Finding hairstyles for square faces took me years of trial and error.
I used to show a stylist a photo, nod along, and leave wondering why it never looked like the picture. Then someone finally explained it: the cut has to work with your face shape, not against it.
If you have a square face, you probably know the feeling. A strong jawline, a wide forehead, and a cut that either flatters you or makes everything look sharper than you want.
These 20 hairstyles for square faces are the ones that soften the angles and bring out your best features. Whether you want short, medium, or long, a pixie or soft waves, there is a look here for your jawline and your everyday life.
If you love long hairstyles for square faces, you will also want to see these 15 stunning long hair styles for women.
Let’s get into it.
1. Soft Side-Swept Bangs
If I could only try one of the hairstyles for square faces, it would be side-swept bangs.
They cut across the forehead at an angle and break up the straight lines of your face. The result looks soft, easy, and a little bit romantic.
Ask your stylist to keep them wispy instead of blunt. This works with short, medium, and long hair, which is why it is first on my list.
2. Long Layers With Face-Framing Pieces
Long layers are one of the best hairstyles for square faces with long hair.
The layers add movement around your cheeks and chin, so the eye follows the flow of the hair instead of the corners of your face. Face-framing pieces that start at the cheekbone do most of the work.
It is also very easy to grow out, which makes it a safe place to start.
3. Pixie Hairstyles for Square Faces: Textured With a Wispy Fringe
Pixie hairstyles for square faces can look stunning, and I mean that.
The secret is texture. Choose a longer top with piecey layers and a soft, wispy fringe. Skip anything cut very blunt or very short at the sides.
Pixies show off your cheekbones and neck, and they give you a bold, confident look with almost no effort in the morning.
4. Loose Beach Waves
Waves are some of the most forgiving hairstyles for square faces.
The curves in the hair counter the straight lines of your jaw, and the movement makes everything look softer. I like waves that start below the chin, so the bend lands right where you want the softness.
A little texture spray and a loose twist of the wrist is all it takes.
5. Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs are one of the easiest hairstyles for square faces to try.
They part in the middle and sweep out to each side, framing your cheekbones and softening the width of your forehead. The longer ends blend right into the rest of your hair.
If you are nervous about bangs, this is the gentlest way to start. They grow out beautifully, too.
6. Angled Long Bob
A bob can absolutely work among hairstyles for square faces when you choose the right one.
A long bob that falls past the chin, slightly longer in the front, lengthens the face and softens the jawline. Avoid a blunt bob that ends exactly at your jaw, because that line highlights the very part you want to soften. I learned that the hard way.
Add a little bend at the ends and it feels modern and polished.
7. Soft Shag With Wispy Ends
The shag is back, and square faces love it.
The choppy layers and wispy ends break up the straight lines and add body around the face. It looks undone in the best way, a little cool and a little feminine.
This is a great choice if you like a bit of attitude without going too extreme.
8. Deep Side Part
Sometimes the easiest change is the one you do in two seconds.
A deep side part shifts the weight of your hair to one side, which makes your face look more balanced. A center part can look very sharp on a square face, so I almost always go with a side part instead.
Pair it with soft waves or sleek, smooth hair. Either way, it feels instantly more flattering.
9. Short Hairstyles for Square Faces: Layered Cut With Soft Ends
Short hairstyles for square faces work best when they are layered.
Look for feathered layers that hit around the chin or just above it, with soft, flicked ends. The movement keeps the cut from looking boxy. It is a good haircut for square faces if you want something short, low-maintenance, and still feminine.
Color it a warm brown and it looks even softer. For more color ideas, check out these 17 stunning hair color ideas.
10. Half-Up Half-Down With Volume
This is my go-to when I want to look nice without spending much time getting ready.
Gather the top section and add a little height at the crown. Leave the rest down in loose waves or smooth lengths. It is one of those hairstyles for square faces that works for the office, brunch, and dinner out.
The added height makes your face look longer, and the loose hair around your jaw softens the corners.
11. Messy Bun With Loose Strands
A messy bun is one of the quickest hairstyles for square faces, as long as you leave a few strands out.
Pull a few pieces loose around the temples and the sides of your face. Those wispy strands act like a soft frame and hide the sharpness of the jaw.
You can find more five-minute styles like this in these 7 easy hairstyles for women you can do in 5 minutes.
12. Long Hairstyles for Square Faces: Sleek Hair With a Side Part
Long, sleek hair with a side part is simple but so elegant.
If you want long hairstyles for square faces that feel clean and timeless, this is the one. The length draws the eye downward, making your face look longer and your jawline less prominent. Add a few face-framing layers so it does not look flat.
It is also a great haircut for square face long hair when you do not want to fuss with styling.
13. Feathered Medium Layers
Medium-length hair is where a lot of us live, and feathered layers are the best friend of medium hairstyles for square faces.
Cut the layers to begin around the cheekbones, so the hair curves in and around the face. Blow dry them away from your face for a soft, airy shape.
For more ideas at this length, take a look at these 12 cute easy hairstyles for medium long hair.
14. Long Pixie With Side Sweep
A long pixie gives you the pixie vibe with a little more softness.
Keep the top long enough to sweep across your forehead, and let the sides stay slightly longer, too. The sweeping line creates a diagonal that breaks up the squareness of your face.
It is a beautiful choice for anyone who wants short hair without feeling too exposed.
15. Soft Curls
Curls and coils bring natural softness to a strong jaw.
Whether your curls are loose, tight, or in between, the round shapes balance the straight lines of your face. Let the volume sit around the crown and the sides, and keep the length around the shoulders or longer.
This is one of the most flattering hairstyles for square faces with natural texture, and it is a lovely option for a square jaw.
16. Braided Crown With Loose Face Pieces
A braid does not have to look strict.
Try a loose braid around the top of your head and pull out a few small pieces near your face. The curve of the braid adds a gentle, rounded shape, and the loose pieces add softness along the jaw.
If you love braided styles, you will enjoy these 30 hair twists, braids, and plaits to try right now.
17. Low Ponytail With Side Bangs
A sleek low ponytail can look so elegant with the right frame.
Pull your hair into a low, smooth ponytail and leave out a long side-swept bang that curves along your cheek. The bang adds softness, while the low pony keeps everything neat and modest.
It is a very polished option for busy days when you want to look put together without much effort.
18. Soft Balayage Highlights
Color can soften a face almost as much as a cut.
Soft balayage highlights around the face brighten your features and add dimension, so the jawline does not stand out as much. Pick shades close to your natural color, like caramel, honey brown, or soft chestnut.
It is subtle, it grows out gracefully, and it makes every hairstyle on this list look richer.
19. Shoulder-Length Cut With Wispy Ends
Shoulder-length hair is easy to love.
With soft, wispy ends and a few light layers, it frames the face without any harsh lines. Curl the ends slightly under or flip them out, whichever feels more like you that day.
It is a wonderfully practical cut, and it works for almost every season.
20. Loose Updo With Face-Framing Tendrils
Save this one for special occasions.
A soft, loose updo with a few curled tendrils around the face looks graceful and romantic. The tendrils break up the line of the jaw, and the height at the top lengthens your face.
It is perfect for weddings, dinners, and any day when you want to feel a little extra beautiful.
