How to Find the Right Hairstyle for Your Face Shape
83Going to the hairdresser can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you arent' sure what you want. Ease your nerves by doing some research ahead of time, browse women's magazines or the internet for examples of the style you're looking for, and don't be afraid to bring a few pictures into the salon with you. Sharing these pictures with the hairdresser will give he or she a visual idea of what type of cut you're interested in.
However, it's important to keep in mind that just because a particular haircut looks good on Jennifer Aniston does not mean it will look good on you. Different cuts are flattering for different face shapes; determining what shape yours is can help guide you in the right direction. Tie your hair back in a ponytail and look straight ahead into a mirror. Focusing mainly on your jawline, see if your face is round, oval, heart-shaped or square. According to famous hairstylist John Frieda, your jawline is the most important factor in deciding what length your new cut should be. Look at your profile in the mirror. If you have a sharp angle where your jaw turns to meet your ear, you're lucky--you can pull off almost any length of hair. If your jaw is long and sloping, avoid wearing your hair up or pulling it back, and stay away from really short styles as they will expose your jawline. Before selecting a style, however, let the hairdresser know what type of routine you keep and how much time you have to spend on your hair each morning. Choppy, layered cuts, for example, require much more prep time than straight cuts. Very few women have exact, ideal proportions in their countenance, but read on and you'll learn ways you can use your hair as a frame to fool the eye into thinking you do.
ROUND FACE
Soft, choppy styles such as layers cut around the cheeks work better for round faces than pin-straight, flat or sleek styles do. Layers that fall just around the cheekbones will shade them and cause the face to look more narrow. Volume on top of the crown will create a domed look that adds height and thus elongates the roundness of the face. If you like bangs, graduated bangs cut on an angle that also fall just around the cheeks are your best bet. If your neck is also round, choppy layers that fall around the neckline will also downplay the plumpness.
OVAL FACE
The oval is considered to be the "perfect" face shape due to it's popularity and versatility. This is the shape that all haircuts seek to achieve, and people who already have this shape can get away with almost any haircut. The only thing you'll want to be careful about is if you're going for an uber-short look. Your face may be a "classic oval", but if your scalp isn't beautifully shaped a short cut can look misshapen.
LONG FACE
The solution for a long face is to make it look shorter. This can be achieved by wisphy, see-through bangs and chin length cuts. Longer, shapeless styles and straight bobs serve only to further elongate. The fullest, thickest part of the hair should rest behind the ears and be soft and low on the crown. If your chin is pointy, make sure your hair doesn't curve in towards it, but sweeps up and away instead.
SQUARE FACE
Square faces need to avoid short crops, symmetry, or anything geometric which will enhance the squareness; instead, go for soft curves which will soften the severity of the square jawline. If you can get a slightly voluminous point at the crown, this will also detract from the square outline. Light, wispy, see-through bangs can also soften the features. Stay away from blunt cuts and hard, sleek lines as these will exagerrate the square shape. A cut with soft curves, slight bangs would be best for this face type.
HEART-SHAPED FACE
Faces that are narrow at the bottom and wide at the top need a cut that hides the hairline with graduated bangs and a choppy style that flips out on the ends. When the hair turns outwards rather than inwards, it equalizes the shape by giving volume around the narrow bottom of the face. If, on the other hand, your face is an upside-down heart (narrow at the top, heavier at the jaw) make sure there is fullness at the top of the head instead to balance out the chin.
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Comments
Your welcome, I've been needing a new style myself. As you can see in my profile pic, my hair has gotten way too long. I need a style that is easy to manage but still looks good curly.
Ask your hairstylist to accentuate special features like your eyes; this can be done by say adding bangs. If you know your face shape you cannot go wrong in selecting a hairstyle.Great article and illustrations.
Hey, my hair is long and wavy but most of the time it gets really tangled even after I had brushed it, then it gets frizzy and poofy! I can't control it! I run out of hairstyles (even though I use ponytails, let my hair down, put at the side, french braid.)! So what can I do? How can I straighten it? I don't have alot of money so I can't really buy a straightener tool! So what can I do?
Hey Emma, I feel your pain, trust me. It took me years to figure it all out. There are two options for someone with long, wavy hair who can't afford a straightening iron.
First of all, STOP BRUSHING IT. Curly-haired girls should NEVER take a hairbrush to their hair, it just increases the frizz. If you are trying to blow dry it straight however, you can use a flat, vented, plastic bristle brush to get it straight, but this will only kinda work.
Your other option is to embrace your curls. When you get out of the shower, run gel through your hair to keep it under control and let it dry naturally.
Actually, these hubs might be a huge help to you: http://hubpages.com/hub/How_to_Control_Curly_Frizz
HELP! I still cant figure out my faceshape, im debating between square and oval! i recently got my hair trimed and i want the whole bangs to the side but i cant figure out whether to get layers in the front that angle my face. pleasehelp!
Hey Megan, the only real difference between a square face and an oval face is that square faces basically have a more defined, squarer jaw and jawline. Oval faces tend to be slimmer in the jaw and cheeks, if that helps you at all.
As for your haircut, layers in the front are NOT the same as side bangs; they're just layers. You'd have to specify to the stylist that you want sideswept bangs (either to the left or the right). Try doing a Google Image search for "side swept bangs" and you'll see a billion pics that you could bring with you to show the stylist. Good luck!
Just like to make a comment that Michael Jacksons nose has nothing to with hair color or shape so for that matter, just beat it.
I just had to read this. I find it really hard to find the right hairstyle for my face shape..esp. when my hair is kinda limp. Thanks for the info. Hmmm will now try to analyze my face. :-)
Thanks For the wonderful Tips.. I will tell my hair dresser to cut Accordingly. By the way i was curious are you a hair dresser?
This website looks absolutely amazing and I have really wanted a new haircut for this special occasion! I have a hard time adjusting to new things and finding a New type of hairstyle will be awesome. I am tired of the same old same old!
This website is good. I know I have a long face with a big 4head, however my face is slim too so is even worse! I hate it. I have long curly hair and a full fringe/bang. I also have quite a soft jaw and chin so I'm not very defined and have no visable cheekbones! I hate having a fringe but it's the best thing for my face shape I know, I'd like to have a side swept fringe but it makes my face look thinner and longer! What hair cut can I have to make my face look shorter? Help!
Great tips, i loved the pictures!
Nice hub. I understand I have a lot to learn, thank you.
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thats one of the most helpful things ive read! ive always wondered how people choose and there it is, very helpful
HELP! i have extremely thick hair that is kind of wavy, but there are random straight peices! whenever i blow dry it, it just frizzes up and i cannot do anything with it after. I have been wearing ponytails with my hair for years and i sometimes straighten it but it takes about an hour to do it! what should i do?
your website is great! thank you for your tips...I Learn a lot...thank you
umm i cant tell if my face is round or oval. i need some advice please!!!
thanx
Thats amazing...I'm called Ellie and I'm wondering the exact same thing! Awesome! Sorry, just had to add that.
Great website, lots of help. Thanks!
That's an intersting hub. I always tend to stick to the same sort of hair cut/style, and I've never thought about whether it suits my face shape or not. Turns out that it doesn't! Well I've learnt something today, and will consider it next time I get my hair cut. Thanks.
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hi thr i am thinking about getting my hair cut but should i get a fringe i dont no please help
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so i cant tell if my face shape is round or oval. i have really thick hair-it is wavy in some spots, straight in other spots and underneeth it is curly. My hair is also really dry. i recently got the cuticles layed down with a perm so i can wear it down. im thinking about getting a sort of drastic hair cut but i don't know what to get. you can not see my cheek bones but im not fat! I want to dye my hair purple underneath but would choppy layers look good with my face shape and how long should i cut my hair. please help me.!!!
I have a heart shape face, a short neck and a flat head. What type of hair should I be looking for?
hi im holly and i have a long face with a big forehead.im trying to grow my hair out but i kind of want short side bangs...should i get them?
my face style is longand my style always long straight.
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Its amazing how this one tip about finding the right hairstyle for your face shape will make all the difference in the world when it comes to achieving a flattering haircut of your favorite celebrity.
Love this hub. Thanks for the information.
ChristineRitter says:
2 years ago
I've been thinking about a new style. Thanks, for the information.