Bobs Are Back! Balance Out Your Features With Styles for Long, Round, and Square Faces

After a certain age, it gets easy to settle into a routine with your haircut. You’ve probably been asking your hairdresser for the same ‘do for years! While there’s nothing wrong with that — a classic haircut never goes out of style — a change could do you some good. Bobs, for instance, are an underrated style that can help balance out your facial features. Whether you have a long face, a strong jaw, or a round face, these three styles will help revitalize your look and keep you looking fabulous. Check out the mid-length bob, asymmetrical bob, and long bob below, modeled by three celebs.

Understanding Your Face Shape

While faces vary in many different ways, there are seven primary shapes: round, oval, square, heart, pear, and oblong. The ones we’ll discuss here are round, oblong (long), and square. Bobs can help balance out a round face by giving it some sharpness or a long face by bringing the attention upwards. The right bob can also balance a square jaw.

To Balance a Long Face: A Mid-Length Bob

A bob with a middle part that sits evenly at the jaw draws the eye from side to side, adding optical width so a long face appears less narrow. Ask for: A jawline-skimming blunt bob with ends cut at an angle so hair flips inward toward the face.

To Soften a Strong Jaw: An Asymmetrical Bob

The rounded silhouette of a bob that’s ear-length on one side and past the cheek on the other offsets a harsh, angular jawline. Bonus: The short cut pulls focus up to highlight beautiful features like a bright smile and wide-awake eyes. Ask for: A short, rounded bob cut so it’s slightly longer on one side and has bluntly cut ends.

To Slim a Round Face: A Long Bob

One-dimensional, shoulder-sweeping hair draws attention vertically, visually elongating a fuller face so it looks pounds thinner in an instant. Ask for: A long, shoulder-length bob with long, blended layers throughout that are cut with a razor for added texture.

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First For Women.