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How to Tell What Shape Your Face Is For the Most Flattering Hairstyle

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By Sherri L Souzen

Whether you're a man or a woman, knowing your face shape can help you pick the hairstyles that look good on you.  A flattering hairstyle not only makes your face look more attractive, but also makes you feel more confident.  Wearing the right hairstyle for your face shape is important to choosing a hairdo.  But the first step is figuring out what face shape you have.  Learn how to tell the shape of your face so you can style your hair so it looks great.

How to Tell the Shape of Your Face

Look in the mirror when your hair is wet so you can see the shape of your face unobstructed. Keep your face straight, neither tipping up nor down. Or, take a photo of yourself facing straight ahead. A photo can be easier to examine objectively than your image in the mirror.

The shape of your face is not about how chubby or thin it is, it's about your bone structure.

Answer these face shape quiz questions:

  • Does your face seem almost as broad as it is long? Do your cheekbones bulge out even when you aren't smiling? Is the top of your head round? Your face shape is probably round.
  • Do you have a square jaw and/or a prominent chin? Is your jaw nearly in the same line as your chin? Do you have high or small cheekbones? Is your face at least as wide at the jaw level as at your cheekbones? Is the top of your head almost straight? Your face is probably square.
  • Is your forehead the most prominent part of your face? Are your cheekbones and jaw not very noticeable? Does your face seem straight on the sides and curve in at your chin? Is the top of your head round? Your face is probably oval.
  • Does your face look round at your cheek, but narrows down gradually to a pointy chin? Is your face neither long nor short? Is the top of your head broad? You have a heart-shaped face.



Examples of Old Hollywood Celebrity Hairstyles and Face Shapes

See photos of male and female face shapes of old Hollywood celebrities, and a discussion of how to pick the right hairstyle for your face shape in What Hairstyle Suits You: The Best Hairdo for the Round, Oval or Square Face Shape.

Face Shape and Hairstyling Tips

As you classify your face shape, keep in mind that:

  • All face shapes can be beautiful--there's nothing wrong with a round face or square face or very long face.

  • You may have noticed that your face isn't just one shape--most people have a combination of face shapes--like long and square--or the shape is different on top than on the bottom. That's normal.

  • Sometimes a long neck or some extra pudge can make it hard to tell what shape your face is.

  • If you have a difficult time figuring out the shape of your face, consult with a beautician or poll your friends.

  • When you compare hairstyles others are wearing, remember that what works for them may not work for you. Your features, coloring, the way you talk and smile and other factors all affect how good a particular hairstyle looks on you.

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Ladybird33 profile image

Ladybird33  says:
5 months ago

I had to think about my shape, interesting ideas. Enjoyed your hub!

sbeakr profile image

sbeakr  says:
4 months ago

I have a slender, angular face with prominent cheekbones and a 'long' chin...long as in the steep angle of my mandible jawline. There has never been an acceptable recognition of this face shape, which at worst is referred to simply as LONG or not mentioned at all. This particular facial structure can actually have variations that make LONG a misrepresentation, and generally people with such a face can pull off just about ANY hairstyle, in spite of the idea that long hair on a long face is thought a bad thing.

Just thought it worth the mention.

girliegirl.  says:
4 months ago

Sbeakr. I def understand! Supposedly based on my measurements i have a round/square face. But talking to my friends and my hair stylist I get back triangular and heart shaped, or even long as my length is 7 inches. All in all it makes things a total pain in the rear to tell what my face shape is or what style i should choose.

In the end, I personally think that a medium long style with swept across bangs is universally flattering and pretty much works for everyone.

Sherri L Souzen profile image

Sherri L Souzen  says:
3 months ago

Ladybird33:

Thank you--I'm hoping it helps folks keep their self-confidence up!

Sherri L Souzen profile image

Sherri L Souzen  says:
3 months ago

Sbeakr:

Definitely worth the mention, and thank you. It sounds like your face is a cross between a heart shape, oval, and maybe rectangular..? In other words, as you say, an unrecognized shape altogether.

Also, it's worth noting that a person's individual features trump the "rules" every time. So many arrangements can affect how the shape of the face appears. Widely spaced eyes vs. narrow eyes, a narrow nose vs. broad nose, lush lips vs. thin lips, a wide mouth vs. a short mouth, prominent eyebrows vs. mere wisps, even the skin tones (a darker blush on the cheeks, for example) can do a number on the simplicity of face shape theory.

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