25 Flattering Haircuts for Heart-Shaped Faces

Long Layers

Joseph loves the idea of long layers like Gwyneth Paltrow’s on heart-shaped faces. “Start by creating long layers throughout the hair, focusing on adding volume around the jawline,” he says. To style, he says to part the hair down the middle and add a volumizing spray or mousse for added texture and lift. “Style the ends with a curling iron or straightener for a polished look,” he adds.

Semi-Side Swept Bangs

For a softer hairstyle, Joseph recommends long layers with wispy bangs slightly pushed to the side, like Reese Witherspoon’s. “This style softens the angles of a heart-shaped face by adding layers around the jawline and sweeping bangs to balance the forehead width,” he explains. To recreate the look, he says to blow dry your hair with a round brush for volume, then add in loose waves with a large curling iron. (Alternatively, you can make it easier on yourself with the Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long ($600).

Wind-Swept Voluminous Pixie

Love an effortless hairstyle? Garren recommends copying Scarlett Johanssonon’s wind-swept, brushed-back voluminous pixie. Chic yet natural-looking, the cut draws attention to the eyes while creating a more balanced look overall. “I like her short haircut when the top was long, and the back was very short,” Garren says, referencing her pixie circa 2015. “It’s kind of a Linda Evangelista or Andy Warhol look. The top is long, parted on the side, and it only comes to her cheekbones. This look opens up her face and makes her look cool, not so mumsy.”

Side-Parted Bob

When it comes to balancing out a heart-shaped face, don’t think you need to add symmetrical volume on each side. Joseph says opting for a side-parted bouncy bob like Zendaya’s will work beautifully. “A curly bob adds width around the jawline, balancing a wider forehead,” he explains. To recreate the look, he says to use a curl-enhancing styling cream on damp hair before diffusing or allowing it to air dry. “Use a curling wand to touch up any loose curls and finish with [hairspray],” he adds.

Curtain Bangs

Sydney Sweeney is America’s sweetheart, so it’s especially fitting that she has a heart-shaped face. When perusing her many haircuts and styles, Joseph calls out her signature curtain bangs, which mask the forehead’s width and add balance to her face. According to Joseph, the best way to style curtain bangs is with a round brush and blow dryer. “Sweep them to each side while adding volume at the roots,” he instructs. “Style the rest of the hair with a large-barrel curling iron for loose waves, and finish with a light-hold hairspray to hold the style in place.”

Long Curtain Bangs

For a more lived-in fringe look, consider recreating Billie Eilish’s long curtain bangs. They look fabulous with heart-shaped faces, whether the rest of your hair is worn up or down.

Swept-Back Pixie

Johansson has worn so many different short hairstyles that it’s impossible to pick just one. Joseph is particularly fond of her swooped-back voluminous pixie. “This style adds volume and dimension, framing the face beautifully,” he says. “Soft layers around the crown soften the forehead while maintaining volume.” To recreate such volume, Joseph says to massage mousse into damp hair and blow out hair up and away from the root. Then, use styling cream for smoothing action and neat definition.

Micro Bob

Can’t decide between a pixie and a bob? Opt for a micro bob—like Sonoya Mizuno’s—that perfectly rides the border. For a similar wow-worthy shine, try the JVN Complete Nourishing Hair Oil Shine Drops ($24).

Sleek Long Hair

Naomi Campbell is the queen of sleek, shiny hair—and she just so happens to have a heart-shaped face. To recreate her signature hairstyle, Joseph says to start with freshly washed and conditioned hair. Apply a smoothing heat protectant before drying—we love the Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment ($28). Then add a shine serum post-dry. “Use a flat iron to straighten small sections of hair from roots to ends, ensuring each section is sleek and straight,” he instructs. Hoping for even more shine? Try the amika Top Gloss Hair Shine Spray ($29).

Smooth Center Part

If you love the idea of Campbell’s shiny center part but prefer a bit more volume, try recreating Brittany Snow’s smooth yet lightly waved hairstyle. To accomplish this level of natural-looking volume, you’ll want to use a mousse before drying.

Side-Parted, Slicked-Back Bun

Slicked-back hairstyles are gorgeous on heart-shaped faces. To create a more balanced look, Joseph simply says to opt for a side-part style like Katie Holmes’s. “Start with sleek, straight hair,” he says. “Create a deep side part using a fine-tooth comb, then apply a strong-hold gel or pomade to the hair, smoothing it back on the side with less hair. Gather the hair into a low bun or chignon at the nape of the neck and secure with bobby pins.” For hassle-free smoothing try the dae Slick Back Styling Duo ($38).

Textured, Wavy Lob

Another ScarJo stunner for heart-shaped faces? Her textured wavy lob, which is another of Joseph’s top picks. “A layered lob that hits just below the collarbone helps to soften the angles of a heart-shaped face,” he says. “The layers add movement and dimension, while the length elongates the face.” To recreate the style, he says to use a large-barrel curling iron on mids and ends and to finish with a texturizing spray to add definition. Finish with a light-hold hairspray. (We’re fans of the IGK Please Hold Flexible Finishing Hairspray, $32.)

Side-Part Soft Waves

If you prefer longer hair, Joseph recommends taking a page out of Jennifer Lawrence’s book with side-parted soft waves. “A deep side part with soft waves creates balance by minimizing the width of the forehead,” he says. To recreate her waves, he suggests using a large-barrel curling iron. Allow the curls to cool, then comb them out for soft definition.

Blunt Bang Shag

Curtain bangs aren’t the only bangs that work well on heart-shaped faces. Joseph points to Jessica Biel as proof of the beauty of blunt bangs. “Blunt bangs soften the forehead while the shaggy layers add texture and volume, balancing the wider forehead of a heart-shaped face,” he explains of her look. “The layers frame the face nicely, creating a flattering and effortless look.” (Just keep in mind—If you opt for bangs, you’ll have to dedicate a few minutes to style them every day—or at least whenever you plan to look put together.)

Wispy Bangs

Not sure blunt bangs are for you? Lean into the fringe with wispy bangs like Halle Berry’s—they frame her eyes beautifully while balancing out her face. (Pro Tip: Instead of rewashing your hair every day to make your bangs look fresh, simply dampen them, spritz them with your favorite dry shampoo and blow them out with a round brush. It takes less than five minutes.)

Textured Pixie

Not a fan of extra maintenance? Consider chopping your hair off in favor of a chic textured pixie à la Victoria Beckham. Garren created this 2009-era pixie ahead of the Marc Jacobs Spring show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. “It’s a very short Mia Farrow cut,” he explains. “It frames her face. It exposes her eyes and brings attention to the eye area instead of the lower part of the face.”

French Bob

Sarah Hyland perfected the French bob back in 2021 and, clearly, we’re still thinking about it. This cute, classic style features wispy bangs with flipped-out ends for an effortless-looking bob fit for heart-shaped faces.

Platinum Coiffed PIxie

Garren is a big fan of boyish-chic pixie haircuts for heart-shaped faces. His muse? Charlize Theron. “When Charlize Theron wears her hair short, it looks really good—it’s opening the eye area, showing off the eyes and the bottom of the face is very pixie,” he says. “It’s about being delicate and feminine with a boyish look. That makes this look more modern, so it makes a statement.”

Wavy Side-Swept Bangs

Looking for lift without length? Copy Ciara’s timeless voluminous bob from the 2013 BET Awards. According to Garren, asymmetrical parts and fringe are forever favorites for heart-shaped faces, as they open up the eye area and balance out the silhouette. (If your hair has trouble maintaining volume and lift, try the Voloom Classic Volumizing Ceramic Hair Iron, $140—it’s a TikTok fave.)

Picture-Perfect Afro

While you might think that adding even more width up top will make for an unbalanced haircut for heart-shaped faces, Amandla Stenberg proves that’s not the case with her statement-making afro from the CHANEL Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner in 2023. Leveled at her cheekbones, the cut emphasizes her eyes and makes her end look even more striking.

Flipped-Out Bob

Florence Pugh balances out her heart-shaped face with a deep side part and flipped-out ends. You can recreate the look with a round brush or a large barrel curling iron. Then, to copy her texture and lift, try using a dry shampoo powder, like the dae Fairy Duster Volumizing Dry Shampoo Powder ($30) or R+Co Skyline Dry Shampoo Powder ($34).

Blown-Out Layers

Lana Condor’s bouncy layered blowout from the Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2023 New York Fashion Week show in 2023 looks undeniably rich. The style has become increasingly popular and is easy to DIY at home. Simply blow dry your hair, then roll it up in hot rollers (we love the Drybar The Roller Club Curling Hot Hair Rollers, $129), allow the curls to set, unroll them and finish with high-shine hairspray.

Retro Blowout

Kylie Jenner’s brushed-back blowout reminds us of something fresh out of the ‘90s. It’s a gorgeous style for a heart-shaped face and can be created at home using a large barrel curling iron and a boar bristle brush. After curling, allow the shape to cool and set, then use a smoothing boar bristle brush to create the combed-back coif. Finish with hairspray.

Centered Layers

Jennifer Lopez is another beautiful example of how heart-shaped faces can mingle with layers. Thanks to jaw-grazing pieces, the cut creates a chic, balanced end look. 

Effortless Medium-Length Waves

No time to style your hair? With a medium-length, lightly layered cut like Camila Mendes’s, you’ll be able to hop out of the shower, air dry your hair and be on your way. Simply apply a texture-enhancing air-dry cream, like the Bumble and bumble Don’t Blow It Fine Hair Air Dry Styler ($35), into damp strands to accentuate your natural texture.