The Best Hair Styles for Your Face Shape

The Best Hair Styles for Your Face Shape with celebrity examples from Tyra Banks, Drew Barrymore, Sophia Loren, Jennifer Aniston, and Sarah Jessica Parker

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	The Best Hair Styles for Your Face Shape
	by Mallory Flick As fun as it is to play around with different hairstyles, it’s important to remember that not every hairstyle that looks great on a friend, co-worker or celebrity will look good on you. The shape of your face can greatly determine whether a hairstyle works for you or works against you. Determine your face shape First of all, you need to figure out exactly what your face shape is. There are several ways to come up with this answer, some more scientific than others. Chose the method that appeals most to you: The Tracing Method: Hold your face up to a mirror and trace around your face onto the mirror with lipstick. Pull your head away, and voila, Your face shape. This method tends to be clumsy and a little inaccurate. The Towel Method: Cover your face with a thin towel or piece of cloth. This creates a simple blank outline to be viewed without your facial features to distract. Then ask a friend to tell you what shape your face is. This method allows for some interpretation but can still be pretty effective. If your friend’s not up to figuring it out alone, have her/him take a picture of you and then the two of you can discuss it together. The Tape Measure Method: Write down the following measurements- 1. Length- From the tip of your hairline to the bottom of your chin. 2. Width- Across your jawline at it’s widest point. 3. Width- Across the top of your cheekbones from where your ears connect to your face on each side. 4. Width- Across your forehead at it’s widest point. (the widest point is usually about half way between your eyebrows and your hairline.) Now, use your measurements and the following guide to determine your face shape. Face Shape Specs No matter what method you use to determine face shape, these face shape specs can help you decide which category you belong in. Oval Face Shape- The length of your face is equal to one and a half times it’s width. Round or Square Face Shape- Your face is as wide as it is long, give or take a little bit. Oblong Face Shape- Your face is longer than it is wide. Heart Shape Face- Your face is narrow at the jaw line but wide at the cheekbones or forehead. Diamond Shape Face- Your face is widest at the cheekbones, with a narrow forehead and jaw line of approximately equal widths. Understand Your Face Shape and Pick the Hottest Hairstyles So you’ve gone through all of the trouble of determining what your face shape is. Now what? Now you have the power to find the hairstyles that will be the most hip and flattering for you. You will now also be able to find out what hairstyles to avoid. What you’re about to read is the key to looking great all the time! Oval Shaped Face The perfect symmetry and balanced proportion of the oval shaped face is similar to the shape of an egg- a narrow forehead, wide cheekbones and a small chin. Almost any hairstyle is going to look great on an oval face. Your forehead and chin are in proportion to each other, so whether you want to wear your hair long or short, you’ll look fabulous. Definitely Try: Long or short hairstyles will look wonderful on you, but remember to keep your hair away from your face so as to flaunt those “perfect” features! Be Sure to Avoid: Your features are so well-proportioned that you don’t want to cover them up with any sort of heavy bangs or styles that direct the hair forward into your face. Celebrities with Oval Faces: Courtney Cox Arquette, Tyra Banks, Kelly Brook, Mariah Carey, Cindy Crawford, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Jewel, Heather Locklear, Elle MacPherson, Kate Moss, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Sharon Stone, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta Jones


	Round/Square Shaped Face The last thing you want to do with a round/square face is make it appear any wider. The key here is finding styles that make the face appear longer and narrower. Definitely Try: Hair styles that have fullness and height at the crown of the head. Long styles that go below the chin or short styles work well. If you go with a long style, keep the hair off of the forehead and for a longer-looking face. An ideal short style is a classic bob that hugs the face- just make sure it ends above the jaw line! To create the illusion of a slimmer face, go for hairstyles that create fullness on top, such as layered looks, making sure that the hair is sleek and close to the face on the sides. Wispy fringes that fall on the face and loose tendrils around the hairline can help lengthen and soften the face, too. A side part also works well. If your face is especially square, with hard, straight lines, you may want to balance that out with some body and/or curl to soften the hard edges. Be Sure to Avoid: Chin length hair and short-short styles will only make your face look wider than it is. Stay away from geometric styles that will only accentuate the width of the face. Also avoid parting your hair in the center, bangs that are straight, and anything that adds fullness at the side of the ears and cheeks. Celebrities with Round/Square Faces: Roseanne Barr, Drew Barrymore, Ingrid Bergman, Sandra Bullock, Emma Bunton, Charlotte Church, Minnie Driver, Rosie O’Donnel, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Billie Piper, Christina Ricci, Isabella Rosellini, Stella McCartney, Natalie Merchant, Demi Moore, Kate Winslet, Renée Zellweger

	Oblong Shaped Face The oblong face is generally described as having a high forehead, narrow bone structure and long, well defined chin. If your face is oblong, then the goal is to balance out the length of the face to make it look more proportioned. Definitely Try: Hairstyles that create fullness at the sides are the best way to balance out the proportions of an oblong face. Side parts, fringes around the face, curls and outward flips can create a desired illusion of roundness and shortening in the face. Try short to medium lengths and soft, delicate bangs. Layers are also very effective at adding softness to the straight lines of the face. Be Sure to Avoid: Long hairstyles, which means anything too much past your shoulders, will just make your face look even more long and slender than it already is. If you must go long, be sure to go with a layered look with pieces that end at eye-level and cheekbone level. Hair with too much volume or with a lot of height will also lengthen your face. Center parts are also a no-no. Celebrities with Oblong Faces: Kirstie Alley, Iman, Janet Jackson, Jade Jagger, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gabrielle Reece, Hillary Swank, Stephanie Seymour, Niki Taylor


	Heart Shaped Face While the heart shaped face is somewhat similar to the oval shape, this difference is that the heart shape narrows just below the cheekbones and makes the chin more pointy and defined. Someone with a heart shaped face needs to find hairstyles that help compliment and balance the pointiness of the chin and the width of the jaw and forehead. Definitely Try: Styles that are fuller around the ends will successfully widen the appearance of the chin and jawbone, giving the face a more proportioned look. Hair that is full on top, like short hair with a lot of texture or a pixie style can also work great. Styles that allow for some hair to show behind the ears in order to frame chin. Your cheekbones are one of your greatest assets, be sure to emphasize them. Maintaining fullness at the back of the head, near the nape of the neck is also advised to balance out your distinct cheekbones and narrowing chin. Bangs can also work well on you. Be Sure to Avoid: Any style that highlights the upper face will make for a top heavy look. Styles with fullness at the top should also be avoided. Slicked back hair should also be avoided. Celebrities with Heart-Shaped Faces: Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Beckham, Juliette Binoche, Naomi Campbell, Sophie Dahl, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ashley Judd, Lisa Kudrow, Lucy Lawless, Martine McCutcheon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claudia Schiffer

	Diamond Shaped Face Diamond face shape is a cross between heart and oval. If you are a true diamond, you’ll be able to wear almost any style. The goal is to create more of an oval shape to the face and to lift the features by framing the face. It’s great to experiment and find what works best for you. Definitely Try: Although just about any style will work for you, remember that when choosing a short style, some extreme diamond shapes will want to maintain fullness in the back near the nape of the neck to balance out the cheekbones and narrow chin, just like heart shapes. Try hairstyles with lots of fringes, chaotic yet sexy and defined curls, chin-length bobs and shoulder length cuts with feathered edges, just to name a few! Be Sure to Avoid: Any style that hides your dramatic features. Celebrities with Diamond Faces: Katherine Hepburn, Linda Evangelista. Sophia Loren

	Let’s part with just a couple of basic guidelines for using your hairstyle to balance out and compliment the shape of your face. If you need to add fullness in order balance out your shape, going with thick layers or a bob of medium length, making sure the fullness lands where it is most needed, is your best bet. To reduce length of the face, especially the forehead, frame the face with either wispy or heavy fringes, depending on how much length you want to reduce. If there is a part of your face that you want to de-emphasize, remember that this can be easily achieved with appropriately place fullness in the hair. Now you have the power to choose the most flattering hair style for your face shape. Let the knowledge you have gained about hair and hairstyles help make every day a good hair day!