A round face shape is a beautiful canvas, but many of us struggle to find styles that don’t emphasize the fullness of our cheeks or the softness of our jawline. When you have a round face, the goal with hairstyling is usually to create the illusion of length and angles. We want to draw the eye upward, not outward. That is exactly where crown hairstyles shine. By lifting the hair off your shoulders and framing your face with strategic volume, you add a vertical element that immediately creates balance.
You might think that putting your hair up would only make a round face look rounder, but the secret lies in the placement. If you pull everything back tight and flat, you are just outlining your face. If you build height at the crown and leave soft, wispy pieces around your temples, you soften the geometry of your face while elongating your silhouette. It is all about playing with proportions. I have spent years working with different textures and face shapes, and I have found that the right crown braid or updo does more for your face shape than almost any contouring technique in your makeup bag.
1. The Messy Dutch Braid Crown
The Dutch braid, often called an “inverted” braid, is the heavy lifter for anyone seeking volume. Unlike a standard French braid, where you cross strands over each other, the Dutch braid involves crossing strands under. This creates a braid that sits on top of your hair, standing out rather than lying flat. For a round face, this is huge.
Why It Works for Your Shape
Because the braid sits high and raised, it creates a visual shelf of volume. You want to “pancake” this braid—meaning you gently pull at the edges of each loop to make it look wider and messier. This adds a softness that counteracts the rounded lines of your face.
Styling Tips for Maximum Impact
- Start with Texture: Clean, slippery hair is hard to braid. Use a dry texturizing spray before you begin to give your strands some grit.
- The Pancake Trick: Do not skip this. Once you secure the braid, go back through and gently tug on the outer loops. It gives the braid a lived-in, effortless look that feels sophisticated, not childish.
- Avoid the “Headband” Look: If you pull the braid too far forward, you frame your face in a circle. Keep the braid slightly further back, near the crown of your head, to maintain that vertical illusion.
2. High-Volume Braided Halo
A halo braid wraps entirely around your head like a crown. If you have medium-to-long hair, this is a classic for a reason. The trick to making this work for a round face is all about the height of the halo. If it sits too close to your hairline, it won’t do you any favors.
You need to place the braid slightly further back on your head. By shifting the bulk of the hair toward the top and the back, you create height. I always tell people to think of it like an architectural structure—the higher the arch, the longer the space beneath it. When you tease the hair at the roots before you even begin the braid, you create a foundation that stops the style from falling flat against your skull.
3. Half-Up Crown Braid with Texture
Sometimes you want the elegance of a crown style without the commitment of an updo. The half-up crown braid is my personal favorite for everyday wear. It pulls the hair away from your face to show off your features but keeps the length on your shoulders, which helps break up the width of your face.
The key here is asymmetry. Don’t worry about making the braid perfectly centered. If you pull it slightly off-center or create a soft, sweeping angle, it breaks up the symmetry of a round face, which is usually the goal. Leave a few longer, face-framing layers loose near your jawline. These subtle tendrils act like a frame, drawing the eye down and softening the cheek area. It is a simple, effective trick that changes the entire mood of the look.
4. Side-Swept Loose Crown Braid
Asymmetry is a round face’s best friend. When everything is perfectly symmetrical, it highlights the circular nature of the face. A side-swept crown braid disrupts that flow. By starting the braid on one side and sweeping it across, you create a diagonal line.
Diagonal lines are incredibly flattering for round faces because they draw the eye across and down, rather than around. You want this braid to be loose and almost falling apart. If it’s too tight, it looks like a schoolgirl style. Keep it loose, use a bit of volumizing powder at the roots to give it some lift, and secure it with clear elastics that won’t stand out. This is the definition of “polished but not trying too hard.”
5. Sleek Knotted Crown
Braids are not the only way to do a crown style. A knotted crown can be just as regal and, depending on how you do it, much more modern. You can achieve this by creating a series of small, tied knots rather than weaving sections together.
This look works well for those with finer hair who struggle to get enough bulk for a braid. Because the knots are individual, you can place them exactly where you need height. I like to tie the knots and then pin them, allowing the ends to poke out slightly. It creates a sort of crown-like structure that sits higher than a traditional braid, giving you that precious extra inch of height. It’s clean, it’s architectural, and it’s surprisingly easy once you get the hang of the knotting technique.
6. Boho-Chic Fishtail Crown
Fishtail braids have a intricate, woven quality that feels very deliberate and fancy. They are thinner than Dutch or French braids, which is why they are perfect if you have thicker, coarser hair that might look too bulky in a regular braid.
Because the fishtail is so tight and detailed, it keeps the style compact. For a round face, you want to make sure you pair this with some volume on top. Do not pull the hair back tight. Instead, tease the roots at your crown first. Pin the fishtail braid across the top of your head, making sure it sits just behind your front hairline. The contrast between the tight, intricate braid and the loose, teased hair at the front creates a lovely, balanced effect that doesn’t highlight roundness.
7. The “Crown” Top Knot
Think of this as a modified top knot, but instead of just winding your hair into a messy bun, you incorporate the hair around the crown of your head first. This is about creating a “halo” effect around your bun.
I love this style because it is the ultimate elongating look. By bringing all your hair up to the very top of your head, you are essentially adding inches to your height. The round face loses its impact because the eye is immediately drawn upward. To make it a “crown” style, try braiding the hair at the base of your head—near the nape of your neck—and wrapping that braid up into the bun. It’s a bit more work, but it adds texture and visual interest to an otherwise simple high bun.
8. Crown Braid with Face-Framing Tendrils
This is less about the braid itself and more about how you finish the style. You can do almost any version of a crown braid, but the deciding factor is what you do with the pieces you leave out.
The Science of Tendrils
Many people make the mistake of pulling every single strand back to keep their face clear. For a round face, that can feel exposing. Instead, take two thin, soft sections near your ears and temples. Let them hang loose.
Styling for Softness
- The Cut Matters: If you have face-framing layers, use them. If you don’t, take very small sections of your hair near the hairline and pull them out before you start pinning.
- Texture is Key: Don’t leave these pieces stick-straight. Give them a soft wave with a curling iron or a wand.
- The Length: Aim for pieces that hit right around your chin or just below. Anything too short might create a weird line on your cheek, which can inadvertently add width.
9. Double Crown Braids (Criss-Cross)
If one crown braid is good, two can be better, especially for adding that structural interest. The criss-cross method is visually striking and breaks up the monotony of the scalp line.
You essentially part your hair down the middle or on a side, create two separate braids, and then cross them over the top of your head. Pinning them so they overlap creates an X shape. This crossing action naturally builds height at the center of the head. It is a fantastic way to handle thick hair that usually feels like too much weight in a single braid. Because the weight is distributed across two braids, you get a sleeker, more controlled look that still offers that essential vertical volume.
10. Twisted Crown Updo
Braids can be tricky if you have layers that keep popping out. Twists are much more forgiving. A twisted crown is simply taking two sections of hair, twisting them, and pinning them across the top of the head.
It gives a similar vibe to a crown braid but with a smoother, almost rope-like appearance. Because twists are generally larger than braids, they offer a different kind of silhouette. I often recommend this for people who want a softer look. The key is to twist your hair away from your face. This pulls the skin and the hairline back slightly, which can actually help tighten the look of your face and draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones rather than the jawline.
11. Waterfall Crown Braid
The waterfall braid is lovely because it lets the rest of your hair hang down. It creates a “crown” of braided texture across the top of the head, but the bottom half of your hair is left free.
This is ideal if you have a round face and feel “naked” without hair around your face. You get the lift and volume of the crown braid on top, but the vertical length of your hair remains on the sides to frame and conceal the width of your cheeks. It’s the best of both worlds. Make sure to keep the braid itself relatively loose, or it will look too rigid. The goal is a soft, cascading effect.
12. Crown Braid with a Floral Accessory
Sometimes, it’s not just the braid, but what you add to it. A round face can sometimes benefit from the distraction of a well-placed accessory. If you are doing a crown braid, consider weaving in small baby’s breath or dainty silk flowers.
The placement is everything. Don’t put the flowers right at the front, as this might add unnecessary width or bulk right at the hairline. Instead, cluster them toward the sides or the back. This directs the eye away from the center of your face and toward the intricate detail of your hair. It’s a stylistic choice that adds personality and keeps the focus off the shape of your face.
13. Bohemian Rope Twist Crown
Rope twists are a godsend for those who aren’t great at traditional braiding. A rope twist is just two strands wrapped around each other. It’s faster, simpler, and offers a really cool, rustic texture.
For a round face, the rope twist works well because you can make it quite large and voluminous. Large twists are perfect for creating that “crown” effect because they aren’t as dense as a tight, woven braid. They feel airier. Try doing two large rope twists and pinning them over each other. The sheer size of the twists adds height, which is exactly what we need to distract from facial roundness. Plus, it looks like you spent hours on it, when in reality, it takes about ten minutes.
14. Asymmetrical Crown Braid
I mentioned asymmetry earlier, but an intentionally asymmetrical crown braid takes it to the next level. Instead of wrapping the braid all the way around, you can do a braid that starts at the nape on one side and travels up, ending near the top of the opposite ear.
This creates a distinct “u” or “v” shape rather than a full circle. That angular movement is fantastic for round faces. It’s a bold look that feels fresh and modern. Because it doesn’t circle the head, you avoid the “halo” effect which can sometimes emphasize a circular face. Instead, you get a sharp, directional line that forces the viewer’s eye to follow the path of the braid, creating a sense of movement and length.
15. Textured Crown Braid with Waves
If you have natural waves or curls, don’t try to fight them. A sleek, tight braid can look a bit harsh on someone with a round face and curly hair. You want the braid to match the texture of your hair.
Use your natural wave to your advantage. When you braid, don’t worry about every hair being perfectly tucked away. Let the flyaways happen. Let the texture be wild and voluminous. The bigger and more textured the hair on top, the smaller and more refined your face will appear by comparison. It’s all about proportion—if your hair is big, your face looks balanced. If your hair is flat, your face looks big. Go for the big hair.
16. Voluminous Crown Braid with Height
This is a specific technique where you focus all your energy on the top of the head. You tease the heck out of the crown section. Then, you braid that teased section very loosely and pin it down.
You aren’t necessarily braiding your whole head; you are creating a “crown piece” that sits on top. It’s almost like a faux-hawk, but braided. This is arguably the best style for round faces because the height is maximized. You are physically building a mountain of hair on top of your head. It’s dramatic, it’s fun, and it’s arguably the most effective at slimming the look of the face. Just make sure you use enough hairspray to keep it standing tall throughout the day.
17. Braided Crown with a Low Bun
A crown braid combined with a low bun is a classic, elegant style that works for more formal occasions or the office. The braid provides the crown detail, while the low bun keeps everything neat and tucked away.
Why does this work for round faces? It’s about the balance of mass. By having the detail and volume up top (the braid) and the weight of the hair secured low (the bun), you create a balanced profile. If the bun were too high, you might end up with too much volume on top of your head, which can sometimes throw off the proportions. But keeping the bun low anchors the style. It creates a sleek, sophisticated line that highlights your neck and jawline without emphasizing width.
18. Loose Crown Braid for Short Hair
Think you can’t do a crown braid with short hair? You absolutely can. It’s a myth that you need Rapunzel-length hair for these styles. If you have a bob or a lob, you can do a half-crown braid.
Take the hair from the sides and the front, braid it back, and pin it at the crown. Because your hair is shorter, the “crown” will sit a bit lower and tighter, but that’s okay. The key is to keep the braid loose and wispy. Use a curling iron to add some soft waves to the rest of your hair. The waves add width to the bottom, which is usually a no-no, but in this case, the braid on top pulls the focus away from the bottom. It’s a cool, effortless look that feels very contemporary.
19. Crown Braid with Hidden Pins
This is more of a technical tip than a style, but it is crucial for every look on this list. A crown braid looks best when it appears to be defying gravity. If you have a bunch of bobby pins visible, it breaks the illusion.
For a round face, where we want soft lines, visible pins can create harsh, metallic highlights that disrupt the flow of the style. Use pins that match your hair color exactly. Or, even better, take a small section of hair, wrap it around the base of your braid, and pin it underneath. This hides the elastic and the pin. The smoother the look, the more seamless the transition between your hair and the “crown,” which helps create that unbroken vertical line we are aiming for.
20. The Faux-Hawk Crown Style
The faux-hawk is the ultimate “power” look for a round face. It is essentially a series of small, loose buns or loops running down the center of your head, creating the appearance of a mohawk.
It’s edgy, it’s fun, and it’s incredibly slimming. Because it stays strictly in the center strip of your head, it removes all volume from the sides. By eliminating the hair on the sides of your head and pushing it all to the center, you are physically narrowing the appearance of your face. You are essentially creating angles where there were none. It’s a bold choice, but if you have the confidence, it is the single most effective way to reshape your silhouette with hair alone.
Final Thoughts
The most important thing to remember with crown hairstyles is that you shouldn’t be afraid to experiment with the placement and the volume. Your hair is dynamic. It moves, it changes, and it reacts to the weather, so your crown styles won’t look the same every single day. That is part of the charm. If a braid looks a little too tight, loosen it up with your fingers. If it feels too flat, go back in with some dry shampoo or texturizing spray and work it into the roots.
Ultimately, these styles are meant to be fun. They are about lifting your hair and showing off your face, not hiding it. Round faces are often youthful and vibrant; embracing that with a style that adds height and dimension is just a way to highlight what you already have. Don’t get hung up on perfect symmetry or getting every strand in place. The best version of a crown braid is usually the one that looks like you did it in five minutes while running out the door. Take the time to practice the techniques, find out which variation suits your specific hair texture, and don’t hesitate to play around with different accessories or parting methods. Your hair is the ultimate accessory—wear it with confidence.
