7 Slimming Haircuts and Hairstyles That Are Basically Beauty Magic

This cut is popular for a reason: It doesn’t quite skim the shoulders, so there’s room for air and light and neck lengthening. When requesting it, make sure your ends hit around three inches below your chin.

While straight-across bangs can be hard to pull off (and add width), side-swept bangs slenderize the cheeks and look great on short or long hair.

Think of this as side-swept bangs without the commitment. An extreme part creates the same face-elongating effect without the need to actually cut your hair. The loose waves also add volume, which balances out a rounder face.

The idea here is to create a soft curve around your cheekbones and eyes, avoiding harsh, straight lines that can emphasize the width of your face. The effect is much more flattering than the Rachel. 

A basic slicked-back pony can come across as too much (and it exaggerates any roundness in your face), but a softer style with light teasing has the opposite (almost effortless) effect.

Think of this as an optical hair illusion. Pulling your hair into a super-high bun draws the eye up, making your face seem longer and narrower than it is. To keep it from seeming too severe, leave a few pieces out and don’t be afraid to make it look a little messy.

Like the teased ponytail and the topknot, avoid making your low chignon too tight and leave a few pieces out to frame your face. The result is elegant and polished. (Is it weird to have #neckgoals?)