An oblong face is longer than it is wide. The forehead, cheeks, and jaw sit at roughly the same width, but the vertical length dominates the overall shape. Medium length haircuts for oblong face shapes solve this problem directly. The right cut adds width at the cheekbones and jaw, which shortens the visual length of your face and brings your features into balance.
This guide covers the ten best medium length cuts for an oblong face, along with styling tips and a few haircuts to avoid. Each style on this list adds horizontal volume at the cheekbone or jaw level, since that is the most effective way to counter the natural length of an oblong face. You will also find quick answers to common questions about bangs, layers, and the most flattering hair length for a long face.
Pin this guide now so you have it ready for your next salon visit.
What Is an Oblong Face Shape? Key Traits to Know
An oblong face is longer than it is wide, with similar width across the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. There is little curve or taper from forehead to chin, which is the main difference between an oblong face and an oval face. An oval face narrows gently at the jaw and is more balanced overall, while an oblong face keeps a fairly straight line down the sides. As a general guide, an oblong face is often described as roughly 1.5 times longer than it is wide.
Several well-known women have an oblong face shape, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, and Gisele Bundchen. For men, Ben Affleck and Adam Driver are common examples. Looking at these examples can help you picture how face length vs. face width plays out on a real face before you choose a cut.
The Best Medium Length Haircuts for Oblong Face: 10 Flattering Cuts
Each cut below follows the same goal: add width at the cheekbone, jaw, or collarbone to balance face length. Skim the bullet points under each style to find your texture and length match quickly.
1. Layered Lob (Long Bob With Layers)
- What it is: A long bob that hits at or below the collarbone, cut with soft layers throughout.
- Why it works: The layers create movement at cheekbone level, which adds visual width and breaks up the vertical line of the face.
- Best for: Fine to medium hair, straight or wavy texture.
- Styling tip: Blow-dry with a round brush and curl the ends outward for extra width.
2. Blunt Lob at Collarbone Length
- What it is: A long bob with a straight, blunt edge and no layers.
- Why it works: The blunt line adds visual weight right at the collarbone, which shortens the look of the face.
- Best for: Thick, straight hair that holds a clean line well.
- Styling tip: Use a flat iron to keep the ends sharp, then flip the tips out slightly with a brush.
3. Shoulder-Length Cut With Curtain Bangs
- What it is: A shoulder length haircut for an oblong face, paired with soft, parted curtain bangs.
- Why it works: Curtain bangs shorten the look of the forehead and draw the eye horizontally across the face.
- Best for: Medium to thick hair, any texture.
- Styling tip: Round-brush the bangs away from the face for soft, swept movement.
4. Face-Framing Layered Bob
- What it is: A medium length layered haircut with longer face-framing layers concentrated near the cheeks.
- Why it works: Face-framing layers like this add fullness at the jaw and cheekbone, which balances a long face.
- Best for: Fine hair that needs extra volume.
- Styling tip: Apply a volumizing mousse at the roots before blow-drying.
5. Wavy Lob With Textured Ends
- What it is: A long bob styled with loose waves and choppy, textured ends.
- Why it works: Waves add horizontal movement at the sides, which is one of the simplest ways to add width to an oblong face.
- Best for: Naturally wavy or curly hair texture.
- Styling tip: Use a diffuser to enhance natural waves without adding extra length.
6. Medium-Length Shag With Choppy Layers
- What it is: A retro-inspired cut with heavy layering and a textured, undone finish.
- Why it works: Choppy layers create width at the temples and cheekbones, softening a long jawline.
- Best for: Medium to thick hair with natural texture.
- Styling tip: Scrunch a texturizing spray into damp hair for an undone finish.
7. Side-Swept Bob at Jaw Level
- What it is: A jaw-length bob worn with a deep side part.
- Why it works: The deep part shifts volume to one side, which breaks the vertical symmetry that makes an oblong face look longer.
- Best for: Straight to slightly wavy hair.
- Styling tip: Tuck one side behind your ear and leave the other side full for soft asymmetry.
8. Blunt Bob With Fringe at Chin Length
- What it is: A chin-length cut paired with a full, blunt fringe, a popular medium haircut with bangs.
- Why it works: The fringe shortens the forehead, and the blunt length adds width right at the jaw.
- Best for: Thick, straight hair.
- Styling tip: Trim the fringe regularly to keep it just above the eyebrows.
9. Curly Medium Cut With Side Volume
- What it is: A medium length cut shaped to enhance natural curls, with extra volume built at the sides.
- Why it works: Curls naturally add width on their own, which softens the length of an oblong face without any extra styling.
- Best for: Curly or coily hair texture.
- Styling tip: Apply curl cream to damp hair and diffuse on low heat, aiming the airflow outward.
10. Textured Lob With a Deep Side Part
- What it is: A lob haircut shaped for this face type, finished with texturized ends and a dramatic side part.
- Why it works: The deep part adds asymmetry, while the texture builds width at the cheekbone.
- Best for: Medium to thick hair, any texture.
- Styling tip: Apply texturizing paste to the ends and rough-dry for a piecey finish.
Haircuts to Avoid If You Have a Long or Oblong Face
A few popular styles work against an oblong face instead of for it. Skip these where you can:
- Very long, straight hair with no layers: this pulls the eye downward and stretches the face even further.
- Slicked-back styles: removing volume at the sides exposes the full vertical length of the face.
- High-volume crown styles, such as pompadours: extra height at the crown adds even more visual length.
- Very short, close-cropped cuts: short hair exposes the full span of the forehead, cheekbones, and jaw at once.
Styling Tips That Make Medium Length Cuts Work Harder
Small styling choices can add or take away width just as much as the haircut itself. A few tips for getting the most out of your cut:
- Add waves or curls for instant width. Texture creates horizontal volume that a flat-iron-straight finish simply cannot match.
- Choose a side part over a center part. A side part breaks the symmetry of a long face, while a center part tends to emphasize it.
- Skip the pin-straight, no-texture finish. Flat, straight hair with no movement elongates the face further.
- Use a round brush for volume at the sides. Round-brushing your ends outward at cheekbone level adds horizontal volume, which balances face length.
- Diffuse curly hair outward, not down. Aiming airflow to the sides builds width instead of pulling curls into a longer shape.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oblong Face Haircuts
The best medium length haircuts for oblong face shapes are the layered lob, the shoulder-length cut with curtain bangs, and the face-framing layered bob. These styles add width at the cheekbones and jaw, which balances the length of the face. Layers and movement consistently outperform a single length with no texture.
Yes, bangs work well for an oblong face. Curtain bangs and side-swept fringe shorten the look of the forehead and add a horizontal line across the face. Full, blunt bangs also work well when they sit just above the eyebrows.
A lob suits an oblong face when it includes layers or texture. The collarbone length lands at the widest point of the face, and movement at the ends keeps the cut from looking too straight or stretched.
Yes, layers are one of the most effective tools for an oblong face. Layers placed around the cheekbones and jaw add fullness and horizontal movement, which directly counters the natural length of the face.
Final Thoughts
Medium length haircuts for oblong face shapes work because they add width exactly where a long face needs it most. Layers, texture, and horizontal volume at the cheekbone or jaw bring your features into balance. Length alone will not flatter an oblong face: the right cut, paired with the right styling, makes the real difference.
Save one of these ten styles as a reference photo, and bring it to your next salon appointment so your stylist can adjust the layers and length to fit your texture and proportions.
