04 January 2012

Every hairstyle or hair cut that you do should be based on your face shape. 

The first step to determining your face shape is to pull all your hair away from your face with a ponytail or a head band. After that, you can determine your shape by drawing on a mirror around the perimeter of your face reflection or by putting a towel around your face and determine the shape that the towel makes. 

The main goal when you are creating a hair style is to achieve the most oval looking appearance possible due to the versatility.

There are seven basic face shapes: oval, round, square, triangular, oblong, diamond and heart shaped or inverted triangle.

 

 

Continue reading to discover your face shape and the hair style that best suits you....

Oval

Description: slightly narrower at the jaw line than at the temples, with a gentle rounding at the hairline.

Tips: For this face shape just about any hair style looks good on you. Your face shape is balanced and proportional for just about any style. You will see the best result with a style away from your face such as flipping your hair towards the back. 

Just avoid styling you hair on your face because it can add extra weight to your

face and nobody wants that.

Example: Jennifer Aniston

Rectangular or Oblong

Description: a long and slender face, about the same width from the forehead to  just below the cheekbones, may also have a very narrow chin or very high forehead.

Tips: Try short to medium length hair cuts that build weight at the sides of your face.

A wispy bang will help the face to appear shorter and can help to build width for it to become more balanced.

Another thing you can do is to add a few layers to soften the straight lines and angles to your face. If you have straight hair a side part will help you achieve a straight style without adding more length to your face. When you have an oblong face

Do Not have your hair too long because you will just make your face appear longer. Keeping your hair above your shoulders or at shoulder length will be your best bet.

Example: Janet Jackson

Round

Description: A full looking face with a round chin and hairline. The widest part of your face is at the cheeks to your ears.

Tips: To minimize the roundness of your face choose hairstyles that create fullness to your hair and adds height at your crown.

You should also choose styles that look best with an off center part and that are just longer than chin length. You can add layers to the top of your style and keep the styling close to the face will help you to achieve a longer and narrower look to your face.

With a round face when you choose chin length hairstyles with a center part the hair tends to just fall around your face and accentuate your roundness and that is not cute. Also since your cheeks are your widest part if your face, avoid adding any fullness to your hair on the sides because it can make your face appear wider.

Example: Drew Barrymore

Square

Description: a strong, squared jaw line and usually an equally square hairline.

Tips: Always try short to medium length cuts with a wispy bang and you can even add a little bit of wave or movement to soften the angular shapes to your face.

A good way to dress you style up a little bit by using a side part with a little height at the crown and it will also elongate your symmetrical shape.

Never use long straight styles or even a straight one length bob because it can accentuate your squared features.

Try a layered style, but just remember make sure it ends above or below the jaw line not at the jaw line.

Example: Sandra Bullock

Heart or Inverted Triangle

Description: wide at the temples and hairline narrowing at the chin almost to a point. The difference between heart and inverted triangle is heart is a curved hairline like a heart and inverted triangle has a straight hairline.

Tips: A chin length bob would be perfect for you because it creates a balanced look by giving fullness where you need it. If you have a very dramatic heart shape you should leave weight in the back nape or neck area to achieve more balance between your cheekbones and narrower chin.

Avoid short full styles that emphasis you upper face since it is the largest/widest part of your face. Also don’t choose styles that have weight or height at your crown area because this will make your chin appear longer and narrower.

 

Example: Naomi Campbell

Triangular

Description: a dominant jaw line narrowing at the cheek bone and temples.

Tips: When choosing hairstyles choose ones that are full at the temples and taper at the jaw line. Shorter hair tends to balance a prominent jaw line.

Also try styles with a lot of layers because it will help to achieve fullness thought the upper part of your face to give it a narrower look.

A simple thing to try is tucking your hair behind your ears because it will bring attention to your eyes and add the illusion of width to this area of you face.

Do Not choose long full hairstyles that bring attention to your jaw line. You want to avoid putting most of the weight of your hair cut at the jaw line and below. This will give added weight to your face which I know once again that every woman dreads.

 

Example: Kathy Ireland

Diamond

Description: A cross between a heart and a dramatic oval. Widest areas are at the cheek bones and equally narrow at the forehead and jaw line.

Tip: This face shape is very balanced so just about any style will work for you.

Be brave, experiment with a variety of styles because you really can go wrong. Just make sure you leave weight in the back nape or neck area to achieve balance between your dramatic cheekbones and narrow chin line.

Just avoid wearing too much hair on your face to not hide your great features.

 

Example: Katherine Hepburn

Hopefully this helps some of you achieve your desired look. Just remember, always keep in mind your face shape when making hair decisions!