The Art of Choosing an Appropriate Hairstyle For Your Face Shape
Choosing a haircut or style that is appropriate to your face
shape is very important in order to get the most pleasant overall
appearance. Many people who aren't happy with their haircut usually
don't realize it's because it doesn't accentuate their face. There are
seven essential face shapes. In this article I will explain the
different face shapes and the hairstyles that will work the best for
each one.
The first, and ideal, face shape is the oval. With an oval face shape the length of your face is equal to one and a half times of the width. You have a gently rounded hairline along with a gently rounded chin. With this shape you can do almost anything with your hair and get away with it! So have fun, be daring, because with a perfect face shape you can afford to be. Some examples of known oval face shapes are Jessica Alba and Hayden Panettiere.
Another face shape is the round face shape. Contrary to popular opinion having a round face shape does not mean your face is fat! So please do not be offended if your stylist tells you you have one. For example, Kate Winslet and Julia Stiles both have round faces. This means The length of your face is close to the same as the width of your face. To make up for the lack of length to the face try hair styles with fullness and height at the crown, off center parts, short hair styles with a swept-back direction or hair styles that are longer than chin length. By layering the top to achieve fullness and keeping the rest of the cut relatively close to the face, your round face shape will appear longer and narrower. Avoid adding height and width at the same time. Also, you want to avoid chin length hair with a rounded line that mirrors the faces round shape, center parts, short-short crops, and fullness at side of ears. A rounded haircut ending at the chin will certainly add weight to your already round face shape. Because the widest part of your face is at the cheeks and ears, you need to avoid having the fullness of the cut here as it will make your face appear wider.
The next shape is the heart shape. Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lopez both have this shape. This shape is categorized by a average width forehead with wider cheekbones and a very narrow chin. Your pointy chin tends to be the focal point of your face. Draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones instead with sideswept bangs, brow-grazing fringe, a strong part and hair that falls at or below your jawline. With short hair, keep top layers soft and long. With long hair, go for long layers that graze your cheekbones. Try to avoid short, blunt-cut bangs and harsh, choppy layers. You want to make your wide cheeks look narrow and your narrow chin look wide so layers around the midsection should be avoided and instead layers around the chin should be emphasized.
The next face shape is one Angelina Jolie and Jessica Simpson both have. The square face shape. This is apparent by the strong, angular jawline. You want to try to blend this so it's smoother and more feminine. Texture, in the form of curls or choppy ends, do this wonderfully. You can also get away with short, spiky cuts and long, sleek styles with layers that start at the jawline and continue downward. Avoid very angled and square cuts such as one length bobs (especially chin length), and blunt bangs.
The oblong face shape is very much like the oval shape only either the forehead is longer or the chin is longer. Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker both have this shape of face. What this shape needs is something that shortens either the forehead or the chin (whichever is prominent). Some styles that could be flattering are brow-skimming bangs. Chin-length bobs are also ideal because they create the illusion of width. Curls and waves work well because they add width to the face.
There is also the pear shape to consider. This is shown by a narrow forehead and wider jaw. To offset the difference in the two and make a more overall oval shape, add width at the forehead and sleek, slimness at the jaw line. An ideal style for individuals with pear-shaped faces is the layered shag cut. Layers create fullness on the upper half of the face and help to accentuate those features that are otherwise drowned out by a prominent jaw line. This style also helps draw greater attention to the eye area. For an extra boost, tuck hair behind your ears - it will add some width to the upper half of the face. A wedge cut is also ideal for pear-shaped faces. An updated take on this flattering style will work wonders in training all the attention on your best features. Wedge cuts, also known as "stacked" cuts, require a precise cut that reveals one layer of hair cut just slightly longer than the layer before it. The result is a graduated look that relies on a "weight line" to determine where the layers should stop. This style suits pear-shaped faces well and is also very easy to care for. It should be noted that individuals with straight hair will have an easier time managing a wedge cut than those with curly or wavy hair. Fergie is an example of a pear shaped face.
The last face shape is the diamond shape. This shape has a narrow forehead, wider at the cheekbones, and narrow at the chin. Halle Berry and Madonna both have diamond faces. Individuals with this facial type need to create a hairstyle that will equally balance the features that are experienced. This often means reducing the overall girth of the cheek area and focusing on shortening the length of the face.
When it comes to the hairstyles for diamond face shapes, it is important to avoid those that add height to the face. A shoulder length blunt cut with some wispy bangs will disguise the fact that your face is widest in the center. This hairstyle will even out the proportions of your face. You can also wear a short curly layered cut and accomplish the same thing.
Now that you have the information to choose the right cut and style, ask your stylist to help you decide what face shape you are. We are trained to see these different shapes and our job would be a lot easier if everyone understood them.
The first, and ideal, face shape is the oval. With an oval face shape the length of your face is equal to one and a half times of the width. You have a gently rounded hairline along with a gently rounded chin. With this shape you can do almost anything with your hair and get away with it! So have fun, be daring, because with a perfect face shape you can afford to be. Some examples of known oval face shapes are Jessica Alba and Hayden Panettiere.
Another face shape is the round face shape. Contrary to popular opinion having a round face shape does not mean your face is fat! So please do not be offended if your stylist tells you you have one. For example, Kate Winslet and Julia Stiles both have round faces. This means The length of your face is close to the same as the width of your face. To make up for the lack of length to the face try hair styles with fullness and height at the crown, off center parts, short hair styles with a swept-back direction or hair styles that are longer than chin length. By layering the top to achieve fullness and keeping the rest of the cut relatively close to the face, your round face shape will appear longer and narrower. Avoid adding height and width at the same time. Also, you want to avoid chin length hair with a rounded line that mirrors the faces round shape, center parts, short-short crops, and fullness at side of ears. A rounded haircut ending at the chin will certainly add weight to your already round face shape. Because the widest part of your face is at the cheeks and ears, you need to avoid having the fullness of the cut here as it will make your face appear wider.
The next shape is the heart shape. Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lopez both have this shape. This shape is categorized by a average width forehead with wider cheekbones and a very narrow chin. Your pointy chin tends to be the focal point of your face. Draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones instead with sideswept bangs, brow-grazing fringe, a strong part and hair that falls at or below your jawline. With short hair, keep top layers soft and long. With long hair, go for long layers that graze your cheekbones. Try to avoid short, blunt-cut bangs and harsh, choppy layers. You want to make your wide cheeks look narrow and your narrow chin look wide so layers around the midsection should be avoided and instead layers around the chin should be emphasized.
The next face shape is one Angelina Jolie and Jessica Simpson both have. The square face shape. This is apparent by the strong, angular jawline. You want to try to blend this so it's smoother and more feminine. Texture, in the form of curls or choppy ends, do this wonderfully. You can also get away with short, spiky cuts and long, sleek styles with layers that start at the jawline and continue downward. Avoid very angled and square cuts such as one length bobs (especially chin length), and blunt bangs.
The oblong face shape is very much like the oval shape only either the forehead is longer or the chin is longer. Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker both have this shape of face. What this shape needs is something that shortens either the forehead or the chin (whichever is prominent). Some styles that could be flattering are brow-skimming bangs. Chin-length bobs are also ideal because they create the illusion of width. Curls and waves work well because they add width to the face.
There is also the pear shape to consider. This is shown by a narrow forehead and wider jaw. To offset the difference in the two and make a more overall oval shape, add width at the forehead and sleek, slimness at the jaw line. An ideal style for individuals with pear-shaped faces is the layered shag cut. Layers create fullness on the upper half of the face and help to accentuate those features that are otherwise drowned out by a prominent jaw line. This style also helps draw greater attention to the eye area. For an extra boost, tuck hair behind your ears - it will add some width to the upper half of the face. A wedge cut is also ideal for pear-shaped faces. An updated take on this flattering style will work wonders in training all the attention on your best features. Wedge cuts, also known as "stacked" cuts, require a precise cut that reveals one layer of hair cut just slightly longer than the layer before it. The result is a graduated look that relies on a "weight line" to determine where the layers should stop. This style suits pear-shaped faces well and is also very easy to care for. It should be noted that individuals with straight hair will have an easier time managing a wedge cut than those with curly or wavy hair. Fergie is an example of a pear shaped face.
The last face shape is the diamond shape. This shape has a narrow forehead, wider at the cheekbones, and narrow at the chin. Halle Berry and Madonna both have diamond faces. Individuals with this facial type need to create a hairstyle that will equally balance the features that are experienced. This often means reducing the overall girth of the cheek area and focusing on shortening the length of the face.
When it comes to the hairstyles for diamond face shapes, it is important to avoid those that add height to the face. A shoulder length blunt cut with some wispy bangs will disguise the fact that your face is widest in the center. This hairstyle will even out the proportions of your face. You can also wear a short curly layered cut and accomplish the same thing.
Now that you have the information to choose the right cut and style, ask your stylist to help you decide what face shape you are. We are trained to see these different shapes and our job would be a lot easier if everyone understood them.
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