Look, I’m not even exaggerating when I say face-framing layers changed my ENTIRE hair game. Last summer, I walked into my regular salon appointment planning to get my usual trim, when my stylist Jen (she’s been doing my hair forever) suggested we try something different. “Just some pieces around your face,” she said. And wow. WOW! I literally couldn’t believe the difference those few strategic snips made!
That’s the thing about face frames – they’re like magic little pieces that somehow highlight everything good about your face while requiring basically zero styling effort. Win-win, right? I’ve been obsessed with watching how they’ve evolved since then. Every time I’m waiting at the coffee shop or scrolling through my feeds, I spot another gorgeous variation that makes me want to text Jen immediately.
The 2025 face-framing trends are taking things to a whole new level. I’ve collected some of my absolute faves here – the ones that made me stop mid-scroll and screenshot for my “hair inspo” folder (please tell me I’m not the only one with that folder!). Whether your hair is stick-straight or curly, super long or barely grazing your shoulders, there’s a face-framing technique here that’ll make you fall in love with your hair all over again!
Will face frames work if my hair is thin?
I’ve got a friend, Melissa, with the finest hair you’ve ever seen. Like, she can barely use a regular hair tie without it sliding right off. She was always so worried about trying layers because everyone kept telling her layers would make her hair look thinner. But here’s the real deal – face-framing layers are actually a TOTAL game-changer for fine hair!
Unlike cutting layers all over (which, yeah, can make thin hair look even more sparse), face frames concentrate all that texture and movement just around your face. The rest of your hair stays nice and thick. Melissa finally tried them last month, and she literally called me from the salon parking lot freaking out about how good they looked.
The face-framing pieces create this illusion of volume exactly where you want it. Plus, they catch the light in this really pretty way that makes your hair look thicker. Melissa says she barely even uses her texturizing spray anymore! Just make sure you tell your stylist you want those face frames to maintain as much thickness as possible. Maybe even bring a picture so they really get what you’re after.
Who can pull off curtain bangs?
So I was at this dinner party a few weeks ago, and THREE different women had curtain bangs. Three! All with completely different face shapes! There was Emma with her heart-shaped face, Sofia with her round face, and Taylor with her super square jawline. And honestly? They all looked fantastic.
That’s what’s so wild about curtain bangs – they somehow work on almost everyone. I think it’s because good stylists know how to customize them for your specific face. Emma’s were a bit longer to highlight her cheekbones, Sofia’s created this perfect frame that made her face look more oval, and Taylor’s softened her strong jaw in the most flattering way.
I was so tempted I almost booked an appointment the next day, but then I remembered the growing-out phase of my last bangs adventure (two words: awkward clips). Curtain bangs are definitely less commitment than full-on blunt bangs though! They blend into the rest of your hair so much better as they grow. Still, be ready for a bit of styling each morning – that perfect swoop doesn’t always happen naturally unless you’re in a shampoo commercial!
I have curly hair – can I still do face frames?
My cousin Zoe has these gorgeous 3B curls, and she struggled FOREVER to find a stylist who wouldn’t totally butcher her hair. She’d show up with these amazing reference photos, and walk out looking nothing like them. Sound familiar to any curly girls out there?
Then she found this stylist who specializes in curly cuts, and it completely changed everything. She got these beautiful face-framing layers that work WITH her curl pattern instead of fighting against it. Now her curls perfectly frame her face instead of just hanging there.
The big secret? Finding someone who knows how to cut curly hair DRY. Wet curls and dry curls are like two completely different things! Zoe’s stylist cuts her face-framing pieces when they’re dry so she can see exactly how they’ll fall and how much they’ll spring up. Makes total sense, right? But so many stylists still don’t do this!
If you’ve got curls, these face-framing pieces can seriously bring your whole look together. They give definition around your face and can even help manage some of the volume if your hair tends to go big. Just please, PLEASE find someone who actually knows curly hair before you let them near your precious curls with scissors!
What’s the deal with butterfly layers?
Okay, so I kept seeing “butterfly layers” all over my feeds but had NO idea what they actually were until my hairdresser friend Kim broke it down for me. Apparently, they’re named after butterfly wings because of how they create this gorgeous, fluttery effect around your face and shoulders. Isn’t that just the prettiest mental image?
I was in Kim’s salon last week getting a gloss treatment, and she was doing butterfly layers on another client. It was fascinating watching her technique – she created these face-framing pieces in the front that were more dramatic, then gradually blended them into super subtle layers throughout the rest of the hair. The end result had SO much movement without looking like a typical layered cut.
Kim says butterfly layers are having a moment now because they give you that bombshell volume and bounce while still letting you keep your length. They’re especially amazing if your hair is wavy or has some natural texture because they enhance all those beautiful natural patterns. The client who got them looked like she’d just walked off a magazine shoot – her hair had this incredible bounce when she moved, but still looked thick and full. I’m seriously considering them for my next big hair change!
1. Chocolate Dream with Face-Framing Deliciousness
This girl’s hair is literally what I screenshot and take to my stylist every. single. time. The way those face-framing pieces fall just right around her cheekbones? Pure magic. I tried something similar last year after being stuck in a hair rut for ages, and it completely refreshed my look without having to sacrifice any length (which, if you’ve spent years growing your hair out like me, you know is HUGE).
Getting this look isn’t nearly as complicated as it seems – the key is asking for those layers to start right around your chin, then gradually getting longer as they blend back. My stylist uses a technique where she point-cuts the ends so they’re not too blunt. The best thing about this style? It works whether you’re heading to a fancy dinner or just throwing your hair in a messy bun for grocery shopping – those face-framing pieces always look intentional.
2. Bounce-for-Days Brunette Moment
Stop whatever you’re doing and look at this absolute PERFECTION! The volume! The bounce! The way those face frames perfectly curve around her cheekbones! This is what hair dreams are made of, folks. I bumped into my friend Casey with a similar cut last month, and I swear I spent the first five minutes of our coffee date just staring at her hair.
Creating this look is all about those perfectly placed layers around the face combined with the right styling technique. Casey said her stylist told her to wrap sections away from her face with a curling iron, then shake them out with her fingers instead of brushing (genius tip!). What I love most about this style is how it strikes that perfect balance – it’s got enough drama to make a statement but still looks effortlessly natural. These face-framing pieces literally light up her whole face!
3. French-Girl Curtain Bang Perfection
There’s something about this cut that just screams “I woke up in Paris and somehow my hair looks incredible.” Those curtain bangs with the mid-length layers? Chef’s kiss! My coworker came in with a similar style after her vacation, and I swear she looked like a completely different person – in the absolute best way possible.
The trick to nailing this vibe is making sure those bangs are cut at the perfect length – too short and they’ll look too “done,” too long and you lose the effect. They should hit just around the eyebrows in the center, then gradually get longer as they blend into those face-framing pieces. The beauty of this style is its versatility – you can blow it out straight for a sleek look or let it air-dry with some texturizing spray for that perfectly undone French-girl vibe that looks like you didn’t try at all (even though we know that “effortless” look actually takes effort!).
4. Sun-Kissed Blonde Bombshell
If hair could tell stories, this one would be about lazy summer days at the beach with salt spray and sunshine. Those face-framing highlights are like a built-in filter – brightening up her whole face! I tried a similar technique last summer (though admittedly my version wasn’t quite this perfect), and the number of compliments I got was insane.
The key to pulling this off is making sure those face-framing pieces are noticeably lighter than your base color – that contrast is what creates the magic. My colorist called it “liquid sunshine” around the face, which pretty much nails the effect. What makes this approach so genius is how low-maintenance it is – even when your roots grow out, it still looks intentional and lived-in rather than just grown-out. It’s basically the hair equivalent of a permanent vacation glow!
5. The Side-Part Statement
Listen, I know middle parts have been having their moment, but can we talk about how absolutely FIERCE this deep side part with face-framing layers looks? It’s giving main character energy in the best possible way. I ran into my friend Talia with a similar cut at a wedding last month, and she looked so stunning that multiple people asked for her stylist’s number.
Creating this vibe is all about the contrast between that dramatic side part and the softly curved face-framing pieces. Ask for layers that start around cheekbone level and gently bend inward – they should be substantial enough to make a statement but still blend seamlessly with the rest of your hair. What makes this style so versatile is how easily it transitions from day to night – it’s professional enough for work but still has that touch of drama that looks amazing in evening lighting. Side parts forever!
6. Bestie Hair Goals in Different Colors
Show me a better duo – I’ll wait! The way these two are rocking the same face-framing technique in completely different colors proves how versatile this cut truly is. My sister and I did something similar last year (though we’re not quite this photogenic!), and it was so fun seeing how the same basic cut looked totally different with our contrasting colors.
What makes these face frames so flattering is how they’re perfectly tailored to highlight their features – starting high enough to draw attention to the eyes but long enough to soften the jawline. I love how the face-framing technique creates two completely different vibes here – the dark hair looks more dramatic and defined, while the copper creates this gorgeous warmth that lights up her whole face. If you’re thinking about a color change but feel nervous, face-framing pieces like these are the perfect way to see how a new shade might brighten your complexion!
7. Rock-Star Shag with Face-Framing Attitude
This is what I call “hairstyle with personality”! Those piece-y face-framing layers paired with the textured shag cut create this perfect balance of edgy and flattering. My friend Jamie got a similar cut after years of having the same long layers, and it completely transformed not just her look but her whole vibe – she started wearing different clothes, more statement jewelry, everything!
The beauty of this modern shag is in the customization – those face-framing pieces can be adjusted to highlight your best features while the overall textured look brings so much movement and dimension. For styling, Jamie swears by rough-drying her hair upside down with a bit of texturizing spray, then just using her fingers to piece out those face-framing bits. What’s amazing about this cut is how it actually looks BETTER on day two or three hair – it’s like it was designed for those of us who don’t want to style our hair every single morning!
8. Va-Va-Volume with Side-Swept Drama
This hair is what I call Saturday night confidence in cut form! Those dramatically swept face-framing layers create the most gorgeous shape around her face, while still maintaining all that enviable volume and length. I saw a woman with this exact style at a restaurant last weekend and couldn’t stop staring (in a non-creepy way, I promise).
Getting this bombshell look is all about the angle of those face-framing pieces – they need to be cut in a way that allows them to swoop dramatically to one side while still blending with the rest of your layers. The real magic happens in the styling though – a round brush, good blow dryer, and maybe some velcro rollers if you’re feeling fancy. What makes this style so addictive is the movement – every time you turn your head, those layers swish in the most satisfying way. It’s basically impossible to have a bad day when your hair looks this good!
9. Sleek Sophistication with Subtle Frames
Sometimes less really is more, and this sleek mid-length cut with those perfectly subtle face-framing pieces proves it. I recently watched my friend Anna transition from her long, one-length hair to something similar to this, and it completely elevated her whole look in this understated, sophisticated way.
The genius of this style is in its simplicity – those face-framing pieces are just enough to soften the overall line and highlight her features without overwhelming the clean, polished vibe of the cut. Anna said the key was finding a stylist who understood restraint – these aren’t dramatic layers, just strategic ones. What I love most about this approach is how versatile it is – it looks just as amazing air-dried with a bit of hair oil as it does blown out straight like in this photo. It’s basically the hair equivalent of that perfect white button-down that goes with everything!
Final Thoughts from a Face Frame Convert
After spending way too much time analyzing, trying, and obsessing over face-framing layers (my friends are SO tired of hearing about them), I’m completely convinced they’re the easiest way to refresh your look without a dramatic change. My best advice? Save these photos, book that appointment, and don’t be afraid to tell your stylist exactly what you want.
The perfect face frames are out there waiting for you – whether you’re team curtain bang, subtle layers, or full-on shag. Trust me, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them!
