Bridesmaids with round faces usually sit down in my chair and ask me to hide their cheeks. I never try to. What I do is move the volume: up to the crown, down past the jaw, and away from the widest point of the face. Every style below follows that rule in its own way, through a lifted crown, a diagonal part or tendrils cut long enough to draw a vertical line. They’re also built to last through a full day of photos, hugs and dancing, because a flattering shape that collapses by the toasts doesn’t help anyone.
Is Your Face Really Round, or Just Soft at the Cheeks?
Many bridesmaids who call themselves round-faced actually have oval or heart-shaped faces with full cheeks. The difference changes my advice, so I check before I plan anything.
Pull your hair back and look straight into a mirror. A round face is roughly as wide across the cheekbones as it is long from hairline to chin, with a soft, curved jawline and no strong angle at the corners. If your face is clearly longer than it is wide, or your jaw has a defined corner, you’re working with a different shape, and you can wear volume at the sides more freely than this list suggests.
What to show your stylist
Bring a photo of yourself with your hair pulled back, plus a straight-on and side photo of the style you like. The side view tells me where the volume sits, which you can’t see in most inspiration shots taken from the front.
1. Low Bun Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
I place this low bun a little higher than the nape, roughly in line with the bottom of the ears, so it doesn’t add bulk under the jaw. A small amount of backcombing at the crown gives the lift that lengthens the face. The tendrils matter more than the bun itself. If they stop right at the cheekbone they act like a frame around the widest part of the face, so I leave them long enough to fall past it. A soft side part lengthens more than a center one.
2. Side Swept Curls Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
A deep side part sends the line of the face diagonally, and that diagonal does most of the slimming here. I keep the top smooth and start the curls at the cheekbone or lower, because curls that begin at the root just add width at the temples. One side goes behind the ear with hidden pins or a barrette, the other falls forward over the shoulder. One-shoulder and off-the-shoulder dresses are the natural partners for it.
3. Half Up Half Down Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Half up hair is where round-face bridesmaids most often end up looking wider than they need to, usually because the top section was pulled back flat and tight. I gather the crown loosely and push it slightly forward before pinning, so it has height. Waves below should fall vertically rather than out to the sides. Any face-framing strands stay long and light, with nothing heavy sitting on the cheek. It needs medium or long hair to work.
4. High Bun Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
High buns are underrated for round faces. The eye goes straight up, and that’s what we want. I set the bun on the crown, not halfway down the back of the head, and leave the sides smooth but not scraped. A textured bun with a few loose pieces at the temples is softer and more current than a hard ballet knot. It is my pick for hot weather, high necklines and statement earrings. A doughnut or padding inside keeps it from sinking during the reception.
5. Loose Waves Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Loose waves can go wrong on round faces when the fullest part lands right next to the cheeks. I lift the roots, keep the first few inches smooth, then start the bends below the cheekbones so the texture builds around the shoulders. A side part sculpts a little more. Center parts look modern but need that root lift, or the face reads wider. Nearly any neckline works with it.
6. Textured Ponytail Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
This ponytail is the most secure style on the list. I tease the crown before securing the tail, so there’s a gentle rise from the hairline to the band, and wave the length so it doesn’t look like gym hair. Low or mid-height is right for most weddings, and a higher pony reads younger and more playful. Long strands at the front draw that vertical line past the cheeks. Wrap hair around the elastic, and choose it for halter dresses or open backs where the tail can hang down the spine.
7. Braided Crown Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Wrapped tightly around the sides of the head, a braided crown is like a headband, and it widens a round face. So I keep the braid lifted toward the top and loose, pancaking each loop after it’s pinned so it looks airy rather than tight. Tendrils at the front soften the edges. It keeps hair off the neck for outdoor ceremonies and flowing dresses, and from behind it shows a lot of detail.
8. Messy Bun Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
An intentional messy bun has height and loose texture, and its tendrils fall beyond the jaw. The thing to avoid is volume directly beside the ears, which happens when the bun is pulled too wide. I start with wavy or lightly curled hair, since that texture fills the bun out without padding. Sit it low for something relaxed, higher for more lift. Rustic and garden weddings suit it, and bridesmaids who don’t want to look overdone.
9. Hollywood Waves Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Hollywood waves on a round face need a deep side part, without exception. The part adds an angle, and the waves fall in one long direction, which slims more than almost any other down style. I brush the curls into a smooth ridge and clip each bend while it sets, so it stays glossy without going stiff. It’s very much a black-tie look. Pair it with satin gowns or a vintage-inspired dress, and expect it to need a dry, cool room to stay crisp.
10. French Twist Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
A French twist runs up the back of the head, and that vertical roll pulls the eye upward with it. For bridesmaids I soften it with texture at the crown and some loose pieces at the front, or a gentle side-swept fringe if she has one. It needs at least shoulder-length hair, ideally longer. City and formal weddings suit it, with drop earrings and a high neck to finish.
11. Side Braid Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Done loosely, a side braid sends a diagonal line across the face and that balances the roundness. Done bulky near the cheek, it does the opposite. I start the braid behind the ear rather than at the temple and pull it apart only from the shoulder down. Fishtail, Dutch or classic three-strand braids all work. It holds well outdoors and moves comfortably with flowing dresses.
12. Curly Updo Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Natural curls pinned upward give a round face height, and they also protect the curl pattern, since nothing is stretched over hours of wear. I pin the curls in clusters toward the crown, keeping the sides close to the head. A few defined curls stay loose, long enough to fall below the cheeks. The curls must be fully dry and set before anything goes up, or they frizz. Floral pins, gold or pearls all sit well between the clumps.
13. Soft Chignon Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
A chignon is about the easiest updo to adapt across a mixed bridal party. Fine hair gets a small pad inside, thick hair just gets more pins, and everyone ends up with the same low shape. For round faces I give it real crown volume so it doesn’t flatten the head. I also keep the side twists soft, with loose front pieces. Because it’s so contained, it is my suggestion when the dress has a detailed neckline that deserves the attention.
14. Waterfall Braid Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
A waterfall braid lets loose hair carry a wedding detail without weighing on the face. I place the braid just above the temples and angle it slightly down toward the back, so the eye follows the line instead of seeing a band across the head. The remaining hair falls in vertical waves. Keep curls loose near the cheeks. It needs medium or long hair and suits spring and summer weddings, and tiny flowers can be tucked into the braid’s openings.
15. Sleek Low Ponytail Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
The trap with a sleek low ponytail is flatness at the crown, and on a round face that flat top makes the cheeks look wider. I keep the hair glossy but leave a tiny lift at the roots before brushing it back to the nape. A deep side part adds an angle, a center part looks more modern. The tail can hang straight or with slightly curled ends, and it sits well against satin and minimalist settings.
16. Boho Braid Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Boho braids look relaxed, but for round faces I’m strict about where the fullness goes. Height at the top, length down the back or side, and the pulled-apart volume kept below the jawline. Tendrils get a soft curl so they don’t hang limply. You can wear it as one long braid, a braided ponytail or a braid running through loose waves. Lace dresses and outdoor settings suit it.
17. Shoulder Length Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Shoulder-length hair suits round faces well, as long as the ends don’t sit at the chin. A line that stops at the jaw makes the face look wider, while ends at the collarbone pull the eye down. I style it with a side part and airy waves, tucking one side for shape. For something a little more dressed, add a decorative clip on one side or a small twist pinned at the back. Casual weddings and modern dresses fit it best.
18. Long Layers Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Long layers carry the lengthening effect better than anything else worn down. I curl or wave the layers from below the cheekbones and make sure the shortest front pieces fall at the jaw or lower, so they lead the eye downward. A little crown volume keeps the balance. If your shortest layer is cut at the cheekbone, ask for it to be grown out a few months before the wedding, rather than trying to hide it on the day. Hair vines or pearl pins finish it.
19. Twisted Half Up Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Twists for a half up look start at the temples and sweep back to meet at the crown, which adds lift and opens the face. I keep the twists loose so they don’t pull the hairline tight. The lower hair can be waved, curled or left in soft bends, and thin face-framing pieces stay long. Medium and long hair suit it, at garden or beach weddings especially.
20. Voluminous Updo Bridesmaid Hairstyle For Round Face
Volume is only flattering if it’s in the right place. With a voluminous updo I put the height at the crown, sweep the sides back close to the head and pin the curls higher than a standard low bun. Long tendrils at the front soften the jawline. It has real presence for formal weddings and dramatic dresses, and it holds well because it’s pinned in many small sections rather than one.
Tendrils Make or Break These Styles
Loose face-framing pieces appear in nearly every style above, and they’re the detail I see go wrong most often. A tendril that ends right at the cheekbone draws a line around the widest point of the face. The same tendril an inch longer draws a line downward. So I cut nothing on the day. I simply choose which strands to pull out, picking pieces long enough to reach the jaw or beyond.
Curl them separately from the rest of the hair, away from the face, with a small iron, and let them cool before touching. Then spray them lightly from a distance. Heavily sprayed tendrils turn stiff and stick to the cheek in the heat, which looks worse than none at all.
Where You Stand in the Group Photo Changes Your Face
This isn’t strictly hair, but it matters for round faces. Photographers often use wide lenses for a whole bridal party, and wide lenses stretch faces near the edges of the frame. If you’re at the end of the line, your face can look broader than it is. The fix is simple:
- Angle your body slightly toward the center of the group instead of facing the camera flat on.
- Push your chin a little forward and down, which defines the jawline in photos.
- Keep the side part on the side that faces the camera most, so the lift shows in the frame.
- Check the back and sides in a hand mirror before photos start, since flattened crowns usually happen after hugging.
Lift, Length and a Diagonal Part Do the Real Work
Almost every style here relies on the same three moves. Height at the crown, a side part that sets the face on an angle, and loose pieces that end below the cheekbones. That means you aren’t limited to one category of style. Buns, half up looks, ponytails, braids and waves can all flatter a round face once those details are right. Try your favourite with the actual dress and earrings before the wedding, so you know how it feels, and how it looks from the side as well as the front.
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