Is a pixie cut good for heart-shaped face?

Yes! Go for wispy, effortless layers to add balance and maintain height at the crown to shortening your face.

What kind of bangs look good with a heart-shaped face?

Long side bangs that have layers work well with heart-shaped faces and offers balance to narrower jawlines.

These Are the Best Haircuts for Heart-Shaped Faces

Kerry Washington Bob w/ bangs — Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

We’ve drawn endless hair inspiration from celebrities, and one thing we've learned? When it comes to haircuts, it’s all about face shape. If your face is heart-shaped à la Reese Witherspoon or Katie Holmes, then you know a balanced cut is key for flattering those gorgeous cheekbones.

The main features of a heart-shaped face are a wider forehead and an outline that tapers down to a slightly pointy chin. “Heart-shaped faces tend to be wider through the cheeks and jaw, narrowing out through the chin,” explains Lauren Thompson, a hairstylist at Nunzio Saviano Salon in NYC. Naturally, we looked to the hair pros to ask them about the best haircuts for a heart-shaped face, and many agreed on four beautiful styles—and some you should avoid at all costs.

Below, find the top stylist-approved haircuts for heart-shaped faces.

01 of 20

Lob: Straight With Side Flip

Selena Gomez lob — Axelle / Getty Images

The long bob (aka lob) is a popular haircut that just so happens to be universally flattering, and it gets the green light from Jennifer Matos, a celebrity stylist at the Rita Hazan Salon. “The lob is a great haircut that works well for heart-shaped faces,” she says. It is also a perfect haircut to try when transitioning from a longer length. If you've got fine tresses, style your lob with a cool-girl side flip for an instant boost of volume.

02 of 20

Lob: Flipped-Out With Center Part

Brittany Snow shoulder-length flipped out hair — Gregg DeGuire / FilmMagic / Getty Images

Joseph Maine, a stylist at the Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in NYC, adds that when it comes to styling a lob, “Part it in the middle with the hair blown forward. This closes in some of the width while highlighting the jawline.” For a '60s vibe, flip out ends like Brittany Snow.

03 of 20

Lob: Curly With Side Bang

Tessa Thompson curly natural lob with side bang — Araya Diaz / Getty Images

While there’s no official rule book for haircuts, stylists agree that there are a few things to avoid if you want a flattering cut. “A heart-shaped face can handle most haircuts,” Maine says. “However, a chin-length bob will be the least flattering, as it will close in on the jawline.” Instead, opt for a longer bob as seen here on the beautiful Tessa Thompson. Curls and a side bang modernize this classic cut.

04 of 20

Lob: Wavy With Side Part

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini side-parted shoulder length hair — Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images

Similar to Nicole Richie's look—only worn to one side—Cheryl Cole's medium-length 'do is simple and elegant. To get her glossy finish, try a shine-inducing product like Oi Oil ($45).

05 of 20

Lob: "Down and Out"

Nicole Richie shoulder-length wavy hair — Mark Sagliocco / Getty Images

Matos recommends keeping the length on the longer side, hitting the collarbone, as anything shorter tends to look too boxy. She says to ask your stylist to “keep the length in front and avoid very short layers." By styling long layers away from her face, Nicole Richie pulls off a casual finish that draws attention down and away from her forehead.

06 of 20

Pixie: Close Crop With Baby Bangs

Pixies can be tricky to pull off. The cut can make a square face look more square and a long face look even more oblong. But if you have a heart-shaped face, you pretty much own this close crop. We're loving Ciara's Caesar-esque take.

07 of 20

Pixie: Short and Choppy

Rowan Blanchard pixie and red lip — Gregg DeGuire / WireImage / Getty Images

Xavier Velasquez, a stylist at Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon warns that the cool, easy-to-style ’do will require more salon visits in order to maintain its pristine shape, which we think is totally worth it. Using the right pixie styling products is also key.

08 of 20

Pixie: Long and Side-Parted

Scarlett Johansson long pixie — Jim Spellman / Getty Images

If you’re looking for a drastic change or want to go shorter, a long pixie is the perfect option. Not only will you be showing off your cheekbones even more, but Matos says that the longer layers associated with this cut provide “texture and softness, which together give hair movement for the ultimate versatility.”

09 of 20

Pixie: Feathered Layers

Audrey Tautou textured pixie — John Phillips / Getty Images

Whether you go edgy or romantic, the pixie is a statement-making look in the best possible way. Audrey Tautou keeps layers long and feathered to highlight texture and softness.

10 of 20

Pixie: Sculpted

Lupita N'Yongo natural hair pixie — Phillip Faraone / Getty Images

A pixie is the perfect cut for her coily hair since it requires easy upkeep and minimal styling. Here, Lupita Nyong'o opts for a tapered cut in a style that favors volume and body up top. Apply a small amount of Charlotte Mensah Manektti Hair Oil ($55) to keep strands hydrated and healthy.

11 of 20

Long Layers: Wavy With Side Part

Sarah Hyland long wavy hair — Gregg DeGuire / Getty Images

“Long, wavy layers elongate and add fullness around the jawline,” says Velasquez, making it ideal for those with heart-shaped faces. To pull off Sarah Hyland's gorgeous curls, style with a 1.25-inch curling wand. Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold 1-1/4" Extra Long Curling Iron ($65) will get the job done.

12 of 20

Long Layers: Beach Waves

Gwyneth Paltrow long, wavy hair — Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images

If you're into a more casual-cool vibe, Gwyneth Paltrow's long beach waves are just that. A 1-inch flatiron (try Drybar The Tress Press 1-Inch Straightening Iron, $169) can help you achieve this style. Grab a section of hair and iron by simply rolling your wrist, then finish with a beach spray.

13 of 20

Long Layers: Loose Waves With Side Part

Vanessa Hudgens long wavy hair — Tibrina Hobson / Getty Images

Long layers can help to remove some of the weight that comes with having thick hair, as Vanessa Hudgens can attest. “This is the go-to haircut when you want to add some layers and more movement to your long-length hair without committing to a big change,” says Matos.

14 of 20

Long Layers: Tousled With Face-Framing Highlights

Eva Longoria long wavy layered hair — George Pimentel / Getty Images

Eva Longoria incorporates long layers into her medium-length cut to add body and movement. To brighten her complexion, all it takes are a few face-framing brunette highlights.

15 of 20

Long Layers: Wavy With Deep Side Part

Reese Witherspoon long, layered wavy hair — Mike Windle / Getty Images

We can’t talk about heart-shaped faces without mentioning Reese Witherspoon. The actress never ceases to amaze in the hair department, and we’re constantly taking a page out of her beauty book. Witherspoon’s signature long layers and side-swept bangs make for a timeless style you’ll absolutely love.

16 of 20

Bangs: Blunt

Kerry Washington bob with bangs — Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

While we’re on the topic of bangs—if there is any face shape that can likely pull off a blunt fringe, it’s a heart-shaped one. “Bangs are always a great option for heart-shaped faces,” says Maine. “If you’re not ready to commit, a soft fringe can work as well, starting toward the end of the eyebrows and feathering downward.”

Bangs can be ideal if you have a larger forehead, too. Thompson recommends styling a set of blunt bangs with texture-laden beach waves for balance.

17 of 20

Bangs: Long and Wispy

Katie Holmes long straight hair with bangs — Jim Spellman / WireImage / Getty Images

Katie Holmes's lash-grazing fringe draws attention to her eyes and cheekbones. Long, wispy, bangs can be a great option for heart-shaped faces since they work to downplay the width of the forehead.

18 of 20

Bangs: Curtain

Keri Russell mid-length hair with curtain bangs — Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images

Curtain bangs are all the rage. Not only are they stylish and low maintenance, but they draw attention away from the widest part of a heart-shaped face (read: forehead) and toward your jaw to create facial balance. Rather than go for a single-length cut, which will only add boxiness around the face, says Velasquez, pair with long layers à la Keri Russell instead.

19 of 20

Bangs: Long and Textured

Naomi Campbell long, wavy hair with bangs — Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

If you’re looking to up the ante, Matos says side bangs that hit the cheekbone (or your lip if you don’t want to go too short) will complement long hair lengths. Whereas, “The short fringe emphasizes the cheekbone on a heart-shaped face—especially when you pull your hair back up [into a pony],” she says. Naomi Campbell's fringe is a nice compromise.

20 of 20

Bangs: Side-Swept

Olga Kurylenko wavy bob with side-swept bangs — Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Olga Kurylenko complements her heart-shaped face with long, layered waves and a side-swept bang. Maine adds that layers should begin at the chin to open up the face and that “a deep side part is ideal. It’s important to avoid too many layers at the crown,” he says.“Stay clear of chunky layers in your face frame—remember, everything needs to be softened.”

FAQ

Is a pixie cut good for heart-shaped face?

Yes! Go for wispy, effortless layers to add balance and maintain height at the crown to shortening your face.
What kind of bangs look good with a heart-shaped face?

Long side bangs that have layers work well with heart-shaped faces and offers balance to narrower jawlines.