Let’s be real for a second. Having a round face and a small forehead is actually a bit of a genetic win for looking younger longer, but it's a total pain when you're staring in the mirror trying to figure out why your hair makes your face look like a perfect circle. You’ve probably been told to get bangs to hide the forehead, but then the bangs eat up half your face. It's frustrating. Finding the right hairstyles for small forehead and round face isn't about hiding anything; it's about clever geometry.
You’re trying to create the illusion of length. That’s the goal. We want to trick the eye into seeing more "vertical" space. If you have a low hairline—technically defined as a forehead that is narrower than the lower two-thirds of your face—you've likely noticed that heavy, blunt fringe makes you look "squashed." We’re going to fix that.
Why Most Advice for Round Faces Fails You
Standard beauty advice usually says "round faces need layers." Okay, sure, but what kind? If those layers start at your chin and you have a small forehead, you’re just adding bulk to the widest part of your cheeks. It makes the face look wider. Instead, we need to focus on "height" at the crown.
Think about Selena Gomez. She is the poster child for this specific combination. She often pivots between deep side parts and slicked-back looks. Why? Because a deep side part creates an asymmetrical line that breaks up the roundness. It adds a diagonal element that draws the eye upward and outward, rather than following the circular contour of the jawline.
If you have a small forehead, the distance between your eyebrows and your hairline is short. If you put a heavy, straight-across bang there, you're essentially deleting the top third of your face. You end up looking like you have no forehead at all. It’s better to go for "bottleneck bangs" or "curtain bangs" that start higher up or are thinned out significantly. This allows some skin to peek through, which visually extends the forehead upward.
The Magic of the High Ponytail and Vertical Volume
You've probably noticed that when you pull your hair up tight, your face looks more "snatched." This isn't just because of the skin-tightening effect. A high ponytail or a top knot adds actual physical inches to the top of your head. For a hairstyles for small forehead and round face strategy, this is the easiest win in the book.
- The Slicked-Back Look: Don't be afraid of your hairline. Often, people with small foreheads try to cover them with wispy bits. Honestly? Just lean into it. A slicked-back high pony with a bit of "bump" or volume at the roots creates a vertical line.
- The Half-Up Top Knot: This is the "lazy girl" version that actually works. By keeping half the hair down to frame the neck (creating length) and half up in a knot (creating height), you hit both targets at once.
- Vertical Volume: When styling a lob or long hair, use a volume spray specifically at the front of the hairline. If the hair sits flat against the forehead, it emphasizes the smallness. If it lifts up and then over, it creates the illusion of a higher hairline.
Ginnifer Goodwin is another great example. When she rocked the pixie cut, she didn't do a flat, forward-swept fringe. She went for height. A pixie with volume on top is one of the most daring but effective hairstyles for this face shape because it completely changes the ratio of the head.
Long Layers and the "V-Shape" Illusion
If you love long hair, don't cut it all one length. One-length hair acts like a frame for a picture, and if the frame is heavy, the face inside looks more contained and circular. You want "face-framing" layers, but they need to start below the chin.
Wait. Read that again. Below the chin.
If layers start at the cheekbones, they add width. If they start at the collarbone, they draw the eye down. This elongates the appearance of the neck and, by extension, the face. Use a large barrel curling iron to wave the hair away from the face. This opens up the "canvas." When hair curls inward toward the cheeks, it closes the face in. We want to open it up.
The Side Part Revival
I know the "middle part" is huge right now. TikTok might tell you the side part is "old," but for a small forehead and round face, the side part is a literal lifesaver. A middle part bisects the face perfectly. If your face is round, a middle part highlights that symmetry.
A deep side part, however, creates an "S" shape. This "S" shape adds a bit of mystery and, more importantly, creates an architectural angle. It hides a portion of the roundness of one cheek while exposing the forehead on the other side, making the forehead appear slightly wider and higher than it actually is.
Bangs: To Cut or Not to Cut?
This is the big question. Most stylists will tell you to avoid bangs if you have a small forehead. I disagree. You just can't have heavy bangs.
Curtain Bangs are your best friend. But they need to be cut specifically. Ask your stylist for "shorter in the middle, longer on the sides" but with the middle part being very sparse. You want to see the skin of your forehead through the hair.
Side-Swept Bangs also work wonders. Because they travel diagonally across the forehead, they create a longer line than a horizontal fringe would. Think of it like wearing vertical stripes versus horizontal stripes.
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Avoid "baby bangs" at all costs. Unless you are going for a very specific, high-fashion editorial look, micro-fringes on a small forehead and round face tend to make the face look much larger than it is. It creates a harsh line that stops the eye right above the brows.
Practical Steps for Your Next Salon Visit
Stop just showing the stylist a picture of a celebrity you like. Their face shape is probably different. Instead, use these specific talking points to get a cut that actually works for your bone structure.
- Ask for "Internal Weight Removal": This is a technique where the stylist thins out the hair from the inside. It prevents the hair from poofing out at the sides, which is the enemy of the round face.
- Request "Elongated Layers": Specify that you want the shortest layer to hit at least an inch below your jawline.
- The "Root Lift" Conversation: Ask them to show you how to blow-dry your hair away from your forehead. If you have a cowlick, even better—work with it to get natural height.
- Avoid Blunt Bobs: If you want short hair, go for an asymmetrical bob (longer in the front, shorter in the back). A blunt, chin-length bob will make your face look like a basketball. You want the ends to be "shattered" or point-cut so they don't create a hard horizontal line.
Color Contouring: The Secret Weapon
Most people forget about color. You can actually use "hair contouring" to fix the small forehead issue. By highlights near the top of the head (near the hairline) and slightly darker tones near the ears/cheeks, you create a shadow effect.
The lighter colors draw the eye toward the forehead, making it seem more prominent and "open," while the darker tones underneath the cheekbones provide a slimming effect. It's basically makeup for your hair. Talk to a colorist about "Face Framing Highlights" or "Money Pieces" that start right at the root to pull the focus upward.
Ultimately, the best hairstyles for small forehead and round face are the ones that make you feel like you aren't hiding behind a curtain of hair. Whether it's a textured pixie, a long layer with a side part, or a strategic curtain bang, the goal is always balance. Use height to your advantage. Don't fear the forehead—open it up and let the light hit it.
To get started, try changing your part today. Flip it to the side you don't usually use. Use a bit of dry shampoo at the roots for immediate lift. You'll be surprised how much just one inch of vertical volume changes the entire perception of your face shape.