Short hair with face framing pieces can be a hugely flattering and versatile look — it softens features, adds dimension, and lets you play with texture.
Here’s a breakdown of what it is, how it works, what to consider, and style tips:
Table of Contents
What Are Face-Framing Pieces
These are shorter layers or cuts around the front of the face — on the temples, cheeks, or jawline — designed to highlight or soften certain facial features.
They blend into the rest of the haircut rather than being a standalone fringe or bang.
When paired with short hair (e.g. pixies, bobs, shags), they can dramatically change the silhouette and the way your face looks.
Why People Like Them
- They soften strong features (e.g. sharp jawlines, broad foreheads).
- They help frame and emphasize your best features (like cheekbones or eyes).
- They add movement and texture — especially helpful in short styles that can sometimes look boxy or heavy.
- They allow you to balance proportions, depending on your face shape.
- They can make a style feel more modern, youthful, or edgy.
Matching Face Framing Layers Short to Face Shape
Different face shapes benefit from different placements or styles of face-framing pieces.
Here are general guidelines:
| Face Shape | What to Aim for With Face-Framing Pieces |
|---|---|
| Oval | Very forgiving. You can try sharper or softer pieces. Longer or shorter front layers both work. Traditionally, oval faces can pull off nearly anything. |
| Round | Aim to elongate. Pieces starting at or below cheekbones that angle downwards help lengthen the face. |
| Square | Use softer, wispy or choppy pieces (especially near the sides of the face and jaw) to counterbalance strong jawlines. Avoid harsh straight lines at the jaw. |
| Heart (wide forehead, narrow chin) | Layers that begin at chin or cheek level, to draw attention downward and balance out forehead width. Pieces that soften around the jaw are helpful. |
| Long / oblong | Face-framing pieces that start higher (e.g. cheekbone) to add width; avoid ones that emphasize length further. Styling with volume on the sides also helps. |
| Diamond | Because cheekbones are widest, framing pieces that soften around them and bring softness to forehead/chin can be very flattering. |
Types & Styles of Short Hair With Face Framing Pieces
Here are some popular short styles that work well with face-framing:
- Pixie with longer front/side pieces — softens and gives flexibility with styling.
- Winged pixie / Wixie — a pixie variant that has “winged” or extended pieces around the face. Adds a bit more shape and edge.
- Textured bob or shaggy bob — with shorter layers near the face that gradually get longer toward the back. Gives body and can be very flattering.
- Butterfly cut (adapted for short lengths) — this combines shorter front framing layers with longer pieces further back for a “winged” movement.
Things to Consider / Potential Downsides of Face Frame Layers Short Hair
- Maintenance: You’ll likely need more frequent trims to keep the framing pieces in place so they don’t outgrow in a way that looks awkward.
- Hair type: Very thick, coarse hair might need thinning or special layering so the framing pieces don’t puff out. Very fine hair might need soft layers so it doesn’t hang too limp.
- Styling effort: Some styles require more effort (blow-drying, shaping, using tools/products) to keep the face frame looking good. If you like low-maintenance, you may want subtle framing.
- Growth phase: As those shorter front layers grow out, there can be an in-between stage that may require styling tricks (pinning, use of product, etc.).
Photo Credits: Jacky Chan