Short haircuts that frame the face are really versatile — they can soften your features, highlight your bone structure, and give your hair lots of character.
Here are some of the most flattering short styles and what makes them work so well for framing the face:
Table of Contents
Popular Short Haircuts That Frame the Face
Short Haircuts That Frame the Face #1: Textured Pixie
- A pixie cut with choppy, layered texture gives a soft, lived-in feel instead of looking too sharp.
- Adding a soft fringe (side-swept or light bangs) helps bring attention to the eyes and cheekbones.
- For round faces, stylists often recommend keeping the sides sleeker and adding volume at the crown to elongate the face.
Short Hair Face Frame Style #2: Modern Pixie with Undercut
- This combines a classic short pixie with shaved or closely cropped sides, giving contrast and structure.
- The texture on top, paired with the undercut, adds dimension and brings focus to your face shape.
Face Frame Layers Short Hair #3: Short Wolf Cut
- A wolf cut is layered, messy, and has a slightly shaggy look. When cut short, it gives you movement and a bit of edge.
- Those face-framing layers blend around the cheeks and jaw, which softens angular features.
- Works beautifully with natural texture — if your hair is wavy or curly, this is a low-maintenance way to layer without losing shape.
Short Hair With Face Frame #4: Angled/Asymmetrical Bob
- A bob that’s longer in the front and slightly shorter in the back (sometimes called an A-line bob) naturally frames the face.
- The angle gives a slimming effect, drawing the eye downwards, which can offset rounder cheeks.
- You can keep it clean and structured, or add choppy layers for texture.
- Blunt Bob with Curtain or Micro Bangs
- A blunt bob (cut with precision) ends around the jawline, which emphasizes the face’s natural lines.
- Curtain bangs (soft, parted in the middle) or micro bangs (very short, just above the brow) help frame the upper face and soften sharper jawlines.
- This style balances structure with softness — the straight lines of the cut plus the gentle fall of bangs around the face.
- Short Butterfly Cut
- This style uses layered cuts that mirror each other on both sides of the face — shorter layers in front, longer cascading layers on the sides.
- It creates a “wing” effect around your face, making it flattering for a variety of face shapes (oval, square, long).
- The layers in front bring softness to your cheekbones and jawline.
Why Face-Framing Works
- Softens Angles: Layers or bangs soften strong jawlines or angular features.
- Creates Balance: For round or fuller faces, strategic layering or volume on top can make the face appear more elongated.
- Adds Texture and Movement: Even with very short cuts, face-framing layers add dimension and prevent the style from looking too “blocky.”
- Style Flexibility: You can play up the layers, tuck them behind your ears, or curl inward or outward — meaning you can change how much of your face is framed daily.
Tips When Choosing
- Think about your face shape: If your face is more angular, soft layers or bangs can balance things out. If it’s rounder, volume on top and sleek sides help.
- Hair texture matters: Fine hair benefits from layering because it gives lift; thicker or curly hair can use texture to reduce bulk and shape the face.
Face Frame Highlights Short Hair
Photo Credits: Jacky Chan, We professional