Key Insights

• Jaw-Length Blunt Bob: This hairstyle can create a wider appearance for the face due to its sharp, horizontal line.
• One-Length Long Hair: A strict center part can emphasize width at the cheeks, making the face appear boxy.
• Rounded Curls: Big curls at cheek height can add width, but shifting volume upward can elongate the face.
• High Ponytail: This style adds perceived length and slims the sides when paired with face-framing pieces.

Jaw-Length Blunt Bob (Fuller Effect)

A sharp, jaw-skimming blunt bob can make the face look wider, especially in photos where angles flatten. The hard horizontal line lands right at the widest part of many faces, so the eye reads more width than length. Add a straight, center part and the bob becomes a tidy frame that emphasizes cheeks and jaw.

If you love this cut, soften it with internal layers or a side part so the line isn’t so horizontal. A touch of bend at the ends that curve inward rather than kick out adds ease but still keeps shape. Tucking one side behind the ear can also reduce the boxed-in effect without changing the length.

One-Length, Center-Parted Long Hair (Fuller Effect)

Ultra-long hair worn in a strict center part with no layers can fall like curtains that sit wide at the cheeks. Without face-framing or shape, the sides hang straight and emphasize the area most people want to balance. In still photos, the result can look boxy rather than flowing.

Layering that begins below the chin breaks up the wall of hair and lets cheekbones pop. A soft off-center part creates movement and a touch of asymmetry, which reads slimmer. Even minimal face-framing pieces turn the look from heavy to airy fast.

Rounded, Cheek-Height Curls With Lots of Side Volume (Fuller Effect)

Big curls that balloon at cheek level create a halo effect, adding width exactly where the face is already broadest. The shape is gorgeous but can look rounder when all the volume lives on the sides. The eye naturally measures width first if the top is flat.

Shift volume upward by diffusing with your head tilted forward and scrunching the crown. Keep sides defined instead of fluffy, and let coils stretch a touch below the cheeks. A smidge of height at the roots turns the silhouette from round to softly elongated.

Chin-Length Lob With Blunt Ends and No Face-Framing (Fuller Effect)

A lob that stops right at the chin with blunt ends can form a perfect horizontal shelf. That shelf visually anchors the jaw and draws attention to width across the lower face. On video calls, it often reads square, even if the cut is technically balanced.

Ask for ends that are slightly textured, not chopped straight across, and add face-framing that starts around the mouth. A length that drops to the collarbone also reduces the chin shelf effect instantly. Even flipping the ends slightly inward can soften the line without losing polish.

Long Layers Starting Below the Chin (Slimming Effect)

Layers that begin a bit below the chin create gentle vertical drop, which the eye reads as length. They break up dense sides, offering movement without puffing out the silhouette. Friends often light up when those first face layers fall – suddenly their jaw looks sleeker.

Ask for soft, cascading layers that keep most fullness below the cheeks. Style with a round brush to lift the crown and skim the sides. A touch of wave through the mid-lengths draws the gaze down, not out.

Side Part With Swoop or Curtain Bangs (Slimming Effect)

A side part introduces diagonal lines that are friendly to elongation. When curtain bangs open at the center and angle down to cheekbones, they carve out cheek space rather than fill it. The result is a face-framing V that subtly narrows the upper face.

Keep bangs soft and piecey so they don’t form a heavy bar. Let longer ends blend into layers below the jaw for a seamless fall. If your hair is straight, a quick bend at ends of fringe adds movement without bulk.

Angled Bob, Longer in Front (Slimming Effect)

An A-line or angled bob that’s shorter in back and longer toward collarbone draws eye forward and down. Those longer front pieces act like soft arrows that lengthen face. Because back is lighter and lifted, you get shape without side pouf.

Ask for thoughtful graduation so back doesn’t stack too round at occipital bone. Style by beveling front toward collarbone rather than flipping outward. A side part and tucked-back side can fine-tune angle even more.

High Ponytail or Top Knot With Face-Framing Pieces (Slimming Effect)

Height at crown works like a visual elevator, adding perceived length fast. A high pony or knot paired with wispy tendrils at front slims sides while keeping softness. It’s a quick camera-ready trick I rely on when time is tight.

Smooth sides so they don’t balloon and keep base snug but not severe. Let face-framing bits fall around cheekbones or below. A tiny root lift or texturizing spray at crown finishes illusion without stiffness.

Collarbone-Grazing Lob With Texture and Subtle Root Depth (Slimming Effect)

A lob that lands at or just below collarbone lengthens neck and flows past jaw. Add airy texture through mid-lengths so sides don’t look bulky. Slightly deeper roots with brighter ends create dimension that recedes at scalp and elongates overall look.

Ask for soft, point-cut ends rather than strict blunt line. Style with loose wave starting below cheek, not at it. A light matte finish beats high-gloss when you want lift over width.