8 Short Haircuts for Women Over 50 With Round Faces
Is short hair a bad idea if your face is round? It is one of the most common worries, and the answer is no. Plenty of short cuts flatter a round face beautifully. What matters is not the length of the hair but three small details: where the volume sits, which way the lines run, and where the ends stop.
Once you understand those three, you can judge any cut for yourself, including the one you have now. So this guide explains them first, then shows eight short cuts that get all three right.
The three rules for a round face
1. Put the volume on top, not at the sides
A round face is about as wide as it is long. Volume at the crown adds length; volume at the sides adds width. So the ideal short cut is fuller on top and closer at the sides. This is the single biggest difference you can make.
2. Choose diagonal lines over straight ones
A straight-across fringe or a blunt bob draws a horizontal line, which makes the face look wider. A side-swept fringe, a deep side part or an angled bob draws a diagonal line, which leads the eye down and across and makes the face look longer.
3. End below or above the widest point
The widest part of a round face is usually the cheeks. Hair that ends exactly there, or curls inward at the jaw, adds width. Hair that ends below the chin, or is cut short above the ears, does not.
If your hair is fine as well, our short haircuts for fine hair over 50 works alongside these rules.
Pixies
Very short cuts can be ideal for round faces, provided the height is on top.
1. Asymmetric pixie with a long diagonal fringe
Short on one side, longer on the other, with a fringe that sweeps diagonally across the forehead. It ticks all three rules: height at the crown, a strong diagonal line and close sides. If you take one cut from this guide to your stylist, take this one.
Keep the long side at least cheekbone length so it falls across the widest part of the face rather than stopping at it.
Ideal for: round faces with full cheeks
2. Pixie with height and close sides
The sides are cut close and neat around the ears, while the top is left longer and layered to stand up. The contrast between short sides and a tall top is what lengthens the face.
Ask for the sides to be soft rather than clipped, so the cut stays feminine.
Ideal for: fine to medium hair and a short forehead
3. Long layered pixie with cheekbone pieces
A softer, longer pixie with a few long pieces left at the front that fall just past the cheekbone. Those pieces break up the curve of the cheeks while the rest stays short and easy.
It is a gentle first step if you are nervous about going very short.
Ideal for: first-time short hair
Bobs
A bob can flatter a round face, as long as the line angles down instead of sitting straight across the cheeks.
4. Angled bob below the chin
Shorter at the back, longer at the front, with the front ends stopping about an inch below the chin. The downward angle makes the face look longer and the jaw more defined.
Ask for a gentle angle, not a steep one. Wear it with a side part, never a centre part.
Ideal for: straight hair and a polished style
5. Inverted bob with long front pieces
Stacked at the back for height, with two long pieces at the front that frame the face like a pair of brackets. Those long vertical lines slim the face, and the stacking adds height at the crown.
Smooth the front pieces straight down; curling them inward will round them back out.
Ideal for: fine to medium hair needing volume
6. Off-centre bob with one side tucked
A bob with a deep side part, worn with the shorter side tucked behind one ear. The tuck creates an asymmetric shape, and the falling side makes the diagonal line round faces love.
It is easy to wear every day and looks modern with statement earrings on the tucked side.
Ideal for: women who want something simple
Longer short cuts
Prefer a little more length? These two sit near the collarbone and still lengthen a round face.
7. Collarbone shag with a curtain fringe
Choppy layers that end at the collarbone, with a curtain fringe parted in the middle and swept to each side. The curtain curves around the cheekbones, and the length makes the neck and face look longer.
Ask for the layers to start below the cheekbone, not at it.
Ideal for: wavy hair
8. Layered crop with a high side part
A short layered crop worn with a side part set high on the head. The high part adds volume on top and an off-centre line that slims the face.
It is easy to style with a little mousse and a blow-dry.
Ideal for: thick or wavy hair
Already have short hair? Small tweaks that help
- Move your part. A side part instead of a centre part adds instant height and a diagonal line.
- Ask for less at the sides. At your next trim, have the sides thinned or shortened while keeping the top.
- Soften a straight fringe. Have it texturised and swept to one side.
- Dry your roots upward. Lift at the crown makes the biggest visible difference.
Final thought
A round face is a soft, friendly shape, not a problem. Keep volume on top, lines diagonal and ends away from the cheeks, and almost any short cut will flatter you.
