The ideal haircut is as elusive as, well, your mood. But when you're trying to figure out which types of hairstyles are the best, it helps to classify your face shape as square, oval, round, or heart-shaped. Once you know the shape of your face, you can recognize people with similar face shapes and compare styles to see what flatters their features and what fails to flatter. Then, hopefully, you're off to the salon to try out the haircut you like most.

The haircut tips and styles suggested here for each face shape come with pictures of classic Hollywood stars to help you see for yourself. Old celebs? you say. Sure, why not? Hairstyles don't have to be modern and trendy to look fabulous. Take a look for yourself.

Among these 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s celebrity photos, you'll see hairdos that look great, hairdos that look less great, and the hairdos that are clearly hair-don'ts. Even if you can't bring yourself to ask the stylist for finger curls, you'll be inspired to get your hair cut and styled with an attractive and flattering look that suits you best.

But remember, guys and girls, that whatever the hairstyling rules say, each face is different. Finding the right look is a trial-and-error process.

There aren't any true rules when it comes to hairstyles. You can go funky, or cool, or high-fashion or conservative.

While there are no rules, there are principles to help you pick a flattering hairstyle that makes the most of your features.

Along with each set of photos is a discussion of how to choose a hair style right for that face shape.

These hairstyling tips apply to men as well as women. The exception is the times men's hairstyles try to emphasize, say, a square shape, while women's hairdos try to soften the square shape.

Both women and men should look at the celebrity photos closely and read the captions.

Whatever your goals, you'll learn the secrets to bringing the focus where you want it and away from the problem areas.

Square shaped faces tend toward a classic look. In thin, square faces, the fine definition of the jaw and chin should be treated as an asset for both men and women.  In plump or blocky square faces, the rules generally say to elongate the lines and break up the symmetry.

• Use an off-center part to de-emphasize the geometric angles of a square face shape.
• Use a side part to frame a square face without de-emphasizing it.
  
• Try a short, layered boyish cut with a sweeping, messy fringe of bangs to add a feminine touch to a square-shaped face on a woman.
• If the chin and jaw together form a solid, intimidating block, de-emphasize the line by ending the hairstyle well above or well below.
  
• Square faces tend to look shorter than they are, so an emphasis point, such as curls or waves, midway down your face can help.
• For a longer option for a square-shaped face, consider a shoulder-length smooth wave, trimmed to a bouncy curl to move the eye away from the square jaw.
• Another longer look for a square face shape is tumbled curls such as Jessica Simpson wears. Ms. Simpson's hairdos either narrow her square face shape or soften the force of her strong chin with lots of curly waves.
  

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Long, thin oval face shapes are beautiful, with the straight lines on the sides and rounded chins. But they can often look too long and lugubrious with the wrong hairstyle.

• Oval face shapes benefit from hairstyles that widen the face and add a horizontal dimension. Think wave. Think body. Broaden your oval-shaped face by wearing styles that are round and fluffy.
• The length should be cropped at your jawline (midway down your face) or falling below your shoulder in ever-more-glamorous curls.
• If you have a very long neck, avoid buzz cuts or close-cropped styles that don't widen the face.
  
• Avoid styles that end at your chin.
  
• Avoid long, straight hairstyles. They make the oval face shape look mournful.
  
• Long bangs down to, or past, your eyebrows shorten a too-prominent forehead in a long face shape. If you have a forehead that's too long, try 'em. You'll like 'em.

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Round faces tend to look sweet and accessible. They also tend to look pudgy, even if they're not. Those round face shapes that are short and squishy need a lot of help, while faces tending toward the heart shape allow for more flexible styles.

• Your hairstyle should draw the gaze away from the broadest part of your face, which is usually around the cheekbones.
• Try a long, straight look with bangs that end midway down your forehead (see the picture of Claudette Colbert).
• Wear your hair shoulder-length or longer, but not ending at your chin, which would emphasize the roundness.
• Wear your hair close-cropped or swept up away from your jaw to make your "sweet round face" look more elegant.
• Avoid short, fluffy, full-bodied styles that further round out your face. A boyish cut or a feathered look that ends midway down your face can help lengthen your face. (Ironically, for those with oval-shaped faces, the same look shortens and rounds the face.)
• Long bangs make your already-short forehead look even squashier. Very short bangs elongate your round-shaped face.
• Use an off-center part if you wear your hair long.  The sweep down your face can disguise a round cheek.  Jennifer Aniston is famous for her slightly asymmetrical styles that narrow her round face shape.
  

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Few people have a truly proportional heart-faced shape--broad at the top and narrowing in to a rounded, pointy chin, with neither a long nor short forehead, and neither a long nor short chin. Meg Ryan is often touted as having a heart-shaped face, but the beautiful celebrity has quite a round face, and wears shaggy haircuts that sweep over her cheeks to disguise it.

A heart-shaped face is extremely versatile and ideal for maximizing your choice of flattering haircuts.

• Wear a jaw-length bob, a boyish cap in layers, a sweep of voluminous hair down your back, or a long, straight haircut. Even a close-cropped hairstyle is flattering to heart-shaped faces. So are bangs.
  
• A top-heavy look, with hair piled on your head or a big afro on top, can round out a heart-shaped face if the top is too flat.

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These public-domain images from film screenshots and trailors are thanks to Wikimedia Commons. The photographs are in the public domain in the United States. Not all photos can be used in every country.

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