1. Introduction
A square face shape is all about bold, defined angles. With a strong jawline, a broad forehead, and well-structured features, this face shape naturally exudes confidence and strength. But when it comes to hair, the goal is to introduce softness and balance, ensuring that those sharp angles don’t overpower your look.
The best hairstyles for square faces work to add movement and frame the face in a way that complements its structure. Long waves can create a more fluid, effortless effect, while soft bangs help break up the width of the forehead. Chic bobs, when styled correctly, can enhance your features without making them appear too boxy. Whether you prefer romantic, voluminous styles or sleek, modern cuts, the right haircut can highlight your beauty while adding just the right amount of contrast.
Not sure which style suits you best? We’re here to help! From layered waves that soften your jawline to side-swept bangs that create instant elegance, we’ve rounded up the most flattering hairstyles to enhance your square-shaped face. Get ready to find your perfect look—one that enhances your natural angles while keeping things effortlessly stylish!
2. How to Tell If You Have a Square Face
Key Characteristics
A square face is all about structure. If your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are roughly the same width, you likely have this face shape. The defining feature? A strong, well-defined jawline that gives your face a bold and symmetrical look. Unlike round or oval faces, a square face has sharp, straight lines rather than soft curves.
To check, look in the mirror or trace your face’s outline on a photo. If you notice equal width from top to bottom and a prominent jawline, you’ve got that striking square shape!
Celebrity Inspiration
Some of Hollywood’s most iconic beauties have square faces, and they know exactly how to style their hair to complement their features.
Angelina Jolie is the queen of side-swept waves. This style softens her angular structure while keeping her look effortlessly elegant.
Keira Knightley often goes for textured, chin-length bobs. These cuts add movement and prevent her jawline from looking too sharp.
Olivia Wilde uses curtain bangs and soft layers to create balance. The layers add dimension while the bangs break up the width of her forehead.
If you share their face shape, take notes—these styles can work wonders for you, too!
3. Best Hairstyles for Square Faces
A square face shape is strong, structured, and naturally striking. The key to choosing the perfect hairstyle is to soften the sharp angles, add movement, and create balance. Whether you prefer long, flowing layers or a chic, short cut, the right style can highlight your best features while keeping your look effortless and flattering.
Long, Soft Layers for a Feminine Look
If you love long hair, soft layers are your best friend. Layers introduce movement and dimension, helping to break up the strong lines of a square face. When styled with loose waves, they create a more fluid, effortless look that softens the forehead and jawline. The key is to avoid overly blunt cuts—go for seamless layering that flows naturally. This style works beautifully on all hair types, from straight to curly, and is perfect for anyone who wants a feminine, balanced appearance.
Side-Swept Bangs to Soften the Jawline
Bangs can be tricky for square faces, but side-swept ones work like magic. By drawing attention diagonally across the face, they break up the width of the jawline and forehead, making everything look more proportionate. Avoid blunt, straight-across bangs, as they can emphasize the boxy structure of your face. Instead, go for soft, feathered side bangs that blend into your hair. This style is particularly flattering on straight or slightly wavy hair, giving you an effortlessly elegant vibe.
Textured Bob for a Modern Look
Bobs can be incredibly flattering for square faces—if styled correctly. A textured, wavy, or tousled bob adds movement and softens the angles of your jawline. A chin-length bob can work as long as it’s not cut too bluntly. Instead, opt for soft waves or a slightly longer, asymmetrical cut to keep things fresh and modern. This style is ideal for fine to medium hair textures and gives off a chic, fashion-forward look.
Curtain Bangs for a Balanced Appearance
Curtain bangs are having a major moment, and they work beautifully for square faces. These parted, face-framing bangs help to elongate the face and add softness to a broad forehead. They also blend seamlessly into longer layers, making them a great choice if you want to add dimension without committing to a full fringe. Whether you pair them with mid-length or long hair, they create an effortlessly cool and balanced appearance. This style is best suited for straight and wavy hair textures.
Shoulder-Length Waves for a Soft, Elegant Look
If you want something low-maintenance but still flattering, shoulder-length waves are a fantastic option. The natural movement of waves helps break up the structured angles of a square face, giving it a more delicate, romantic feel. A deep side part can enhance the effect, creating a softer, more elongated shape. This style is perfect for thick, wavy, or curly hair, as it naturally creates the volume needed to balance out the face’s proportions.
Long, Face-Framing Layers for a Flattering Shape
Long hair lovers, this one’s for you! Face-framing layers work wonders for square faces by keeping volume away from the jawline and drawing attention to the cheekbones. This creates a more elongated, flattering effect while maintaining the elegance of long hair. Whether styled straight, wavy, or curly, this look works best for medium to thick hair. The key is to keep the layers subtle and blended, avoiding anything too choppy or dramatic.
A Tousled Pixie Cut for an Edgy Style
Short hair can be incredibly flattering for a square face—as long as it has texture! A tousled pixie cut adds volume at the crown, which helps balance out the jawline. An asymmetrical pixie with side-swept bangs is even better, as it breaks up the symmetry of a square face and creates a more dynamic, edgy look. This style is ideal for thick or slightly wavy hair, as it adds natural volume and movement. If you’re feeling bold, this cut is a stunning way to highlight your sharp features while keeping things modern and stylish.
The best hairstyle for a square face is all about softening angles and creating balance. Whether you love long layers, chic bobs, or edgy pixie cuts, the key is to introduce movement and avoid overly blunt or boxy shapes. With the right cut and styling, you can enhance your natural beauty while keeping your look effortless and flattering.
4. Hairstyles to Avoid for Square Faces
While the right hairstyle can beautifully soften a square face, the wrong one can emphasize its angular features in a way that feels too harsh. Some styles can make the jawline appear even more pronounced or create a boxy effect rather than balancing the face. If you have a square face shape, here are some styles you might want to steer clear of—and better alternatives to try instead.
Blunt, Straight-Across Bangs
Blunt bangs cut straight across the forehead might be trendy, but for square faces, they can be a bit too much. Since square face shapes already have strong, defined lines, these types of bangs only add to the angular look, emphasizing the width of the forehead and making the jawline stand out even more.
A better option? Go for soft, wispy bangs or side-swept bangs instead. These will still give you the fun, face-framing effect of bangs but with a much more flattering, face-softening touch. Side-swept bangs, in particular, help create a diagonal visual line that makes the face appear longer and more balanced.
Sharp, Angular Bobs
A sleek, sharply cut bob that ends right at the jawline can be a risky move for square faces. Since the jaw is already a prominent feature, a super blunt bob will only exaggerate it, making your face look even more boxy. Instead of softening your features, it highlights the angles in a way that can feel too rigid.
The fix? A textured bob or a wavy lob (long bob) is a much better alternative. Adding some waves or tousled layers helps break up the straight lines, giving your face a more balanced and effortless appearance. The goal is movement—not stiffness.
One-Length, Straight Hair Without Layers
While sleek, straight hair is undeniably chic, keeping it all one length can make a square face look even more structured and rigid. Since square faces already have a naturally defined shape, hair that falls completely straight without any layers can reinforce the boxy effect rather than softening it.
What’s better? Opt for soft layers, waves, or curls to introduce movement and fluidity. Even if you prefer wearing your hair straight, adding some face-framing layers can work wonders in balancing your features and creating a more flattering look.
The key to flattering a square face is softness and movement. Avoid styles that emphasize the boxy structure, and instead, go for cuts that add dimension and flow. Whether it’s textured layers, wispy bangs, or a tousled bob, a little softness goes a long way in creating a beautifully balanced look!
5. The Best Hair Colors for Square Faces
The right hair color can do wonders for softening a square face. Since this face shape is known for its strong jawline and structured features, the key to a flattering color is creating movement, dimension, and a little visual trickery to elongate or soften the angles. Whether you love bold transformations or subtle enhancements, here are the best hair color techniques for square faces.
Balayage for Soft Dimension
Balayage is a dream come true for square face shapes because it adds depth and dimension without harsh lines. The beauty of balayage is that it mimics natural sun-kissed highlights, with a gradual blend from darker roots to lighter ends. This technique helps break up the strong lines of a square face, drawing attention away from sharp angles and creating a more fluid, effortless look.
Soft caramel, honey, or golden tones work beautifully to add warmth, while ashier tones can give a more sophisticated, cool-toned effect. The key is to keep the transition soft and natural to avoid emphasizing the structured jawline.
Face-Framing Highlights
Nothing works better to soften a strong jawline than well-placed, face-framing highlights. Lightening the strands around your cheekbones and jawline creates a brightening effect, subtly shifting attention upward and balancing the overall shape of your face.
For those with darker hair, warm honey or toffee-colored highlights are a great choice, while blondes can go for icy or champagne tones. If you prefer a bolder look, high-contrast face-framing highlights (like the "money piece" trend) can make a striking impact while still maintaining balance.
Ombre with Darker Roots
Ombre hair coloring, where the roots remain darker and the ends gradually become lighter, is another fantastic option for square faces. The reason? It creates an illusion of vertical length, subtly elongating the face and drawing the eyes downward in a soft, blended way.
The trick is to keep the contrast natural—too harsh of a jump from dark to light can create an unwanted horizontal effect. A well-blended ombre in warm tones like chocolate, caramel, or ash blonde gives a chic, face-softening result.
Hair color is more than just a beauty choice—it’s a tool for balancing and enhancing your natural features. Whether you choose balayage for dimension, face-framing highlights for softness, or ombre for added length, the right shade can transform your look effortlessly. Want to try something new? Go bold with color, but keep the transitions soft for a flattering, harmonious effect!
6. Styling Tips for Square Faces
A square face is all about strong angles, a defined jawline, and a broad forehead. While these features are stunning, the key to styling your hair is to create softness and movement to balance the sharpness. Whether you're aiming for an everyday look or a glam moment, these styling tips will help flatter your face shape effortlessly.
Add Volume at the Crown
One of the best ways to create balance for a square face is by adding height at the crown. This trick elongates the face, making it appear longer rather than emphasizing its width.
To achieve this, use a volumizing spray or root lift mousse before blow-drying your hair. Flip your head upside down while drying for extra lift, or tease the roots lightly at the crown for that extra oomph. If you’re styling an updo, avoid sleek, pulled-back styles and instead opt for a tousled bun or ponytail with volume at the top to add length to your face.
Go for Side Parts
A deep side part is a game-changer for square faces. It breaks up the symmetry and draws attention away from a prominent jawline. Unlike a middle part, which emphasizes the angular structure, a side part softens the overall look and adds a touch of elegance.
For the most flattering effect, create a deep side part and let your hair fall naturally over one side. This creates a gentle asymmetry, making your face appear more elongated and less boxy. If you have shorter hair, a side part with layered waves will add the perfect amount of movement.
Soft Curls Over Pin-Straight Hair
If you have a square face, loose waves or soft curls will be your best friend. Straight, sleek hair can sometimes exaggerate a strong jawline, making your face look even more angular. On the other hand, soft waves add fluidity and break up the sharp lines of your face.
Use a large-barrel curling iron or heatless curling techniques to create effortless, beachy waves. If you have naturally straight hair, consider adding light layers to enhance the movement. The key is to keep it soft—tight ringlets can create too much volume on the sides, which may have the opposite effect.
The right styling techniques can completely transform the way your haircut complements your face shape. By adding volume at the crown, choosing a deep side part, and embracing soft curls, you’ll highlight your best features while creating a naturally balanced and flattering look.
7. FAQs: Hairstyles for Square Faces
Can short hair work for a square face?
Absolutely! Short hair can be incredibly flattering for square face shapes—as long as you add texture, layers, or waves. A sleek, blunt bob might accentuate your jawline too much, but a tousled bob or an asymmetrical pixie cut adds softness and balance. Opt for styles with side-swept bangs or face-framing layers to break up the strong angles and create a more harmonious look.
What’s the best updo for a square face?
A soft, romantic updo works wonders for square face shapes. Instead of a tight, slicked-back bun, go for a loose chignon or a low, side-swept bun with soft tendrils framing your face. This helps soften the jawline while maintaining an elegant look. If you prefer a ponytail, choose one with volume at the crown and a few loose waves around your face to add length and movement.
Do curtain bangs suit square faces?
Yes! Curtain bangs are one of the best bang styles for square faces. They create the illusion of length and balance by framing the sides of your forehead and blending seamlessly into your hair. The soft, feathered effect helps break up the angular structure of your face, making it appear more oval. Pair them with long layers or waves for an effortlessly chic look.
Square faces have striking, well-defined features that can be beautifully complemented with the right hairstyle. Whether you prefer short cuts, elegant updos, or trendy bangs, the key is to add softness and movement to enhance your natural beauty.
8. Conclusion
The right hairstyle can do wonders for balancing and enhancing a square face shape. With the perfect cut, you can soften sharp angles, add movement, and highlight your best features. Whether you prefer long layers that create flow, side-swept bangs that break up a strong jawline, or tousled bobs that add a modern touch, the key is to embrace styles that bring softness and volume.
No matter your hair length or texture, there’s a flattering option to complement your face shape. And if you’re looking to add extra length or fullness, Fabulive’s premium hair extensions can give you an instant transformation. With the right style and the right tools, achieving your dream hair has never been easier!