face shapes · haircuts
Best Hairstyles for aThin Face
The best hairstyles for a thin or narrow face, with why side volume and fringes help, which cuts to try for women and men, and what to be careful with.
Hairover Team
Thin or narrow faces tend to look most balanced with volume at the sides, a fringe, and some waves or layers around the cheeks and jaw. Those add width and shorten the look of the face. Very long, flat hair or tall styles with tight sides do the opposite. These are starting points, not rules, and a narrow face is not something to fix.
What helps
- Volume at the cheeks and jaw adds width.
- Bangs or a fringe shorten the face.
- Waves and curls add natural fullness.
- Medium lengths avoid dragging the eye downward.
- Tucking one side can show off your cheekbones.
This overlaps a lot with hairstyles for oblong faces, which are longer than they are wide.
Cuts for women
Chin-length bob. Adds width right at the jaw. A bob with some bend or waves works best. See bob haircut ideas.
French bob. A short cut with a fringe is a very strong choice. See French bob vs. Italian bob.
Shoulder-length waves. Soft volume at the sides, and easy to style. Our soft waves guide can help.
Curtain bangs with a shag. The fringe shortens your face, and the layers add width. See shag haircut ideas.
Long layers with waves. If you want long hair, add movement and don’t let it hang flat. See layered haircuts for long hair.
Soft pixie with a fuller fringe. Works if you keep some fullness around the ears and don’t go for height on top.
Fringes
Curtain bangs ending at the cheekbone are a great option, since they add width. Full or wispy fringes both reduce the length of your face. See full vs. wispy bangs.
Cuts for men
Low taper with a textured top. Some length on the sides keeps your head from looking narrow. See fade vs. taper.
Forward fringe. A textured crop or French crop shortens the face.
Medium, wavy cut. Length over the ears adds width. See long hairstyles for men.
Beard. A fuller beard at the cheeks adds width, while a shorter chin avoids adding length. See beard styles by face shape.
What to be careful with
- Long, flat, one-length hair with a center part
- High ponytails and tall top knots
- Very tight skin fades with a lot of height on top
- Tall pompadours
If you love these looks, try adding some softness. Soft pieces around your face, or a lower height, can bring back the balance.
Hair color can help too
Lighter or dimensional pieces can create the look of more fullness around the face. Our hair color trends and highlights vs. lowlights guides have some ideas.
Fine hair
If your hair is also fine, volume can be hard to keep. Shorter lengths, blunt ends, and a light mousse will hold more shape. See hairstyles for thin hair.
See the balance on your own photo
Adding width at exactly the right spot is easier to judge when you can see it. Our free face shape detector can read your outline. Then upload a clear photo to Hairover, get a hair analysis, and try hairstyles on your own face in Style Studio.
FAQ
Do bangs suit a thin face?
Usually, yes. A fringe shortens the visible face and adds width at the forehead. Curtain bangs and full fringes both work well. Very long, flat hair without a fringe can make your face look narrower.
Which hairstyle makes a thin face look fuller?
Waves or layers that add volume at the cheeks and jaw are the most effective. Chin-length bobs also add width where a narrow face benefits from it.
Should men with thin faces avoid high fades?
Often it helps to keep some length at the sides, since very tight sides can make a narrow face look narrower. A low fade or taper is a safer choice.
