Find the Best Hair Style for Your Face Shape

One of the keys to getting the haircut that you LOVE is to choose a style that complements your face shape. If the wrong hair style is created for the wrong face shape, chances are it’s going to be a disappointment. This is why a haircut that looks absolutely stunning on one person can look not-so-stunning on another.

Getting the right cut for your facial shape involves using balance and an artistic eye to achieve the illusion of an oval shape, which is the most perfect and pleasing shape to the human eye. A flattering hairstyle is one that creates the illusion that you have a perfectly oval face. A well-executed haircut can make a round face appear longer, a long face appear wider, a square jaw appear softer and a tall forehead disappear!

Find your face shape below and discover what types of haircuts work best as well as what to avoid the next time you visit the hair salon.

SQUARE

Square faces have a linear shape and a strong, angular jaw. To balance the strong lines of your face, choose haircuts that will add softness and draw the eye away from harsh angles.

DO: Keep the length of your hair below your jaw. (Haircuts that stop at the jawline will make your face look squared off). Add texture in the form of curls, tousled waves, or choppy ends. Or add face-framing layers, romantic waves, or side-swept bangs. All of these will have a softening effect. A long bob (or lob) also works well, as the long textured layers soften cheek bones and help to mask facial width.

DON’T: Blunt straight-across bangs and bobs that are chopped off right at the jawline are both don’ts. They’ll emphasize the angular aspects of your face, making it look even more square-shaped.


OVAL

Faces with oval shapes tend to look good with just about any type of haircut and style.

DO: Consider your hair texture and choose a cut and style that will make the most of the natural structure of your hair. Other than that, oval faces can wear almost any hair style and look amazing.

DON’T: Extra long styles can disrupt the natural balance of your face. Avoid any style that is super long and also be careful about styles that add too much height on top of your head.


TRIANGLE

Triangular faces tend to be narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, with a strong distinctive jawline. This face shape can be easily balanced with cut and color techniques that draw attention away from the jaw.

DO: Draw the eye upward. At your salon appointment, ask for a haircut that add width at your crown and forehead to balance the width of your lower jawline. Add highlights at the temples, crown and fringe as an additional way of bringing the focus upward.

DON’T: Excessive fullness by your chin will only draw attention to the width of your lower face. Avoid choppy jaw-length layers, waves and curls near your chin, or anything else that adds width at your jawline.


HEART SHAPE

Heart shaped faces are like inverted triangles, with a delicate chin and wider cheekbones. (Think Reese Witherspoon.) The right cut and color looks amazing on this face shape.

DO: Draw attention downward. Balance your face shape with haircuts that add fullness around the jawline (like a chin length bob). Longer styles with choppy, chin length layers are also great. For color, try a look like ombre that has darker shades at the top blending into lighter shades from the chin down.

DON’T: Styles with lots of volume at the top should be avoided, as well as short boyish cuts and thick bangs. These styles throw off the balance of your face, adding weight on the top instead of the bottom.

CIRCLE

Rounder faces need haircuts and color that will help to elongate the face.

DO: At your salon appointment, go for softer styles that fall below your chin or longer. This will add length to a round face. You can also add height at the crown to create the illusion of length. Styles that are more asymmetrical than symmetrical work well for circular faces. Side-swept bangs and a side part work well, and so do choppy layers!

DON’T: Short curly hair and short wavy styles can make your face appear rounder. Chin length haircuts, blunt straight across bangs and styles that are parted down the middle can also add the illusion of extra width to a round face. Avoid these, and go for softer styles with length past the chin.


LONG

Oblong faces have consistent width, which can make them appear long and thin. The right haircut and color can add the illusion of width at the sides while helping to diminish length of a long face shape.

DO: Keep your hair full at the sides, with minimum height on top. Long waves, texture, and face framing layers that hit at the cheekbones and chin are a great way to add width. Opt for side parts and say yes to bangs, especially side swept bangs—they’re a great way to cover foreheads and help diminish length! For color, try highlights at the sides of your face from your temples to jaw area. This will create the illusion of width and roundness, too.

DON’T: Overly lengthy hair can cause a long face to appear even longer. Stay away from long hair styles that have no layers and no texture. Also avoid too much volume above your forehead -- this can add unwanted length to your face. Parts that run straight down the middle of the head are also not flattering for oblong face shapes.