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19 Flattering Updos and Ponytails for Round Faces

Round faces are equal in length and width. Their defining features include a rounded jawline and chin with the cheekbones being the widest part of the face.

It can be challenging to find an updo hairstyle that’ll suit your round face.

When you’ve got a round face, choose a hairstyle that makes it appear slender and long while adding definition.

Apart from bangs and long layers, high updos, volume at the crown region, and full curls/waves can help make a round face look slim and small. Steer clear of sleek pulled-back hairdos though.

Gorgeous Updos to Flatter Round Faces

To help you choose the perfect updo for your round face, we’ve compiled the below list of updo hairstyles that’ll surely bring your soft facial features under the spotlight in the most elegant ways.

1. Vintage Victory Rolls 

Auburn updo with two rolled sections above the forehead
Refat/Shutterstock.com

The best updos for round faces are the ones that add height on top. Victory rolls can prove to be suitable in this regard, especially for those who dislike bumpy poufs at the front. Roll the strands inwards with a middle/side part and repeat for the remaining hair at the back.  

2. Curly Chignon 

Blonde curled low bun with loose front strands and a tiara
Hamara/Shutterstock.com

Chignons are fancy French buns that lie low at the nape of the neck. Although they seem difficult to master, the one depicted here is effortless to achieve.

Add curls to the hair and twist back the chunks leaving a few loose to frame the face. Don’t forget the crown!

3. Space Buns 

Two high brown space buns with loose front strands
Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.com

Looking for something more lively and playful rather than elegant? Space buns have got you covered.

Whether you’re going to a party or just enjoying a casual day, frame your cute round face by creating two ponytails and wrapping them around into buns to look just like Princess Leia from Star Wars.  

4. Half-Up Braided Bun 

Long micro braids with a high half-up bun
AnnaStills/Shutterstock.com

Black beauties who wish to make their chubby round faces appear somewhat slimmer can try a half-up bun.

Opt for whatever length you want when getting box braids and let the bun sit at the front instead of the back to prevent your circular face from looking big.

5. Ballerina Bun

High curly bun with a thin black headband
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

Ballet buns are not meant just for ballerinas. Anyone with a round face can dance around with them while showing off their best features.

Use a donut bun maker to create the perfect updo or twist your ponytail tightly before wrapping it into a bun. Simple and elegant!  

6. Messy Crown Braid 

Woman with rope twist leading into a voluminous twisted updo and face framing strands.
Pelevina Ksinia/Shutterstock.com

This auburn updo features a thick rope-twisted bun at the crown, with large, loose twists adding volume at the back.

To recreate it, keep the front hair smooth and swept back, leaving a few strands loose around the face. Gather the hair at the back and divide it into two sections. Twist each section in the same direction, then wrap them around each other in the opposite direction to create a thick rope twist.

Coil the twist into a large bun at the crown and secure it with bobby pins. Gently loosen and spread the twisted sections to create a fuller shape that extends toward the nape.

7. Plaited Low Updo 

Broad side braid joined to a low pinned bun
Suti Stock Photo/Shutterstock.com

Low updos and buns tend to elongate round faces, which is exactly what you need. Plait both sides while sparing your bangs at the front, creating loose French braids, and wrap them around at the back.

How about adding some tiny flowers? You won’t regret it!  

8. Top Knot with Bangs 

Knot with wispy bangs
Rambutano/Shutterstock.com

Bangs conceal extra width at the forehead, making a round face look slender. Opt for side-swept ones to achieve some definition and while blunt bangs are a big no, you can still go for their softer version, wispy bangs. Complete the look with a simple yet sexy top knot bun.   

9. Rolled Updo with a Thin Braid 

Dark rolled updo with thin braids across the front
Stephanie Zieber/Shutterstock.com

Ladies with short tresses can still sport an intricate updo hairstyle to flatter their round faces.

Curl the ends inwards and secure them in place with pins, producing layered folds that are sure to grab some attention.

Position a synthetic braid on the head in a swirling pattern and done!  

10. Forward-Tilting Jumbo Bun 

Large braided bun positioned toward the front of the crown
PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock.com

A perfectly round updo for a perfectly round face! African-American ladies can rock a top knot turban without using any fabric at all.

Tilt your head to tousle all those braids at the front and swirl them around into an oversized bun. Plenty of hairpins needed though!   

11. Pigtail Puffs 

Two big burgundy curly puffs
iStock.com/CoffeeAndMilk

Use the impossible-to-tame fluffy texture of your afro curls to produce gorgeous pigtail puffs within a few minutes.

Carve out a middle part and secure the hair in rubber bands on both sides of the face. Tease the strands with your fingers and that’s it!  

12. Sleek Milkmaid Braid 

Low bun with rounded braids across the crown
@hairbyruslan

Here’s the only sleek updo hairstyle that looks good on round faces. Slick down the hair with a neat middle parting and braid it while moving around the head.

An easier way to achieve this exact look is by placing a synthetic braided headband, matching your natural hair shade, on top of a middle-parted low bun.   

13. Braided Bouffant

Braided Bouffant Updo Raised High on the Crown
@hairandmakeupbystacy

The timeless bouffant is recognized by hair raised high on the crown region that makes any face appear longer automatically.

Backcomb the strands to create a characteristic pouf on top accompanied by bubbly side plaits and a messy bun at the back. Frame the face with some gorgeous curtain bangs.

14. Box-Braided Bun 

Box braids gathered into a large bun
Karen Dole/Shutterstock.com

Make your box braids stand out by carving out triangular sections and incorporating extensions in any color of your choice while plaiting the hair.

Tuck the braids away for a change by twirling them into a casual jumbo bun. Accessorize with hair cuffs and put on some chic hoop earrings too.

15. Broad Crown Braids with a Low Bun 

Two broad crown braids joined to a low bun
@wisteria_ug

Try this updo hairstyle if you’re a woman with a round face. Plait the hair and keep on adding strands along the way just like a crown braid, but instead of moving around the head only once, continue doing so several times until no hair is left out, ending in the middle of the head or near the nape.

These updo hairstyles for round faces can turn you into a princess in no time. All of them are easy to recreate and don’t need to be perfect to prevent a circular face from looking too wide. Rock them during formal events or even on casual days to turn some heads!  

Flattering Ponytails for Round Faces

16. Short Ponytail with Curved Ends

Asian woman with short low ponytail
polkadot_photo/Shutterstock.com

Asian women can complement their circular faces with a simple low ponytail when they just can’t think of anything else.

Whether long, medium or short, slick down the hair with a middle/side part and secure it loosely in a hair tie near the nape of the neck. Super easy!

17. Mid-Height Ponytail

Woman with long mid-high ponytail
Cineberg/Shutterstock.com

Mid-height ponytails look chic too being neither too low nor too high.

Go on another day without washing the hair by using your greasy scalp to pull back the strands eliminating the use of a styling product. Spare the flyaways for a carefree appeal. 

18. Cornrows with a High Blonde Ponytail

Blonde high ponytail with tight cornrow braids across the top
Kopytin Georgy/Shutterstock.com

Among all styles, high ponytails are ideal to balance out a round face.

Instead of keeping it simple, try out feed-in cornrows with blonde extensions and wrap a chunk of hair around the base of your pony for a stylish finish.

19. Sleek Straight Ponytail with a Wrapped Base

Long straight ponytail with a thick section of hair wrapped around the base
ldutko/Shutterstock.com

Another ponytail for a round face that is just to die for! Straighten the tresses, pull them back using pomade, and add extensions if needed resulting in a long luscious pony.

Wrap some hair around its base and set off the look with bright red lips. It can’t get any sexier!

To conclude, when it comes to ponytails for round faces, there are no strict rules to follow. From sleek to messy and high to low, you can experiment with a variety of ponies regardless of hair length. But why choose a favorite? Why not rock a new style every day?