Hairstyles for Your Face Shape

Hairstyles for Your Face Shape

Find the Right Hairstyle for Your Face Shape


Pull your hair back into a slick pontytail, grab a mirror and determine your face shape with this handy guide to finding your perfect hairstyle.

Tell-tale characteristics of an oval face: your forehead and jaw are the same width, and your face is shaped like an oval (of course). An oval face can carry a quality hairstyle of any length, be it a pixie, a pageboy or long, Grecian goddess layers. Think of your cut as a means of showcasing your best facial features. Gorgeous eyes steal the spotlight when grazed with blunt or side-swept bangs; a sleek bob enhances pretty, prominent cheek bones; and face-framing layers call attention to the whole package.

Straight, wavy or curly styles are all incredibly flattering in their own way, so take advantage of your chameleon capabilities with a few choice tools, such as a flat iron, curling iron and hot rollers. And work your part: you can experiment with it down the center, or place it far over on either side of your head to mix things up.

Tell-tale characteristics of an oblong face: your forehead and jaw are the same width, and your face is noticeably longer than the typical oval. Savvy gals with oblong-shaped faces prefer perky styles that appear to lift and widen, rather than ultra-long, weighed down 'dos. If you do go long, think layers with shorter pieces to frame your face. If the forehead is long, opt for bangs; if the length is in your jaw, a chin-skimming bob with bit of curl can create the illusion of width. Either way, minimize lift on the crown and sides and avoid extreme lengths. Cuts that are too long or too short will appear to lengthen your face.

Tell-tale characteristics of a round face: your forehead and lower face are equal widths, your face is a perfect circle on paper, and your cheeks are full or prominent. Round faces tend to appear youthful (a very good thing), however you can minimize the baby doll look and create the illusion of a leaner, more sculpted mug with a softly layered cut that falls below your chin. Whatever style you select, add volume at the crown, not the sides, and consider layers to remove bulk and give hair more movement. If you have a short 'do, remember that blunt or curly cuts emphasize roundness; tapered ends de-emphasize. Bangs are trickier, since some stylists can get scissor happy if you don?t bring in a photo outlining exactly where you want them to fall (this is where the makeover gallery comes in handy since your stylist will be able to see exactly where you want the bangs to fall on your own face). Play it safe and keep bangs long and swept to the side.

Tell-tale characteristics of a square face: Your hairline and jaw possess sharp, angular structure. Women with square faces exude a certain confidence and power without uttering a word. This facial type boasts an angular jaw, which means you can get away with short, trend--even spiky--cuts that showcase a strong, gorgeous profile. If you prefer to offset a square jaw, create the illusion of height at the top of your head and opt for a style that?s heavy on texture (think curls, irregular layers or wisps) around the face. Layers are almost foolproof: be sure yours begin at your jaw line, never higher, and steer clear of blunt fringe. Take note: one-length bobs that hit the chin essentially make square faces appear too severe.

Tell-tale characteristics of a heart-shaped face: wide across the temples and narrowest at the jaw with a pointed chin. Pros advise against blunt cuts and styles shorter than your chin, but Katie Holmes put both of these theories to shame when she copped Victoria "Posh"  Beckham's bang-heavy bob, and looked utterly chic doing so. While it's true that long, one-length styles with soft bangs lend the face a more oval appearance, the best looks are simply sleek and volume-free around the ears and at the crown. Go short by keeping the layers soft and relatively long. Pull off the long hair look with a few layers or waves strategically placed near the cheeks. Deep side-parts are flattering, especially when accented by bangs (they should be soft, never choppy).