Choosing a Hairstyle for Your Face Shape

Most of the time when we choose a hairstyle we look through pictures and decide which one we like best. Then we decide if our hair type will look like the picture we chose, and then we decide if we have what it takes to maintain that style. What we also need to remember is what hairstyle works for our face shape:



(Style Studio had this photo and plenty more great tipes about haircuts and face shapes.)


You might already know what your face shape is, but the technical way to figure it out requires a tape measure and a mirror...


1. Measure your face across the top of your cheekbones.

2. Measure across your jaw line from the widest point to the widest point.

3. Measure across your forehead at the widest point.

4. Measure from the tip of your hairline to the bottom of your chin.

Oval Face - Length equal to one and a half times width.
Round Face - Your face is as wide as it is long.
Oblong - Longer than it is wide.
Heart - Narrow at jaw line, wide at cheekbones/and or forehead.
Square - your face is about as wide as it is long.
Diamond - Widest at cheekbones, narrow forehead and jaw line of approximately equal widths.


This instruction was found at:
http://www.visual-makeover.com/face.htm


1. Oval - this is the easiest face shape to pick a hairstyle for. Since the oval shape is the perfect proportion for a face, any hairstyle should work.Uma Thurman is a good example of a perfectly oval face.


2. Rectangular/Oblong - This face shape requires hair to be full at the sides of the face in order to make the face appear fuller and shorter. Short, wispy bangs also help to shorten the face. Usually short full styles look best with this face shape

Gwyneth Paltrow has an oblong face, which is accentuated by her long, straight locks.


3. Round - Avoid allowing layers or the length of your hair to end right at chin length. This kind of cut accentuates the round face. If you wear the hair and the layers either slightly above or below chin length, you will elongate the face. Also, be sure to keep your hair from looking too full where your cheekbones are as a round face already has fullness there.

Kate Winslet is a beautiful example of a round shaped face.

4. Square - To soften a square face, waves and layers look best. Keep your hair parts to the side and full at the crown. Height at the crown will make your face appear longer, while the layers and waves will soften the strong lines of your face.

Demi Moore's strong jawline is a perfect example of a square face. She looks very severe unless her long tresses fall in waves around her face.

5. Heart - You have the face shape that pulls off a chin length bob beautifully! You want to create fullness around your chin area, and tone down hair around your forehead to balance out the heart shape.

Michelle Pfeiffer has an exquisite heart shaped face.

6. Triangular - This face shape requires fullness around your forehead and less around your chin. Very short styles work best for you.

Kathy Ireland pulls off longer hair by allowing the top of her hair to be full and adding bangs that create fullness at the sides of her forehead.

7. Diamond - Like the oval, a diamond face (being it is so proportiond) can wear almost any style!

Sophia Loren has one of the most famous diamond shaped faces.

Tell us what face shape you have and how you ended up deciding on your haircut!