Let’s talk face-framing.
While bangs can be a part of a face-framing haircut, they’re not necessary: subtle layers around the face can do most of the hard work on their own. Instead of being a standout feature, face-framing layers quietly make a haircut suit you better without stealing the show.
Where bangs grab attention, face-framing layers are low-key, subtly taking your hairstyle from good to amazing. And together, they can work wonders.
Ready to take the plunge? We’ve got all the scoop: from stunning inspo pics you need to pin to handy tips for finding the perfect face-framing haircut.
What Is Face Framing?
You’ve probably heard this term thrown around quite a bit, but what does it really mean?
It’s actually pretty straightforward: the idea is to create a frame for your face. Sections of hair in the front are layered, highlighted or styled to fall across your face in a way that balances your features.
Because face framing is so individual, there’s a lot of customization involved. To create a face frame that works for your unique features, your stylist must carefully decide on the placement of highlights and layers and use various cutting and highlighting techniques to achieve a look you’ll be happy with.
Usually, they’ll use one or more of the following:
- Layers: Various lengths of hair that create movement and frame the face will be placed at certain points to accentuate your features.
- Bangs: A type of bangs that specifically works to frame your face can be included, drawing attention to your eyes and cheekbones.
- Balayage: To brighten your face, your stylist can use this freehand highlighting technique for a natural effect.
- Foil highlights: If you want a specific look, sections of hair are separated and wrapped in foil, allowing for precise placement of color.
Why Face-Framing?
There are literally no cons to a face-framing haircut, because who doesn’t want a flattering hairstyle? Here’s some more reasons why you should get one ASAP.
- Balance. Face framing is tailored and designed to highlight your specific features and make your face look more harmonious. For example, it can make your cheekbones stand out or bring attention to your eyes.
- Structure. Face-framing layers create softness or angles, depending on what suits the shape of your face better: it can soften your jawline or make your face appear narrower by adding volume.
- Movement. Face framing adds movement to the hair, which will make your hairstyle look more bouncy and effortless.
- Adaptability. Face framing works with any hair length, texture and type. No matter if your hair is long, short, curly, or straight, the technique can be customized to suit you.
- Versatility. A face frame lets you wear your hair in more ways and experiment with different partings.
Choosing The Right Cut And Color
Choosing the right face-framing haircut isn’t any different than choosing any other hairstyle: start off by narrowing down what you like.
Next, consult with a professional hairstylist you trust for the best results. They will provide personalized recommendations based on factors such as face shape, hair type and lifestyle.
Face Shape Matters
Different face shapes influence the choice of the face framing technique. To get a hairstyle that flatters you most, focus on creating balance.
OVAL FACE
Oval faces are already balanced, so they’re the most versatile—nearly every hairstyle flatters this shape. This gives you the freedom to experiment and play with different lengths and textures. Try long layers, a trendy bob with bangs or a tomboyish long pixie.
ROUND FACE
Round faces benefit from creating angles and elongation. Go for longer layers that add vertical lines and avoid any rounded cuts. Side-swept bangs and choppy layers that fall below the chin are a great choice.
SQUARE FACE
Square faces have strong jawlines and angular features, so to create balance you can soften the angles with face-framing layers. Layers that start near the cheekbones or chin are flattering, and side-parted styles, waves and textured layers will soften the square shape.
HEART-SHAPED FACE
Heart-shaped faces have wider foreheads and narrower chins, so to create balance, draw attention away from the forehead. Try long layers that frame the face or wispy bangs, add volume at the chin level and avoid heavy layers at the crown.
DIAMOND FACE
Diamond faces are quite balanced and they have wide cheekbones that stand out. Soften the angles with mid-length layers that start at the jawline or long, side-swept bangs.
OBLONG FACE
Oblong faces look best when you add width: choose shorter styles or layers with plenty of volume. Blunt or thick bangs can work well. Curls and textured layers add fullness horizontally.
Choosing Colors
Choosing the color of face-framing highlights depends on your natural hair color, skin tone, personal style and what you want to achieve. Here are some tips to help you decide:
BASE COLOR
For a natural look, choose a highlight shade that complements your base color or a contrasting shade for dimension and depth. For example, caramel highlights on dark brown hair create a sun-kissed look, while platinum adds high contrast and edge.
SKIN TONE
Take your skin tone into account when selecting highlight shades. Warmer tones like honey brown or coppery hues complement warmer skin tones, while cooler tones like ash or platinum work well with cool skin tones.
PLACEMENT
Decide where you want the face-framing highlights to be placed based on the effect you want to achieve. Subtle highlights around the face can brighten your complexion and draw attention to your features and chunky streaks will give you a more dramatic look.
LIFESTYLE
Maintenance and upkeep are an important factor when choosing the color of your face-framing highlights. For example, lighter shades will get brassy, so they need regular toning treatments, and platinum foil highlights don’t look as seamless as they grow out the way brunette balayage does.
Consult Your Stylist
Let’s be real: the right stylist is what matters most if you want to love your haircut—it’s crucial that you click.
You can take a ton of inspo pics to the salon and describe in detail what you want to achieve, but if your stylist doesn’t understand your hair type and face shape, you won’t get what you’re after.
You’ll know that things will work out if they
- are detailed during consultations,
- consider your head and face shape,
- take into account what your hair looks dry,
- learn about your styling habits,
- pay attention to your unique concerns.
If you have confidence in your stylist, listen what they tell you and be open to suggestions. Use pictures as inspiration instead of trying to achieve an exact copy of a hairstyle.
Types Of Face-Framing Haircuts
Here’s the exciting part: face-framing layers aren’t just reserved for specific haircuts or face shapes: they can be customized to work with just about any haircut. Even if you’re strictly into one-length blunt cuts, a few subtle, invisible layers near the face can make it look a hundred times better.
Whatever your preference, length or hair type, a well-executed face-framing haircut has the power to completely transform your look. Let’s see what’s out there.
Long Face-Framing Haircuts
When it comes to long hair, layers are a must if you want to avoid flat and dull tresses. Adding face-framing layers to long hair not only flatters the features, it also creates movement, volume and shape.
1. Long face-framing haircut
Long, voluminous face-framing pieces soften the face and liven up long hair, and their perfect match? These airy, bouncy layers bursting with movement. Never have flat, dull hair again.
2. Butterfly haircut
You’re going to absolutely love the butterfly haircut if you love running your fingers through your hair. Don’t worry about the bangs and face-framing layers—they’ll end up falling across your face just right every time.
3. Modern shag haircut
The modern shag haircut seamlessly frames the face and it’s super easy to style. It looks even better when you skip the blowout and let your natural texture shine through. Looks especially lovely on angular face shapes.
4. Long face-framing layers
You don’t have to get bangs or short layers to have a face frame. Long layers will remove bulk, giving your hair movement without reducing length and thickness. Great choice if you have a round face shape.
5. Face-framing haircut with curtain bangs
If you’re just starting out with face-framing layers, this is the perfect haircut: it looks good on everyone. Subtle layers and long, wispy face-framing curtain bangs are a flattering and easy way to add texture and body to long hair.
6. Korean layered haircut
Get the luscious, bouncy locks like your favorite K-drama actresses: chin-length face-framing layers that that pair perfectly with a wispy fringe.
Medium Face-Framing Haircuts
If you like to experiment with styles and trends, medium-length hair is where it’s at. It has versatility without the maintenance of long hair. Face-framing layers enhance your best features: highlight your eyes or cheeks with these flattering layers.
1. Choppy shag
Don’t sleep on the choppy shag. It’s edgy and trendy, but also incredibly versatile: it turns into something soft and romantic with a blowout, and the face-framing looks amazing when you wear your hair up.
2. The hush cut
The hush cut is the wolf cut’s cuter cousin. Just as effortless and cool, but softer and more romantic. Perfect if you love having bangs and enjoy low-maintenance styling.
3. Medium butterfly haircut
This gorgeous haircut is all about customization: fringe and layer lengths hit just the perfect spot to be the most flattering, while creating a trendy and effortless look.
4. Layered hair with bangs
A sleek, heavily layered shag—sometimes called the octopus cut—is great if you’re looking to flatter a round face shape. The short layers add lots of volume at the crown, and the mullet-like length visually elongates the face.
5. Medium layered haircut
This classic layered cut is best described using one word: bouncy, because that’s exactly what it brings to the hair. The face-framing layers of this weightless yet voluminous style look amazing on diamond face shapes.
6. Medium face-framing haircut
Shoulder-length with feathered layers—the late-seasons-Rachel haircut— is the ultimate face-framing cut if you’re not a fan of bangs. Thanks to the amount of volume near the jawline, this is an excellent choice if you have a heart-shaped face.
Short Face-Framing Haircuts
Short hair is low-maintenance and more versatile than you might think. From baby wolf cuts to long, tousled pixies, short hair with face-framing layers can slim your face or add volume, depending on the style. These layers add texture and movement to make short hair as flattering and versatile as longer haircuts.
1. Long layered pixie cut
This long pixie can be styled in multiple ways to give you completely different looks. Play with the length of the longest layers to find the most flattering placement.
2. Long choppy pixie
Besides being incredibly cute, this long pixie/tiny mullet hybrid is also super wearable and low maintenance—as it grows out, it changes but doesn’t become any less appealing.
3. Bob with choppy layers
A blunt face-framing bob with choppy fringe and face-framing layers is perfect for adding texture and an edgy vibe.
4. Short wolf cut
If you want a truly effortless style you don’t have to spend any time styling, a short layered style that works with your natural texture is what you’re looking for. For example, this cool and pretty wolf cut.
5. Baroque bob
Featuring subtle face-framing layers with a side part, this trendy bob is refined, flattering and a perfect match for the quiet luxury aesthetic.
6. Textured lob
The always-trending textured lob is easy to style and it can be adapted to suit any face. Paired with subtle face-framing and barely-there fringe, it’s a way to wear a blunt cut with an angular face.
Face-Framing Layers For Straight Hair
Straight hair is easy to care for but lacks volume. Layering adds shape, body and texture and make styling easier.
1. Blunt-cut straight hair
Pin-straight hair needs internal and face-framing layers to avoid looking blocky and falling flat. Having both a natural sleek look and volume is possible!
2. Layered straight hair
Heavily layered straight hair looks fuller and thicker at any length. If you have an oblong face, go for shorter face-framing layers to add volume at the sides.
3. Blunt bob with bangs
A straight, blunt bob can look very severe and unflattering on many face shapes, but a few subtle face-framing layers and a choppy fringe will turn things around.
4. Long layered straight hair
By removing weight, layers transform straight, bulky hair that can’t hold shape into a bouncy, flowy delight.
Face-Framing Layers For Curly Hair
Face-framing layers help define and shape your curls, giving them a more structured look. By removing some weight around the face, your curls can spring up and frame your features, drawing attention to your eyes.
1. Medium curly hair with layers
Bangs and face-framing layers team up to give your hair an extra boost of volume. It’s like they were made for each other!
2. Curly bob with bangs
This amazing curly bob is fluffy and thick without being overwhelming, thanks to the perfecly placed face-framing layers.
3. Long curly hair with face framing
This long curly hair with face framing will make you the center of attention. The perfect shape and definition of these beautiful curls has been achieved with the help of layers.
4. Curly shag
A shag looks best when it complements your natural texture, so it’s ideal for curly hair. The layers help define the curls and the styling is easy: condition, air-dry and go.
Face-Framing Layers For Thick Hair
Thick hair can feel heavy and overpowering, especially around the face. Face-framing layers help by removing some of the weight, creating a more manageable hairstyle, with definition and shape.
1. Medium layered hair
It’s a no-brainer that thick hair becomes more manageable with the addition of layers, but don’t only focus on the bulky part in the back: just a couple of face-framing pieces will make it much more flattering around the face as well.
2. Old money bob
Bob trends in the past few years have all included a strong outline, but to make these styles work, layers are necessary to add movement if you have thick hair. This latest bob style incorporates long, subtle bangs that effortlessly frame the face and soften the whole look.
3. Layered curly hair
Thick, curly hair can be very difficult to manage, but the right cut can solve 99 of your problems. Ask for layers throughout and near the face to achieve this elongated shape.
4. Long hair with bangs
If your hair is long and thick, avoid an outdated look by adding lots of long layers to give it liveliness and movement. Take it a step further with a style of bangs that flatters your face.
Face-Framing Layers For Thin Hair
Face-framing layers can add texture and dimension to thin hair, making it look more dynamic. Creating movement and body, they prevent thin hair from looking flat and lifeless.
1. Wolf cut
Thin hair looks more voluminous if it has texture, and choppy layers bring exactly that. The wolf cut is trendy and cool, and a perfect choice if you’re looking for more volume.
2. Long layered hair with curtain bangs
If you grow your thin hair long, it can look even thinner. To counteract this effect, add plenty of layers, especially near the face to bring bounce and movement that makes it look fuller.
3. Shag with razored bangs
Choppy layers are ideal for thin and fine hair because they add lots of texture, making the hair look thicker and fuller.
4. Long layers and bangs
When your hair is fine but you have a lot of it, layers will help you get the best of it by separating the strands and adding texture.
Face-Framing Highlights
Face-framing highlights are placed around the face to add brightness and dimension. Lighter tones near the front draw attention to the features and make you glow.
1. Blonde balayage on light brown hair
Balayage is the ideal face-framing technique if you’re looking to achieve a natural, sun-kissed look that brightens your face.
2. Blended face-framing highlights
Face-framing highlights one or two shades lighter than your base are the subtle way to enhance your features without a drastic change.
3. Chunky face-framing highlights
Chunky face-framing layers are a statement look that’s just as flattering as the more subtle styles, but much more obvious and edgy.
4. Subtle face-framing highlights
Combining a face-framing haircut and face-framing highlights in a way that’s tailored to suit your face will give you the ultimate face-framing look! Super flattering and unique.