Finding the perfect balance for your features often starts at the scalp. For those with a pear-shaped face, the goal is always to create harmony.
The pear shape features a narrower forehead and a wider, more defined jawline. Adding volume at the crown effectively draws the eye upward and balances the silhouette.
Strategic height creates the illusion of a wider upper face. This simple adjustment transforms your entire look, making your features appear more symmetrical and proportionate.
Whether you prefer short crops or long flowing locks, crown volume is the secret weapon. It provides a lifted, energetic appearance that complements your natural bone structure perfectly.
1. The High Textured Top Knot
A high top knot is one of the most effective ways to add immediate height to your silhouette. By placing the bulk of the hair directly on top of the head, you elongate the face.
This style works by drawing attention away from the jawline and toward the highest point of your head. It creates a vertical line that balances out the wider base of a pear-shaped face.
To achieve this, use a texturizing spray before pulling your hair up. Leave a few face-framing strands loose to soften the transition from the forehead to the cheeks.
2. Voluminous Pixie with Tapered Sides
Short hair offers the perfect canvas for extreme crown volume. By keeping the sides and back tightly tapered, the height on top becomes the focal point of the style.
This contrast is essential for pear shapes because it minimizes width at the bottom while maximizing it at the top. It creates a more oval appearance for the entire face.
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Style the top sections with a lightweight pomade or volumizing powder. Direct the hair upward and slightly forward to create a modern, edgy look that stays lifted all day.
3. Shaggy Lob with Crown Layers
The long bob, or lob, is a classic choice, but adding shaggy layers at the crown is what makes it work for this specific face shape. These shorter layers provide natural lift.
Without these layers, a lob can often feel heavy and flat against the temples. Adding internal texture ensures the hair doesn’t widen the jawline further, keeping the weight up high.
Use a sea salt spray on damp hair and blow-dry with a round brush at the roots. This technique ensures the crown remains bouncy and full of movement throughout the day.
4. Half-Up High Ponytail
The half-up high ponytail is a masterclass in facial lifting. By securing the top half of your hair at the very peak of the crown, you create an instant “snatched” effect.
This style creates a triangular silhouette that is the inverse of the pear shape. This visual trick provides the necessary width at the temple area to balance a stronger jaw.
For extra drama, wrap a small section of hair around the hair tie to hide it. This adds more physical height to the ponytail itself, further elongating the appearance of the forehead.
5. Deep Side Part with Root Lift
A deep side part is a simple yet powerful way to change your facial proportions. Shifting the hair to one side creates an asymmetrical height that breaks up the jaw’s width.
The key to this look is ensuring the roots on the “heavy” side of the part have significant lift. Flat hair will only emphasize the narrowness of the upper face.
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Apply a root-lifting mousse to wet hair before styling. Use a large barrel brush to lift the hair upward and away from the face, setting the shape with a cool shot.
6. Layered Wolf Cut
The wolf cut is a trendy, high-volume option that is perfect for balancing a wider lower face. Its signature feature is a heavy concentration of layers at the crown and temples.
These layers create a “halo” of volume that broadens the upper third of the head. This effectively creates a more balanced, diamond-like silhouette for pear-shaped individuals.
This style thrives on texture, so avoid making it too sleek. Use a diffuser when drying to enhance the natural wave and keep the crown layers looking messy and full.
7. Curtain Bangs with Teased Roots
Curtain bangs are excellent for pear shapes because they add width to the forehead. When paired with teased roots at the crown, they create a cohesive, balanced look.
The bangs should sweep outward toward the cheekbones, while the hair behind them provides the necessary vertical height. This dual action works to reshape the visual frame of the face.
To maintain the lift, lightly tease the section of hair directly behind the bangs. A light dusting of hairspray will ensure the volume doesn’t fall flat after a few hours.
8. Modernized Retro Beehive
A modernized beehive takes inspiration from the 60s but keeps the texture soft and wearable. It focuses entirely on creating a rounded, voluminous shape at the back of the crown.
This extreme height is perfect for formal occasions where you want to emphasize your bone structure. It pulls the entire face upward, creating a very elegant and elongated profile.
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Start by backcombing the crown section in small layers. Smooth the top layer over the teased section and secure it with pins for a look that is both vintage and fresh.
9. Bouffant Half-Down Style
The bouffant half-down style offers the best of both worlds: length and height. It involves creating a cushion of volume at the crown while letting the rest of the hair flow.
This style is particularly effective for pear shapes because it widens the top of the head significantly. The flowing hair below can be tucked behind the ears to minimize jaw width.
Use a “bump” insert or high-quality teasing to achieve the bouffant. Ensure the sides are pulled back tightly to emphasize the height and create a more balanced facial structure.
10. Textured Pompadour
The pompadour isn’t just for short hair; it can be integrated into many different lengths. It involves sweeping the hair upward and backward from the forehead to create a “quiff.”
This style creates a strong vertical focus. For a pear-shaped face, this is ideal as it adds significant length to the forehead area, making the jaw appear more proportional.
Apply a firm-hold gel or wax to the front sections of the hair. Use a comb to lift the hair straight up, then use your fingers to add a piecey, modern texture.
11. Choppy Bob with Volumizing Mousse
A bob can be tricky for pear shapes if it hits right at the jaw, but a choppy version with crown volume works wonders. The key is the internal texture.
By adding “invisible” layers throughout the crown, the hair gains a natural lift that defies gravity. This prevents the hair from hanging flat and widening the lower face.
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Focus your styling products on the top three inches of your hair. Scrunching the hair while blow-drying will encourage the choppy layers to stand up and provide that essential crown height.
12. Waterfall Braid with Lifted Crown
A waterfall braid adds a romantic, horizontal element across the crown. When you slightly pull at the loops of the braid, you create a textured, voluminous “crown” effect.
This style adds visual interest to the narrowest part of your face. It draws the eye across the temples, creating a sense of width that balances the jawline beautifully.
Before braiding, prep the hair with a dry shampoo to add grip and volume. Once the braid is secure, gently “pancake” the sections to maximize the height and width of the style.
13. Voluminous Shoulder-Length Shag
The shag is the ultimate volume-building haircut. With layers that start as high as the cheekbones, it naturally pushes the hair upward and outward at the crown.
For pear-shaped faces, the shag is a lifesaver because it removes weight from the ends. This prevents the “triangle” hair effect where the hair is widest at the bottom.
To style, use a round brush to flick the layers outward. This creates a messy, voluminous look that focuses all the attention on the eyes and the top of the head.
14. Braided Crown with Top Height
A braided crown usually sits flat, but for a pear-shaped face, you want to “elevate” it. Positioning the braid slightly further back on the crown allows for more height.
This creates a literal crown of hair that adds the necessary bulk to the upper portion of the head. It’s an elegant solution for balancing a strong, wider jawline.
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Tease the hair slightly before beginning the braid to ensure it doesn’t sit too close to the scalp. This extra cushion provides the lift needed to reshape the facial silhouette.
15. Side-Swept Voluminous Waves
Side-swept waves offer a glamorous way to add volume to one side of the crown. By pinning one side back tightly, you emphasize the height and volume on the other.
This asymmetry is a great trick for pear shapes because it creates a diagonal line across the face. This line breaks up the squareness or width of the lower jaw.
Use a large curling iron to create waves, then brush them out for a soft look. Backcomb the roots on the voluminous side to ensure the wave starts with plenty of lift.
16. Blunt Cut with Lifted Roots
You can still rock a blunt cut with a pear-shaped face, provided you don’t let the roots stay flat. The contrast between sleek ends and a lifted crown is very striking.
The blunt edge should ideally fall below the jawline to avoid adding width to the widest part of the face. The crown height then works to elongate the overall look.
Blow-dry your hair upside down to get maximum root lift. Once upright, use a flat iron only on the mid-lengths and ends, leaving the roots untouched and voluminous.
17. Faux Hawk for Medium Hair
The faux hawk is the ultimate crown-volumizing hairstyle. By pinning the sides of the hair back and directing everything toward the center, you create a tall, narrow peak.
This style is incredible for pear-shaped faces as it creates a very strong vertical focus. It mimics a more oval face shape by adding height exactly where it’s needed.
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Use bobby pins to secure the sides tightly against the head. Use a high-hold hairspray and a comb to “sculpt” the center section into a voluminous, textured ridge.
Does crown volume really help a pear-shaped face?
Yes, crown volume is essential for pear-shaped faces because it balances a wider jawline. By adding height and width to the top of the head, you create the illusion of a more oval and symmetrical facial structure.
What products are best for creating crown volume?
To achieve lasting height, look for root-lifting mousses, volumizing powders, and dry texturizing sprays. These products provide the “grip” and support needed to keep hair from falling flat throughout the day.
Can I achieve crown volume with thin hair?
Absolutely, though it may require a bit more effort. Using lightweight products that won’t weigh the hair down is key. Light teasing at the roots combined with a volumizing powder can work wonders for fine or thin strands.
Should I avoid blunt bangs with a pear-shaped face?
Generally, heavy blunt bangs can emphasize a wider jawline by creating a horizontal line across the forehead. Instead, opt for curtain bangs or side-swept bangs that add volume and width to the temples.
How often should I tease my hair for volume?
Teasing should be done sparingly to avoid hair breakage. When you do tease, use a dedicated backcombing brush and always start a few inches away from the roots, gently pushing downward. Always detangle carefully at the end of the day.
Are short hairstyles better than long ones for pear shapes?
Both can work, but the goal remains the same: avoid bulk at the jawline. Short styles should have height on top, while long styles should have layers at the crown and stay relatively sleek near the chin.