At a glance
- Style
- Lob
- Face shape
- Square
- Verdict
- Neutral
- Why
- It adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw, but it also adds fullness at the jaw, where this face is already wide.
- Ask your stylist to
- take the length a little above or below the jaw, never level with it
What to ask your stylist
Ask your stylist to take the length a little above or below the jaw, never level with it. For a lob, the below-jaw option keeps the length within the cut's usual range.
Point out where your jaw ends so you can agree on where the haircut should finish. The placement matters because an edge sitting directly across the jaw repeats its horizontal line.
How the ends affect a strong jaw
Soft, textured ends break up the straight line of the jaw. That gives a long bob on a square face its softening effect, without removing the jaw's shape.
A blunt edge at jaw level creates the opposite impression. It draws another hard line across an area that's already wide. When assessing the cut, look at the position and texture of the ends together. Softness helps, but the lob can still add fullness around the lower face.
Upkeep and the mistake to avoid
Upkeep: a trim every eight weeks. At that appointment, check where the ends sit in relation to your jaw and whether their texture still suits your aim.
Don't treat a caution as a ban. Nearly every cut works on every shape once something is adjusted; the verdict tells you which detail matters. For this cut, keep the edge away from jaw level rather than dismissing the lob altogether.
Compare the outline on your own photo
The free face-shape finder confirms the face-shape prototype from one selfie; the hairstyle try-on then shows this cut on your own photo.
Use the hairstyle guide to compare cuts with attention to their lower edge. With a square-face lob, notice whether the ends break up the jawline or draw a horizontal line across it. That distinction is more useful than treating the verdict as a rule about what you can wear.
Questions people ask
- Why is the verdict Neutral if a lob softens the jaw?
- The soft, broken-up lines take the edge off a strong jaw. The cut also adds fullness near that already-wide area, so its effects pull in different directions.
- Should a lob finish directly on a square jaw?
- No. Ask for the length a little above or below the jaw, never level with it. Below the jaw fits the usual lob length.
- Can I keep my strong jaw visible with this cut?
- Yes. Soft texture changes how the hair frames your jaw; it doesn't remove its shape. You don't need to treat a defined jaw as a flaw.
Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.
Related pages
The closest pages in this section, picked by topic rather than by date.
- Curtain bangs for a square faceCurtain bangs for a square face are a good match. Learn how soft ends frame your jaw, what to ask your stylist and when to trim your fringe.
- Lob for an oval faceA lob for an oval face is a good match. Explore length and fringe choices, what to ask your stylist and the eight-week trim schedule.
- A lob for a round face (women): does it suit you?A lob for a round face (women) earns a Neutral verdict. See how its lines affect your outline, what to ask your stylist, and when to trim.