Regarded as one of the most feminine, graceful, and desirable face shapes, an oval silhouette is a beautiful canvas to work with. With endless flattering haircut possibilities at hand, you should know that current trends point to short hairstyles for oval faces as must-haves.
Today, I’ll show you how to complement your ideal face shape with tons of cropped cuts and hairstyles that embrace, sharpen, shorten, or even further elongate your face.
You’ll find inspiration tailored to any approach, whether you want to add angles, try out bangs, or experiment with undercuts. Even more, I have a special selection with your favorite celebrities slaying short hairstyles for oval faces to get you hyped for your transformation.
Let’s go!
How To Find Out What’s The Shape Of Your Face?
Round, oval, triangular – the shape of the face can decide what suits us best. Find out here what face shape you have, so you know which haircut suits you best.
The first step in choosing the right haircut is to measure your face. Take a notebook, sit in front of a mirror or in front of the phone’s selfie and start measuring, noting each size.
STEP 1. MAKE THE MEASUREMENTS
Start with the forehead
Using the roulette wheel, measure the forehead from the hairline to the hairline and make sure the roulette is placed at the widest point.
Measure the cheekbones
Start right behind the outer corner of one eye, stretch the roulette wheel across the bridge of your nose to the outer corner of the other eye. The roulette must be straight and just above the jaw.
Measure the jawline
Find the base of your jaw just below your ear. Roll the band along the edge of your jaw until you reach the middle of your chin. Keep measuring the other side or simply multiply that number by two. Include this number as a jawline measurement in your notes.
Finally, the length of the face
Place the tip of the roulette wheel in the middle of the path and stretch it down until it reaches the tip of the chin. If used correctly, the tape should run exactly over the nose.
STEP 2. FIND THE SHAPE OF THE FACE
You probably have an oval face if
… The length of your face is longer than the width of your cheekbones and your forehead is wider than the line of your jaw. The angle of the jaw is rounded rather than sharp. This shape of the face is comparable to the square shape – but the edges are much finer and, in general, the contour looks very harmonious. The lower part of the face is slightly longer than the upper half.
Overall, the characteristics of an oval face are:
- Face longer than the width of the cheekbones
- The forehead is wider than the jawline
- The angle of the jaw is rounded rather than sharp
I. Fringe Short Hairstyles for Long Faces
1. Modern Bowl Cut Hairstyle for Oval Faces
If your goal is to make your face appear shorter while maintaining soft features, the modern bowl cut is for you. The blunt 360-degree cutting line will reduce the length from any angle without producing a boxy effect. In addition, the full arched fringe will bring attention to your frontal features instead of overall face length.
2. Choppy Asymmetrical Pixie Cut with Long Side Bangs
On the other hand, subtle side bangs can sculpt your features and enrich them with angles. Ask for a textured pixie cut and retain longer bangs that you sweep to the side. There should be plenty of layers throughout the haircut to get a jagged, piecey look.
3. Blunt Frontal Bangs and Inverted Bob Haircut
Medium-length bangs that fall halfway down your forehead can help you achieve optimum proportions. Your face won’t be too long nor too short, while the blunt fringe edge will cement the balance in place. As for the main body of hair, an inverted bob can give you the gentle yet effective angles you’re looking for.
4. Messy Short Hairstyle with Wispy Bangs
A shaggy pixie cut becomes the perfect option for an oval face shape when you add some wispy bangs. If you want to avoid a bowl cut effect, create a side part in your hair and bring your fringe forward and slightly to the side.
5. Choppy Full Short Fringe Hairstyle for Oval Shaped Faces
Shorter fringes are all the rage right now, so why not get cropped choppy bangs to sharpen your oval face? In this situation, the fringe should be about an inch long snipped with a point cutting technique for jagged pieces. It’s a great approach for an edgy pixie.
You may also be interested in 50+ Alluring Short Hairstyles with Bangs
6. Bettie Bangs Medium Concave Bob Hairstyle
If you’re a hopeless romantic, you can embrace vintage glam with Bettie bangs. Inspired by pin-up icon Bettie Page, the short blunt fringe hairstyle is suitable for oval-shaped faces. When paired with a concave bob, Bettie bangs hug the face while decreasing length.
7. Curtain Bangs Medium Bob Hairstyle
One of the latest fringe trends helps you elongate and sharpen your face at the same time. If you’re all about maintaining a long, narrow, and elegant shape, curtain bangs will morph your oval silhouette into more of a diamond-shaped one.
8. Long Choppy Fringe and Chin-length Bob Hairstyle
Although shorter bangs are on the rise in terms of trends, long fringes will always be the go-to for attaining a smaller face. If this is your goal, combine long choppy bangs with a chin-length bob that has a face-lifting effect.
9. Face Framing Bangs and Blunt Bob Cut
A close alternative for curtain bangs is long face-framing ones. While they also carve out the face, they provide a greater boost in the length department. Even more, face-framing bangs tend to be more comfortable and easy to maintain, owing to their increased length.
10. Wispy Curtain Bangs and Shoulder-length Low Layers Haircut
Low layers for sharpening oval faces in a nutshell – the choppier, the better. To match the effect of the shattered tip, incorporate a long wispy fringe with feathered ends into your hairstyle.
II. Textured Short Hairstyles for Oval Shaped Faces
11. Spiky Piecey Short Pixie Hairstyles for Oval Faces
If you have an edgy personality and you’re not afraid to push the limits of face length, you need a spiky pixie in your life. Create texture through thick, layered pieces and cut the sides and back shorter for a high and tight outcome.
12. Textured Baby Mullet Hairstyle for Oval Shaped Faces
Bring back the 80s with a modern twist by choosing a heavily layered baby mullet haircut. The silhouette succeeds in sharpening features, adding texture, and cultivating nostalgia all at the same time.
13. Short Messy Shag Cut Hairstyle for Oval Faces
Another way to go about revamping retro trends is with a contemporary shag cut. Here, a short messy shag hairstyle helps you create the illusion of a shorter face while promoting texture all around.
You may also be interested in 50+ Flexible Hairstyles for Short Straight Hair
14. Layered Piecey Top and Tapered Undercut with Line Design
A narrower version of piecey layers creates a finer texture in your hairstyle. Mix the layered top with a tapered undercut and complete the look with a double-shaved line design.
15. Choppy Bangs and Bob Hairstyle for Oval Faces
Asymmetrical bangs with a choppy edge provide all the restructuring and movement you need in short hairstyles for oval faces. The accompanying bob haircut can also present some asymmetry, as well as a textured cutting line.
16. Feathered Tips Choppy Wavy Bob Hairstyle
In a similar manner, going above and beyond with feathered tips will get your major texture points. To get the results you desire, work with a medium-length choppy bob-cut body and use scissor point cutting for the tips.
17. Choppy Pixie Bob with Messy Bangs for Oval Faces
For more of a classic silhouette, try the clean-cut pixie bob with side-parted bangs. The work-appropriate haircut will emphasize the curved outline of your face while minimizing length through the casual fringe.
18. Spiky Top Pixie Cut with Wispy Jagged Bangs
Yet another way to adopt the spiky top look is with wispy, choppy, wide-set bangs. The jagged fringe complements the sharp pieces on top. Therefore, you get a harmonious and edgy hairstyle for bold women with oval shaped faces.
19. Piecey Highlights Deep Side Part Concave Bob Cut
You can also create the appearance of texture through coloring. For instance, chunky balayage highlights with shadow roots add both movement and body to your hair. You can pull the look together with a medium-cut concave bob and a deep side part.
20. Shaggy Textured Pixie Cut for Thick Hair
If you’re on the hunt for an effortless short hairstyle that involves as little styling maintenance as possible, go for a shaggy pixie cut. It works well for both thick and thin hair, allowing your locks to grow out nicely when the time comes.
III. Undercut Short Hairstyles for Oval Faces
21. Quiff Pixie Hairstyle with Tapered Undercut
Brighten your complexion and show off your elongated features with a quiff pixie hairstyle. For starters, you need to get a pixie with a longer top and tapered undercut. After that, it’s all in the quiff-like styling – brushing the top upwards and to the side.
22. Textured Pompadour with High Taper Undercut
Likewise, the classy and edgy textured pompadour can assist you in highlighting face length. With a high tapered undercut as the foundation, keep the top longer, touch it up with low layers, and style messily in pomp.
23. Choppy Textured Side Bangs Pixie with Tapered Undercut
While a tapered undercut will bring attention to face length, a short, choppy, side-swept fringe allows you to balance things out. Your top should be on the long side with a good amount of layers to pull off the look.
24. Edgy Spiky Textured Mohawk with Surgical Line Undercut
A multicolor, generously textured, the punk-inspired mohawk is ideal for the rebellious girl. In this case, the undercut is reserved specifically for the tapered sides. You can add a surgical line shaved on one or both sides to personalize the hairstyle.
25. Side Shaved Long Pixie Hairstyle
Get out of your comfort zone with a full-side shaved hairstyle. Choose your “good side” in terms of facial features for shaving and toss the rest of your long pixie to the opposing one.
26. Brown Undercut with Blonde Arched Bowl Cut Hairstyle
To take the modern bowl cut to a whole new level, consider experimenting with color. For example, you can dye the bowl cut area platinum blonde and keep the shorter undercut section a warm chocolate brown.
27. Swept Back Pompadour with Taper Fade Undercut for Women
Alternative girls can boost the length of their face while withholding soft angles with a high and tight swept-back pompadour. The undercut region should be executed with a high taper skin fade approach. Finish with a long top in silver-white.
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28. Nape Undercut with Shaggy Textured Short Top
For a subtler approach to a similar hairstyle, swap the high taper for a low taper at your nape. The top can be longer all around and cut in shaggy layers.
29. Hair Tattoo Shaved Design Buzz Cut for Oval Shaped Faces
A buzz cut will showcase your facial features, long and soft, in all their splendor. If you want to add a personal touch to your buzz cut, shave an abstract line design on the sides.
30. Edgy Mohawk with Side Bangs and Undercut
While a full-fanned mohawk is perfect for punk girls, you might want to tone yours down with a face-shortening side fringe. After your undercut is completed, style the top as a mohawk and fold a few strands in the front down for textured side bangs.
IV. Bob Cut Short Hairstyles for Oval Faces
31. Angled Messy Bob Haircut for Oval Faces
When cropped accordingly, an angled bob can carve out your cheekbones and jawline like no other. The secret is to have the angled cutting line fall right down the middle of your cheek. Keep the strands in the front longer and styled messily.
32. Romantic Side-swept Vintage Waves Hairstyle
Another way to show your love for vintage aesthetics is through big, loose, soft waves. The romantic hairstyle allows you to embrace the best of your oval features, keeping them long, curved, and feminine.
33. Blunt Wavy Bob with Shattered Ends Hairstyle
Alternatively, go for a contemporary approach with the top-trending wavy bob cut. As far as length is concerned, the blunt cutting line should be just around your chin area. To get the beachy waves to look, style with a curling wand using a low heat setting.
You may also be interested in 50+ Cute Short Hairstyles for Wavy Hair
34. Flowy Swept Back Pixie Bob Haircut for Oval Faces
If you’re more into flowy and flippy short hairstyles for oval faces, try a pixie bob with low layers. The short bob enables you to try out a casually swept back and side-tossed hairstyle without any effort.
35. Graduated Jaw-length Wavy Bob for Oval Shaped Faces
To attain more body in the back for a well-rounded look, opt for a graduated bob haircut. You’ll have overlapping layers in the back that create fullness and volume. Moreover, the angled cutting approach will shine the spotlight on your jawline.
36. Blunt Bob and Bangs Shoulder-length Hairstyle
If your aim is to get a more rectangular, oblong face shape, you can box everything in with a blunt bob and bangs. The key here is to ensure that both your bob and your short bangs are cut with a blunt edge.
37. Messy Wedge Cut Short Bob Hairstyle for Oval Faces
Take a walk on the wild side with a fabulously messy wedge cut. To upgrade the timeless hairstyle to meet current trends, work in as many textured layers as possible. The deep side part and fringe also provide a modern touch to the classic silhouette.
38. Asymmetrical Bob Cut with Deep Side Part
Another way to rock a deep side part is with a steep asymmetrical bob. By adopting the approach, you will benefit from a feature-sharpening diagonal line from hairline to the jawline. A set of balayage highlights will further texturize the hairstyle.
39. Piecey Stacked Bob Haircut for Oval Shaped Faces
The stacked bob is known for boosting movement, shape, and volume all in one. Integrating piecey layers into the look will also emphasize the appearance of texture. To increase depth in the process, ask your hairstyle to add shadow roots.
40. Short Messy Bob Hairstyle with Fringe
Take notes from European fashionistas with this artsy short bob haircut. The lip-length cutting line lifts the face and makes it appear more compact. From there, the playful fringe and messy styling bring the look together with a nonchalant vibe.
V. Famous Short Hairstyles for Oval Shaped Faces on Celebrities
41. Beyoncé Sculpted Short Bob Hairstyle
On numerous occasions, Beyoncé has chosen to display her oval face shape through sculpted pixies or bobs. Here, you can see how her short, concave, vintage waves bob creates an upside-down triangle effect that chisels her jawline.
42. Miley Cyrus Pixie Haircut with Long Side Bangs
In the early 2010s, Miley Cyrus played a big role in making the edgy pixie an insanely popular hairstyle. Ideal for oval-faced women, the choppy cut features a longer side-swept top and shorter sides and back.
43. Jennifer Lawrence Wavy Side Part Angled Bob Hairstyle
For girls who prefer short to medium hairstyles, Jennifer Lawrence’s angled wavy bob is the best source of inspiration. When rocking the medium bob cut, JLaw chose to casually part her hair to the side and style it in beachy waves.
44. Tyra Banks Long Shaggy Piecey Textured Pixie Hairstyle
Modern and edgy at the same time, Tyra Banks’ shaggy pixie cut brings texture to the table as few other hairstyles can. The top is cut into thick pieces, with long jagged layers that give the pixie a dynamic, fun, and mysterious vibe.
45. Drew Barrymore 90s Spiky Short Hairstyle for Oval Faces
Back in the day, 90s “it girl” Drew Barrymore welcomed texture into her life with a short and spiky hairstyle. Not quite a pixie nor a bob cut, the hairstyle is defined by choppy and piecey layers styled in a careless and tousled manner.
46. Kelly Rowland Medium Bob Hairstyle for Oval Faces
The sophisticated woman can show off her fine tastes with Kelly Rowland’s medium-length blunt bob. Perfect for flaunting an oval face shape, the bob is a sleek and classy option for those who prefer parting their hair down the middle.
47. Rita Ora Piecey Swept Back Pixie Hairstyle
As an alternative, enjoy texture galore with the piecey pixie Rita Ora rocked during a photoshoot. It’s yet another way to reveal your oval face in all its beauty while adding movement to your hairstyle along the way.
48. Kristen Stewart Flippy Side Part Bob Hairstyle
Low layers, a deep side part, and effortless styling. All of these elements come together to form Kristen Stewart’s flippy medium bob haircut. To nail the look, focus on obtaining textured layers rather than subsequent styling.
49. Rihanna Deep Side Part Tapered Pixie Hairstyle
With long side bangs and a tapered undercut, Rihanna’s pixie is ideal for cutting down on face length and chiseling the lower part of your face. Do note that the hair on top should be cut as an angular fringe to make the look work.
50. Halle Berry Piecey 90s Mullet Hairstyle
Get inspired by the queen of short hairstyles herself for a 90s-centric piecey mullet. The top should be greatly textured with short layers, while the bottom is left longer and straightened at the nape.
Conclusion
All in all, there’s no limit to the trendy short hairstyles for oval faces you can try out. There’s certainly an option to meet every person, regardless of whether you want to accentuate or retouch your oval silhouette.
In this regard, I’ll leave you with a few insightful questions to ask yourself before scheduling your haircut appointment:
- Features – Do you want to highlight the natural curves in the outline of your face? Would you rather emphasize your jawline and carve out some angles?
- Face length – Are you interested in retaining or even increasing face length? Or do you prefer using bangs to make your face seem shorter?
- Future hairstyle – Do you intend on committing to a shorter cut for a longer period? Plan on growing out a bob to a shoulder-length or mid-back-length style anytime in the near future?
From there, all there is left to do is narrow down your list of short hairstyles for oval-shaped faces to pick the best pixie, bob, or undercut for you.
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