Introduction
An oblong face shape can feel challenging to style, but with the right techniques, it becomes your greatest asset. This comprehensive guide reveals how to enhance your natural features through strategic hairstyling, makeup application, and accessory choices that create perfect facial balance.
Whether you’re struggling to find the most flattering haircut or wondering which glasses frames suit you best, understanding your oblong face shape opens up a world of styling possibilities. You’ll discover professional tips used by stylists and makeup artists to help their oblong-faced clients look their absolute best.
Understanding the Oblong Face Shape: Characteristics and Features
The oblong face shape is characterized by its length being significantly greater than its width, typically measuring about one and a half times longer than it is wide. This creates an elongated appearance that many people mistake for an oval face shape, though oblong faces tend to be more angular with less curved edges.
Key characteristics of oblong faces include:
- Forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are approximately the same width
- Face length extends well beyond the width measurements
- Jawline appears more angular than curved
- Chin may be slightly pointed or squared off
- Cheekbones are often the widest part of the face
Celebrities with Oblong Face Shapes
Many successful celebrities have oblong face shapes and have mastered the art of styling them beautifully. Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, and Gisele Bündchen all showcase how stunning this face shape can be when styled correctly. These stars often use specific techniques to balance their facial proportions and create visual width.
Hairstyles That Flatter Oblong Faces: Dos and Don’ts
The key to styling hair for oblong faces lies in creating width while minimizing length. Your hairstyle should add volume to the sides of your face and avoid emphasizing the vertical dimension.
Hairstyles to Embrace
Chin-length bobs work exceptionally well for oblong faces because they add width at the jawline while breaking up the face’s length. A blunt bob creates clean horizontal lines that counteract the vertical emphasis of your face shape.
Side-swept bangs are your best friend. They shorten the appearance of your forehead and create a horizontal line across your face. Curtain bangs work particularly well, as they frame your face while adding softness around your features.
Layered cuts with volume at the sides help create the illusion of width. Ask your stylist for layers that start around your cheekbones to add fullness where you need it most.
Beach waves and loose curls naturally add volume and width to your hairstyle. The texture creates visual interest and helps balance your face’s proportions.
Hairstyles to Avoid
Very long, straight hair can emphasize your face’s length and make it appear even more elongated. If you prefer longer hair, add waves or curls to create movement and volume.
Severe center parts draw attention to the length of your face. Opt for deep side parts or slightly off-center parts instead.
High ponytails and top knots pull hair away from your face and emphasize its length. When you do wear your hair up, try low ponytails or side-swept updos.
Super short pixie cuts can sometimes make oblong faces appear longer. If you choose a short style, ensure it has volume and texture rather than lying flat against your head.
Makeup Tips for Oblong Faces: Strategic Enhancement Techniques
Makeup offers powerful tools for creating balance and proportion in oblong faces. The goal is to add width while minimizing the appearance of length through strategic highlighting and contouring.
Contouring for Balance
Apply contour to the very top of your forehead along your hairline and underneath your chin to visually shorten your face. This technique helps reduce the appearance of length while creating better proportions.
Highlight the center of your forehead, under your eyes, and the tip of your chin to draw attention to these areas and create the illusion of width.
Eye Makeup Strategies
Horizontal eye makeup techniques work beautifully for oblong faces. Extend your eyeshadow slightly beyond the outer corners of your eyes to create width. Use lighter shades on your eyelids and slightly darker tones in the outer corners.
Bold eyeliner can help create the appearance of wider-set eyes. Try winged eyeliner that extends outward rather than upward to emphasize horizontal lines.
Lip and Cheek Placement
Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend outward toward your temples. This placement adds width to the center of your face and creates a youthful, balanced appearance.
For lips, choose colors that complement your skin tone without being too bold, as you want to maintain balance across all your features rather than drawing excessive attention to your mouth area.
Glasses for Oblong Faces: Frame Selection Guide
Choosing the right glasses frames can dramatically improve the proportions of an oblong face. The key is selecting frames that add width and minimize height.
Best Frame Styles
Wide rectangular frames work exceptionally well because they add horizontal emphasis to your face. Look for frames that are wider than your face to create the illusion of greater width.
Oversized round frames can soften angular features while adding width. The circular shape provides a nice contrast to the elongated lines of your face.
Cat-eye frames with upswept corners draw attention outward and create the appearance of wider cheekbones.
Frames to Avoid
Small, narrow frames can make your face appear even longer by comparison. Avoid frames that are significantly narrower than your face width.
Very tall frames that extend high above your eyebrows can add unwanted height to your face. Stick with frames that have moderate vertical measurements.
Hats for Oblong Faces: Complementary Styles
Hats can be tricky for oblong faces, but the right styles actually enhance your features beautifully.
Flattering Hat Styles
Wide-brimmed hats create horizontal lines that balance your face’s length. Floppy sun hats and fedoras with substantial brims work particularly well.
Beanies worn slightly back on your head can add volume and width without emphasizing height. Avoid pulling them down too far over your forehead.
Baseball caps with curved brims create a horizontal line across your face while providing casual style.
Hats to Approach Carefully
Very tall hats like high crowns or top hats can make your face appear longer. If you love these styles, balance them with hair that adds width at your temples.
Skincare for Oblong Faces: Addressing Unique Concerns
While face shape doesn’t directly impact skin health, oblong faces may have specific areas that benefit from targeted attention.
The longer surface area of oblong faces means more skin exposure, making consistent sun protection particularly important. Pay special attention to your forehead and chin areas, which may be more prominent in your face shape.
Consider the placement of your skincare routine steps. When applying products like highlighter or bronzer, remember the same rules that apply to makeup add width rather than emphasizing length.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have an oblong face shape?
Measure your face length from hairline to chin, then measure the width at your cheekbones. If your face is significantly longer than it is wide (typically 1.5 times or more), you likely have an oblong face shape.
Can I wear my hair in a ponytail with an oblong face?
Yes, but opt for low ponytails or side ponytails rather than high ones. Add volume at the sides before pulling your hair back, and consider leaving some face-framing pieces loose.
What’s the difference between oblong and oval face shapes?
Oblong faces are longer and more angular than oval faces. Oval faces have more curved lines and balanced proportions, while oblong faces have a more pronounced length-to-width ratio.
Are there any makeup trends I should avoid?
Avoid contouring techniques that emphasize your cheekbones vertically or create harsh angular lines. Instead, focus on horizontal techniques that add width to your face.
What jewelry works best for oblong faces?
Wider earrings like hoops or studs that extend horizontally can add width to your face. Avoid very long, dangling earrings that emphasize your face’s length.
Embracing Your Natural Beauty
Your oblong face shape offers unique opportunities for stunning style choices. The key lies in understanding how to create balance through strategic styling decisions that enhance your natural features rather than fighting against them.
Remember that confidence is the most attractive accessory you can wear. These techniques are tools to help you feel your best, but your individual style and personality should always shine through. Experiment with different combinations of these suggestions to discover what makes you feel most beautiful and confident.
Start with one or two techniques that appeal to you most, then gradually incorporate others as you become more comfortable with styling your oblong face shape. With practice, these strategies will become second nature, allowing you to effortlessly create looks that showcase your unique beauty.
