Square face shapes are defined by their strong, angular jawlines and equally wide cheekbones. To soften these bold features, a well-chosen hairstyle can make a world of difference. Renowned stylist Linda Miller has shared her expert knowledge on how to flatter and enhance a square face shape through the perfect haircut and styling techniques.
Flattering Cuts and Styles
“Opt for a hairstyle that adds softness to your face,” advises Miller. “You can achieve this by focusing on the hair around your face.” A long, layered cut with face-framing strands is an excellent choice. This style creates a softening effect by drawing attention away from the jawline.
Working with Different Hair Textures
If you prefer shorter styles, Miller recommends a lob (long bob) or a pixie cut with texture at the crown. These cuts add volume to the top of the head, balancing the angular features below. To further soften the edges, consider side-swept bangs or a deep side part. These details help to elongate the face and draw the eye away from the square jawline.
1. Short Soft Waves
This graceful hairstyle showcases gentle waves that lend a delicate, feminine touch, ideally complementing a square face shape by softening the jawline. The side parting and the hair’s gentle curve toward the face help create a more oval appearance, flattering angular features. The shoulder-grazing length offers versatility, making it a stylish choice for both formal occasions and everyday polished looks.
2. Elegance Updo: Softening Angles
This intricate updo hairstyle radiates refinement, ideal for ladies with square facial features who wish to soften their angular jawlines. The slicked-back style accentuates the cheekbones, while the height at the crown adds a touch of glamour. Its clean lines and minimalistic appeal make it a versatile option for both formal occasions and chic everyday wear.
3. Brunette Hair
This hairstyle features gentle, layered waves that delicately frame the face, adding a graceful and flowing quality to the overall appearance. The hair parts slightly off-center, which helps to break up the symmetry of a square face shape and accentuate the cheekbones. The lengths cascade effortlessly over the shoulders, providing a versatile style that can seamlessly transition from day to evening with ease.
4. Square Grace
This hairstyle showcases long, cascading layers that bring softness and a feminine touch to a square face shape, helping to soften the angles. The gentle waves complement the structure of a square jawline by providing movement and volume. The side-parting of the hair allows it to flow beautifully, framing the face and accentuating the cheekbones, making it a flattering choice for those with a square face.
5. Elevated Soft Waves
This hairstyle showcases a half-up, half-down style that offers a softening influence, perfect for those with square facial features. The top section is pulled back into a raised ponytail, adding height and fullness. The remaining locks cascade in loose, lush waves, providing movement and a feminine touch that balances the angular jawline. The central part aligns with the ponytail, creating symmetry and further complementing the square face shape by visually elongating its appearance.
6. Refined Layers, Softened Angles
This hairstyle features a traditional straight, shoulder-length cut with layers framing the face, softening the jawline. It’s an excellent choice for those with square face shapes. The gentle side parting lends an asymmetrical touch, helping to elongate the face and accentuate the cheekbones. The smooth styling of the hair further highlights the natural angles of the face while providing a polished and refined look.
7. Soft Waves, Subtle Ombré
This hairstyle showcases lengthy, layered strands that delicately frame the face, softening the angular lines characteristic of a square face shape. The subtle center parting works well to elongate the face, while the gentle waves add volume and movement, lending a more rounded appearance. The light ombré effect, transitioning from darker roots to lighter ends, creates depth and dimension, further complementing the square face structure.
8. Bohemian Waves for Square Faces
This hairstyle features long, layered waves that bring softness and movement, making it a great choice for complementing a square face shape. The subtle side part and gentle bangs sweep across the forehead, helping to soften the face’s angles and enhance its overall feminine appearance. The textured, tousled locks provide a bohemian and free-spirited vibe that’s versatile for many occasions.
9. Elegant Softened Lines
This trendy and fashionable hairstyle showcases a medium-length cut that reaches the collarbones, offering a flattering frame for a square-shaped face. The gentle layering around the face softens the jawline, while the side parting introduces asymmetry, helping to elongate and add a touch of refinement to the overall appearance. The subtle waves throughout the hair inject volume and movement, making this hairstyle versatile for both casual and formal occasions.
10. Natural Brown Hair Bob
This style flaunts her squared face with a chic brown bob. The sleek, angled cut softens her features, while the rich chocolate hues add depth to her locks. This versatile style is perfect for both professional meetings and casual outings, effortlessly blending elegance and confidence into her everyday look.
11. Vibrant Curls Frame
This hairstyle highlights luscious, bouncy curls cascading at a medium length, framing the face with texture and fullness. The deep side parting accentuates the asymmetry of the style, softening the angles of a square face shape and drawing attention to the eyes. The vibrant, multi-tonal color adds depth to the curls, creating a playful and lively look that perfectly complements strong jawlines.
12. Soft Waves Gentle Silhouette
This fashionable hairstyle features a flattering mid-length cut that gently grazes the collarbones, with subtle layers trimmed into the ends for added volume and movement. The slightly off-center parting and tousled waves give the hair a relaxed, romantic vibe that can seamlessly transition from day to night. The soft, face-framing waves of this look are ideal for balancing the angular features of a square face shape, creating a gentle, feminine silhouette.
13. Elegant Crown Bun
This stylish updo features the hair swept back from the face into a polished bun at the crown, adding height and an elevated look. Delicate embellishments, like the jeweled hair accessory, add a touch of glamour and draw the eye upward, accentuating the vertical lines of the hairstyle. Ideal for those with a square face shape, this style softens the jawline while the volume on top works to gracefully elongate the face.
14. Braids Balancing Angular Beauty
The hairstyle showcases a set of chunky braids that frame the face symmetrically, creating a striking contrast against a square face shape. The braids originate from the top of the head and cascade down past the shoulders, lending an elongating effect to the face. The central parting ensures that the hairstyle counterbalances the prominent, angular jawline typical of square faces, softening the overall appearance.
15. Sleek Symmetry Chic
This stylish and polished hairstyle features a central parting with the hair neatly tucked behind the ears, accentuating the symmetrical angles of a square face. The smooth styling, with minimal volume on the sides, enhances the cheekbones and frames the face in a graceful manner. The long, straight strands draw the eye downward, lengthening the face and providing a harmonious balance to the prominent jawline characteristic of square-shaped faces.
16. Layered Waves with Bangs
This layered, cascading cut gently frames the jawline, making it a great option for those with a square face shape. Delicate, side-swept bangs accentuate the eyes and add a playful yet refined touch to the overall style. The subtle waves create movement and fullness, balancing facial features and achieving a harmonious look.
17. Soft Layers
This layered hairstyle boasts cascading, soft waves that create a voluminous look, ideal for softening the angles of a square face shape. The subtle middle parting draws attention to the eyes and balances the facial features, while the light texturing at the ends adds movement and reduces any heaviness. The rich, dimensional color with darker roots and lighter ends enhances the depth of the waves, making it a beautiful choice that frames the face attractively.
18. Elegant Layers for Square Faces
This refined hairstyle showcases long, layered tresses that delicately frame the face, lending a gentle touch to the defined angles of a square face shape. The straight, smooth texture of the hair exudes a polished vibe and allows for versatile styling options, from a professional daytime appearance to a stylish evening look. The subtle middle part aligns with the symmetry of a square face, helping to elongate the visage and accentuate the cheekbones.
19. Elegant Bun
This image displays a stylish high bun hairstyle, which is a flexible choice suitable for women with square-shaped faces. The loosely gathered hair smooths out the jawline, while the height of the bun elongates the face, creating a flattering balance. A few wispy strands delicately frame the cheeks, adding a touch of softness to the overall appearance.
20. Gentle Black Waves
This hairstyle showcases cascading layers that gently frame the square face shape, adding a soft touch to the prominent jawline often seen with this facial structure. The side part further highlights the flowing waves draped over one shoulder, creating a feminine outline that counterbalances the angular features. The subtle volumized roots add height and a touch of glamour, making this ‘do a versatile choice for both casual and formal occasions.
21. Sleek Symmetry Softening Squares
This fashionable hairstyle showcases a middle-parted, smooth straight look, which highlights the symmetry of a square face shape. The hair length gradually tapers around the jawline, helping to soften the angular features commonly associated with this facial structure. The simplicity and grace of this style make it a versatile option, suitable for both professional settings and glamorous evening affairs.
22. Boho Elegance Dutch Braids
This hairstyle showcases a duo of neatly-crafted, Dutch braids that add a delightful touch along the scalp, leading to a relaxed, loosely-hanging braid at the back, lending a bohemian flair to the overall look. The pulled-back style accentuates the cheekbones and jawline, making it an excellent choice for women with square face shapes. Furthermore, the textured braid softens the angles of the face, offering a harmonious blend of edgy and feminine elements.
23. Sleek Pixie Elegance Unveiled
This daring and contemporary pixie cut showcases closely trimmed sides that highlight the cheekbones, making it an ideal choice for those with a square face shape. The longer, textured layers on top add volume and softness, balancing the angular jawline. The deep side parting and sweeping bangs lend a feminine touch to this bold style, creating a flattering silhouette that frames the face beautifully.
24. Chic Pixie in Pastel Pink
This stylish pixie cut showcases short, voluminous layers on top, softening the edges of a square face shape while accentuating the cheekbones. The side-swept bangs gracefully taper towards the temples, harmonizing with the face’s natural contours, offering a gentle, feminine charm. Its pastel pink hue provides a playful contrast and adds a modern twist to the classic pixie style, making it a charismatic choice for those seeking a fashionable statement.
25. Flowing Waves for Square Faces
This beautiful hairstyle showcases long, cascading waves that bring a graceful and flowing movement, perfectly complementing a square face shape. The voluminous layers starting from the mid-lengths to the ends create a flattering frame that balances the jawline, while the center-parting draws attention to the symmetry of the face. The subtle highlights around the face can also help to accentuate the cheekbones and add dimension to the style, making it a stunning choice for those with a square facial structure.