How to Know If You Have a Long-Shaped Face & The Best Hairstyles for You
At Arena Creative Hair, we believe that understanding your face shape can help you choose a hairstyle that enhances your features and brings out your natural beauty. If you have a long-shaped face, selecting the right cut can create balance and highlight your best attributes. Here’s how to determine if you have a long-shaped face and which styles work best for you.
Do You Have a Long-Shaped Face?A long-shaped face is typically characterised by:A face length that is noticeably longer than its width.
If these features sound like you, then you likely have a long face shape! But don’t worry—there are plenty of flattering hairstyles to suit your look.
Best Hairstyles for a Long Face ShapeTo add width and balance to your face, consider styles that create the illusion of volume and softness. Here are some of the best haircuts for a long-shaped face:
Shoulder-Length or Mid-Length Cuts – Keeping your hair around shoulder-length helps create the illusion of width rather than length.
Soft Waves & Curls – Adding waves or curls introduces volume on the sides, making your face appear more balanced.
Layers & Face-Framing Pieces – Layers help add movement and prevent your hair from looking too flat, while face-framing pieces break up the length of your face.
Side-Swept Fringe – A side-swept fringe helps to shorten the appearance of your face by drawing attention horizontally.
Bobs & Lobs – A well-styled bob or long bob (lob) with added texture creates width and balances proportions.Low Textured Bun – A low bun with volume at the sides adds width and draws attention away from facial length. Keeping it soft and textured helps avoid a pulled-down look.
Loose Chignon with Face-Framing Layers – A soft, low chignon with gentle pieces left out around the face adds softness and shortens the overall appearance of the face.
Side-Swept Updo – Styling the hair to one side creates a flattering asymmetry, balancing length and drawing the eye outward rather than downward.
Half-Up, Half-Down Style – Leaving some of the hair down adds volume around the lower face, helping to reduce the appearance of length while still looking polished.
Messy Top Knot with Width – A wider, textured bun at the crown (not too high or tight) balances a long face. Keep it soft and loose rather than sleek and vertical.
Braided Crown or Halo Braid – Braids that wrap around the head add horizontal interest and create the illusion of width, ideal for balancing proportions.
Updos with Curtain Fringe or Soft Bangs – Adding a curtain fringe or wispy bangs helps to visually shorten the face and bring attention to the eyes when the rest of the hair is up.
Hairstyles to Avoid for a Long Face ShapeWhile we believe you should wear your hair however you feel most confident, certain styles can exaggerate the length of your face. You may want to avoid:
Super Long, Straight Hair – This can drag the face down and make it appear even longer.
High Ponytails & Updos Without Volume – If you love wearing your hair up, try adding volume or curls to balance your features.
Centre Partings with No Volume – A flat middle part can emphasise length; opt for a side part or layers for added dimension.
Very Short Pixie Cuts – Super-short styles with no volume can elongate your face even more.
Best Glasses/sunglasses Styles for Long Faces
1. Oversized or Deep Frames
Larger frames help to break up the length of the face and create more balance. Styles with a deeper lens height work particularly well.2. Round or Soft Curved Frames
These add width and softness, helping to reduce the appearance of facial length. Rounded edges also contrast nicely with a longer face shape.3. Wayfarer and D-Shape Frames
These classic styles offer structure and bring attention to the upper half of the face. The slightly wider shape helps to add proportion.4. Cat-Eye Frames
A slightly upswept cat-eye can lift the face and draw the eye upward, adding width and breaking up the vertical line of the face.5. Decorative or Bold Temple Details
Frames with detailing or colour on the sides (temples) draw attention outward, helping to create the illusion of a wider face.What to Avoid
Avoid narrow, rectangular, or small frames, as these can make a long face look even longer. Also steer clear of styles that sit too high on the nose, which can visually stretch the face.
Your Hair, Your ChoiceWhile these recommendations can help guide you, ultimately, your hairstyle should reflect your personality and make you feel great. At Arena Creative Hair, we treat every client as an individual and respect your unique preferences.If you decide you want to go for a completely different look than suggested—go for it! We are here to make sure you leave feeling confident and happy with your choice.Book a consultation with us today, and let’s find the perfect style for you!