Short Haircuts 2023: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Look Based on Your Face Shape!

If you’re someone who has been wearing their hair long for the majority of their life, getting a short haircut is a huge step! Oftentimes the thing that holds us back is the hesitation about whether we’re going to suit it or not. We’re here to bust some myths because the short chop is for everyone! The one factor that will help you determine the most flattering cut for you is your facial bone structure! No more hair regrets – here’s the ultimate guide to short haircuts 2023 for every face shape!

How to Determine My Face Shape?

You’ve probably heard hairstylists and makeup artists talk about bone structure and highlighting facial features. But how do we figure out what our face shape is as non-experts? It’s actually a lot simpler than you may think.  Here are two methods that you can try at home:

Method 1

• Tie back your hair.
• Prepare a non-permanent marker or a lip liner.
• Stand in front of the mirror and trace your face into it as precisely as you can.
• Start from the top of your forehead down to your cheekbones, then the jaw, and finally your chin.

Method 2

• Tie your hair back and take a selfie with your phone. Make sure that you’re holding the phone straight on with both hands.
• Print out the picture you took of yourself.
• Take a marker and draw dots on both sides of your forehead, cheeks, jawline, and chin.
• Connect all dots to get a complete shape.

Note: If you don’t have a printer you can use the drawing/markup function on your phone.

Once you’ve got the outline of your face it’s time to figure out its shape!

• Oval – The oval face shape is arguably the most desired face shape. You have this shape if your face is longer than it is wide. Your jawline is curved and more narrow than your forehead.
• Square – With a square-shaped face, the width and the length of your face are proportionate. That means that the distance between both ends of your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline is the same. You most likely have a square jawline and a blunt chin.
• Triangular – A triangular face shape is characterized by having a wider lower part of the face that slightly narrows at the forehead. The most prominent area of your face is going to be your jawline and your pointed chin.
• Heart-shaped – If you have a heart-shaped face, your forehead is going to be the widest part of your face, and your chin the most narrow. You will notice a gradual thinning of the face from the top towards the lower part ending with a pointed chin.
• Round – The round face is quite similar to the square one. However, your forehead will be slightly more narrow, and your jawline will be rounded instead of blunt.
• Oblong – The oblong faces are two times longer than they are wide. Again, the face is rather symmetrical with the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline being the same width. However, here we have a round or pointed chin.

How Does Hair Texture Affect a Haircut?

Your hair texture has the final word on whether a hairstyle will suit you or not. For example, if you have thin straight hair it’s best to go for hairstyles that will give you structure and dimension. Inversely, if your hair is curly or kinky, the goal is to create well-balanced layers that will help define the natural pattern of the curls. Your hair type also affects the longevity and maintenance of your hairstyle. If a haircut isn’t accustomed to the texture of your hair, it will most likely require more products and frequent upkeep in order to stay in shape. When you work WITH your natural hair type, and not against it, you will find the most suitable and manageable hairstyle that’s unique to you!

Short Haircuts 2023: The Best Look for Every Face Shape

There is a common belief that the oval face shape is the most desired and aesthetically appealing of all. In fact, did you know that in 1945 came out the first tutorial for contouring different face shapes? The idea was to teach women how through makeup they can turn every face shape into an oval one. Essentially, this is the aim of short hairstyles, as well. Regardless of facial features and bone structure, the goal is to make the face appear as oval as possible. The haircuts you’ll see next will help you achieve that!

Short Haircuts for Oval Face Shape

Without a doubt, the trendiest and most flattering short haircut for oval-faced women is the pixie! The slightly side-swept front will soften your features and give the haircut a more modern appearance. The shorter sides and back on the other hand will elongate your neck in an elegant and alluring way!

Best for Fine Hair: The A-Line Layered Bob 

For those with thin straight hair, the most suitable short haircut would be the A-line bob. The angular structure is ideal if you have sharp facial features as it will help soften them. By adding layers, you will get an evenly-distributed volume that will keep your hair in flawless shape at all times! This haircut is super easy and fun to style, too! You can use a curling iron and add a few playful waves. Or use a texturizing sea salt hair spray for effortless beach waves!

Best for Curly Hair: Graduated Bob with Bangs

There’s one rule for people with oval faces and thick curly hair – don’t cut above the chin! Unless your hair has a kinky texture, and you’re going for a broccoli cut, this is a no-go zone! What works best for you is the graduated, or soft layered, bob haircut. This will help accentuate the natural texture of your curls while also keeping them neatly arranged on your head. If you have a wide forehead, feel free to take the chop a step further and get those bangs! They will frame your face beautifully, soften your features and bring out your eyes!

Best for Wavy Hair: Asymmetrical Side-Swept Bob

The asymmetrical bob is a stunning haircut choice… if you’re willing to put in the work to maintain it. It gives those with oval-shaped faces a romantic appearance that highlights your cheekbones without making your face appear square. This haircut is most suitable for those with wavy or straight hair, although it can be adjusted to all hair textures.

Short Haircuts for Round and Square Face Shape

One of the best tricks you can use for softening your square-shaped face is to get curtain bangs. They will create the illusion of a simmer forehead and cheekbones and open up the lower portion of your face. A layered lob will give you volume at the roots and structure at the bottom which will make your face appear longer. The same effect can be seen by doing this haircut on round faces, too!

Best for Fine Hair: Tousled Bob

The tousled bob with a slight side part is a great choice for those with fine hair! It will not only give you a soft and refined appearance but will also help elongate your face. If you want to create the illusion of a more rounded face, simply curly the ends of your hair slightly inwards! If your face is already round, and you want sharper features, do the opposite and curl outwards.

Best for Curly Hair: Long French Pixie

You might have been led to believe that short chops aren’t suited for round and square faces – but you’re wrong! This magnificent long French pixie is living proof! The shorter cut at the back and voluminous messy curly locks at the front will give you a dreamy appearance like no other!

Best for Wavy Hair: Shaggy Blunt Bob 

The shaggy blunt bob works really well with thick, wavy hair because it takes minimal effort to style. With just a little bit of texturizing spray at the roots, you can quickly get that perfectly undone hairstyle! This haircut will accentuate your natural waves in a way that instantly makes your angular facial features appear softer! For a round face, we suggest an A-line blunt cut.

Short Haircuts for Triangular Face Shape

The asymmetrical bob is one of the most flattering hairstyles for triangular faces. The deep side part works really well here because it will highlight your forehead while softening your jawline.

Best for Fine Hair:

With a triangular face shape and fine hair, your goal should be only one – volume! You probably already know that the best way to achieve dimension with thin hair is by getting layers – lots of them! Here we’re going to add side-swept bangs to soften your cheeks and transfer the attention to the bottom part of your face. This will help give your face a more elongated appearance!

Best for Curly Hair: Layered Lob

Managing curls with a triangular face can be a difficult task. Don’t worry because we’ve got the perfect hack! The main thing you need to concentrate on is keeping your curls away from the jawline. Instead, you need to get volume at the roots. The layered lob is perfect for adding dimension while enhancing your natural hair texture. Make sure the layers are thinner at the bottom, so you can get a round-like shape of your hair. This will help soften and elongate your face.

Best for Wavy Hair: Shaggy Pixie with Bangs

Playful curls at the bottom and slightly straightened sides will give your triangular face the most flattering haircut to date! The long bangs will frame your face beautifully and the volume at the roots with elongate your face and balance out your wide jawline.

Short Haircuts for a Heart-Shaped Face

This particular pixie cut is rather hard to pull off. It requires sharp facial features and a tall forehead. Lucky for you, heart-shaped face babes, you’ve got just what it takes to make this pixie with micro bangs your own!

Best for Fine Hair: Choppy Lob with Blunt Wispy Bangs

The choppy lob is a great way to add some texture to fine hair. The long cut will help elongate the face and the effortless curls will give it a more slim appearance. A good way to narrow your forehead is to add very subtle blunt wispy bangs. They will frame your face and accentuate your eyes beautifully!

Best for Curly Hair: Rezo Cut

The rezo cut is one of the best treats you can give to your curly hair! It gives you a subtle light from the top with an even round-like shape that opens up your face instantly! To balance out the forehead-jawline ratio, it’s best to cut a few shorter strands at the front. This will narrow your forehead on from the sides and give your face a nice slimming look.

Best for Wavy Hair: Shoulder-Length Bob with Soft Layers

Softly layered bobs are incredibly flattering for those with wavy hair. Especially if you have thick, heavy hair, this will distribute the weight evenly and give your hair a light and effortlessly chic appearance. Remember that bangs are always a good idea when you have a heart-shaped face!

Short Haircuts for Oblong Face Shape

It’s safe to say that the most versatile and flattering haircut for oblong faces is the bob. Depending on whether you have a higher forehead or a narrow one, you can experiment with different bangs – tousled, French, choppy, or blunt. However, there is only one rule – don’t go any shorter than the chin! If you do, the haircut will make your face even longer than it already is.

Best for Fine Hair: Short Wolf Cut with French Bangs

The wolf cut is ideal for those with fine hair because it adds a lot of texture and dimension. The slightly rounded shape that it gives to your hair also makes your elongated face look a lot softer and rounder. The French bangs are a great way to give your overall appearance a more harmonious and feminine touch.

Best for Curly Hair: Blunt Structured Bob with Side Bangs

You may think that structured hairstyles are absolutely forbidden when it comes to oblong faces. While this is true in most occasions, it’s not quite the case for curly hair texture. The coils actually soften your features which is why you can experiment with more triangle-shaped hairstyles, like this bob. You have all the volume at the bottom which is very well-balanced by the subtle side bangs. This gives you a really flattering geometrical shape that’s a true statement!

Best for Wavy Hair: Blunt Lob with Middle Part

The long blunt bob is a great decision if you have thin wavy hair. The reason for that is that the blunt ends give your hair structure and movement without having to add layers. It also has this geometrical structure that makes your hair appear much fuller.