You’re staring in the mirror. You’ve got the dress, the venue is booked, and your Pinterest board is a chaotic mess of six hundred different updos. But there is this nagging feeling, right? That voice in the back of your head saying, "Will this just make my face look like a literal beach ball?" Honestly, finding the right wedding hairstyle for round face shapes is less about hiding your features and way more about playing with geometry. Most bridal magazines just tell you to "add volume," which is super vague and sometimes flat-out wrong.
If you have a round face, your width and length are roughly the same. You probably have soft features and a delicate jawline. That’s a win for looking youthful forever, but it can feel tricky when you want that chiseled, editorial look for your photos. We need to talk about verticality. We need to talk about why that slicked-back ballerina bun you saw on a Hadid might be your worst enemy unless you tweak it.
The goal isn't to change who you are. It’s about balance.
The Verticality Myth and Why Height Isn't Everything
People always say "go high." They want you to build a skyscraper on your head. While a bit of lift at the crown helps elongate the face, if you go too high without any face-framing pieces, you end up looking like you’re wearing a costume. It’s a balance. You want to create the illusion of length.
Think about Sarah Hyland or Selena Gomez. They both have famously round faces and they kill it on the red carpet. They don't just pile hair on top. They use "the drop." This is where you let pieces fall naturally around the cheekbones to break up the circular perimeter of the face. If you pull everything back tight, you’re highlighting the widest part of your cheeks. Instead, think about a soft, dewy aesthetic.
Middle parts are surprisingly effective here. I know, the "Gen Z middle part" debate is exhausting, but hear me out. A center part creates two long vertical lines that slice right through the roundness. It’s basically contouring with hair. If you pair a middle part with long, loose waves, you’ve instantly created a more oval silhouette.
What Your Stylist Might Not Tell You
A lot of stylists go on autopilot. They see "wedding" and they think "hairspray-heavy updo." You have to speak up. Ask for "interior layers" if you’re wearing your hair down. If you’re doing an updo, ask for "tendrils" but specifically mention they should start at the temple and hit just below the jawline.
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Why below the jawline? Because if they stop at your cheeks, they draw a horizontal line right where you’re widest. It’s a disaster. You want those pieces to lead the eye downward.
The Best Wedding Hairstyle for Round Face Shapes: Top Contenders
Let’s get into the actual looks.
The Textured High Ponytail.
This isn't your gym pony. We’re talking about a voluminous, teased-at-the-base ponytail. By keeping the sides sleek but the top and the tail full of texture, you're drawing the eye up and down. It’s energetic. It’s modern. It also stays out of your face while you’re sweating through your vows or hitting the bar.
Hollywood Waves with a Deep Side Part.
This is classic for a reason. If you go for a deep side part, you’re creating an asymmetrical look. Asymmetry is the secret weapon for round faces. It breaks the "perfect circle" vibe. One side is tucked behind the ear (showing off a killer earring) and the other side flows down, veiling part of the face. It’s incredibly slimming.
The Loose Boho Braid.
Usually a side-swept Dutch or fishtail braid. Again, asymmetry is doing the heavy lifting here. By pulling the bulk of the hair to one side, you change the focal point of your face. Keep it messy. Keep it "undone." When hair is too "perfect," it looks stiff, and stiffness emphasizes roundness.
Why Texture Is Your Best Friend
Flat hair is the enemy. When hair lies flat against the scalp, it provides zero contrast to the face. You want grit. You want movement.
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I’ve seen brides try to do the ultra-sleek glass hair trend. It’s gorgeous, but on a round face, it can be unforgiving. If you’re dead set on it, you need to incorporate a sharp angle—maybe a side-swept bang that cuts across the forehead. This "cuts" the circle of your face into a more triangular shape.
Use dry shampoo or texturizing spray even if your hair is clean. It gives the hair "grip." This grip allows your stylist to create that "poof" at the crown without it falling flat by the time you reach the reception.
The Bangs Dilemma
Should you get bangs? Maybe. But stay away from blunt, straight-across bangs. They are "face-shorteners." They chop off the top third of your face, making the remaining two-thirds look wider and rounder.
Go for curtain bangs. They are the holy grail for this face shape. They frame the eyes, cover the outer edges of the forehead, and taper down towards the cheekbones. They create a "V" shape that is incredibly flattering. Or try long, wispy side bangs. Anything that creates a diagonal line across the face is a win.
Real World Examples: Lessons from the Red Carpet
Look at Chrissy Teigen. She is the queen of the round face shape. She almost never wears her hair in a way that’s completely slicked back without some height or some framing. When she does an updo, it’s usually a top knot with pieces hanging down. When she wears it down, it’s usually massive, beachy waves that provide a wide frame for her face, making the face itself seem smaller in comparison.
Then there's Ginnifer Goodwin. She proved that a pixie cut works for round faces. How? By keeping the sides super short and the top long and voluminous. It’s all about the ratio. If the hair is wide on the sides, the face looks wide. If the hair is tight on the sides and tall on top, the face looks long.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The "Ear-to-Ear" Headband: If you wear a heavy headband that sits flat across the top of your head from ear to ear, you’re essentially drawing a giant "O" around your face. If you want a headband, choose one with some height (like a padded crown) or place it further back so it doesn't compress your hair.
- Excessive Volume on the Sides: Avoid the "Bozo the Clown" effect. You don't want the hair to be widest at your ears. Keep the volume at the top or towards the ends.
- Small, Tight Curls: These can sometimes add too much "round" energy. Think big, loose waves or structured "S" curls instead of ringlets.
Accessories: The Finishing Touch
Veils matter. A veil that attaches under your updo can actually drag the look down. If you want to elongate your silhouette, consider a veil attached at the crown or the top of the head. The long fabric trailing behind you creates a powerful vertical line.
Hair pins and combs should be placed strategically. Don't just stick them anywhere. Use them to pull back one side of your hair to create that asymmetrical look we talked about. Or use a decorative comb to add height at the back of a half-up, half-down style.
The Practical Game Plan
Start experimenting now. Don't wait for your hair trial to try these concepts.
- Identify your "good side." Everyone has one. This is the side you'll want to expose if you’re doing an asymmetrical look.
- Take photos from the side. A hairstyle might look great in the mirror (front-on) but look flat or weird from the side. Your wedding photographer will be shooting from every angle.
- Wash your hair the day before. Super clean hair is often too slippery to hold the volume required for a round face. "Second-day hair" is the industry standard for a reason.
- Buy a high-quality salt spray. Even if you’re doing an updo, prepping with a bit of salt spray gives your hair the "soul" it needs to not look like a helmet.
The right wedding hairstyle for round face shapes is ultimately the one that makes you feel like the most elevated version of yourself. If you love your cheeks, show them off! If you’re self-conscious about them, use those face-framing layers to create some shadow.
When you go in for your trial, bring photos of people with your face shape. Don't bring a photo of Blake Lively if you have a round face—her bone structure is totally different. Look for celebrities like Mindy Kaling, Kelly Clarkson, or Kirsten Dunst. See what worked for them and show those to your stylist.
Actionable Next Steps
Check your current hair length. If you’re planning a wedding six months out, you might need to grow out your layers to get those perfect chin-length framing pieces. Talk to your regular stylist about a "growth plan" that keeps the ends healthy but builds the length needed for a sophisticated updo.
Book your bridal trial at least three months in advance. Bring your veil or any hair accessories you’re considering. Wear a white top with a neckline similar to your dress to see how the hair interacts with the fabric. Most importantly, take a video of the hairstyle from 360 degrees. A photo is a moment, but a video shows how the hair moves—and you're going to be moving all night.
Finally, do a "wear test." Once your trial is done, don't just take the hair down immediately. Wear it for the rest of the day. See if it sags. See if those face-framing pieces start to annoy you or get stuck in your lip gloss. Adjust accordingly. Confidence is the best accessory, but a well-placed curtain bang is a very close second.