Should I remove all the side volume?

No. Width beside the cheeks helps balance an oblong face. Ask your stylist to remove excess weight while keeping the side shape.

Can I keep long, thick hair with an oblong face?

Yes, but long layers need a tweak because they add length to the outline. Keep the focus on side width and forehead coverage.

Are short hairstyles for a long face always better?

Length alone doesn't decide the fit. A textured bob adds useful width, while a pixie exposes the full outline and needs more adjustment.

women's hairstyles for an oblong face with thick hair

At a glance

Face shape: Oblong
Hair type: Thick
What thick hair adds: weight and width, so it usually needs thinning or layering to hold a shape
Aim for: Width at the sides and a fringe, no extra height
Styling tip: ask for weight taken out of the sides so the shape comes from the cut, not the bulk
Top picks: Curtain bangs, Textured bob, Shag

Thick hair on an oblong face (women)
Style	Fit	Why
Curtain bangs	Good	It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face.
Textured bob	Good	It adds width at the sides, which balances a long outline.
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.
Side-swept bangs	Good	It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face.
Blunt bob	Good	It adds width at the sides, which balances a long outline.
Soft waves	Neutral	It adds width at the sides, which balances a long outline, but it also adds length to an outline that is already long.
Butterfly cut	Neutral	It adds width at the sides, which balances a long outline, but it also adds height on top, and this face is already long.
Lob	With a tweak	It adds length to an outline that is already long. On the plus side it adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw.
Long layers	With a tweak	It adds length to an outline that is already long. On the plus side it adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw.
Braids	With a tweak	It exposes the full outline, which puts its width on show.
Pixie	With a tweak	It exposes the full outline, which puts its width on show.
Sleek straight	With a tweak	It adds length to an outline that is already long.
High ponytail	With a tweak	It adds height on top, and this face is already long.

Keep side width, control the weight

An oblong face is clearly longer than it is wide, with fairly straight sides. Cheek-level volume helps balance that length. A fringe covers part of the forehead and shortens the visible face.

Thick hair on a long face brings a useful starting point: width. It also brings weight, so it usually needs thinning or layering to hold a shape. Keep useful fullness beside the face while controlling height on top. Long, straight vertical lines add length you don't need.

Start with these three cuts

Curtain bangs are a good fit because they cover part of the forehead, making the visible face shorter.
A textured bob is a good fit because it adds side width that balances a long outline.
A shag is a good fit because its fringe shortens the visible face. Keep its crown height in check.

For thick-haired women with oblong faces, these options offer different ways to manage the same outline. Choose forehead coverage, side width or both. A shag needs particular attention because it can add height where you don't want it.

Compare the other good and neutral fits

Wolf cut: good, with a caution. Forehead coverage helps, but extra height on top can lengthen the face.
Side-swept bangs: good. They cover part of the forehead and reduce the visible length.
Blunt bob: good. Its side width balances the long outline.
Soft waves: neutral. They add helpful side width, but their length can also extend an already long outline.
Butterfly cut: neutral. Side width helps, but height on top can work against that balance.

Adjust cuts that add length or expose the outline

These oblong-face haircuts need a tweak rather than an automatic rejection. Look at what each style leaves visible and where it adds volume.

A lob or long layers can lengthen the outline. Their soft, broken-up lines can also soften a strong jaw, if you have one.
Braids and a pixie expose the full outline, putting its width on show. Check whether the exposed shape gives you the balance you want.
Sleek straight hair adds length to an already long outline. Avoid letting uninterrupted vertical lines dominate the style.
A high ponytail adds height on top. Keep that added height limited if your aim is a shorter-looking outline.

Choose for the hair you actually have

The common mistake is choosing a cut designed for another hair type, then expecting your stylist to force it with product. Use the hairstyle guide to compare options that account for your hair's natural shape.

The free face-shape finder names the closest face-shape prototype from one selfie, on your device. It doesn't read hair type. Choose that yourself from how your hair dries naturally.

Questions people ask

Should I remove all the side volume?: No. Width beside the cheeks helps balance an oblong face. Ask your stylist to remove excess weight while keeping the side shape.
Can I keep long, thick hair with an oblong face?: Yes, but long layers need a tweak because they add length to the outline. Keep the focus on side width and forehead coverage.
Are short hairstyles for a long face always better?: Length alone doesn't decide the fit. A textured bob adds useful width, while a pixie exposes the full outline and needs more adjustment.

Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.

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