20 Flattering Hairstyles for the Oblong Face Shape

Sleek Low Pony

"Expose those ears and let them give your face more width," says Lehmann. For a full-proof sleek low ponytail like singer Ciara's, she advises parting the hair down the center before brushing it back into a pony. "Place it about center or the lower part of the head," she says. "If you have an oblong face, you do not want it too high because this will add more height to the face's appearance." After hair is secured, use a finishing spray (she likes CHI's Magnified Volume Finishing Spray, $8) to mist it and lightly comb hair back towards the ponytail to give a flawless finish.

Long, Loose Waves

Singer Kelly Rowland's boho-inspired look doesn't require a ton of maintenance. In fact, the key is to ensure these waves never look too "done." The trick? A middle-part, plenty of volume through the roots, and a wave that's loose and manageable. Revlon's cult-followed One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer ($60) can help you achieve the look.

Textured Bob

For even more interest, step up the texture in your bob à la Victoria Beckham. Her cut is very dramatic, with super-short layers in the back, leading to layers well below the chin up front. The bangs complete the look, and it's a perfect style for any woman who has thicker hair that can produce this much volume. A pomade (we like Oui's Matte Pomade, $24) will help add texture.

Shoulder-Length With Bangs

Some of the best styles for long-faced women are cut right around the shoulders, as seen on English actress Kelly Reilly. If you go any longer, it can draw your face down. The shoulders are the sweet spot that perfectly balance your face with a desire to keep long hair.

Blunt Bangs With Straight Hair

Bangs of any style can do wonders for making your face look shorter than it is. "I can’t get enough of curtain bangs on oblong face shapes," says Lehmann. "They are not only are in style, but they shorten the appearance of the forehead to make the face appear more oval." Bangs tend to hide a wider forehead, which often comes with this face shape, and draw everyone's attention to your eyes.

Blunt bangs with straight hair are a perfect match (as seen on actress Kerry Washington), though they also work with wavy hair.

Textured Length

Actress Gemma Chan's blunt but textured look is proof positive that the right hairstyle can alter your face's shape. Lehman recommends sectioning into six vertical sections, then curling with CHI's Lava Curl Shot ($130) iron. After the whole head is curled, she says to use a dime-size amount of BioSilk Silk Therapy With Organic Coconut Oil ($17) to run fingers through the hair to separate curls. "This will also add shine," she notes.

Chin-Length Shaggy Bob

Actress Chelsea Kane's cut is more of a shag but it also has the feel of a bob because of the graduated length. It's a modern style that can work for women of any age.

Long Layers With Short Angles

"The best haircuts for someone with an oblong face shape would be anything that is going to round out your face," says Didier. "For example, long layers with shorter angles starting near your cheekbones or lips." To style the look, Didier recommends adding "big waves or a voluminous blowout."

Sleek Bob

The classic bob—as seen on Linda Fargo, senior vice president of Bergdorf Goodman's fashion department—is a great choice for long faces. It's a sophisticated look that works with straight and wavy hair, no matter if it's fine or thick. This bob looks beautiful without bangs, but it is also perfect for blunt or side-swept bangs.

Middle Part

"Middle parts will help the hair fall symmetrical and add needed width," says Lehmann, who recommends using a rotating curling iron (she likes CHI's  1-Inch Volcanic Lava Ceramic Pro Spin and Curl, $130) in alternating directions to achieve a look like Rihanna's. "Once done, run fingers through and break up the curls and finish with a shine spray," she adds.

Straight, Long Layers

With the right haircut, no one would even guess your face is oblong. That's certainly the case with model Kate Moss's long layers. It's a great option if you have straighter or more fine hair. The simplicity also lets you play with color, allowing any highlights to take center stage.

Tousled With Bangs

As actress Gabrielle Union demonstrates, a tousled 'do—particularly one with bangs—can do wonders to shorten a longer face. Lehmann offers the following styling tip to achieve the look: "Blow-dry hair 60 percent dry and spritz hair with CHI Aloe Vera Curl Reactivating Spray ($14) to give hair a tousled look. Using the CHI Lava Ceramic Hairstyling Iron ($160) over the bang area will keep your curtain bangs together and give your hair a finished look."

Shoulder-Length With Long Layers

Another flattering style for straight hair, this one (seen on supermodel Heidi Klum) leaves the front layers almost as long as the main body of hair. It's a wash-and-go style with naturally straight hair and one that requires a flat iron (try CHI's G2 1 1/4-inch Professional Flat Iron, $200) for wavy hair. 

Wavy and Long

The longer your hair, the more it will weigh down a long face. Actress Gillian Jacobs's cut isn't too long and the curls help add width to her face.

Have your stylist cut in layers to add fullness and don't let them thin out your hair too much. More volume in the hair helps to balance out a longer face. Try a volumizer—like Rossano Ferretti Parma's Favoloso 18 Natural Hair Movement Enhancer ($46)—if you need an added boost.

Shoulder-Length With Side-Swept Bangs

As Jessica Alba can attest, side-swept bangs are a fantastic addition to any haircut. The angle breaks up a higher hairline and draws the eye to your face. With some sweet, soft curls, you get the extra volume that gives the face a more oval appearance.

Thick and Wavy

Cutting your hair at or just below the shoulders, as seen on actress Jessica Lowndes, is also a great choice for very thick hair. It's a length that will not weigh down curls or waves, and it's easier to care for every day. After all, the secret to beautiful hair is to keep it healthy, so whatever you can do to maintain that in your daily routine will be worth it. Integrate a light styling product (we like VERB's Ghost Weightless Hair Oil, $18) to smooth flyaways.

Formal Updo

This vintage Bella Thorne look is a fabulous choice for a formal updo, though it's not very "up." That's because you don't want to add too much volume on top of your head when you have a longer face. By pulling your hair back and letting tendrils frame your face, you'll achieve a flattering yet simple look. Plus, you have to appreciate the messy intricacy of this knot on red hair. This is also a great opportunity to show off a cute set of hair accessories (we like this Micro Snap Clip Set, $12, by Kitsch).

Angled Bob With Side-Swept Bangs

Supermodel Iman's angled bob helps define her neck while the bangs help shorten her forehead. This look is sophisticated but does require some work. It's best to invest in a quality flat iron and some shine products to ensure it stays straight and well-styled.

As Didier notes, the angle of the bangs helps round out the face. "[With] shoulder-length hair or a bob, you're always going to want to have a bang or angles with this face shape," he says. "It's just more flattering. Shorter angles take away from the length of your face."

Close-Cropped Pixie

 Lupita Nyong'o's short, cropped pixie cut highlights her best features. Even better, it's easy to maintain.

Side-Swept and Sleek

Actress Liv Tyler's side-swept 'do calls to mind a 1940s Hollywood starlet. Here, the aim is to pull hair off one side of your face—to highlight both your jewelry and your natural features—and ensure hair stays shiny and sleek.