For most people, hair is a BIG part of their lives. Your hair is what completes your outfit and is often the first thing people notice about you when you enter the room. It can make or break your personal style. As any stylist will tell you, hairstyles are all about flattery. When picking a style for your hair, it's fundamental to keep in mind the features of your face shape and then choose a hairstyle that complements those features. Of course, this would be easier to do if everyone knew their face shapes, so we'll start there.
What is a Face Shape?
Most people think that a face is just a flat expanse of skin with the eyes, nose, and mouth on the front of it. But that's only one-half of the truth. The other half is that there are actually nine basic shapes that a face can take, depending on the dimensions and contours of your facial features. Each one is described by a combination of the length, width, and shape of your forehead, jawline, and cheekbones.
These different combinations result in nine general shapes that can be found in both men and women. The one that is most like your face is your 'face shape,' and it will give you clues about which hairstyles to avoid and which ones to consider.
Knowing your face shape will help you pick flattering hairstyles that maximise your features and bring out the best in them. It can also help you choose hairstyles that minimise the less flattering features of your face and add new dimensions to the ones that you already have.
How to Identify Your Face Shape:
· Round face: With this shape, there's a soft roundness to the forehead and chin area. The cheekbones are not visible, and the jawline is noticeably curved. This face is as long as it is wide, with a delicate curve from the forehead, down the cheek, and then back up. Aesthetically, it's similar to the pear shape but with less defined cheekbones and more of a plumpness.
· Oval face: An oval face is what you get when you combine a round face and a square face. It is considered the most balanced face shape, with a narrow forehead, a slightly rounded chin and jawline, and cheekbones that are a bit wider than the forehead. It is longer than it is wide and has a soft angular curve from the forehead down to the cheekbones.
· Square face: This type of face shape can be found in both men and women but is most commonly associated with masculinity. The forehead, jawline, and cheeks form a straight, continuous line to the chin. The length and width are the same, like with a round face, but with more sharp angles and less roundness. It is considered the ideal face shape for men because it gives the impression of strength, power, solidity, and even ruggedness, but women look equally elegant with this shape.
· Heart face: This face is characterised by a forehead that is as wide as the cheeks and even wider than the chin. It is also longer than it is wide, with a bend in the cheekbones and a slim jawline. Like with the oval and round face, there is a soft curve from the forehead down to the cheek, narrowing even more at the chin and then up again.
· Diamond face: Often confused with the heart face, this face shape is narrower at the forehead than the cheeks. The chin and jawline are prominent but narrow, like the forehead. This is another face shape that is narrow in width and long in length but with angular curves from the forehead down to the chin rather than rounded. It somehow gives the impression of being delicate and refined.
· Pear-shaped face: When you have a large head, it's called a 'pear,' and when you have a small head, it's called an 'apple.' Here, the jawline is rounded and noticeably wider than the forehead. The cheekbones are wide but not very wide. They are the same width as the jawline, but they rise more abruptly from the centre of the face. This shape looks similar to the triangle face but with a tiny chin.
· Inverted triangle face: This face has a very wide forehead, a narrow pointed chin, and an angled jawline. It is wider at the top than the bottom, with an angular line from the cheeks to the chin. It looks similar to the diamond face shape but with less dramatic cheekbones.
· Rectangle face: The rectangular face shape makes you look slightly more masculine because you have a longer, narrower, and less curved forehead than a round or oval face would have, but with more definition around your cheekbones and jawline. It pretty much has the same features as the square face but with more length and less width.
Your Hairstyle Guide
Now that you know your face shape, it's time to choose a style to complement it! Here are some hairstyles that will suit each face shape:
- Round face: You need hair that will add length and angularity to the round face. Choose layered and textured styles with softly layered bangs across your forehead. This will add length while still complimenting your round face. The most flattering styles include the layered bob and the deep side part.
- Oval face: You can show off your features by choosing a style that gives you some volume at the top around the cheekbones and a bit of fullness at the bottom to balance out your entire face. A side part or a lob haircut are both good options for this. If you add layers around your face, the result will be more angular and minimise any roundness in your facial features. Try out the teased low ponytail, a low cut side swept bangs or even a chin-length bob.
- Square face: This face is often described as square-looking, less round, and feminine, so with that in mind, you should choose a hairstyle that accentuates your jawline rather than hides it. The best hairstyles for this form of beauty are the short bobs that give a little lift around the jaw, but not too much.
- Heart face: This is a face that can appear both round and angular, so you should choose a hairstyle that balances out those characteristics. The best ones will do just that and complement the soft roundness by elongating the face. Choose an asymmetric cut or a layered-up style, and add some textured bangs to give off the impression of fullness at the top of your face.
- Diamond face: This is the most feminine face shape, which is why it's paired with long hairstyles. The best way to show off your features is with flowing, wavy hair that drapes nicely over your face and gradually cascades to the back. Another hairstyle that will give you lots of volume is the top knot. Your cheekbones will have a lot of definition no matter what hairstyle you choose, but you can still emphasise them by choosing hairstyles with volume and height at the crown of your head, like a messy up-do.
- Pear-shaped face: The pear-shaped face looks similar to the round face, but the difference is that it has more angular features and comes with a small chin. This means that you should choose hairstyles that elongate and highlight the face. Long messy styles with a few layers are good choices, as are low shaggy or bob cuts that are layered up. This shape also looks great with bangs.
- Inverted triangle face: You can show off your great cheekbones with an asymmetrical side part. Or you can choose a style that is all about showing off your jawline and chin, like the layered half-up-half-down hairstyle.
- Rectangle face: The rectangular face is usually small and narrow, but this doesn't mean that you shouldn't show off your features. With a long bob, chin-length bangs, or soft waves, you can still give off the impression that you have an oval shape.
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V For Hair & Beauty Stylist’s Tips:
· Choose shorter layers for fine hair and long layers for thick hair
· Opt for an angled bob to soften a long face
· Wear wispy bangs to add depth to a wide forehead
· A side-swept fringe will balance your square jaw
· Choose a hairstyle with soft layers rather than blunt ones for long faces
· Messy and chic bobs are best for oval faces
· Wear an up-do to add length to a short neck and face
So now you know what your face shape really is and how to choose a hairstyle that suits it. That's one thing ticked off the list! If you follow the advice in this article, I can guarantee that you are going to look fabulous wherever you go. If you're unsure of your face shape, you can always use a measuring tape to work out which features are narrower and which ones are wider. As long as you choose a hairstyle that complements it, you should be able to make your face look the way you want it to! Just remember that all face shapes are beautiful, and with the right hairstyle, they will be all the more accentuated.
