Haircuts for a heart face
A wide forehead and cheekbones that narrow to a small, pointed chin. The usual aim is to move some fullness down, toward the jaw.
How to tell if you have a heart face
With your hair off your forehead, a heart-shaped face is widest across the forehead or the cheekbones and narrows clearly to a small chin. It's longer than it is wide, but not long.
Heart is close to diamond. Both have a narrow chin; the difference is the forehead. On a heart, the forehead is about as wide as the cheekbones or wider; on a diamond, the forehead is narrow too and the cheekbones stand out on their own. Hairdressers also call the heart an inverted triangle.
How we measure it
Our tool reads heart when the length is about 1.2 to 1.45 times the widest line, the forehead is at least about 0.97 of the cheekbone width, and the jaw is under about 0.85 of the forehead width.
Why these cuts work
The face carries its width up top, so cuts that add volume lower down balance it. Waves or layers that start around the ears or below, a bob that ends at the chin, and long side-swept bangs all put weight where the face narrows.
A fringe can also cover part of a wide forehead. Long, side-swept or curtain bangs do it softly. Heavy bangs cut straight across can make the forehead look wider instead.
For men, medium length swept to the side, or a soft flow that comes down over the ears, is the common suggestion. A very tight cut, with the sides shaved close, leaves the narrow jaw on its own under a wider forehead.
Haircuts that suit a heart face
- Short
- A bixie or a long pixie with a fringe that sweeps across part of the forehead, or a flipped or Italian bob, full at the ends so the width sits beside the chin.
- Long
- Hollywood waves, or long hair with curtain or wispy bangs and the fullness kept low, not at the crown.
For women
Chin-length bobs, waves and side-swept fringes.
See all 16 women’s styles for heart faces
For men
Medium length, swept to the side.
Korean perm
Taper fade mullet
Textured quiff
Comb over
Curtain fringe
Medium wavy flow
Side part taper
Bro flow
Men's shag
Beards
A beard adds fullness to the lower face: a goatee, stubble or a short boxed beard all work.
See all 19 men’s styles for heart faces
Example photos are AI-generated. Open one to see it larger, or try it on your own photo.
What to avoid
Heavy, straight-across bangs widen the forehead, and a buzz cut or a very high fade leaves the narrow jaw on its own. Volume kept only at the crown and temples adds to the width up top.
Less often suggested in our catalog
- Women: Buzz cut, Blunt bangs, Mod cut, Hime cut
- Men: Buzz cut, High fade, Bald, Mod cut, Middle part, Skin fade
Questions
What haircut is best for a heart-shaped face?
Cuts that add width at the jaw: a chin-length or Italian bob, waves that start below the ears, a pixie with long side-swept bangs, or curtain bangs. For men, medium length swept to the side, or a textured quiff with the sides left a little longer.
How do I know if I have a heart-shaped face?
Compare the forehead, the cheekbones and the jaw. If the forehead is as wide as the cheekbones or wider, and the jaw is clearly narrower and ends in a small chin, it's a heart. If the forehead is narrow too, it's more likely a diamond.
Should I get bangs with a heart-shaped face?
Long, side-swept or curtain bangs are often suggested, because they cover part of the forehead without adding a hard line. Short, blunt bangs cut straight across tend to widen the top of the face.
Is short hair OK for a heart-shaped face?
Yes. A pixie or a short bob shows off the cheekbones, which is why both are often suggested for heart faces. Keep some softness at the sides or a longer fringe, so the forehead isn't the only wide line.
What hair part suits a heart-shaped face?
A side part, often a deep one, is the usual suggestion, because hair crossing the forehead at an angle breaks up its width. A middle part with a lot of lift at the roots leaves the full width of the forehead on show.