A long or oblong face is noticeably longer than it is wide, often with a high forehead and a narrow chin. The goal of a flattering short cut is simple: create width at the sides, especially around the cheekbones and jaw, and avoid adding height at the crown. This gallery shows twenty ways to do that with bobs, pixies and mullets.
Bobs do the work through horizontal lines. A lip-length bob with blunt bangs, a slightly inverted centre-parted bob and a thick blunt cut all widen the lower face, while a wavy chin-length bob and a textured A-shaped bob add volume at the sides. Pixies rely on fringes: an overgrown side-swept pixie, a choppy pixie with long bangs and a boyish crop with a jagged fringe all shorten the forehead visually. Softer shapes like a shag mullet, a wedge with undercut and a tapered curly crop round out the selection.
When choosing, think about your texture. Waves and curls naturally add width, so they are great allies; very fine straight hair may need root lift sprays or blunt ends to look fuller. Blunt lines and fringes look best when trimmed every four to six weeks.
1. Overgrown Pixie
This grown-out pixie, styled casually, is one of the best cuts for balancing a long face. Side bangs sweep diagonally across the forehead toward the cheekbones, which breaks up vertical length and makes the face appear rounder and softer.
Inspiration: @daniel.hairstylist
2. Textured A-Shaped Bob
Wispy, textured layers give this bob volume around the face and a slight flare at the bottom, widening a narrow chin. Lift at the roots and face-framing pieces create a clear A shape that is both modern and flattering.
Inspiration: @hirohair
3. Baby Mullet
A baby mullet brings youthful, rebellious charm. Shaggy layers help hold the shape and keep volume where it is needed. Wear it with a centre part, a slightly off-centre part or no part at all, depending on your mood.
Inspiration: @ruteboazhair
4. Thick Blunt Bob
Thick hair gives you a head start on a full, wide shape. Ask for a blunt bob with lightly texturised ends to show off the density. If your hair is finer, volumising mousse and root-lift sprays can help build similar fullness.
Inspiration: @styled_by_carolynn
5. Choppy Pixie with Long Bangs
A longer front section swept forward on a pixie shortens the forehead visually, while choppy layers add definition at the hairline. Go easy on crown layering, as too much height can make a long face look even longer.
Inspiration: @brianhickman1
6. Lip-Length Bob with Bangs
A lip-length bob with blunt bangs creates two horizontal lines that make the face appear wider. Clean, precise lines like these need regular trims every few weeks to stay crisp and sharp. Straight, medium-density hair shows the lines best.
Inspiration: @jelena_vukovic_
7. Blunt Middle-Parted Bob
A blunt, slightly inverted bob with a centre part suits longer facial proportions beautifully. The middle part keeps things symmetrical, while the blunt edge follows the jawline and adds width around the chin. A flat iron and shine spray keep the edge polished.
Inspiration: @gumdrophairdressing
8. Tousled Pixie Cut
Sheridan Holyoak, who created this pixie, champions short cuts for the time they save every day, and it is easy to see why. A tousled pixie like this needs very little styling yet looks fresh and playful on a long face.
Inspiration: @shmoakin_hair
9. Shag Mullet
A soft shag mullet is ideal if you want a short, easy-care cut. Razor-cut tapered ends flip and curve to frame the face and neck. No complicated tools are needed; just air-dry and shape with your hands.
Inspiration: @hollygirldoeshair
10. Short Stacked Bob
Stacked cuts add volume at the back of the head, with layers getting shorter toward the crown to round out the silhouette. Side-swept bangs or a subtle temple undercut, as here, are easy ways to personalise this sleek graduated bob.
Inspiration: @daniel.hairstylist
11. Soft Textured Pixie
Delicate layers in this textured pixie show off healthy, glossy hair. The ears peek playfully through the choppy pieces for a fairy-like effect, while the soft volume at the sides balances a longer face. A pea-sized dab of paste defines the pieces.
Inspiration: @rockyourhairstudio
12. Wavy Chin-Length Bob
Waves are your best friend for adding width around the face. Cutting hair to chin length removes extra weight and lets waves spring into their natural shape. Ask your stylist which products suit your particular curl pattern.
Inspiration: @tatumshanehair
13. Combover Bob
Although the high sweep at the crown might seem to add height, it actually creates balance. Combing hair over in a loose motion changes its natural fall, building volume at the cheekbones for a dynamic, sultry look.
Inspiration: @joahhmendes
14. Wedge with Undercut
Stacked, angled layers combined with an undercut give the hair built-in support. The result is airy volume, soft texture and a flattering silhouette that widens the face at just the right point. Thick hair benefits most from the undercut.
Inspiration: @boaz_experience
15. Short Choppy Bob with Bangs
Choppy bangs that barely touch the brows draw all attention to the eyes. Face-framing highlights break up the deep base colour and brighten the skin, making this short bob both cute and flattering. The fringe also visually shortens a high forehead.
Inspiration: @saloneregina
16. Short Boyish Pixie
Gamine cuts can emphasise femininity beautifully. A boyish pixie with a short jagged fringe and longer sideburns highlights the eyes, lips and cheekbones, and its youthful charm can make you look fresher overall. Trims every four weeks keep it neat.
Inspiration: @jelena_vukovic_
17. Short Boyfriend Bob
This very short boyfriend bob is charming and easy to maintain. Sleek lines and a neat part give it a precise, graphic feel. Style with a smoothing serum and a narrow flat iron designed for short hair.
Inspiration: @the.labartory
18. Tapered Curly Crop
Adding height might seem counter-intuitive, but a tapered crop with curls on top can work. The curls fall forward over the forehead to form a playful fringe, showing off texture and highlights while the tidy sides stay neat.
Inspiration: @mrs_tahirah2
19. Sleek Straight Bob
Sleek strands and blunt ends create a balanced, flattering silhouette. This polished bob looks regal and refined, equally suitable for a gala evening or an important business meeting. Ending around the jaw, it adds width exactly where a long face needs it.
Inspiration: @vstudiobyvolkan
20. Tousled Bob
Travis Briggs designed this bob to be full of texture and ready in moments: just mist it with water and salt spray after waking and go. The tousled waves and fringe add width and softness to a longer face.
Inspiration: @travisbriggs2
What to avoid with a long face shape
- Lots of height on top, such as a tall quiff or heavy crown layering, which stretches the face further.
- Flat, sleek sides with no width at the cheekbones.
- Cuts that end well below the chin with straight, close-to-the-face lengths.
- A very short fringe that exposes most of a high forehead.
Asking for a balancing short cut
Tell your stylist you want width rather than height. For bobs, ask for the perimeter to sit between the lips and the jaw, where it visually broadens the lower face, and consider a fringe at or just above the brows. For pixies, ask for longer pieces at the front and sides and minimal lift at the crown. When styling, rough-dry with your fingers to build volume at the sides instead of the top, and use a large round brush to bend bob ends slightly outward or under to fill out the jawline.