Although short hair gives you the flexibility to create endless looks, some people are hesitant about trying short styles. This apprehension stems from the idea that short hairstyles make you look fatter.
If you’re wondering whether this widespread belief about short hair is true, we’re here to enlighten you. In this article, you will discover how changing your hair’s length affects your appearance, which styles make your face look slim, and more.
So, without further ado, does short hair make your face look fatter or thinner? Let’s get into it.
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Does Short Hair Make You Look Fatter?
Your hair’s length determines how it frames your face. Changing your hair’s length from short to long hair can reveal or hide facial curves and angles. Additionally, depending on the length, texture, and style of your hair, certain features will be emphasized, changing how long or wide your face looks.
In the next section, we will explain how different styles can round out or slim your face.
Some Short Hairstyles Can Make Your Face Look Fatter
Certain short hairstyles can highlight your facial features in a way that makes your face appear rounder than it is. Read on as we reveal these hairstyles and how they subtly change the appearance of your face.
Teeny Weeny Afros
“Teeny weeny afros” or TWAs are simply small afros. These low-cut afros make the face look plump. TWAs leave no hair on the sides of the face, which completely exposes the cheeks and jawline.
When these areas of the face are exposed, they become the center of attention and make your head look more circular. In addition, without shadows from hanging hair, there is no slimming effect to add dimension to the face.
The texture of TWAs also determines how round the face appears. TWAs with tighter curls tend to highlight the circular features of the face more than looser curls.
Moreover, afros that are not tapered on the sides fail to accentuate the features. The result is a full-looking jawline, which leads to a rounder appearance overall.
Sleek Ponytails
Smooth ponytails that are pulled to the back provide a neat look, but they put all of your facial features on display, including your cheeks, chin, and jaws.
Moreover, if your face naturally lacks sharp jawlines and chiseled cheeks, a sleek ponytail will not provide structure or dimension to your face. In fact, this style will do the exact opposite, making your face appear more circular.
Bone Straight Styles
Bone straight hairstyles lack the volume needed to give the face structure and dimension. Your facial features are not highlighted effectively without this lift, making your face look round.
Blunt Haircuts
Blunt haircuts refer to styles that are cut evenly all around. These haircuts shorten and round out the face.
Furthermore, the shorter the blunt cut is, the more facial features are exposed, contributing to the circular appearance. Blunt haircuts that are jaw length or shorter tend to have the most noticeable rounding effect on the face.
Straight-Cut Bangs
Bluntly cut bangs shorten the appearance of your face, making it look wider than it truly is. They also highlight the fullness of your face, making the roundness of the cheeks and chin more apparent.
Some Short Styles Can Lengthen Your Face
Short hairstyles can be manipulated to frame your face in a way that makes it appear slimmer. In this section, we will explore these styles and how they give your facial features more depth.
Box Braids
Box braids are a flattering style for those looking for that iconic slimming effect. These braids partially cover the jaw and cheeks, casting shadows that frame and elongate the face. Additionally, box braids that are shoulder length or longer are best for elongating the head.
Top Knot
Top knots or buns add height and volume to the head, making your face look longer. You can style all of your hair into a bun, or you can try a half-up, half-down top knot.
Plus, you can add a few tendrils on both sides of your head at the crown. However, you choose to style your bun, the more volume, the better.
Side Part
Styling your short hair into a side part is an effortless way to add volume to limp hair while instantly slimming the face.
To create a perfect side part, line up the part with the arch of your eyebrow, then tuck the smaller section behind your ear. In addition, you can add extra lift by teasing your hair at the roots and setting it in place using a lightweight hair spray.
Layers
Layers add dimension to your face and lift to your styles. They help to sharpen the look of your cheekbones and jawline for a “hair contouring” effect. Various textures create stunning layers, including curly, wavy, and straight hair.
Moreover, you can create layers by cutting your hair or using heat-styling tools such as curling irons or flat irons.
Loose Curls Loose curls add height rather than width to the hair, which thins out the appearance of your face. They also cover your cheeks and jawline to perfectly frame your face. You can achieve loose curls by using Flexi rods, a curling iron, or perm rods.
Messy Ponytails
If you shy away from wearing ponytails because you have a full face, a messy pony may be an alternative for you. Messy ponytails give you the confidence to show off your natural features.
Unlike slicked-back ponytails, messy ponytails lift the hair at the crown of the head for more height. This instantly thins the appearance of the face.
How to Choose the Right Short Style for You
Before picking up the scissors or calling your stylist, you need to choose the perfect short style for you. When selecting a style, there are several things you’ll want to consider. So, keep reading as we share tips on how to select a short style that best suits you.
Consider Your Hair Texture
The texture of your hair will determine the final look of your short hairstyle and how well you can maintain it long term.
For instance, if you have naturally kinky, curly, or wavy hair, a bone straight bob may not be the best option for you because it would involve constant straightening and could lead to hair damage.
So, it is crucial to choose a hairstyle that is compatible with your texture to preserve the health of your hair.
Consider the Shape of Your Face
Faces come in various shapes, so no one style will look the same for everyone. But some styles pair better with certain face shapes. Here are some suggestions to help you out:
- Blunt cut bangs usually look better on someone with a square or oval-shaped face rather than a round face.
- Layered cuts pair well with a heart-shaped face.
- If your face is round to begin with, try a pixie cut!
Consider Your Facial Features
Short hairstyles allow you to accentuate the facial features that you love. On the other hand, if there are features that you don’t particularly like, you can strategically pick a style that will hide them.
For instance, if you have prominent cheekbones, you can choose a short hairstyle that exposes them. Or, if you loathe your forehead, you can try a bang to keep it out of sight.
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Some short hairstyles can make your face look rounder, but this does not mean that you shouldn’t wear short hair styles and bangs, or that you should avoid all short styles.
Feel free to experiment with the short styles outlined in the article to find the right look for you. We hope this article gives you the confidence to step out of your comfort zone and go short!
Kenneth Byrd, with a BS in Accounting and Management Information Systems and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has over 15 years of experience and is a recognized authority in hair care. Co-founder of Curl Centric® and Natural Hair Box, Kenneth has dedicated himself to promoting ethical and scientifically-backed hair care practices. Rigorous editorial guidelines, industry recognitions, and features in numerous media outlets evidence his expertise. Kenneth’s commitment to transparency, quality, and empowerment has positioned him as a trusted voice in the field, empowering readers to confidently embrace their natural beauty.