A bob will always add flair to your look. It’s like wearing an accessory that you can wear all the time. There are many different types of bobs, but the best way to decide whether to chop your hair or update your short style is to pick a style that flatters your face shape. There are certain styles that will flatter your face shape, regardless of whether it’s oval, square, heart-shaped, or round.
There are no rules that you must follow when expressing your beauty. There are ways you can highlight your favorite features. Four celebrity hairstylists were consulted to help us determine which bobs would best frame each face type.
Find the 25 best bob haircuts for your face type below. Also, styling tips.
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Round: Long Bob
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Alex Brown, a celebrity hairstylist in Chicago, says that the best bob should be below the chin. Selena Gomez or Emma Stone are two of his favorite examples. “A deep side-part and light face framing highlights will enhance the features of a round faced.”
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Round: Pin Straight Lob
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Never underestimate the power a flatiron can have on natural hair. It will not only give you silky, smooth strands but will also keep your hair healthy. Gabrielle Union’s stylist recommended the Bio Ionic OnePass Styling iron to achieve her sleek look.
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Round: Blunt Wavy Bob
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Lana Condor’s sharp, wavy hairstyle is an example of chic proportions. Her middle part draws attention to her center and the blunt edges help balance out her roundness.
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Round: Wavy Lob
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Jonathan Colombini is a celebrity hairstylist at L’Oreal Paris. He says that long bobs can elongate round faces. This romantic style and cut complement Penelope Cruz from her middle part to her cascading wave.
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Round: Textured Wavy Lob
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Colombini recommends using wave spray for a textured look similar to Emma Stone. Apply the spray – Ouai Wave Spray is a good choice – to damp or dried strands. This will add movement. Just spritz and grab a handful of hair at the ends. Scrunch upwards. You can also use a flat-iron to create S waves. Seal your look with texture spray.
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Round: Wavy “Wet” Lob
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Angela Soto is a hairstylist at BAJA Studio, located in NYC. She says that lobs can help slim down the width of the face and add length. Chrissy Teigen, Kendall Jenner and Angela Soto are her favorite celebrities who have worn the style. The best styles are worn super smooth with a center part or in beach waves styled with a side-tuck behind the ears. Teigen chooses the wet look.
Byrdie Tip
Consider adding a little length or an angle to the front if you are on the shorter end of the long bob. This can help elongate the round jawline.
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Oval : Side-Swept Bob Curly
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“It’s best to have a shorter length bob with an oval face shape,” Colombini explains, adding that he suggests opting for a chin or just-below-chin-length.
Yara’s blunt bob, which is a great example of this, is a good example. This look, combined with the coiled bangs of Yara Shahidi and her shiny finish, gives her an off-center but face-framing look. To achieve her super-watt glow, spray Bumble & Bumble’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil UV Protection Dry Oil Finishing.
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Oval: Chin Length (or Just Beyond Bob
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Colombini says Jessica Alba is an example of a woman who has mastered a face-framing cut that fits her face shape perfectly. Use a flatiron to create her flipped ends. Curve outwards as you reach the mid-lengths and ends. Use a heat protector before styling to protect your hair from damage, particularly when it is exposed to high temperatures. TRESemme Heat Protection Hairspray is our favorite.
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Oval: Wavy Bob With Piece-y Fringe
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Pair your wavy bob, with its wet look, with some piecey bangs for a more dramatic effect. The way they are parted in the middle draws the eye to her middle face, giving it a diamond-like appearance.
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Oval – ’80s Inspired Blown Out Bob
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Soto says that Bella Hadid, Katy Perry and other celebrities have modernized the cut.
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Oval : Wavy Bob with Bangs
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Add bangs as well. Soto says oval-shaped women have a longer forehead and can wear a fringe without the bob closing in. This textured version of Kelly Rowland is stunning.
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Oval : Flipped-under Bob
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Prefer flipped-under bobs? Kim Kardashian can be your inspiration. Brown says, “My personal favourite for someone with a round face is a blunt chin-length hairstyle like Kim Kardashian’s.” We recommend using a shine serum such as Paul Mitchell Super Slimny Serum, or making your own DIY version.
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Oval : Layered Wavy Lob
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Jourdan’s chin-length, piecey bob is perfect for her oval-shaped face. By adding layers to your hair and using its natural texture you can create a flattering look. Shorter hair can sometimes appear too voluminous (think poufy). This look is edgy, yet effortless.
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Square: Mid Length Layered Bob
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Soto believes that square faces can look great with mid-length, strong bobs. She says that because of the strong jawline this length will define that line and bring out its beauty, rather than trying to hide it. Rosie Huntington Whiteley and Hailey Bieber are examples of women who have pulled off this look.
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Square: Tapered lob
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Nicole Richie’s tapered lob looks tres chic. She achieves an asymmetrical look by tucking one side under.
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Square: Voluminous Natural Curls
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All curly peoples, call to arms! You’re in luck. Apply a curl-enhancing cream like Pattern’s and let your hair dry naturally. Or, use a diffuser such as DevaCurl DevaFuser.
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Square: Choppy Bob
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You might want to try a messy, layered, choppy bob. It’s easy to change your part and it can be a great way to update your look. As seen on Olivia Wilde, you can then sweep your hair to the side to highlight your cheekbones.
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Square: Tucked-in Lob
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You might be interested in Zoe Kravitz’s tucked-in look if you want to change your style quickly and easily but don’t feel comfortable going under the scalpel. This technique creates the illusion of a long lob by using a high collar. It’s a quick and easy way to stay fresh.
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Square: Fringe Bob
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Want to add a new style element? Brown says that adding fringe to a short bob can soften and balance faces with square shapes. Zendaya chooses uneven ends to soften her look, rather than wearing a straight bang across the face, which would draw attention to your widest area (read: forehead).
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Texturized Lob with Side Swept Bangs
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Taylor Swift’s lob will look more dynamic if you sweep your bangs sideways. To add volume and give your lob a little edge, spray a volumizing texture spray like Living Proof’s full dry volume & texture Spray liberally.
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Heart – Thick, Wavy Lob
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Sarah Potempa, celebrity hairstylist, says: “A big part of a cut is to make sure that you have extra hair on your sides long enough to cover the gaps. This is especially important when you have long layers or a bang.” Ciara’s blonde, wavy lob was styled perfectly to achieve this.
Byrdie Tip
Add a clip-in extension to the front and side of your hair if you lack volume or have fine hair. This will enhance a heart-shaped facial shape.
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Heart : Natural Bob
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As seen on Tika Sumpter, you can rock your natural hair in a bob. Her chin length curls soften the heart-shaped features and add movement to a classic bob.
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Heart Tucked Lob
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Potempa says the key to a heart-shaped hairstyle looking balanced is having something across the forehead, whether it be fully or side-swept. Also, something to fill the space between the shoulders and the chin. She says, “That’s why a lob is so great!”
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Heart Shaggy Lob
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Colombini says that a lob is perfect for faces with heart shapes. He recommends a shag texture, similar to Julianne Hough. To achieve this style, blow-dry your hair with a round comb to add volume. Use a root lifting mousse like BosleyMD Volumizing and Thickening Styling Masque to get the look.
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Heart: Piecey-textured Lob
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The textured lob of Rowan Blanchard creates fullness along her jawline, which helps to balance her heart-shaped facial shape. By keeping her hair a little longer, Rowan Blanchard avoids the boxy look that comes with a short cut.
