Ask The Experts: What Face Shape Am I? April 4, 2018 16:16
No matter your face shape, there will be haircuts that look best on you and a few that aren't as flattering. That fringe you hated...or the reason you can't stand a centre part are generally your instinct telling you that something is wrong.
It certainly doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. It's just a simple matter of finding the right haircut that complements your individual features.
The key to a flattering hairstyle is finding one that creates the illusion that you have an oval face. There are cuts that help make a round face appear longer, a long face appear wider, a square jaw appear softer, for instance. There are also cuts that make large foreheads and double chins basically disappear.
If you try that and still aren't sure about your face shape, chances are it doesn't really matter what your face shape is. Beauty advice about face shapes is primarily designed for women with strong facial shapes that they want to tone down. Generally, it's most helpful for women with obvious round, square, long, or heart-shaped faces.
Women with oval and diamond faces tend to look fine in everything. You might want to focus on other factors like hair texture and your body shape. The same applies if you don't have an obvious face shape.
Maybe your personality or the length of your hair is more important to you. If you have a distinct hair texture like super fine or very curly, exploring flattering cuts for that may be a better road to take. Remember, too, that everyone is different and you don't have to follow every beauty rule in the book.
There is a general rule that applies to face shape balancing and it is that you should try to achieve an oval shape, which is the most perfect and pleasing shape to the human eye. To do this, long faces need shortening, just as wide faces need lengthening. It’s quite simple really!
How To Choose Your Face Shape
To determine your face shape, pull your hair back in a headband or ponytail and analyze what you see in the mirror. Your pretty face should fall within one of six categories.
Oval: Forehead may be slightly wider than the chin, and the length of the face is about one and a half times the width.
Round: Prominent, rounded cheeks with equal width and length of the face.
Square: Prominent jaw and square chin, with forehead and jawline roughly the same width.
Heart: Wider forehead and cheekbones with a narrow jawline and chin.
Diamond: Narrow forehead and jawline with cheekbones at the widest point of the face.
Long: Often confused for the oval face, though an oblong face will have a longer shape that is not as wide as oval — often with a narrow chin.
It's important to remember that even though your face may not be an exact match of any single shape, it will resemble one shape over all.
The Oh-So-Versatile Oval Face Shape
If you find that you have an oval face shape, then you're in luck! Having an oval face shape means that you can wear your hair in almost any style.
An oval face shape has long been regarded as the ideal face shape, simply because its proportions and balance allow it to pull off practically any haircut, hairstyle and makeup look with ease.
If you have an oval face shape then you'll recognize the following characteristics:
Your forehead and jawline are approximately the same width.
Your chin is rounded in shape with no hard lines.
Your jawline has a slight roundness to it.
Your forehead is slightly broader than your jaw.
Your face is widest at your cheekbones.
All of these characteristics add up to a balanced face shape which features no areas that are more dominate than another (your forehead is not noticeably larger than your jawline, for example). This allows you to wear a large range of looks when it comes to styling your hair and your makeup.
Oval Face: Nearly every hairstyle flatters this shape. If yours is on the longer side, follow some of the suggestions for long faces. Finding a good style for your hair texture is probably more important.
Hairstyles to Try
Any shape and style can be worn, whether it's short, long, layered or bobbed.
The only thing to consider with an oval face shape is what part of your face you want to accentuate. This is where you can get creative with a fringe or how you style your hair everyday
Hairstyles to Avoid
The main thing to consider is to not choose hairstyles that hang in your face or eyes.
Or hairstyles that just cover over your beautiful face shape.
If you like any of the following hairstyles, click on each image for larger views, how to style steps and a try on link for the virtual hairstyle.
The Vibrant Round Face Shape
The object is to add length and avoid width.
A round face requires haircuts, styles and makeup that will help to reduce the roundness and create a more flattering shape.
If you have a round face shape then you'll recognize the following characteristics:
Your face is pretty much the same width and length, creating a circle like shape.
Your forehead and jawline are approximately the same width.
Your chin is rounded in shape with no hard lines or angles.
Your jawline is round and full in shape.
Your forehead is wide and round at your hairline.
Your face is widest at your cheekbones.
All of these characteristics add up to face shape which is very much symmetrical and usually features high cheekbones, that when combined with the roundness of your face, create a youthful look!
Some of the better options include haircuts that are below your chin. With curly or wavy hair, going too short may add more width to the cheek area. Short styles that add volume on top can elongate your face.
Hairstyles to Try
Hairstyles with height and fullness at the crown will give the illusion of a narrower face shape, particularly those short in length.
Longer hairstyles or ones that are kept close to the cheeks with no width will look better.
Middle parts are great for creating the illusion of narrow length.
No bangs are the ideal as the focus point becomes the bridge of the nose, creating a more oval shape.
If fringes are used they should be swept across, or in the case of solid fringes, only where there is substantial height on the top.
Short hairstyles are great and do not suffocate small round faces.
Hairstyles to Avoid
Hairstyles that add volume through the sides such as chin length bob cuts, straight or kicking out in design.
Side parts and heavy straight across bangs create a wider shorter shape and therefore should be avoided at all costs on hairstyles without any height.
Envy the Square Face Shape
With a square face shape, your main aim should be to soften your strong jawline.
A square face shape requires haircuts, styles and makeup that will help to soften the strong angles that are the trademark of the shape.
If you have a square face shape then you'll recognize the following characteristics:
Your face is very equal in regards to length and width.
Your forehead and jawline are a similar width in appearance.
Your chin is noticeably square and/or flat.
Your jawline is strong, broad and obviously square in appearance.
Your cheeks and the sides of your face are straight.
Your forehead is broad and most likely straight around your hairline.
Your face is widest at your cheekbones.
All of these characteristics add up to a strong looking face shape that can be flattered with the right hairstyle and makeup choices.
You may want to play down a strong, angular jaw. Texture, in the form of curls or choppy ends, does a brilliant job at this.
Hairstyles to Try
Wispy forward falling hair onto your face will soften your jaw line.
Wearing a fringe swept over to one side will create diagonal movement to minimize square shapes.
Short to medium length hair will also suit you, especially if the style is rounded in shape or has wispy ends.
Styles with height at the crown will also work in your favor.
Hairstyles to Avoid
Avoid blunt bobs, especially sitting at chin length with straight heavy bangs as this will accentuate your jaw line and squareness.
Middle parts with solid bangs can also work against you.
The Lovely Heart-Shaped Face
Heart face shapes need to add some length to their shape and to create width around narrow chins.
A heart face shape requires haircuts, styles and makeup that will help to flatter and minimize the width through the forehead and bring balance to the narrow jawline and chin.
If you have a heart face shape then you'll recognize the following characteristics:
Your face is longer than it is wide and has a wide width.
Your forehead and jawline are a similar width in appearance.
Your chin is noticeably pointed.
Your cheek line and the sides of your face taper into your jawline.
Your forehead is wide and round at your hairline.
Your face is widest at your forehead but your cheekbones are also wide and pronounced.
All of these characteristics add up to face shape that is small and sweet and can be flattered with the right hairstyle and makeup choices.
Try to draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones with bangs or volume along the sides.
Hairstyles to Try
Any textured chin-length hairstyles will suit best.
If bangs are wanted make sure that they are side-swept bangs not straight across as blunt cut bangs will only make your face shape shorter and wider.
Shoulder length cuts with wispy layers that kick out will also work very well.
Height on top will work but only if they belong to shoulder length or longer hairstyles.
Hairstyles to Avoid
Short, full hairstyles like slicked back looks that emphasize your upper face.
Short styles with heavy straight across bangs that create an upside down triangular shape.
The Voluptuous Pear Shaped Face
With a pear face shape the object is to narrow your chin and widen your forehead.
A pear face shape requires haircuts, styles and makeup that will flatter and help minimize the bottom-heavy appearance of its shape.
If you have a pear face shape then you'll recognize the following characteristics:
Your face is longer than it is wider.
Your jawline is wider than your forehead.
Your chin is square and/or flat in shape.
Your jawline is broad and strong.
Your cheekbones are straight and taper from your jaw to your forehead.
Your forehead is narrow.
Your face is widest at your jawline.
All of these characteristics add up to unique face shape which can be flattered with the right hairstyle and makeup choices.
Hairstyles to Try
Layered hairstyles will help balance and soften your prominent jaw line.
Styles with layers that taper at the jaw line can also be flattering.
Hairstyles to Avoid
Shorter is generally better than longer.
Avoid any hairstyle which will draw too much attention to your chin area such as straight solid bob cuts.
The Sophisticated Diamond Shaped Face:
Diamond face shapes need to balance a narrow chin, minimize wider cheek bones and shorten the overall length.
A diamond face shape requires haircuts, styles and makeup that will bring out the best in the narrow and full features that combine to create its unique shape.
If you have a diamond face shape then you'll recognize the following characteristics:
Your face is longer than it is wider.
Your forehead and jawline are a similar width in appearance.
Your chin is noticeably pointed.
Your jawline is long, narrow and tapers into a point.
Your cheeks are high and pointed.
Your forehead is narrow.
Your face is widest at your cheekbones.
All of these characteristics add up to stunning face shape that closely resembles the shape of the gem it is named after! A diamond face shape can be flattered and its great features highlighted with the right hairstyle and makeup choices.
Hairstyles to Try
Hairstyles that add width at the chin area such as chin length bob cuts or shoulder length wispy kicked out looks.
Styles that tuck in behind the ears also work well to show off a wonderful cheek bone structure.
Hairstyles with straight across fringes will also work to shorten long faces, as will side parts.
Hairstyles to Avoid
Try and avoid short hairstyles with height on top, particularly ones without bangs.
Avoid styles that leave no hair on the neck area or the chin area.
Middle parts will add length so they should also be avoided.
The Sleek Beauty of the Long Face Shape
The object is to add width to minimize vertical length.
An long face shape requires haircuts, styles and makeup that will help to flatter and minimize its long length and narrow features.
If you have an long face shape then you'll recognize the following characteristics:
Your face is longer than it is wider and has a narrow width.
Your forehead and jawline are a similar width in appearance.
Your chin is pointed.
Your cheek line and the sides of your face are straight.
Your forehead is tall and wide and may be round at your hairline.
Your face is widest at your forehead.
All of these characteristics add up to face shape that can be flattered with the right hairstyle choices.
The longer your hair is, the longer it will make your face look. It's often best to go with shorter styles or those that have plenty of volume. Bangs are great as well.
Hairstyles to Try
Styles that are short to medium in length with longer top layers without height are best suited such as wedge and graduated bob cuts.
Chin and shoulder length looks that turn under or kick out also work very well to add width.
Straight across fringe with side parts work best.
Layered styles in medium and long lengths that add body in with wavy and curly textures are great for softening the straight long lines of oblong face shapes
Hairstyles to Avoid
Hairstyles that add height at the crown or on top will only lengthen your face.
Middle parts.
The absence of a fringe.
Wispy chin length styles that have no body or that don't add width through the sides should also be avoided.
When you read about hairstyles and face shapes, you may feel inundated by rules. While these are guidelines for flattering haircuts, they are really just suggestions. The secret to looking gorgeous is really in one's attitude. The last thing you want to do is get a haircut that makes you feel unlike yourself.
If you want a haircut that doesn't abide by the "rules" of your face shape, then by all means, get that haircut. How you feel about yourself always trumps what the beauty industry thinks is flattering. If you have the right attitude, you can carry any haircut.
