face shapes · haircuts
Best Hairstyles for aChubby Face
The best hairstyles for a chubby face, for women and men, with why height and length help, which cuts to try at each length, and how to choose a flattering part.
Hairover Team
Fuller faces tend to look most balanced with some height on top, a side or off-center part, and length that goes past the chin. Those details add vertical lines and soft angles. They aren’t rules, and a fuller face doesn’t need correcting. Think of them as tools you can use if you’d like more length and definition.
What helps
- Height at the crown adds length.
- Side or off-center parts introduce a diagonal.
- Length past the chin draws the eye downward.
- Soft layers around the cheekbones frame and define.
- Volume on top, not at the sides avoids adding width.
For the related advice on outline, see hairstyles for round faces and the best haircut for a round face. If your jaw is what you’d like to balance, see hairstyles for a double chin.
Short hair
Pixie with height. Layered on top with a side-swept fringe, and close around the ears. See pixie cut ideas.
Asymmetrical bob. A longer front and diagonal line add angles. Keep it below the jaw.
Choppy short cut. Texture on top keeps the eye moving upward.
Medium hair
Collarbone lob with a side part. The most flattering all-rounder. See bob vs. lob.
Shoulder-length shag. Crown lift with soft pieces at the cheekbone. See shag vs. wolf cut.
Face-framing layers. Long pieces that start below the cheekbones.
Long hair
Long layers. Keep the top lifted, and let the layers begin below the chin.
Soft waves. Keep them loose near the face, with most of the volume lower down. Our soft waves guide can help.
Half-up styles. These add height with very little effort.
High ponytail. A high, slightly loose ponytail lifts your features. Leave a few strands out around your face.
Bangs
Long curtain bangs and side-swept fringes both add angles. Our guide to bangs for a round face covers what to ask for.
Men’s cuts
Quiff or textured top. Height adds length to your face. See textured crop vs. quiff.
Fade with volume on top. Tight sides keep your head looking narrower. See the low, mid, and high fade guide.
Side part. Adds a clean diagonal line. See side part vs. comb over.
Beard. A short boxed beard, slightly longer at the chin, helps define your jaw. See beard styles by face shape.
What to be careful with
- Very blunt, chin-length cuts with no angle
- Lots of volume at the ear or cheek level
- Very short, heavy, straight bangs
- Flat, tight center parts with no height, unless you love them
- Round, even curls that stop at the jaw
These can all still work, so don’t treat this as a list of bans. Let your own taste and your hair type guide you.
Hair type matters too
Fine hair struggles to hold height, so use a volumizer at the roots, or ask for short crown layers. Curly hair naturally has volume, so ask for shape that keeps width away from the cheeks. Check your curl type with our hair type chart.
See what works on you
A photo of a stranger won’t tell you what will work with your features. Upload a clear photo to Hairover, get a hair analysis, and try hairstyles on your own face in Style Studio.
FAQ
Which hairstyle makes your face look slimmer?
Long layers with a side part and some height at the crown are a reliable choice. They add vertical lines and break up the width of the face.
Can I have short hair with a chubby face?
Yes. A pixie with height and a side-swept fringe can look great. Avoid short cuts with lots of width at the ears, because they add roundness.
Do bangs suit a chubby face?
Long, side-swept, or curtain bangs do. They add angles and end below the cheekbones. Very short or heavy straight bangs can make the face look shorter and wider.
