If you've never chosen a hairstyle based on the shape of your face, you might just be
doing yourself a disservice.
But if you're thinking, wait, isn't everybody's head just a circle?
apparently it's not!
With the help of some expert stylists, we're dishing on the most flattering hairstyles
for your perfectly beautiful face.
Oval: the most versatility
"We're getting ready to go to the Met."
Good news, oval faces!
Your natural shape can work a lot of looks.
Award-winning stylist Charlotte Mensah told Marie Claire,
"This face shape works with almost any type of short hair cut from super short, to chin
length or shoulder length."
If you prefer a length that's a little longer, you can rest assured that'll work too.
UK-based salon owner Sam Burnett told the mag,
"Medium length hair looks great when it's maintained well; think fuller, blunt styles
with no layering."
But if you battle frizz on the reg, Burnett recommends lengthier locks since that extra
weight will give you total control.
Round: it's hip to be square
Round-faced rockstars, you'll want to go for a style that's on the longer side, with some
subtle layers.
Daniela Schult, senior stylist at Cutler/Redken, told StyleCaster,
“Square shapes are great for round faces.
Whether it’s in the form of layers or within the contour lines in order to balance the
roundness of the face, as a rule of thumb.”
"Anyway, what kind of hard-hitting journalistic questions are you gonna ask me?"
Shult says one of the biggest mistakes for round faces, is wearing a hairstyle that's
also round, and hitting at your chin.
Heart: rock those cheeks
If you have a heart-shaped face, you'll need to be especially careful when choosing a haircut.
Schult tells StyleCaster,
"Heavy, short bangs that extend too far into the sides of the forehead make the top of
the head look even wider."
"Look at us, couple a losers, we both got dumped.
Geesh."
But there are plenty of flattering styles you can rock.
Just make sake sure your cut adds width to your lower face while reducing width at the
top.
You'll also want to accentuate your amazing high cheekbones that Schult says are common
for heart-shaped faces.
But if that's too much to remember, we'll make it even easier: Just pick your favorite
Reese Witherspoon haircut and call it a day.
"I feel comfortable using legal jargon in everyday life.
I object."
Square: hit the beach
If you have a square-shaped face, an easy breezy style is a phenomenal choice.
Schult told StyleCaster,
"I often hear clients complain about hairlines that were left too heavy or layers that were
cut very square-shaped.
They feel that their haircuts make them look almost masculine and lack softness and femininity."
If you're looking to soften up your look, Schult recommends asking your stylist for
layers that are more rounded and textured.
She also recommended long "beachy" layers and elongated side-sweeping bangs.
If you can't quite picture your look and need some celebrity hairstyle inspo, actress Olivia
Wilde is most definitely your girl.
"'Cause I'm the girl with the lower back dragon tattoo."
"I think we've all learned something here today."
"I think so, too."
Rectangle: bye-bye middle part
You might think that following the guidelines for square faces would also apply to rectangular
faces, but as it turns out, that's not necessarily the case.
While a square jawline is present for both shapes, stylist and host Jenny Strebe explained
on her channel,
"The rectangle face shape is long and narrow with prominent cheekbones, with a square jawline."
Strebe also shared her secrets on how to best highlight a rectangular face, saying:
"The goal is to prevent your face from appearing longer than it is by adding fullness to the
width of the face."
This means you'll want to steer clear of middle parts, too much volume at the top of your
hair, and you'll also wanna ditch those long, flat styles.
Instead, try parting your hair over to the left or right side and go for a "low volume"
style," like gentle waves.
Just because long hair might tack on some additional length to your face, that doesn't
mean you need to rush out and get a pixie cut.
Shoulder- to mid-length hair can actually work really well for rectangular faces.
Oblong: pump up the volume
Although narrower overall, an oblong face shape features a wider forehead compared to
an oval face.
Y'know, like Kate Beckinsale.
"What do Americans get wrong about the UK?"
"What do they get wrong?
I think they say that all our teeth are horrible, and I don't think that's true."
"Yours aren't."
"Mine are alright."
In order to best accentuate the features of an oblong-shaped face, Kérastase hairstylist
Matt Fugate tells Business Insider that parting your hair so that it swoops from one side
will provide necessary movement and volume.
A diagonal or zig-zag part also looks especially fantastic on oblong faces.
But if you're not into long locks and deep side parts, beachy waves will also create
balance and add volume where it looks best.