Hairstyles for a Big Head

Haircut for a big head
Photo: Izzet Ugutmen/Shutterstock
Q: What sort of hairstyle will make my big head look smaller? Would a bob work?
 
A: Hairstyles for a big head must always take into account the proportion of the body and the balance of the head itself. Is the head uniformly big? Is it balanced and proportionate in its features and shape, or is it simply larger than expected? The answers to these questions will have a definitive effect on the style suited to an individual, but there are some basic guidelines that can help in the broader sense.
 
Yes, a bob can work wonderfully, but execution is everything. You want to avoid a sharp, blunt, chin-length bob, which can box in your features and make a large head look wider. Instead, opt for an angled bob or a long bob that grazes the collarbone. These variations introduce diagonal and vertical lines that elongate your silhouette and beautifully soften your proportions.
 
Keep the hair “small”, meaning avoid high-volume, overly fluffy hairstyles. You don’t want to make the hair full and round, no matter how lovely the style may be, since all that added bulk just means that the head looks even bigger. You don’t necessarily want “flat,” limp hair, but you DO want to keep from looking like the business end of a dust mop. Keeping the sides relatively sleek while adding soft, vertical movement is key.
 
Avoid harsh color extremes if you want to keep things understated. While color choice is a matter of personal flair, ultra-stark shades like jet black, coppery reds, or platinum blonde create intense visual contrast that naturally draws immediate focus straight to the head.
 
To borrow from the previous paragraph’s closing simile, you don’t want to end up looking like a lollipop. What you do want is to stick to natural-looking tones and dimensional highlights. These can add needed warmth or coolness to your skin tone without unnecessarily accentuating the physical size of your cranium.
 
Remember the overall picture. The right hairstyle isn’t always just a matter of balancing the face. If you’re petite or statuesque, you may need to adjust your look somewhat to compensate for the level of difference in the proportion of the head and body. It would be simpler if you only had to account for one or two factors in such aesthetic choices, but no one ever accused life of being simple.
 
©hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
The basics of the bob haircut
 
How to match your body type and hairstyle
 
Can you give me some ideas for hairstyles for big cheeks?