Elevate your oblong face with a chic hairstyle that accentuates your natural beauty.
Let’s face it, not every hairstyle is a one-size-fits-all. While a ‘do might dazzle on an oblong face, it might not do favours for another. It’s all about marrying your hairdo with your face’s unique geometry. After all, your hair is your crowning glory, acting as the frame to your masterpiece: your face. A mismatched cut, however, can be less than flattering.
Did you know there are six main face shapes? They are round, heart, square, diamond, oval, and oblong. Our spotlight today? The often misunderstood oblong face. While it’s easy to confuse oblong with oval, there’s a difference. Oblong faces tend to be elongated, marked by an extended chin and forehead. The width of their cheeks, jaw, and forehead remains fairly consistent. Often, they boast a chiselled appearance, lacking the plumpness in the cheeks. You might even detect hints of angular traits akin to a square face or perhaps a tapering chin. Yet, these aren’t always present.
Feeling puzzled about pinpointing the perfect hairstyle for your oblong face? How can a hairstyle bring out the best in your lengthy features? Fear not, we’re here to unravel these mysteries. Dive into this article as we unravel the secrets to selecting the most flattering hairstyles tailored for oblong faces. Read on, and let’s embark on this style journey together!
Points to Ponder Before Your Hair Makeover
- Add Some Volume: Styles that are voluminous and blunt can work wonders for oblong faces. They cleverly introduce width, imparting a more balanced, rounded appearance.
- Mind Your Layers: If layers are your calling, aim for those that start around chin-length. Think about layers that angle inward, gracefully transitioning from cheek to jaw. They frame and soften elongated features beautifully.
- Parting Ways: Middle parts might be en vogue, but they tend to elongate oblong faces further. Instead, consider a side part. Combine this with side-swept hair, and you’ve got yourself a winner!
- Forehead Finesse: Drawing attention to your forehead can emphasise its length. Rather than pulling your hair back severely, why not play with accessories? A chic silk scarf, draped across the forehead and hairline, can be both stylish and flattering.
- Earrings Essentials: Your earrings can play a pivotal role in complementing your face shape. For oblong faces, round hoops (in various sizes), dainty studs, petite drop earrings, and clustered designs are fabulous choices. It’s best to sidestep long, vertical designs that mirror the face’s elongation.
- Armed with these tips, you’re all set to amplify your oblong face’s beauty, ensuring that your hair and accessories work in harmony with its unique structure.
Expert Tips for Styling Oblong Face
Embrace Curls & Waves: Having an oblong face? Waves and curls can be your secret weapon. These textures naturally increase the face’s perceived width, subtly softening and balancing its length.
Bang On!: The allure of bangs can’t be underestimated, especially if you’re sporting an elongated visage. Whether they’re sleek and straight-cut or effortlessly side-swept, bangs that gently brush your eyebrows can playfully counteract the face’s vertical stretch.
Rethink Sky-High Styles: While towering updos might be tempting, they can amplify an oblong face’s elongation. So, think twice before reaching for those sky-grazing ballerina buns or lofty ponytails.
Highlight to Contour: Here’s a chic hack – use highlights to contour your face. The emerging ‘hair eclipting’ technique allows the strategic placement of highlights to sculpt and frame the face. It’s like makeup contouring, but with hair!
Not Just Hair, Think Eyewear: It might seem a tad left-field, but the glasses you don can elevate your look further. Oblong-faced beauties should opt for square frames or designs with vibrant temples and a low bridge. These shapes create an illusion of a broader face. As for sunnies, timeless aviators are your go-to – they’re both stylish and flattering.
Sleek and Sophisticated Straight: Kerry Washington shines with her ultra-smooth, centre-parted mane. Groomed to perfection using a serum, this look celebrates the natural and commanding.
Elegant Low Pony with a Centre Part: Ciara exudes a timeless grace with her neat, low ponytail. Elevate this style by wrapping a hair strand around the band and releasing a few tendrils around the face for added charm.
Sculpted High Ponytail: Kim Kardashian effortlessly masters this high ponytail, giving it a sophisticated edge. Perfect for oblong faces, it uplifts and enhances natural beauty.
Chic Revamped Pageboy: The revamped pageboy, worn with panache by Ashlee Simpson, now comes with trendy side-swept bangs. It’s edgy and refreshingly contemporary.
Messy Morning Bob and Bangs: Taylor Swift’s tousled bob—seemingly untouched since rolling out of bed—echoes relaxed elegance. This breezy style softens and rejuvenates one’s appearance.
Structured Low Bun: Lupita Nyong’o’s commitment to varied hairstyles shines through with this classic, centre-parted bun. Textured and crimped, it complements all hair types and flatters oblong visages.
Sassy Chin-Length Ombre: The charismatic chin-length bob, worn impeccably by Jessica Alba, gets a modern touch with a warm-toned ombre. It amplifies volume, movement, and the allure of oblong faces.
Old Hollywood Wavy Bob: Bella Hadid brings back the timeless Hollywood appeal with this blunt bob. Especially stunning on those with thicker strands, this style radiates polished sophistication.
Adventurous Pixie Dip: Brave the bold with this edgy pixie cut. Halle Berry’s embodiment of this style serves as the ultimate inspiration, proving it’s both chic and perfect for sun-soaked days.
Braids with a Beaded Elegance: Gabrielle Union showcases the transformative power of braids, elevated with ornate beads. Swept to the side, it’s the epitome of style, grace, and sophistication.
Effortless Beach Waves: The country sensation, Carrie Underwood, epitomises elegance with her free-flowing waves. By concentrating the gentle waves around her cheekbones and harmonising it with a central partition, she magnificently broadens her oblong face’s perception.
Voluminous Layered Elegance: Courteney Cox beautifully exhibits the allure of layered locks. The dual-layer, with its first tier hitting the cheekbones and the latter ending midway down the neck, seamlessly adds dimension and width to her long face. The subtle off-center partition further accentuates the effect.
Statement Side-Swept Bangs: Kelly Rowland showcases the charm of sweeping bangs that subtly mask the forehead, reducing the vertical emphasis of an oblong face. When paired with shaggy bottom curls, it’s a magnetic look that’s hard to resist.
Glamorous Side Cascade: When Kim Kardashian adopts a trend, it’s bound to be noteworthy. The luscious waves cascading to one side not only draws attention horizontally but also exquisitely complements her elongated facial structure.
Subtle End Curls: Iman, the supermodel icon, brings grace to the forefront with her understated curls at the tips of her shoulder-length hair. Her infusion of caramel highlights in a dark brown base is a winning stroke for oblong faces.
Vintage Charm with Retro Curls: The ageless appeal of retro curls, especially when matched with a side sweep like Liv Tyler’s, resonates deeply with those sporting oblong faces. The intentional ear exposure further enhances the breadth of the face.
Dramatic Curtain Fringe: Aptly named, curtain bangs cascade like drapery around the face, softening its elongation. By covering a section of the forehead, they subtly modify the vertical silhouette of an oblong face.
Edgy Short Bob: The fashion maven, Victoria Beckham, has been turning heads with her signature bob. Her side-parted style, accentuated with blonde highlights, is a perfect counterbalance to an oblong face, adding both depth and width.
Elevated Half-Up with Boho Curls: Angelina Jolie, a perennial style icon, crafts magic with her voluminous pouffe. By complementing it with central-parted bangs and free-flowing curls, she ensures her oblong face is charmingly framed.
Iconic Spiralled Locks: Sarah Jessica Parker’s role as Carrie Bradshaw came with a hairstyle that’s become legendary in its own right. Her bounteous curls, bold and voluminous, minimise the elongation of her oblong face, drawing focus instead to its width.
Elegant Side Ponytail: Iman beautifully accentuates her oblong face by adopting a graceful side ponytail, featuring a deep side part. The diagonal cut across her forehead, courtesy of this parting, offers a fresh perspective to her face’s elongation.
Gilded Crown Updo: Despite common reservations about high updos for oblong faces, Sanaa Lathan’s exquisite updo, poised at her crown, is a game-changer. The trio-wrapped golden headband acts as a horizontal visual cue, subtly shifting focus from the face’s vertical length.
Spiralled Short Bob: Teri Hatcher, the charismatic Desperate Housewife, flaunts a short bob infused with tight curls. A side partition completes this red carpet-ready transformation for her oblong face.
Gravity-Defying Waves: Sandra Oh channels audaciousness with her voluminous, textured waves. This larger-than-life style, complete with a pouffe, offers an edgy yet sophisticated silhouette that finely contrasts her oblong face.
Radiant Curly Bob: Tracee Ellis Ross stuns with her shoulder-skimming curly bob. The central partition and front-sectioned pseudo-bangs emphasise her eyes and add dimension, flawlessly framing her elongated face.
Sleek Short Bob: Contrary to misconceptions about short hair and oblong faces, Milla Jovovich exemplifies chic simplicity with her straightened bob. The glimmering gold headband bestows a touch of finesse, unifying the entire look.
Timeless Flowing Waves: Few hairstyles are as perennial as wavy locks. Gisele Bundchen, the supermodel sensation, has made this style her signature, as it harmoniously complements her oblong face.
Voluminous Side Drama: Ashlee Simpson captivates with her alluring side-swept hair. The large, textured curls, cascading to one side, introduce significant volume, diverting attention from the elongated facial contour.
Tousled Mid-Length Bob: Hilary Swank showcases a refined blend of simplicity and elegance with her wavy long bob. Pushing her hair behind one ear, she introduces a strategic width to her face, further enhancing her oblong visage.
Bold Center-Parted Waves: Jessica Lowndes exudes confidence with her sleek, centre-parted waves. By tucking her hair behind her ears, she reveals their contour, broadening the appearance of her oblong face and emphasising her sharp features.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which hairstyle is ideal for an oblong face?
The perfect hairstyle for an oblong face is one that adds width and volume on the sides. Styles like waves, curls, and layers work best. Bangs can also help reduce the perceived length of the face. While each individual’s preference and features play a significant role in choosing a hairstyle, it’s essential to find a balance that complements the face.
Do layers work for oblong faces?
Absolutely. Layered hairstyles add volume and can create the illusion of width, which can be very flattering for oblong face shapes. Strategically placed layers can enhance cheekbones and other facial features, effectively reducing the appearance of length.
Should oblong faces avoid certain hairstyles?
People with oblong faces might want to avoid adding too much height at the crown or opting for very straight, long hair without any volume on the sides, as these styles can further elongate the face. Instead, adding volume on the sides through waves, curls, or layers can be more flattering.
What kind of bangs suit an oblong face?
Soft, side-swept bangs or even curtain bangs work well for oblong faces. These styles can cut off some of the length from the forehead, balancing out the face. However, very short, straight-across bangs might not be as complementary since they can make the face appear longer.
How does hair colour or highlights impact the look of an oblong face?
Highlights, especially when placed around the face, can draw attention to certain areas and add depth and dimension. This can be a great strategy for those with oblong faces, as it breaks up the length and adds visual interest. Hair eclipting is another technique where darker shades are used around the face to create a frame, highlighting the facial features and diverting attention from the length of the face.
