Oblong Face Shape
Elongated and elegantly proportioned
Celebrities with Oblong Face Shape
Best Hairstyles for Oblong Face
Women
Full Blunt Bangs
Thick, straight-cut bangs that reach the eyebrows.
Blunt bangs create a strong horizontal line across the forehead, visually shortening the oblong face's excess length and making the face appear more proportional.
Shoulder-Length Waves
Wavy hair cut to shoulder length with volume at the sides.
Side volume adds width that counterbalances the oblong face's elongated proportions. The shoulder length prevents the hair from dragging the face downward.
Layered Bob with Side Part
A chin-to-shoulder bob with graduated layers and an off-center part.
The horizontal dimension of the bob adds width, while layers create volume at the cheekbones — the area that needs the most visual expansion to shorten the oblong shape.
Voluminous Curls
Big, bouncy curls with maximum body and movement.
The expansive width of voluminous curls is the most effective way to add horizontal dimension to an oblong face. The rounded curl pattern also echoes a more oval silhouette.
Side-Swept Bob
A bob with a deep side part that sweeps hair across the forehead.
The diagonal sweep shortens the forehead, while the bob's width at jaw level fills out the lower face. Together, these create a rounder, more balanced frame for the elongated shape.
Men
Textured Fringe with Side Volume
Longer fringe across the forehead with textured, fuller sides.
The fringe shortens the forehead while the side volume adds crucial width. Together they reduce the oblong face's length-to-width ratio toward a more balanced proportion.
Side Part with Full Sides
A classic part with slightly longer, fuller hair on the sides.
Unlike most styles for other shapes, keeping the sides full is essential for an oblong face. The added width at the ears creates horizontal balance against the vertical length.
Curly Medium Length
Natural curls or waves at a medium length, worn relaxed.
Curls and waves naturally expand outward, adding the side volume that oblong faces need. The medium length avoids both the elongating effect of long hair and the exposure of a very short cut.
Messy Fringe Crop
Short, textured hair with a deliberately tousled fringe.
The messy fringe conceals forehead length, while the overall short texture adds body and width at the top. The irregular styling breaks up the long vertical lines.
Slicked-Side Style
Hair combed to the side with some volume and a natural finish.
The horizontal direction of the side sweep counters the vertical emphasis of the oblong face. Keeping some volume rather than slicking flat ensures the sides contribute width.
Best Glasses for Oblong Face
Oversized Wayfarer
WayfarerLarge wayfarers span more of the face width, adding horizontal dimension that shortens the oblong face's length. The bold frame also breaks up the long vertical expanse.
Wide Aviator
AviatorWide aviators add significant horizontal breadth to the oblong face. The large lenses cover more vertical space, visually shortening the distance between forehead and chin.
Bold Round Frames
RoundLarge, round frames break the oblong face's long lines with circular curves. The width of oversized rounds adds the horizontal dimension that this face shape needs most.
Deep Rectangular Frames
RectangularTall, deep rectangular frames cover more vertical face area, making the face appear shorter. Choose frames that extend slightly past the face width for maximum widening effect.
Decorative-Temple Frames
EmbellishedFrames with bold or decorative temples draw the eye outward to the sides, counteracting the oblong face's dominant vertical lines with horizontal visual interest.
Makeup & Contour Tips
Contour
Apply contour along the very top of the forehead at the hairline and beneath the chin. These two applications visually shorten the face by reducing the visible distance between hairline and chin.
Blush
Apply blush horizontally across the cheeks, extending outward toward the ears rather than blending upward. The horizontal sweep adds width and creates a visual break in the face's vertical length.
Highlight
Focus highlighter on the cheekbone tops and the outer corners of the brow bone. Avoid highlighting the center of the forehead and chin, as this creates a vertical light line that emphasizes length.
Eyebrows
A flat or low-arched brow creates a horizontal line that shortens the face. Extend the brows slightly outward for extra width. Avoid high arches that add perceived height to the already-long face.
Lip Focus
A wider-looking lip draws attention horizontally. Use liner to slightly extend the lip corners and choose lighter, glossy shades that reflect light outward rather than drawing the eye vertically.
What to Avoid
Hairstyles to Avoid
- ✕Long, straight hair with no layers that drags the face down
- ✕Excessive height or volume at the crown
- ✕Very short styles that expose the full face length
Glasses to Avoid
- ✕Small, narrow frames that get lost on the longer face
- ✕Tiny round frames that emphasize length
- ✕Frames with high-set temples that add vertical height
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my oblong face look shorter?
Focus on adding width and breaking up the vertical line. Side-swept bangs or a full fringe cut across the forehead, visually shortening the face. Hairstyles with volume at the sides — such as waves, curls, or a layered bob — add horizontal dimension. Wide glasses frames also help.
What is the best hair length for an oblong face?
Medium-length styles, especially those that hit between the chin and shoulders, are ideal. This range adds width at the jaw without dragging the face down. If you prefer long hair, add layers that start at the cheekbones to create volume in the mid-face area.
Are bangs a good idea for an oblong face?
Bangs are one of the most effective tools for balancing an oblong face. They visually shorten the forehead and reduce the overall perceived length. Side-swept, curtain, and blunt bangs all work — blunt bangs create the strongest horizontal line and are particularly effective.
What glasses shape adds width to an oblong face?
Oversized, wide frames are your friend. Aviators, large wayfarers, and bold rectangular frames that extend slightly past the face add horizontal balance. Decorative or colored temples also draw the eye outward. Avoid small, narrow frames that look undersized on the longer face.
How is an oblong face different from an oval face?
The primary difference is the length-to-width ratio. An oval face has a moderate ratio (about 1.5:1) with curved contours, while an oblong face is more elongated (1.7:1 or higher) with straighter sides. Oblong faces also tend to have a less curved jawline and more uniform width throughout.