11 Haircuts for Long Face Women
A long face is longer than it is wide, and the most flattering haircuts work horizontally against that length: they add width at the sides, put volume at chin level, and use a fringe to take some height off the forehead. These 11 haircuts for long face women all do at least two of those jobs — and they all avoid the two traps, extra height on top and long, straight lengths that drag the face further down.
Every cut here comes with its length, its upkeep level, and the exact words to ask your stylist. If you are still working out which cuts belong to your shape at all, start with our face shape haircuts for women collection, then come back to this list — it is the long-face edit, in detail.
Quick picks — the shortlist
- The side-part wavy lob — the balanced all-rounder if you are unsure where to start.
- Curtain bangs with a wavy lob — the gentlest way to shorten the forehead, and easy to grow out.
- The curly bob with side volume — natural width built in, with the top kept flat.
- The blunt bob with a full fringe — the strongest rebalance if you want a sharper look.
11 haircuts for long face women to show your stylist
1. Best all-rounder: the side-part wavy lob
A collarbone-length lob in loose waves, seen here in profile so the width at cheek and chin level is easy to read. A side part keeps the top flatter — exactly what a long face needs — while the waves widen the outline where the face is narrowest. Ends rest about 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) below the chin. Maintenance is low: the waves are forgiving. Ask for: a wavy lob with a side part and no height on top.
2. Curtain bangs with a wavy lob
A light, center-opening fringe that parts in the middle and blends into a wavy, shoulder-skimming lob. The fringe covers part of the forehead, which visually shortens a long face, and the waves add width at the sides instead of length at the crown. The shortest fringe pieces sit around 3 inches (8 cm) long. Maintenance is medium: the front needs regular trims. Ask for: curtain bangs blended into a wavy lob.
3. A full fringe with long layers
Long dark hair worn with a full, straight-across fringe — bangs in the US, a fringe in the UK and Australia — photographed close so the fringe does the talking. A full fringe is the strongest shortening tool a long face has, and the layers keep the long lengths from hanging in two straight curtains. The lengths fall well past the shoulders. Maintenance is medium, mainly fringe trims. Ask for: a full fringe with layers through the lengths.
4. The chin-level wavy bob
A short wavy bob finishing right around chin level, its waves pushing out sideways at exactly the point where a long face benefits from extra width. Chin level is the sweet spot here: shorter can expose length, longer starts to drag. Ends sit roughly at the chin, about 0–1 inches (0–2.5 cm) below it. Maintenance is low to medium, depending on your natural wave. Ask for: a wavy bob ending at chin level.
5. The straight lob with a soft fringe
A sleek, straight lob at shoulder length with a light, wispy fringe softening the top edge. Straight hair is the risky texture for a long face, and this version shows the fix: the fringe shortens the forehead and the ends stop at the shoulders rather than falling long and narrow. Ends rest about 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) below the chin. Maintenance is medium. Ask for: a straight lob with a soft, wispy fringe.
6. The curly bob with side volume
Copper curls cut into a bob that spreads wide at the sides, worn with sunglasses outdoors. Curls are a long face’s natural ally: they build width horizontally instead of height vertically, as long as the top stays relatively flat. Cut longer than your goal — curls spring up 1–3 inches (2.5–8 cm) as they dry, settling around chin level. Maintenance is low to medium. Ask for: a curly bob with volume kept at the sides.
7. Layered medium waves, worn over one shoulder
Blonde medium-length hair in loose waves, photographed over the shoulder outdoors so the layered, wavy outline reads clearly. Medium length is the safest zone for a long face, and layers through the sides stop the shape narrowing toward the ends. The length finishes around the shoulders, roughly 5–7 inches (13–18 cm) below the chin. Maintenance is low: this finish is meant to look undone. Ask for: medium layers with waves concentrated at the sides.
8. The blunt bob with a full fringe
A straight blonde bob with a full fringe, photographed at night in the city — the sharp, graphic option on this list. The fringe shortens the face from the top while the bob’s ends add a firm horizontal line at chin level; together they rebalance length with width. Ends land about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) below the chin. Maintenance is medium to high: blunt edges show growth quickly. Ask for: a blunt bob with a full fringe.
9. The textured wavy bob, worn loose
A dark wavy bob seen from the side in warm indoor light, its ends broken up and piece-y rather than one solid line. Texture matters on a long face because it spreads the outline sideways; a sleek, tucked shape would do the opposite. Ends sit about 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) below the chin. Maintenance is low — scrunch, air-dry, and go. Ask for: a textured wavy bob with broken-up ends.
10. Long waves kept wide, not straight
Long brown hair in full, loose waves, the volume sitting through the mid-lengths and sides rather than piled on top. Long hair can suit a long face, but only this way: waves and side fullness break up the vertical line that straight long hair would extend. The length reaches about 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) below the chin. Maintenance is low to medium, mostly drying time. Ask for: long layers styled into wide, loose waves.
11. The short wavy pixie with width at the sides
A platinum short cut with soft waves across the top and fullness kept low at the sides, worn with glasses outdoors. Short hair works on a long face when the silhouette stays wide and the top stays calm — no quiff, no tall volume. The top layers reach roughly 3–4 inches (8–10 cm), with the sides kept soft rather than shaved. Maintenance is medium to high. Ask for: a wavy pixie with a flat top and soft sides.
How to choose a haircut for a long face
Start by confirming your shape honestly. A long face — sometimes called oblong — measures noticeably longer from hairline to chin than across the cheekbones, and the forehead, cheeks and jaw are all a similar width. Pull your hair back in front of a mirror and judge the outline, not your features. Our face shape guide walks through the same check with measurements, and our haircuts for square face women guide shows how differently a wide, angular face is handled.
Be honest about what works against you. Height on top — a tall quiff, backcombing at the crown, a high ponytail — adds length you do not need. So does very long, straight hair worn flat against the sides: two straight curtains simply extend the face downward. A severe center part with sleek sides has the same lengthening effect. None of those are forbidden, but each one needs a counterweight from this list, usually a fringe or side volume.
Your easiest wins are a fringe, side fullness, and a medium length. Any fringe — full, curtain or wispy — covers part of the forehead and shortens the face on sight. Waves, curls and layers that sit at cheek and chin level widen the middle of the outline. Lengths between the chin and the shoulders are the safest zone; if you keep longer hair, keep it wavy and layered like the cuts above, and compare shapes in our layered bob haircuts collection.
What to ask your stylist
Use one sentence that covers the fringe, the side volume, and the finish. For example: “I would like a lob ending about 4 inches (10 cm) below my chin, with curtain bangs, waves for width at the sides, and no height on top — and it needs to grow out well because I book trims every couple of months.” Always show a front and a side reference photo: the front view shows your stylist the fringe and the width, and the side view shows where the ends land.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best haircut length for a long face?
Lengths between the chin and the shoulders suit a long face best, because they sit wide at the sides and do not extend the outline downward. Very long hair can still work when it is layered and worn in waves. The length to treat with care is long and straight, which drags the face down.
Are bangs a good idea for a long face?
Yes — a fringe is the single most effective tool for a long face, because it covers part of the forehead and visually shortens the face. Full fringes shorten the most, curtain bangs are the softest and easiest to grow out, and a wispy fringe is the lightest option. Side-swept fringes help too, but straight-across styles shorten more.
Can a long face wear long hair?
Yes, with conditions. Keep the length layered rather than one heavy curtain, style it in waves or curls so the fullness sits at the sides, and avoid adding height at the crown, which would lengthen the outline from the top instead. Long, straight and flat against the head is the one version that works against a long face.
Does a side part suit a long face?
Yes. A side part keeps the top flatter than a lifted center style and lets the front fall diagonally, which reads as width rather than length. Pair it with waves or layers at chin level for the strongest effect, and avoid teasing or backcombing the crown on either parting.
A long face does not need hiding — it needs width, a fringe, and honesty about height on top. Pick two or three cuts from this list, save front and side photos of each, and let your stylist set the final length between your chin and shoulders on the day.
Keep exploring
- Haircuts for Square Face Women — the neighbouring face shape, and how its rules differ from yours.
- Layered Bob Haircuts — 15 layered bobs, including the wavy and side-part versions on this list.
- Short Hairstyles for Women — more short options; keep the top flat and the sides soft.
Save your favourite styles and follow DreamyTrims on Pinterest for new haircut ideas every week.
