Oblong Face Shape
An oblong (or rectangle) face is noticeably longer than it is wide, with a straight cheek line and often a longer forehead and chin. Styling aims to add width and visually shorten the face.
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How to tell if you have a oblong face
- •Face length is clearly greater than the width
- •Forehead, cheeks, and jaw are similar in width
- •Cheek line runs fairly straight down
- •Chin and forehead can both appear long
Best hairstyles for a oblong face — men
- Textured crop with a fringe (shortens the forehead)
- Side part with width, not height
- Caesar cut / forward fringe
- Medium length with volume on the sides
- Avoid tall pompadours and quiffs
Best hairstyles for a oblong face — women
- Blunt bob or lob (adds horizontal width)
- Side-swept or full bangs to shorten the face
- Waves and curls for width
- Chin-length layers
- Avoid long, straight centre-part styles
See these cuts on your own face
Read the full oblong face hairstyle guide or try hairstyles on your photo free.
Best beard & facial hair for a oblong face
- A beard kept fuller on the cheeks and shorter at the chin adds width
- Stubble or a short beard avoids lengthening the face
- Avoid long goatees that extend the chin downward
Best glasses & frames
- Tall, oversized, or deep frames to break up the length
- Bold frames with strong horizontal lines add width
What to avoid
- Tall, voluminous hair that adds even more length
- Slim, short frames that get lost on a long face
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a long face look shorter?
Add width and avoid height: keep hair shorter with volume on the sides, use a fringe to shorten the forehead, grow a beard fuller on the cheeks, and choose tall, deep glasses frames.
Is an oblong face the same as a rectangle face?
Yes, oblong and rectangle refer to the same long face shape. A rectangle face simply has a more angular jaw, while both share the key trait of length being greater than width.
Other face shapes
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