hairstyles add width at the sides while keeping the look soft and easy to wear. Pick the styles that suit your hair texture and daily routine, then compare these best haircuts for long faces before your salon visit.

Save this post to your Pinterest board and bring a few photos to your salon visit so you can talk through the plan with your stylist. Show them the length, the fringe, and the width at the cheeks that you want, and ask which ideas fit your hair type best. Share this guide with a friend who has a long face shape, and enjoy finding the look that flatters you most.