5 Haircuts That Make Your Face Look Thinner

When it comes to completely changing your look, you should never underestimate the power of a good haircut. Between color and styling, our locks have the potential to make us look and feel completely different, which is why hairstyling is one of the most important parts of a person's overall image. If your goal is for your face to look thinner, addressing your tresses can help, and it won't cost you a single second at the gym. 

In an exclusive conversation with Glam, IGK NYC stylist Olya Iudina reveals that there are a few staple haircuts that can help the face appear thinner and more elongated. Ideal for those who have wider or rounder faces, Iudina explains that the most transformative style is face-framing layers on a mid-to-long cut, but there's definitely room to experiment. All kinds of lobs tend to create the illusion of a narrower face, and sometimes, even shorter styles can work wonders. Iudina just has two warnings if your goal is to go shorter: Firstly, you'll want to avoid bob haircuts that are cropped above the jawline, and secondly, any type of short bangs can add width to the face. Abide by these guidelines, and you'll see that there are lots of options for slimming haircuts. 

According to Olya Iudina, it's longer hair with similarly long face-framing pieces for the win. "To contour your face properly, the shortest front pieces should fall slightly below the chin level," she tells Glam exclusively. "This will help elongate face shape and remove volume on the sides." Though the stylist recommends a few different styles, this look is her favorite because of its ability to contour the face; it's one of the big reasons why you should get a butterfly cut if you have long hair. However, she cautions that it needs to be styled correctly or else the elongating effects can fall flat. 

"There should be a slight bend away from the face (styling those pieces too tight or curly will have the opposite effect)," she explains. "I would recommend blow drying the front piece with a round brush forward, keeping the roots flat, [and then] separate it into two pieces and slightly bend each piece away from the face." If you're in the market for a good round brush, Osensia's Salon Sleek Blowout Brush comes highly rated, while a great budget-friendly alternative is the Conair Metal Round Hairbrush.

We can't talk about face-framing layers without discussing curtain bangs, which tend to fall higher on the face. These can still help you achieve a slimmer vibe since they bring some movement to a rounder face and prevent flatter styles from weighing down your look. But be sure to heed Iudina's earlier advice and avoid overly short curtain bangs. As a rule of thumb, they should be long enough to pin them backward.

Long hair not your style? Olya Iudina also vouches for the ever-chic shoulder-length lob. In our exclusive chat, she notes that this cut makes the neck and jawline look longer because of the "soft, long front pieces." If you're looking for a specific lob haircut for the perfect in-between length, the good news is the majority of textures and accents work with this look. Bouncy lobs with volume will always be flattering, but you could also cut in more layers, go for A-line ends, or ask your hairdresser to go wispy with it. And don't forget, the skinny lob was the go-to quiet-luxury haircut in 2024, and it's still holding strong.

Curly girls are in luck, as curls tend to look particularly beautiful on lob-length tresses, and they can create an even more elongated result. Looser curls, in particular, will complement rounder faces when paired with shoulder-length hair, but tighter curls look great as well, especially when they're layered. 

As we know, Olya Iudina isn't a fan of short bangs when a thinner look is on the agenda, but many longer bangs can still work, including those with a side part. "Also, a long, layered cut with side-swept bangs can be beneficial in this situation, as asymmetry can help slim a round face shape," she shares exclusively with Glam. A deep side part is one way to interpret this advice, but a subtler side part will achieve the same off-balance vibe. In other words, this is the hair version of vertical contouring — the TikTok-approved hack for round face shapes.

Side parts came back into style a couple of years ago, and you can rock this Y2K-inspired hair trend by going for sleek styles, as well as those with body. Keep in mind that slicker side-part styles will enhance the angles in your face and bring out more structure for a more snatched look, while those who go for more volume will end up with a softer aesthetic. 

Those who are insecure about any aspect of their faces would probably rather swallow razors than get a pixie cut, as this cut shows the face openly. As such, this daring style takes confidence to pull off, but it can be slimming since it doesn't add volume to the sides of the face. Olya Iudina exclusively advises Glam that chin-length bobs should be avoided, but going ultra-short with the pixie removes the problem of that awkward, triangular silhouette you can get with a bob. 

Going for bangs with a little texture can help your pixie to minimize your forehead, while the sides of your pixie should be tapered so they draw the eye to the tops of your cheekbones. The choppy and chic wixie haircut is remixing the classic pixie anyway, so don't be afraid to have your hairdresser cut in lots of piecey bits. This look is also incredibly versatile — you really can style a pixie cut for every occasion — so there should be nothing holding you back if you can find the nerve to make the cut.

The ultimate retro throwback, the shag cut isn't just full of character — it can also provide structure to rounder faces. The basic idea behind the shag is lots of shorter layers and an overall messy vibe, and all this texture can make the face look longer because it avoids blunt ends at the wrong angles. Shags tend to pair wonderfully with bangs, so as long as you follow Olya Iudina's exclusive recommendation to avoid a really short fringe, this cut is ideal for facial contouring. 

Whether you want to go with choppy texture or a softer, more feathery aesthetic, the shorter layers at the top of the head create height, which makes the face appear longer and slimmer. Unsure about what exact silhouette would suit you? Check out these shag haircuts to inspire your next salon visit.