Choosing the Best Hairstyle for Your Face Shape

I am passionate about the beauty industry, which is why I own a med spa and also work as an aesthetician.

Choosing Your Style

Finding the right hairstyle can be tricky and frustrating. Some of us feel like we will never find the right one.

Picking a style out of a magazine isn't always the best way to go either unless you know the person has the same face structure as you do. Just because it looks good on one person doesn't mean it can work for everyone.

We have all been guilty of going to a salon with a celebrity picture who looks nothing like us and expecting to look like them when we are finished. Of course, we end up disappointed because it doesn't turn out the way we wanted.

The most flattering hairstyles are flattering because they fit the shape of your face and enhance your beauty even more.

Determine Your Face Structure

Here are the types I will go over in this article:

• Oval
• Rectangle
• Round
• Square
• Heart (similar styles will work for an inverted triangle face)
• Triangle

I'll share the characteristics of each shape and which cuts will enhance your shape as well as which cuts to avoid. I'll then include a few sample cuts for inspiration. You can determine your shape by measuring or comparing your face with others.

If You Have an Oval Shape:

• your face is curvilinear.
• your face's length is equal to one and a half times its width.
• Your forehead and jaw are the same width.

The oval face is gifted because you have almost unlimited options since your face shape is considered more balanced on the forehead and jawline.

The only thing you should really avoid is long hair that is all one length because it will drag your face down more.

What to Try:

• Long hair with really short layers
• Bobs
• Long hair with layers that frame the face
• Medium cuts with choppy layers
• Asymmetrical haircuts
• Pixie cuts

Example Cuts for Oval Faces

A short style with layers really enhances the cheekbones and shows your true beauty.

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If You Have a Rectangle Face:

• The cheek line from your temples to your jaw is straight.
• The jawline has a strong definition.
• Your face is about one and a half times longer than it is wide.

What to Try:

• The best hairstyles for rectangular faces are styles that soften the jawline.
• Avoid parting your hair down the center, cuts that are higher than the jawline, and cuts that add too much volume to the crown of your head. Those looks can be too harsh for your face shape.
• Stick with longer hair or hair below the jawline, side parts, long layers, fringed bangs, and cuts and styles that will add width around the temples and cheekbones.
• Curls and waves are also a very beautiful style that softens bold features. Those styles will balance out your face and will not add additional width to your jawline.

Example Cuts for Rectangular Faces

If You Have a Round Face:

• your face is about as wide as it is long.
• you have fullness at and below your cheekbones.
• round faces typically have a wide hairline.

What to Try:

• Stick with styles that will deflect the roundness. Long hair falling a few inches or more below the jawline is beautiful on round faces because it lengthens it.
• Long layers with the first layer beginning at the earlobe or lower will also make the face appear less round. If you go short, avoid too much volume and stick with choppy layers for a somewhat "messy" look.
• Avoid hair that has too much volume around the face and too much volume around the crown as that will make your face appear much rounder than what it really is.

Example Cuts for Round Faces

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If You Have a Square Face:

• you have four corners at the jawline and forehead.
• you have a strong, angular jawline.
• your face is as wide as it is long.

When you have a square face, you have very bold features. A strong jawline usually comes with the territory. Square faces have the best faces for photography as your strong features come out beautifully in pictures.

What to Try:

• The cuts you should stick with are ones that slightly play down your angular jaw. You can do this by choosing cuts that have choppy layers in long or short haircuts.
• Curls and waves really soften your features.
• Pixie cuts are beautiful on square faces because they balance out the whole facial structure since they normally add volume at the crown of the head.
• It is not suggested to get angular hair cuts, long hair with one length, one-length bobs, or cuts that end at the chin, as they will widen a square face.

Example Cuts for Rectangular Faces

The cut appears to be at the jawline as stated not to do, however the soft curls in her hair balance it out making it a beautiful style for her face.

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If You Have a Heart-Shaped or Inverted-Triangle Face:

• your forehead is the widest part of your face.
• you have high, noticeable cheekbones.
• your face tapers off from a wider forehead to a narrow jawline.

Heart-shaped faces are known for beautiful high cheekbones. There are many different styles that you are able to get away with.

What to Try:

• Because your chin typically comes to a point, you'll want to find a hairstyle to widen that area a bit. You can do this with long hair and long layers that will give the illusion of a wider chin. Adding volume and body to the jawline really balances out your face.
• Asymmetrical haircuts and pixie styles are perfect on heart-shaped faces. They really make the cheekbones stand out and enhance the curves of your face.
• Avoid styles that are straight with no body. That will drag your face out and not benefit your features at all.
• One-length bobs, blunt bangs and cuts or styles that curve inward towards the jawline are also not going to benefit you at all. They will only make your chin appear "pointier" and not enhance any of your best features.

Example Cuts for Heart-Shaped and Inverted-Triangle Faces

If You Have a Triangle Face:

• your jawline is wider than your forehead.
• your face narrows greatly from the chin to the forehead, which creates a "point."
• you have a distinct chin.

There is both a triangle and an inverted triangle face shape. If you have an inverted triangle, your forehead will be wider than your jaw.

The haircuts for an inverted triangle will be just like your cuts for the heart face because you want to emphasize the same areas.

What to Try:

• For triangle face shapes, it is all about softening the jawline and giving the forehead a wider appearance. You'll want to add volume around the temples because that area is a very narrow part of your face.
• Layered bobs, fringed bangs, choppy layers, and long hair with layers beginning at the temples are the most flattering. The whole point is to make your cheeks and forehead appear wider to make your facial structure more balanced.
• It is not a good idea to get a cut with no layers, no bangs, pixie cuts, hair that has volume at the crown, or cuts above the jawline. Those styles will lengthen the face more and make it look more pointy.

Example Cut for a Triangle Face

Every face shape has a hair style that works best with it.

So remember, if you have the right haircut for your face, it can make a world of difference. The negatives you may have noticed in your face before can become positives!

Comments

Bailey on August 29, 2016:

I having a hard time figuring out the shape of my face in relation to those pictures

Alyssa (author) from York, Pennsylvania on March 25, 2015:

Char, you would be stunning with a long or short A-line hair cut! It would accentuate your cheekbones beautifully. Also, a side swept bang would look perfect with your face shape and hair cut. If you do this style, make sure the length in the front of your hair does not go shorter than the underneath of your chin :-)

Alyssa (author) from York, Pennsylvania on August 31, 2012:

Thank you I appreciate it!

perlwatson from England on August 31, 2012:

very good tips i like the pictures