Introduction
Tired of hairstyles that emphasize your strong jawline instead of softening it? If you have a square face shape with a broad forehead and angular jaw, finding the perfect medium-length hairstyle can feel like an endless struggle. You deserve a look that highlights your best features while creating beautiful balance and harmony.
This comprehensive guide promises to transform your hair game with 18 stunning medium-length hairstyles specifically designed to flatter square faces. Each style works to soften angular features, create the illusion of length, and frame your face in the most flattering way possible.
As a professional hairstylist with over a decade of experience specializing in face-shape analysis and personalized styling, I’ve helped hundreds of clients with square faces discover their most flattering looks. I understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with your striking bone structure.
In this guide, you’ll discover expert tips on choosing the right hairstyle for your face shape, learn about flattering cuts and styling techniques, explore gorgeous variations to match your personal style, and get answers to your most pressing hair questions.
Table of Contents
Why These Hairstyles Work for Square Faces
Medium-length hairstyles are the sweet spot for square face shapes, offering versatility, balance, and endless styling possibilities that shorter and longer lengths simply can’t match.
Key benefits include:
- Creates softness around angular features through strategic layering and texturing that breaks up the strong horizontal lines of your jaw and forehead
- Offers incredible versatility for styling—wear it straight for sophisticated elegance, add waves for romantic softness, or create curls for dramatic volume
- Requires manageable maintenance compared to very long hair while providing more styling options than shorter cuts
- Flatters at any age whether you’re in your twenties or your sixties, making it a timeless choice that never goes out of style
- Works with all hair textures from pin-straight to naturally curly, allowing you to embrace your natural texture or change things up
18 Medium-Length Hairstyles for Square Faces That Flatter
#1 Sleek Cut with a Middle Part
This modern, polished look works surprisingly well when executed with the right length and subtle layering. The key is keeping length past the jawline and incorporating very soft, barely-there layers that prevent the harsh lines often associated with center parts. The sleekness creates sophisticated elegance while the length elongates your face beautifully, drawing the eye vertically rather than horizontally across your strong jawline and cheekbones.
#2 Medium Layered Cut with Side-Swept Bangs
Side-swept bangs are absolutely magical for square faces, creating asymmetry that breaks up angular features while adding softness. The medium layers throughout provide movement and dimension, preventing the heavy, blunt look that can emphasize jaw width. This versatile style works equally well for professional settings and casual weekends, and the bangs can be styled swept dramatically to one side or more subtly blended into face-framing layers for variety.
#3 Classic Curls
Soft, bouncy curls at medium length create the perfect softness to counterbalance angular facial features beautifully. The rounded shape of curls naturally adds width at the sides and top of your head rather than at the jawline, creating that coveted oval illusion. This timeless style works for every occasion from casual coffee dates to formal events, and the curls can be tight and defined or loose and romantic depending on your mood.
#4 Medium Choppy Wavy Cut
Choppy layers combined with textured waves create an effortlessly cool, modern vibe that’s incredibly flattering for square faces. The choppy cutting technique removes bulk and creates irregular, piece-y ends that soften harsh lines. Waves add movement and dimension that draws attention away from angular features. This low-maintenance style embraces natural texture and looks intentionally undone rather than overly styled, perfect for the modern woman who wants style without excessive daily effort.
#5 Razor Cut with Long Bangs and Short Layers
The razor cutting technique creates ultra-soft, feathered ends that beautifully soften the strong lines of a square face. Long, wispy bangs graze your cheekbones and can be swept to the side, creating that essential asymmetry. Short layers throughout add volume at the crown and movement around the face. This edgy yet feminine style has a rock-and-roll vibe while remaining polished enough for professional environments, offering the best of both worlds for the adventurous spirit.
#6 Chic Shag
The shag haircut has made a major comeback, and it’s particularly flattering for square faces when cut at medium length. Multiple layers throughout create incredible texture, movement, and volume that soften angular features beautifully. The piece-y, lived-in quality prevents the structured, boxy appearance that square faces should avoid. This style works with virtually any hair texture and can be styled sleek and polished or messy and undone, giving you endless versatility for expressing your personal style daily.
#7 Warm Honey Balayage on Side-Parted Hair
Strategic color placement combined with the right cut creates dimension that sculpts and flatters your face shape beautifully. Warm honey tones add brightness around your face, drawing light and attention to your eyes and away from angular jawlines. The balayage technique creates depth through lighter pieces concentrated around the face, which has a slimming, softening effect. A deep side part adds essential asymmetry while the dimensional color creates movement even in straight hair.
#8 Simple Medium-Length Hair
Sometimes the most understated styles are the most effective for flattering square faces without trying too hard. A simple, classic medium-length cut just past the shoulders with minimal layering creates elegant simplicity that never goes out of style. The key is ensuring the length extends well below your jawline and incorporating very subtle face-framing layers that angle downward. This timeless look is perfect for those who prefer classic beauty over trendy styles and want minimal daily styling effort.
#9 Shaggy Messy Lob with Choppy Fringe
The long bob (lob) at medium length combined with shaggy layers and choppy fringe creates the ultimate cool-girl vibe while flattering square faces. The messy, textured quality softens angular features beautifully, while the choppy fringe adds softness across the forehead without the heaviness of traditional bangs. This style looks effortlessly undone and works beautifully with natural texture or can be enhanced with texturizing products. It’s perfect for those who want edgy style without high maintenance.
#10 Effortless Medium-Length Up-do
Knowing how to style your medium-length hair up is essential for those occasions when you want your hair off your face while still flattering your features. The key for square faces is avoiding sleek, pulled-back styles that expose your entire face. Instead, opt for loose, messy buns or chignons positioned at the nape of the neck with face-framing pieces left out. These soft tendrils around your face create the softening effect you need while keeping hair stylishly secured.
#11 Messy Layered S Curve Haircut
The S curve technique creates beautiful movement through the mid-lengths and ends, forming soft, flowing curves rather than harsh lines. Multiple layers cut at different lengths create dimension and prevent flatness, while the curved shape adds width at the sides rather than the jaw. This modern cutting technique results in hair that naturally falls into flattering shapes with minimal styling effort. The messy, lived-in finish keeps the look current and prevents an overly polished appearance that might emphasize geometric features.
#12 Soft Lived-In Curls for Shoulder-Length Hair
Shoulder-length hair with soft, natural-looking curls creates romantic, feminine beauty that beautifully complements square face shapes. The key difference from more structured curls is the lived-in quality—these curls are loose, slightly imperfect, and varying in size throughout. This creates organic movement and softness that counteracts angular features without looking overly done. The shoulder-skimming length is ideal, falling just beyond the jawline to create the elongating effect you want while maintaining easy manageability and versatility.
#13 Peach Ombre with a Deep Side Part
Bold color combined with strategic styling creates a stunning look that draws attention to your hair’s beauty while flattering your face shape. The ombre technique transitions from darker roots to peachy-toned ends, creating vertical lines that elongate your face. A deep side part adds crucial asymmetry that breaks up the geometric quality of square faces. The warm peach tones add brightness and dimension while the color placement draws the eye downward along the length rather than horizontally across angular features.
#14 Straight Shoulder-Length Hair with Side Part
Classic, straight hair at shoulder length can absolutely work for square faces when styled with the right elements in place. The critical factor is incorporating a side part rather than center, which immediately creates asymmetry. Ensure the length extends past your jawline by at least an inch to avoid emphasizing jaw width. Very subtle layering around the face prevents bluntness while maintaining the sleek quality. This polished, sophisticated look works beautifully in professional settings and is surprisingly easy to maintain daily.
#15 Phoenix-Inspired Curls
Dramatic, voluminous curls that rise and flow like phoenix feathers create show-stopping beauty while flattering square face shapes beautifully. The key is creating volume at the crown and throughout the mid-lengths rather than at the ends, which could add unwanted width at the jawline. These bold, spiraling curls draw attention upward and create movement that softens angular features. This glamorous style is perfect for special occasions when you want to make a statement while looking absolutely stunning and camera-ready.
#16 Medium-to-Long Straight Hair with a Deep Side Part
Straight hair that falls between medium and long length offers elegant versatility that works beautifully for square faces when styled properly. The deep side part creates essential asymmetry while the longer length past shoulders ensures the style elongates rather than widens your face. Keeping ends slightly textured rather than blunt prevents harsh horizontal lines. This classic, polished look transitions seamlessly from office to evening events and requires minimal daily styling beyond blow drying and perhaps a quick pass with a flat iron.
#17 Shoulder-Length Red Lob
A vibrant red lob (long bob) at shoulder length makes a bold statement while flattering square face shapes when cut with the right elements. The shoulder-skimming length creates beautiful proportions, falling just beyond the jawline. Subtle layers add movement and prevent the bluntness that can emphasize width. The rich red color draws attention to the hair’s beauty and creates warmth around your face. This confident, stylish look works for those ready to embrace bold color while maintaining a flattering, versatile cut that works daily.
#18 Subtle Curtain Fringe on Brown Hair
Curtain bangs have become incredibly popular, and they’re particularly flattering for square faces when kept soft and subtle. These face-framing pieces part in the center but are long enough to sweep to the sides, creating softness around the forehead and cheekbones. On rich brown hair, the subtle texture and movement of curtain fringe adds dimension without overwhelming your features. This trendy yet timeless style offers the benefits of bangs without the commitment, as they blend seamlessly into your hair when grown out.
FAQs
Can I wear my hair in a ponytail with a square face?
Absolutely! The key is avoiding high, tight ponytails that pull all hair away from your face. Instead, opt for low ponytails positioned at the nape of your neck with some face-framing pieces left out. You can also try side ponytails that create asymmetry or messy, textured ponytails with volume at the crown. These variations maintain the flattering elements your face shape needs while offering the convenience of pulled-back hair.
How do I know if my face is truly square or another shape?
Measure your face to determine your shape accurately. Measure the width of your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw, then measure from hairline to chin. If all three horizontal measurements are similar and roughly equal to your face length, you have a square face. If your face length is noticeably longer, you might be rectangular. If your jaw is narrower than your forehead, you’re likely heart-shaped or triangle-shaped instead.
Will these styles work if I have fine or thin hair?
Yes! Many of these styles actually work beautifully with fine hair, though you may need to adapt them slightly. Focus on layered styles that create the illusion of fullness rather than one-length cuts that can look flat. Use volumizing products at the roots and texturizing sprays through the lengths. Avoid heavy products that weigh hair down. Styles with waves, curls, or choppy texture are particularly flattering as they create dimension and the appearance of fuller, thicker hair.
How often should I get my hair cut to maintain these styles?
Most medium-length styles require professional maintenance every 6-8 weeks to keep their shape and prevent split ends. If you have bangs or face-framing layers, you might want to schedule appointments every 5-6 weeks or learn to trim them yourself between visits. If you’re growing out a shorter cut to medium length, you can stretch appointments to 10-12 weeks, just having the stylist clean up the shape while maintaining length.
Can I achieve these styles if I have naturally curly hair?
Absolutely! Many of these styles work beautifully with natural curls, though you may need to adapt the cutting technique. Ask for a dry cut from a stylist experienced with curly hair, as cutting curly hair when wet can lead to unexpected results. Embrace your natural texture in styles featuring curls or waves, and use products designed for curly hair to define and control frizz. You can also straighten your hair when desired for styles that require a sleeker look.
What’s the best way to transition from short to medium-length hair?
Growing out short hair requires patience and strategic styling. Schedule regular trims to maintain a flattering shape during the awkward in-between stages. Use styling products and techniques to add texture and volume where needed. Consider temporary extensions if you’re trying to grow out a particularly difficult length. Experiment with accessories like headbands, clips, and scarves to manage hair during the transition. Remember that the process typically takes 6-12 months depending on your hair’s growth rate.
Conclusion
Finding the perfect medium-length hairstyle for your square face opens up a world of flattering possibilities that enhance your natural beauty while softening angular features. These 18 styles offer something for everyone—from classic and timeless to edgy and modern, from low-maintenance to glamorous. The key is choosing styles that create length, incorporate softness, and avoid emphasizing the strong horizontal lines of your jaw and forehead.
Ready to transform your look? Book an appointment with a stylist experienced in face-shape analysis and bring photos of your favorite styles from this guide. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different options until you find the perfect look that makes you feel confident and beautiful every single day.
Join thousands of women with square faces who’ve discovered their most flattering hairstyles and finally feel confident in their look. Share your transformation photos on social media and inspire others to embrace their unique beauty. Your perfect medium-length hairstyle is waiting—it’s time to take the leap and discover which of these 18 flattering options is meant for you!
