How to Wear Your Hair with Glasses

Co-authored by Paul Julch, MA and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 30, 2020 References

If you just started wearing glasses, you may be struggling with styling your hair in a way that complements your face as well as your frames. With a few simple styles and tricks, you can wear your hair up or down to look cute in your glasses every day. Try putting your hair up while leaving a few face-framing layers, or keeping your hair down and adding volume with waves or curls.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Wearing Your Hair Down

1
Tease the top of your hair for added volume if you have short hair. Pick up a 1 in (2.5 cm) section of hair on the crown of your head. Comb the hair nearest the roots back towards your scalp with a rattail comb. Lay your hair down and move onto another section until you’ve teased all of the hair on the top of your head.^{[1]
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- Adding volume to the top of your hair helps to balance out your face when you wear glasses, especially if you don’t have much length to work with.
- This style works especially well if you wear large frames.
- Try adding subtle black eyeliner and some highlighter to your cheeks for a natural look.
- If you have a round face and wear glasses, a pixie cut or a classic taper will flatter your face nicely.
2
Curl your hair loosely to create nice waves. Dry your hair completely and brush it out. Section your hair into 5 or 6 vertical sections around your head. Use a large curling iron to curl an entire section at a time, then brush out the sections to break up the curls and create waves.^{[2]
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- By creating waves, you give your hair depth and flow so it can sit around your glasses, not on top of them.
- Leaving your hair down and wavy works well if your glasses are subtle and don’t have huge frames.
- If you have an oval-faced shape and mid-length hair, curling it creates a nice volume to soften your features.
- Try pairing this style with some sparkle eyeshadow and a bold red lip for a glamorous look.
Tip: You can also use a hair straightener to curl your hair by twisting each section around your straightener.

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3
Leave your hair natural if you have curly hair. Curly hair already has a lot of bounciness and lightness to it. Let your hair air dry to accentuate your natural curls and leave it down loose around your shoulders to accentuate your glasses and the shape of your face.^{[3]
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- This works especially well if you have a lot of layers in your hair.
- Keep your makeup subtle and neutral with some mascara, light-coverage foundation, and light pink lipstick.
- Long curly hair looks great on people with more defined jaw-lines.
4
Part your hair to the side to open up your face. Wet down your hair and part it to the right or left side of your face. Dry your hair downwards so that it stays in place to keep your part on 1 side and your hair off of your frames on the other to open up your face.^{[4]
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- Parting your hair down the middle can close off your face and make your hair sit awkwardly on your glasses.
- If you have long hair and a diamond or triangle-shaped face, parting your hair to the side will soften out the angles in your jaw and forehead.
- Add some bold eyeshadow and pink blush to draw attention to your face even more.
5
Pin back your face-framing layers to open up your face. Grab the face-framing layers of your hair on either side of your face. Pull them back to the sides of your head and twist the hair slightly to keep it in place. Add 2 to 3 bobby pins to either side of your hair to hold them.^{[5]
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- Pinning back your face-framing layers opens your face up to offset your glasses, which may close off your face.
- You can also use large, decorative clips to pin back your hair, especially if your glasses are slim and subtle.
- Pinning your hair back works great with any face shape if you’d like to draw attention to your eyes and lips.
- Draw attention to your eyes with some black winged eyeliner and a pale nude lip color.
6
Braid your face-framing layers for an eye-catching style. Brush out your hair completely and section off 2 parts of your hair that surround your face. Grab 1 section and braid it together, moving back toward the side of your head. Pin back your braid with a bobby pin and then do the same to the other side.^{[6]
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- This style draws attention to your glasses as well as your cheekbones.
- Pair this style with some highlighter on your cheeks and a bright lip color.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Putting Your Hair Up

1
Leave your bangs down with an updo for a symmetrical style. Brush your hair back into a low bun or ponytail and secure it with a hair tie. Leave your bangs on your forehead and pull out a few face-framing layers to rest around your cheekbones.^{[7]
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- Straight-across bangs complement glasses nicely because they add a touch of glamour to your frames.
2
Slick your hair back into a high bun for an elegant look. Brush your hair back onto the crown of your head. Pull your hair into a hair tie and secure it with bobby pins into a large bun. Pull out some face-framing layers around your eyes and cheekbones if you’d like to.^{[8]
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- High buns draw attention to your glasses without making them the star of the show.
- This is a great look for fancy parties or more formal events.
- Pair this look with a bold lipstick for a head-turning style.
3
Braid your hair back completely to make your glasses stand out. Brush your hair out completely to get rid of any tangles or knots. Grab the front pieces of your hair and start braiding them together, grabbing more hair each time you pick up a new strand. Braid all of your hair in a french braid that reaches down to the nape of your neck. Tie the end of your french braid back with a hair tie.^{[9]
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Tip: Attach a ribbon or bow to the end of your braid for some added flair.
4
Show off your glasses with a high ponytail. Brush your hair back onto the top of your head and secure it with a hair tie. Pull a few strands of hair out around your face to frame your glasses. Fluff up your ponytail with your hands to give it more volume and add some hairspray to get rid of any flyaways.^{[10]
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- This look works especially well if you have large-framed glasses and you want them to stand out.
5
Look sleek with a low ponytail. Smooth your hair down and gather it at the nape of your neck. Wrap a hair tie around your ponytail to keep it in place. Pull out a few pieces of hair near your face to frame it and keep your hair off your glasses.^{[11]
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- Use a scrunchie to tie your hair back for a cute accent.
- Low ponytails complement oval-faced shapes well.
6
Pull your hair half-up for an easy look. Grab the hair from the top of your ears upward and pull it back to the crown of your head. Tie it back with a hair tie in a ponytail or a messy bun. Pull some face-framing layers out around your face if you’d like to spice up this look.^{[12]
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- Half-updos balance out the volume of your hair with the bulk of your glasses.
- This is an easy style for the summer time or to look cute on a date.
- Pair this look with some black eyeliner and a nude lip to stay subtle.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I look more attractive in glasses?

Paul Julch, MA
Personal Wardrobe Stylist & Speaker
Paul Julch is a Personal Wardrobe Stylist, Speaker, and the founder of Urbanite | Suburbanite, a wardrobe styling business in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 25 years in the fashion industry, Paul works with clients to make getting dressed easier, less time consuming, and more enjoyable. Paul has years of experience in retail visual merchandising - styling windows, displays, and floor sets for Banana Republic, Gap, and Express. He also has experience styling fashion photo shoots and corporate videos. Paul holds a BS Degree in Management from State University of New York at Binghamton, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. He also studied Interior Design at the University of California, Berkeley.

Paul Julch, MA

Personal Wardrobe Stylist & Speaker

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Glasses are really about the frame shapes. You want something that helps balance your face. For example, if you have a long, narrow face, glasses that are more horizontal would help counteract that. If you don't love how you look in glasses in general, go for the clear frames since they're less noticeable.