At a glance
- Face shape
- Heart
- Length to width
- about 1.3
- Widest point
- the forehead and temples
- Aim for
- Fullness at chin level and a fringe, little volume at the crown
- Avoid
- Volume at the crown and temples
- Top picks
- Lob, Side-swept bangs, Textured bob
| Style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lob | Good | It adds fullness at jaw and chin level, where this face is narrow. |
| Side-swept bangs | Good | It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face. |
| Textured bob | Good | It adds fullness at jaw and chin level, where this face is narrow. |
| Blunt bob | Good | It adds fullness at jaw and chin level, where this face is narrow. |
| Curtain bangs | Good | It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face. |
| Shag | Good | It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face. Watch one thing: it adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Wolf cut | Good | It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face. Watch one thing: it adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Soft waves | Good | It adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw. |
| Long layers | Neutral | It adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw, though not by much. |
| Butterfly cut | Neutral | It adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw, but it also adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Sleek straight | Neutral | It changes little about the outline either way. |
| Braids | Neutral | It changes little about the outline either way. |
| Pixie | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| High ponytail | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
Put fullness beside the narrower lower face
A heart face has a length-to-width ratio of about 1.3. Its forehead and temples are widest, and its outline tapers downward to the narrowest point, the chin.
Fullness at jaw and chin level adds width where it's missing. A fringe narrows the visible forehead. These are the main guides for choosing a haircut for a heart-shaped face.
Why lobs, side-swept bangs and textured bobs lead
The top picks work in different places. Lob and textured bob add fullness at jaw and chin level. Side-swept bangs cover part of the forehead, shortening the visible face.
- Lob: ask for the fullness to sit around the lower face.
- Side-swept bangs: ask for coverage across part of the forehead without added temple volume.
- Textured bob: ask for texture around the jaw and chin, with little lift at the crown.
Other good options, with their limits
Blunt bob is a Good fit because it adds fullness at jaw and chin level. Curtain bangs for a heart face also fit well: they cover part of the forehead and shorten the visible face.
Shag and wolf cut earn a Good fit through forehead coverage. Both can add height, though, and this face is already long. Ask your stylist to keep the crown low.
Soft waves are another Good option. Their broken-up lines soften a strong jaw's edges. That benefit concerns the jaw's outline; it doesn't replace the aim of lower-face fullness.
Neutral choices and styles that need a tweak
Long layers are Neutral: their broken-up lines soften a strong jaw, though only a little. Butterfly cut is also Neutral. Its softer lines help, but its added height works against an already long face.
Sleek straight and braids are Neutral because they change little about the outline either way.
Pixie and high ponytail fit With a tweak. Both add height on top. For hairstyles that balance a heart face, ask for less crown lift.
Don't copy a reference length for length
The common mistake is choosing a photo of someone with a different outline, then asking your stylist to copy every length. Instead, explain what you like about its fringe or lower-face fullness.
Use the hairstyle guides to compare those details. For cuts for a heart face, the useful reference shows where you want the hair to sit.
Check your closest face-shape match
The free face-shape finder reads your length-to-width and jaw-to-cheekbone ratios from one selfie, on your device. It names the closest prototype.
Lighting and expression can blur the jaw reading, so it gives a closest match, not a verdict. Bring that context to your stylist when discussing the outline.
Questions people ask
- Is a bob a good choice for a heart face?
- Yes. Textured bob and blunt bob both add fullness at jaw and chin level, where a heart face is narrow.
- Do I need bangs with a heart face?
- Bangs aren't a requirement. They help by covering part of the wider forehead, while a lob or bob can add lower-face fullness.
- Can I wear a pixie or high ponytail?
- Both fit with a tweak. Keep the height low because added crown volume lengthens the visible face.
Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.