Hairstyles for Oval Faces: A Comprehensive Guide

Oval faces are celebrated for their balanced proportions and versatility, allowing for a wide array of hairstyles to enhance their natural symmetry. Whether you prefer short, medium, or long hair, there’s a style to suit every taste and occasion. In this guide, we’ll explore various hairstyles that complement oval face shapes!

Side-Swept Pixie

Description: The Side-Swept Pixie is a chic, short hairstyle where the bangs are swept to one side, creating a sense of movement and asymmetry.​

Styling Tips:

• Texture: Apply a texturizing mousse to damp hair before styling to add volume and definition.​
• Maintenance: Regular trims are essential to maintain the shape and prevent split ends.​
• Face-Framing: Ensure the longer front pieces gently frame your face, highlighting your eyes and cheekbones.​

Celebrity Inspiration: Think of Audrey Hepburn’s timeless elegance with a modern twist.​

Textured Pixie

Description: This variation of the pixie cut incorporates layers and tousled elements, offering a playful and edgy vibe.​

Styling Tips:

• Products: Use a lightweight styling cream to tousle the hair, creating a lived-in, textured look.​
• Drying: Blow-dry with your fingers to enhance natural texture and volume.​
• Customization: Adjust the length of the layers to suit your personal style and hair type.​

Celebrity Inspiration: Consider the effortlessly chic styles of celebrities like Halle Berry.​

Textured Bob with Heavy Bangs

Description: A bob cut featuring textured ends paired with thick, straight-across bangs, creating a bold and sophisticated look.​

Styling Tips:

• Layering: Incorporate layers throughout the bob to add movement and prevent bulkiness.​
• Bangs: Keep bangs at eyebrow level for a dramatic effect; use a flat iron for a sleek finish.​
• Volume: Apply a volumizing spray at the roots to lift the hair, especially if you have fine hair.​

Celebrity Inspiration: Think of the modern interpretations of classic bobs seen on stars like Zendaya.​

Curly Side Part

Description: Embracing natural curls with a deep side part, this hairstyle adds volume and frames the face elegantly.​

Styling Tips:

• Curl Definition: Use a curl-enhancing cream to define curls and reduce frizz.​
• Drying: Allow hair to air-dry or use a diffuser attachment on a blow dryer to maintain curl integrity.​
• Parting: Experiment with different side parts to find the most flattering angle for your face.​

Celebrity Inspiration: Inspired by the natural beauty showcased by stars like Tracee Ellis Ross.​InStyle

Face-Framing Layers

Description: Incorporating layers around the face to highlight facial features, this style adds dimension and movement.​

Styling Tips:

• Layer Placement: Ensure layers start at or near the chin to frame the face effectively.​
• Blending: Gradually blend layers into the rest of the hair for a seamless look.​
• Styling: Use a round brush while blow-drying to gently curl layers away from the face.​

Celebrity Inspiration: Think of the soft, face-framing layers often worn by Jennifer Aniston.​

Side-Parted Lob

Description: A long bob (lob) styled with a deep side part, adding volume at the roots and creating a fuller look.​

Styling Tips:

• Root Lift: Apply a root-lifting spray before blow-drying to add volume.​
• Texture: Use a texturizing spray to create a tousled, beachy effect.​
• Ends: Slightly curl the ends inward for a polished finish.​

Celebrity Inspiration: Inspired by the effortlessly chic styles of celebrities like Blake Lively.​

Long and Sleek

Description: Long, straight hair with a sleek finish, exuding elegance and sophistication.​

Styling Tips:

• Shine: Use a shine serum to add luster and reduce frizz.​
• Flat Iron: Carefully flat-iron hair in sections for a smooth, straight look.​
• Maintenance: Regular trims are essential to maintain healthy ends and prevent split ends.​

Celebrity Inspiration: Think of the glossy, straight styles often worn by Kim Kardashian.​

Heart-Shaped Fro

Description: A natural, voluminous hairstyle that adds width at the temples and tapers at the chin, creating a heart-like shape.​

Styling Tips:

• Shape Definition: Regularly shape the fro to maintain the heart-like silhouette.​
• Moisturization: Keep hair moisturized to maintain curl health and prevent breakage.​
• Accessories: Consider adding hair accessories like clips or bands to enhance the style.​

Celebrity Inspiration: Inspired by the bold, natural styles of celebrities like Solange Knowles.​

Retro Waves

Description: Vintage-inspired waves that add glamour and sophistication, framing the face beautifully.​

Styling Tips:

• Setting: Set hair in rollers or braids overnight to create defined waves.​
• Finishing: Use a light-hold hairspray to maintain wave structure without stiffness.​
• Parting: A deep side part enhances the retro feel and adds volume.​

Celebrity Inspiration: Think of the classic waves worn by stars like Veronica Lake.​

Tight Waves with Center Part

Description: A more structured and defined wave with a clean center part, creating an elegant, vintage-inspired look. The tight waves add volume and texture while framing the face symmetrically.

Styling Tips:

• Curling Tools: Use a small-barrel curling iron or a wand to create tight, defined waves.
• Finishing Touch: Lightly comb through the waves to soften them, but keep the tightness for a polished finish.
• Hold: Use a medium-hold hairspray to set the style in place without losing movement.

Celebrity Inspiration: This look is reminiscent of classic Hollywood stars like Lauren Bacall, who wore tight waves to complement her timeless beauty.

80s Lob with Bangs

Description: The 80s-inspired lob with bangs gives a bold and voluminous retro look. The added volume on top and in the bangs makes it a fun, statement-making style for oval faces, offering a youthful and playful vibe.

Styling Tips:

• Volume: Use a volumizing mousse to lift the roots and create more body in the lob.
• Bangs: Keep the bangs at eyebrow level and slightly rounded to mimic the 80s style.
• Texture: Use a texturizing spray to give the lob some structure, or blow-dry with a round brush to add more fullness.

Celebrity Inspiration: Think of stars like Debbie Harry or Cindy Lauper, whose voluminous 80s styles remain iconic.

Chin-Length Bob

Description: A chin-length bob is a shorter bob cut that hits just around the chin, making it an excellent option for highlighting the jawline and creating a sharp, edgy look. This hairstyle works exceptionally well on oval faces by emphasizing the facial features.

Styling Tips:

• Sleek Finish: For a polished look, flat iron the hair and add a shine serum to keep it smooth.
• Texture: If you prefer a more relaxed style, tousle the ends for a beachy, carefree look.
• Hair Type: This bob style works well on both fine and thick hair but can add fullness to thin hair with the right cut and products.

Celebrity Inspiration: Stars like Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham have made the chin-length bob a signature look, pairing it with sleek and sophisticated outfits.

Shaggy Lob

Description: The shaggy lob offers a relaxed, lived-in vibe with plenty of texture and volume. This hairstyle works well for those who want a more casual, rock-chic look, with layers that add body and shape to an oval face.

Styling Tips:

• Layering: Ask for choppy layers to enhance the texture and volume of the lob.
• Texturizing Products: Use a sea salt spray or mousse to create a tousled, beachy effect.
• Messy Finish: Embrace the “undone” look by scrunching the hair and letting it air-dry or using a diffuser.

Celebrity Inspiration: Think of stars like Alexa Chung and Miley Cyrus, who often rock this playful and carefree style.

Classic French Bob

Description: The classic French bob is a chic, retro-inspired look that hits just above the chin. It’s perfect for those seeking a minimalist, stylish haircut that brings attention to the facial features while giving off a Parisian vibe.

Styling Tips:

• Straight Finish: Flat iron your bob for a sleek, polished appearance.
• Natural Waves: If you prefer texture, let the natural wave of your hair show, or lightly curl the ends for added dimension.
• Bangs: Pair it with curtain bangs for a soft, flattering look that accentuates the eyes.

Celebrity Inspiration: The French bob is often sported by stars like Marion Cotillard, who perfectly embodies the effortless chic of Parisian fashion.

Layered Shoulder Cut

Description: A shoulder-length cut with soft, layered ends is another flattering option for oval faces, as it adds volume and movement while still maintaining a balanced shape. This cut works for most hair types, from straight to wavy, and gives an elegant yet simple look.

Styling Tips:

• Layering: Ensure the layers are well blended to avoid an overly choppy look.
• Flat Ironing: For a more sleek and polished style, flat iron the layers to keep them smooth.
• Curls: Alternatively, use a curling wand to add soft waves for a more relaxed, beachy vibe.

Celebrity Inspiration: Stars like Kate Middleton have embraced this layered shoulder cut, providing a timeless, sophisticated aesthetic.

Curly Bob

Description: A curly bob is a playful and voluminous hairstyle that brings attention to natural curls. This cut can either be chin-length or slightly longer, adding a dynamic, textured look to oval faces.

Styling Tips:

• Curl Definition: Use a curl cream or gel to define curls and keep frizz at bay.
• Drying: Allow curls to air-dry, or use a diffuser to enhance natural texture.
• Volume: If needed, tease the roots slightly to add volume at the crown for a fuller look.

Celebrity Inspiration: Celebrities like Emma Stone and Kelly Rowland often wear curly bobs that are both chic and fun.

Blunt Bob

Description: The blunt bob features straight, even edges with no layering, providing a bold and sleek look. This style emphasizes sharpness and elegance, making it a great option for oval faces as it highlights facial features such as cheekbones and jawlines.

Styling Tips:

• Straight Finish: Use a flat iron to create a smooth, straight finish.
• Shine: Add a lightweight serum for a glossy, healthy look.
• Minimal Layers: The blunt bob should have minimal layers to maintain its structured, modern shape.

Celebrity Inspiration: Think of stars like Rihanna and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who rock the blunt bob with confidence and sophistication.

Side-Swept Curls

Description: Loose, voluminous curls swept to one side create a dramatic and romantic look, perfect for oval faces. This hairstyle balances texture and elegance, offering a flattering shape for both casual and formal events.

Styling Tips:

• Curling Iron: Use a large-barrel curling iron to create voluminous curls with soft definition.
• Side Parting: A deep side part adds volume and enhances the asymmetry of the style.
• Hold: Use a flexible hairspray to keep curls in place without making them stiff.

Celebrity Inspiration: Stars like Beyoncé and Selena Gomez often sport side-swept curls, exuding glamour and effortless beauty.

High Ponytail with Volume

Description: A high ponytail with volume adds height and emphasizes the face, especially for oval-shaped faces. It’s a sleek and chic look that’s perfect for formal events, office settings, or even a day out.

Styling Tips:

• Volume at the Roots: Tease the roots to create a fuller, lifted ponytail.
• Polished Finish: Use a fine-tooth comb to smooth the ponytail, then secure with a hair tie.
• Accessories: Add a chic scrunchie or decorative clip for a touch of style.

Celebrity Inspiration: This high ponytail look is often sported by stars like Ariana Grande and Gigi Hadid for a bold, polished look.

Wavy Lob with Soft Bangs

Description: A wavy lob with soft bangs is the perfect balance of chic and casual. The loose waves create movement and texture, while the soft bangs frame the face, enhancing facial features.

Styling Tips:

• Texturizing Spray: Use a sea salt spray for beachy, tousled waves.
• Bangs Styling: Keep bangs light and airy, avoiding heavy or straight-across cuts.
• Maintenance: Regular trims help maintain the shape and prevent split ends.

Celebrity Inspiration: Stars like Jennifer Lopez and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are often seen wearing wavy lobs with soft bangs for a laid-back yet sophisticated style.