Find a Better Hair Style For Your Face

Knowing the shape of your face will make your style choices easier and will also help you to communicate better with your hair stylist. This technique is used by stylists and involves styling hair around the face to create an illusion of a balanced face.

Find Your Face Shape

1. First stand in front of a mirror and look straight ahead.
2. Pull your hair completely back and secure it with a clip.
3. Take an easy-to-wipe marker-pen and draw around the outline of your face on the mirror.
4. Compare the result with one of the following shapes and find the face shape that is closest to yours.
   
   (There are seven different face shapes in this guide but the most important ones are Oval, Round, Square and Heart.)

High forehead and narrow, slightly rounded chin.

Haircut & Style: This is the most balanced face shape and almost perfect for any length and type of hair style. Just consider styles that work best for your hair type and age.

Few suggestions:

Wide, short forehead, full jaw and round chin.

Haircut & Style: The round shape normally makes the cheeks appear wider. Most short hair cuts works well for a round face as long as there is some height at the crown area and little fullness above the ears to slim down the round face. A soft cut with sophisticated layers coming forward onto the face look stylish and is an ideal hair style for round face shape. Soft curls will also flatter the frame of a round face. For straight hair, asymmetric cuts can also be an option. Rule of thumb:

• Styles that are flattering for Round Faces

Wide forehead and hairline, narrowed down to a small pointy chin. True heart face has area rounded cheek area and, without this, the face is considered to be a V-shape – which is slightly different.
Haircut & Style: Suited styles are like layered bob with extra volume and outward flicks at chin level. Asymmetric cuts are also flattering heart-shaped faces. Curls and waves are helpful. The best length is chin-length or longer. Adding wispy bangs will enhance the overall look and balance the wider forehead. Adding height and volume around the temple is not a good idea!

Style Suggestions:

A wide, short forehead with a square jaw that is in line with your cheekbones.

Haircut & Style: Square edges should be softened by breaking the symmetry of a square shape (off-center parting and side curves). Gradual layers with some volume at the crown, along with some soft curls, look stylish on this type of face shape. Avoid straight, blunt or heavy bangs.

• Styles that are flattering for Square Faces

Similar to the square shape but narrower at the temples; slightly wider at the cheeks and widest at the jaw line. This usually makes the jaw line usually dominant.

Haircut & Style: Most short hair cuts works for this type of face. For mid-length and longer, avoid styles with volume at the top and avoid blunt bangs. Similar to square faces, triangular faces should go for wispy layers or soft waves.

Long face with a high forehead, long jaw and chin. Other face shapes that appear long are Rectangle and Oblong.

Haircut & Style: Suited styles are chin or shoulder-length cuts with a fringe that can disguise the long forehead and yes, that includes full bangs. Haircuts that are shorter at the back and longer at the front also work with this type of face. Adding body to hair is a nice and simple trick to prevent the face being dragged down.

Style Suggestions:

When going through this guide remember to note distinctive features like your nose, cheekbones, or jaw line. You can then decide to downplay or highlight these features with the length and style you choose. The real trick is to pick hairstyles that enhance your best features while camouflaging any unwanted features.

This face shape concept is only a simple guide and there are exceptions. Sometimes it's difficult to distinguish two face shapes from each other and you may not get an exact match. But usually these classifications of face shapes will help you select a better style for your face.