19 Medium Length Hairstyles for Square Face That Add Softness

Finding the right haircut for a square face can be a game-changer. It is all about balancing strong angles with delicate textures.

Medium length offers the perfect canvas. It provides enough weight to elongate the face while allowing for movement around the jawline.

These 19 medium length hairstyles for square face that add softness will inspire your next salon visit. Discover how to enhance your features effortlessly.

1. Textured Lob with Soft Layers

A textured long bob, or lob, is one of the most effective ways to soften a prominent jawline. By adding internal layers, the hair gains movement that distracts from the sharp angles of the face.

The key is to ensure the ends are not cut bluntly. Choppy, point-cut ends create a diffuse perimeter that blends the transition between the hair and the face, providing a gentler silhouette overall.

To style this look, use a light texturizing spray to emphasize the different lengths. This prevents the hair from looking like a solid block, which can often emphasize boxy facial features.

2. Curtain Bangs with Mid-Length Shag

Curtain bangs are a square face’s best friend because they create an “O” or “C” shape around the forehead and cheekbones. This rounded framing counteracts the natural squareness of the bone structure.

When paired with a mid-length shag, the result is a wash of layers that fall at varying heights. The shortest layers should hit around the cheekbones to draw the eye upward and inward.

This style is low-maintenance and grows out beautifully. The sheer volume at the crown and the soft sweep of the bangs create a balanced, oval-like illusion for the entire face.

3. Wispy Side-Swept Bangs

Asymmetry is a powerful tool for softening square faces. Side-swept bangs break up the horizontal line of the forehead, making the face appear longer and more heart-shaped than square.

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Keeping the bangs wispy rather than heavy is essential. Light, see-through fringe allows the skin to show through, which prevents the hair from creating a harsh, heavy “frame” around the eyes and brow.

A medium-length cut provides the perfect weight to keep these bangs in place. The length of the rest of the hair should ideally graze the collarbone to maintain a vertical flow.

4. Soft Waves with a Deep Side Part

A deep side part shifts the focal point of the face, breaking the symmetry that often highlights a strong jaw. It creates a diagonal line across the face that inherently adds a sense of softness.

Adding soft, large-barrel waves further enhances this effect. Waves introduce curves where there are straight lines, effectively “blurring” the sharp corners of the jaw and chin for a romantic finish.

When styling, ensure the waves start around the temple area rather than the roots. This keeps the volume concentrated around the mid-face and jaw, where the softening effect is most needed.

5. Angled Lob (Longer at Front)

An angled lob that is shorter in the back and gradually lengthens toward the front creates a slimming effect. The forward-falling pieces act like curtains that partially hide the corners of the jaw.

This specific cut works best when the front pieces end at least two inches below the chin. This length pulls the eye downward, elongating the face and making the squareness less pronounced.

To keep this look soft, avoid a razor-straight finish. Instead, use a round brush during blow-drying to slightly curve the ends inward, hugging the neckline for a more delicate appearance.

6. Shoulder-Length Butterfly Cut

The butterfly cut features heavy, feathered layers that resemble the wings of a butterfly. This high-volume approach is excellent for adding roundness to a face with very straight lines.

The shorter layers on top provide lift and bounce, while the longer layers maintain the medium length. This contrast creates a multi-dimensional look that softens the overall facial periphery.

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This style is particularly effective for those with thick hair. It removes bulk from the bottom while adding airy texture around the face, preventing the hair from appearing “bottom-heavy” against the jaw.

7. Face-Framing Feathers

Feathering is a technique where the hair is layered in a way that looks like overlapping feathers. These light layers should start just below the chin to avoid highlighting the jaw’s widest point.

By angling these layers toward the face, you create a soft “nesting” effect. This minimizes the appearance of the “box” shape and brings more focus to the eyes and the center of the face.

This is a great option for people with fine hair who want to avoid the look of flat, limp strands. The feathered ends add just enough volume to provide a soft, airy frame.

8. Rounded Internal Layers

Internal layers are cut inside the bulk of the hair rather than just on the surface. For a square face, these layers should be cut in a rounded pattern to encourage the hair to move in curves.

This technique prevents the hair from falling in a straight, vertical line, which can often emphasize a wide jawline. Instead, the hair takes on a more spherical, softened shape.

This cut is best worn with a bit of natural movement. Whether your hair is straight or slightly wavy, the internal layers provide a hidden support system that keeps the silhouette soft.

9. Voluminous Mid-Length Curls

If you have naturally curly hair, a medium length is ideal for balancing a square face. The natural volume of curls creates an expansive shape that makes the jawline appear smaller by comparison.

The key to this look is ensuring the curls are layered so they don’t form a “triangle” shape. You want the volume to be distributed evenly from the temples down to the shoulders.

Curls inherently lack straight lines, making them the ultimate tool for softening features. Embracing your natural texture provides a soft, organic frame that a straight cut simply cannot match.

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10. The “Bottleneck” Cut

The bottleneck cut is a hybrid between curtain bangs and a full fringe. It is narrower at the top and widens around the eyes, much like the neck of a bottle.

This shape is incredibly flattering for square faces because it rounds off the forehead while the flared ends draw attention to the cheekbones. It breaks up the “squareness” right at the eye level.

Pairing this with a shoulder-length cut allows for a seamless transition. The bangs blend into the side layers, creating a continuous, soft line that wraps around the face’s perimeter.

11. Tapered Ends Lob

A lob with tapered ends focuses on thinning out the very bottom of the hair. This prevents a “horizontal shelf” of hair from sitting right next to a strong jawline.

By tapering the ends, the hair appears to point inward toward the neck. This creates a more V-shaped or oval silhouette, which provides a beautiful contrast to a square bone structure.

This style looks best when worn sleek but not flat. A small amount of volume at the roots helps to balance the tapered ends, ensuring the face looks elongated and softened.

12. Soft Inward-Curling Ends

Sometimes the simplest change makes the biggest difference. A classic medium-length cut where the ends are styled to curl softly inward can instantly hide the sharpest points of the jaw.

The inward curve creates a rounded frame for the lower half of the face. It mimics the look of a more rounded jawline, providing a gentle and classic aesthetic that never goes out of style.

Using a large round brush or a wide-barrel curling iron for just the last two inches of hair is the best way to achieve this. It adds just enough “bend” to break the straight lines.

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13. Razored Layered Cut

A razor cut uses a straight razor instead of scissors to create very fine, wispy ends. This results in a much softer, “lived-in” texture than a traditional scissor cut can provide.

For a square face, the razor can be used to create invisible layers that add movement without bulk. This keeps the hair looking light and airy, which is essential for a softening effect.

This style is perfect for those who prefer a more modern, slightly edgy look that still maintains a feminine softness. The blurred edges of the hair blend perfectly with the facial features.

14. Bohemian Waves with Center Part

While a side part is often recommended, a center part can work for a square face if paired with “Boho” waves. These waves must start at the cheekbones and flow downward.

The waves create a “curtain” effect that slices off the corners of the forehead and the jaw. This creates a vertical window in the center of the face, making the overall shape appear longer.

Keep the waves loose and slightly messy. A “perfect” wave can sometimes look too structured; a more relaxed, beachy texture is far better for adding a sense of ease and softness.

15. The Mid-Length “Shullet”

A “shullet” is a cross between a shag and a mullet. While it sounds daring, a medium-length version is actually very softening for square faces because of the extreme layering.

The hair is significantly shorter around the temples and ears, which rounds out the top half of the head. The length in the back keeps the look balanced and prevents it from looking too aggressive.

This cut is all about texture and “shredded” layers. These broken lines are perfect for diffusing the appearance of a strong jaw, as there are no straight edges for the eye to land on.

16. Shoulder-Grazing Flip

A shoulder-grazing flip involves styling the ends of the hair to flip outward. While it sounds counterintuitive, the outward flick creates width at the bottom that can actually balance a wide forehead.

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This style works best when the hair is layered around the face. The layers provide the softness, while the flipped ends add a playful, vintage-inspired touch that moves the eye away from the jaw.

It is a great way to add “personality” to a medium cut. The movement of the hair as you walk adds a dynamic softness that a static, straight style lacks.

17. Blown-Out Layers

A classic 90s-style blowout is incredibly flattering for square faces. The sheer volume and “fluffiness” of a blowout create a halo of hair that softens every angle of the face.

The key is to use large rollers or a large round brush to create maximum lift. This height at the crown helps to elongate the face, while the rounded sides provide the necessary softness.

This style is best for medium-length hair because the hair is light enough to hold the volume but long enough to provide a framing effect. It is the ultimate “polished” soft look.

18. Messy Bedhead Texture

A “messy” look is naturally soft because it lacks defined lines. By using sea salt spray and scrunching the hair, you create a cloud of texture that obscures the sharp borders of a square face.

This style is effortless and works well with any medium-length cut. The lack of a defined part or structured waves makes the entire look appear approachable and gentle.

For square faces, ensure the “messiness” includes some pieces falling forward onto the cheeks. This breaks up the width of the face and adds to the overall softening effect.

19. Collarbone Cut with Rounded Fringe

A collarbone cut is the “golden length” for square faces. It is long enough to pull the face downward but short enough to maintain volume and bounce.

When paired with a rounded fringe—one that is shorter in the middle and longer at the temples—the effect is transformative. It creates a circle within the square of the face.

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This combination of a vertical length and a circular fringe provides a double-action softening effect. It is a sophisticated, high-fashion way to embrace and balance your natural bone structure.

How do I know if I have a square face shape?

A square face is characterized by a jawline and forehead that are approximately the same width. The jawline is typically sharp and well-defined, and the sides of the face follow a straight line from the forehead to the jaw.

Can I have blunt bangs with a square face?

Blunt bangs can be tricky because they create a horizontal line that emphasizes the width of the face. To make them work, ask for “rounded” blunt bangs that are slightly longer on the sides to soften the transition into the rest of your hair.

What is the best hair length for a square face?

While many lengths work, medium length (between the chin and collarbone) is often considered the best. It provides enough vertical length to elongate the face while allowing for layers that soften the jawline.

How does texture help soften a strong jawline?

Texture, such as waves, curls, or choppy layers, breaks up the straight lines of the face. By introducing curves and “messy” edges, the eye is drawn to the movement of the hair rather than the sharp angles of the bone structure.

Should I avoid a middle part if I have a square face?

Not necessarily, but a middle part can highlight symmetry and make a square jaw look more prominent. If you love a center part, pair it with soft waves or face-framing layers to ensure the look remains soft.

How often should I trim medium-length layers?

To maintain the softening effect of layers, you should get a trim every 6 to 8 weeks. Layers can lose their shape as they grow out, potentially becoming heavy and flat, which may stop providing the desired facial framing.