20 Hairstyles for Inverted Triangle Faces That Balance

Understanding Your Inverted Triangle Face Shape

Before we dive into the styles, let’s confirm your face shape. An inverted triangle (sometimes called a heart shape) is characterized by a forehead and cheekbone area that is the widest part of the face. The face then gracefully narrows down to a pointed or narrow chin. Think of celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, or Naomi Campbell—they are classic examples of this powerful shape.

The primary styling goal for inverted triangle faces is to minimize width at the top while adding fullness and visual interest from the cheeks down. This means we often want to avoid styles that add height or volume at the crown and instead focus on textures, layers, and widths that draw the eye downward and outward. Ready to find your next favorite look? Let’s explore.

Short Hairstyles for Inverted Triangle Faces

Short hair can be incredibly liberating and chic for inverted triangle shapes, as long as the cut creates balance. The focus here is on building width at the nape and jawline.

1. The Blunt Bob with Side-Swept Bangs: A jaw-length blunt bob creates a strong, horizontal line that instantly adds perceived width to the lower face. Pair it with long, side-swept bangs that break up the forehead’s width without adding height.

2. Textured Pixie with Choppy Ends: Avoid sleek, flat pixies. Opt for a textured, piecey pixie with lots of movement and volume through the sides and back. This draws attention away from the forehead and towards your eyes and cheekbones.

3. Asymmetric Lob (Long Bob): A lob that hits just below the chin is perfect. Ask for an asymmetric cut—shorter in the back, longer in the front—to create diagonal lines that soften angular features and add interest around the jaw.

4. Shaggy Bob with Wispy Layers: This cut is a game-changer. The shag’s multiple layers, especially around the face and below the chin, create a cascade of texture that diffuses focus from the forehead and adds wonderful fullness where you need it.

5. Curly French Crop: For those with natural texture, a curly french crop with volume on the sides and a slightly longer, textured top (worn forward) softens the hairline and emphasizes the eyes and lower face.

Medium-Length Hairstyles for Ultimate Balance

Medium hair offers the most versatility for creating balance. This length is ideal for incorporating layers and waves that build structure around the jawline.

6. Face-Framing Layers: The quintessential cut for inverted triangles. Ask your stylist for long layers that start at the jawline or mouth level. These layers should curve forward, literally framing your face and adding softness and volume precisely where the face narrows.

7. Soft Waves or Beachy Texture: Straight, one-length medium hair can sometimes emphasize the face’s triangular shape. Introducing soft, loose waves—especially from mid-lengths to ends—creates outward volume that balances a wider forehead beautifully.

8. Side-Parted Hair with Volume at the Nape: A deep side part instantly breaks the symmetry of a wide forehead. Style your hair to have a little extra volume or a slight curl at the ends near the nape of your neck to widen the appearance of the lower face.

9. Curtain Bangs with Layered Hair: Curtain bangs are your best friend. They elegantly bisect the forehead, reducing its broad appearance. Combine them with overall layered hair for a perfectly balanced, retro-modern look.

10. Blunt Cut with Ends Flipped Out: A medium, blunt cut can work if you style the ends to flip outward. This simple styling trick, reminiscent of a ’70s blowout, pushes the hair outward at the shoulders, creating the illusion of a wider jawline.

Long Hairstyles to Soften and Widen

Long hair provides a beautiful canvas for styles that draw the eye downward. The goal is to avoid triangular silhouettes and instead create a rectangular or oval shape with your hair.

11. Long, Wispy Layers Throughout: Avoid heavy, top-only layers. Request long, wispy layers that run from the collarbone down to the ends. This removes weight from the top and adds movement and body through the lower half of your hair.

12. Voluminous Waves Starting at the Chin: Create loose, voluminous waves that begin at chin level. Use a large-barrel curling iron and curl sections away from your face to maximize the widening effect around the jaw.

13. Half-Up, Half-Down with Volume at the Sides: When wearing your hair half-up, gently tease or pull the hair at the sides (near your temples) slightly forward before securing it. This creates softness around the upper face, while the down hair adds width below.

14. Deep Side Part with Tousled Texture: A deep side part combined with overall tousled, “lived-in” texture is effortlessly flattering. The asymmetry minimizes the forehead, and the all-over texture prevents hair from lying flat against the chin.

15. Braids or Twists Along the Hairline: Incorporate a braid or twist along your hairline, starting from a side part and going back. This decorative element breaks up the expanse of the forehead and draws the eye across rather than down the center.

Bangs: The Secret Weapon for Inverted Triangles

Bangs are a powerful tool for inverted triangle faces, but the type of bangs is critical. The right bangs can transform your look by strategically covering and softening the forehead.

16. Side-Swept Bangs (The Classic): As mentioned, these are a top choice. They cover a portion of the forehead with a diagonal line, which is more slimming and balancing than a straight horizontal line.

17. Wispy, Piece-y Bangs: Thick, heavy blunt bangs can emphasize the width they’re trying to cover. Instead, opt for wispy, see-through bangs that soften the hairline without creating a solid, wide block of hair.

18. Curtain Bangs (The MVP): We’re mentioning them again because they’re that good. Curtain bangs are center-parted and blend seamlessly into the rest of your hair, creating a beautiful, face-framing effect that narrows the forehead naturally.

19. Brow-Skimming Blunt Bangs (With a Caveat): If you love a blunt bang, ask for it to be cut slightly narrower than your total forehead width and to skim your brows, not be too heavy. Pair it with lots of volume at the jaw-length to counterbalance.

Styling Tips & Tricks to Remember

Beyond the cut, how you style your hair makes all the difference. Keep these professional tips in your back pocket.

Volume is Key (But in the Right Place): Use a volumizing mousse or root-lifting spray at the crown and mid-lengths, but avoid adding height at the very top of your head. Focus lift around the occipital bone (the back of your head) and below.

Embrace Texture: Sleek, flat styles often accentuate the triangular shape. Don’t be afraid of texture—use sea salt spray, texturizing powder, or a curling wand to create body and movement through the sides and ends of your hair.

Parting Ways: A center part can sometimes emphasize symmetry and width. A deep side part is almost always more flattering as it creates an asymmetric, slimming effect on the forehead.

Accessorize Strategically: Wear headbands or clips placed back from your hairline, not sitting right on top of your head. Dangling earrings can also help draw the eye downward and elongate the lower face.

Hairstyles to Generally Avoid

Knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to try. Steer clear of styles that add bulk or emphasis to the upper half of your head.

Extreme Volume at the Crown: Big tease or bouffant styles will exaggerate the width of your forehead and make the chin appear narrower by contrast.

Severe, Slicked-Back Looks: Pulling hair tightly back into a high ponytail or bun exposes the full hairline and emphasizes the face’s natural width at the top.

Very Short, Flat Top Styles: Short crops that are spiked or voluminous only on the very top of the head will create an unbalanced, triangular silhouette.

Heavy, One-Length Blunt Cuts with No Layers: Especially if worn straight, these can create a triangular shape, with the widest point being your hair at the shoulders and the narrowest being your chin.

Your inverted triangle face shape is a beautiful asset—strong, memorable, and elegant. The key to loving your look is all about strategic balance. By choosing hairstyles that add weight, texture, and volume around your jawline and soften your forehead, you can highlight your stunning cheekbones and create a flawlessly proportional appearance. Bookmark this guide, bring these photos to your next salon appointment, and get ready to wear your hair with newfound confidence. The perfect, balancing cut is waiting for you!