Best Hairstyle for Your Face Shape: A Comprehensive Guide

Did you know that certain haircuts are more flattering depending on your face shape? Before heading to the salon, understanding the best hairstyles for your face shape can help you achieve a more flattering look. While you can ultimately choose any style you like, stylists agree that keeping certain considerations in mind can help you find the right haircut for you. Opting for a cut that accentuates your best facial features and complements your hair texture is a surefire way to leave the salon feeling confident and happy.

Determining Your Face Shape

The first step is identifying your face shape. The primary face shapes are oblong, oval, round, heart-shaped, square, and diamond. To determine your face shape, start by looking at your bone structure in the mirror.

• Oblong: Oblong face shapes are longer than they are wide, with the forehead, jawline, and cheeks being roughly the same width.
• Oval: An oval-shaped face is also longer than it is wide, but the cheekbones are wider than those of an oblong face shape.
• Round: Round face shapes are circular, with wide cheeks, rounded chins, and soft angles throughout.
• Square: Square face shapes are similar to round shapes in proportion but feature more angular features and a square-shaped chin.
• Heart-shaped: Heart-shaped faces have a wider forehead, prominent cheeks, and a narrow chin.
• Diamond: Diamond face shapes feature a forehead and jawline of similar width, with the widest part of the face at the cheekbones and a narrow chin.

General Principles of Hairstyle Selection

Mia Santiago, a celebrity hairstylist and owner of Headspace by Mia in Columbus, Ohio, emphasizes the importance of considering how a hairstyle will either widen or narrow the face. For example, straight-across bangs on a round face can make it appear wider, while curtain bangs can accentuate the eyes and cheekbones, adding contour and narrowing the face shape.

Hairstyle Recommendations for Different Face Shapes

Here's a detailed look at hairstyle recommendations for each face shape:

Oval Face Shape

An oval face shape is characterized by a length that is longer than the width, with a jawline that is only slightly narrower than the gently rounded hairline. Oval faces have no prominent points or angles. Celebrities with oval faces include Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, and Bella Hadid.

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Goal: The main goal when choosing a hairstyle for an oval face is to avoid elongating the face further.

Recommendations:

• Short Hair: A blunt bob with face-framing pieces that clears the shoulder can be a great option.
• Medium Length Hair: Choose a shoulder-length cut with subtle layers to add volume and prevent the hair from falling flat.
• Long Hair: A simple part change can make a significant difference.
• Updos and Slicked-Back Looks: High-fashion, slicked-back looks and updos are ideal for oval faces, as you don't need to overcompensate for certain features or soften specific angles.
• Hair Away from Face: The best hairstyles for oval faces are those that keep the hair away from the face, exposing the balanced features.

Styling Tips:

• Keep the face as clear as possible when styling.
• Consider using hair extensions to achieve a sleek high ponytail with short hair.

Heart Face Shape

A heart-shaped face is wider at the hairline and temples, tapering down to a small, narrow, and slightly pointed chin. Those with heart-shaped faces often have a prominent forehead and defined cheekbones. A "true" heart-shaped face often has a widow's peak hairline.

Goal: When choosing a hairstyle for a heart-shaped face, you can either accentuate the tapered shape or balance it out by making the bottom half of your face appear wider.

Recommendations:

• Accentuate the Heart Shape: Pull your hair up into a high top knot or a slicked-back high ponytail.
• Balance the Shape: Opt for a lob that just clears the shoulder to add width around your jawline.
• Parting: If you have a widow's peak, avoid forcing a middle part. Part your hair slightly off-center to whichever side it naturally falls.

Square Face Shape

Square-shaped faces are wide, with the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline being almost the same width.

Goal: When choosing a hairstyle for a square face, you can either accentuate the squareness or soften the strong jawline.

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Recommendations:

• Enhance the Face Shape: Go for blunt bangs or a short bob to showcase the strong jawline.
• Soften the Face Shape:
  • Try soft, wispy bangs falling to the side to create diagonal lines and soften the angular features.
  • Wear your hair straight and long with layers that start a few inches from the end to draw the eyes down and add length to the face.

Styles to Avoid:

• Overly thick bangs or blunt hairstyles, as they can accentuate the angles.
• Severe, slicked-back looks, if trying to soften the face shape.

Round Face Shape

Round faces are similar in width and length, with no prominent angles or corners. Round faces often have a youthful appearance.

Goal: When styling a round face, the primary goal is to elongate the face and make it appear more oval.

Recommendations:

• Short Hair: Short hair can be particularly flattering if parted and styled correctly.
• Parting: Try a deep side part to create more angles.
• Ponytail: Pull your hair up into a high ponytail to elongate the face.
• Medium Length Hair: Opt for medium-length hair with long, face-framing bangs, and keep the texture smooth and sleek.

Styles to Avoid:

• Hiding the face behind lots of hair, as this can accentuate the wide face.
• Soft, wispy bangs, as they can further accentuate the softness of the features.

Styling Tips:

• Always leave a little piece of hair untucked on one side of your face to create asymmetry.

Long Face Shape

A long face shape is essentially an oval face shape that is longer, with the length of the face noticeably exceeding the width.

Goal: The main goal for long face shapes is to create the illusion of width to balance out the longer length.

Recommendations:

• Curls and Waves: Curls are an excellent option for adding width. Flat-iron waves are a great way to achieve loose curls and waves.
• Volume: A good salon-style blowout can add volume and width.

Styles to Avoid:

• Hair that is too far past mid-length, as this can lengthen the face.

Styling Tips:

• Ensure the widest part of your waves hits around the area of your cheekbones to create the illusion of a wider face. Start curling the hair closer to the root to achieve this.

Diamond Face Shape

Diamond face shapes feature a forehead and jawline of similar width, with the widest part of the face at the cheekbones and a narrow chin. Diamond faces are often considered symmetrical and balanced.

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Goal: The primary objective is to accentuate the elegant face shape rather than balance anything out.

Recommendations:

• Bangs: Opt for long, side-swept bangs to highlight your cheekbones.
• Layers: Incorporate long layers to complement the face shape.
• Lobs: Go short with a textured lob.

Styles to Avoid:

• Heavy, rounded bangs, which can shorten the face and make it appear smaller.

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