How to Wear Long Layers Based on the Shape of Your Face

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Long Layers for Various Face Shapes

Long layers are a choice that many women make when deciding on a haircut. There is a really great reason for that—they are more versatile than other types of haircuts. You can create a lot of different styles with long layers. You can do up-dos or leave your tresses hanging down. You can create elegant looks, flirty looks, and professional looks. This depends less on the cut and more on the way that you choose to wear it.

So how should you wear your layers? A good starting point for making a decision about this is to figure out which face shape you have. There are some hairstyles that look better than others depending on the shape of your face. Knowing which ones work for you will help you make smart choices about what to do with your hair to get the best possible look for your hair.

Take a look at the seven basic shapes of the face and what they mean for how you should wear your long layers:

1. Diamond-Shaped Face

• How can you tell if the shape of your face is a diamond? Measure it. If your face is widest in the middle (and narrows at the forehead and chin) then you probably have a diamond-shaped face.
• What type of long layers is best for this face shape? The main goal that women have when they have this shape is to create a more balanced look by making the forehead and chin appear a bit broader while narrowing out the middle of the face. The best way to do this is to wear your long layers down but smooth against your cheeks to diminish the width of the face.
• At the same time, you should place a heavy emphasis on what you do with your bangs – a side sweep with a lot of volume will give you more width here and balance out the face.
• If you have chin-length to shoulder-length hair then you can also curl the bottom of your hair out or under in order to give more width to the area near your chain.

2. Heart-Shaped Face

• Your face is heart-shaped if you have a wide forehead (specifically from temple-to-temple) and a very pointy chin. To balance out the shape of your face, you will want long layers that give width to the chin area while minimizing the forehead area.
• This is one face shape where the actual haircut matters just as much as the style. You want to make sure that you don’t have blunt layers but rather that your layers are subtle and smooth. This is particularly true with your bangs, which should be soft and will probably look best when swept to the side.

3. Oval Face

• This is considered to be the ideal face shape for people who want to wear long layers. This face shape means that you have a face which is noticeably longer than it is wide.
• The only hairstyles that you want to avoid with this shape are those which would make the shape of your face seem even longer. This means that you should avoid any short layers on the top of the head and instead make sure that you stick with only long layers throughout the cut. Other than that, you can play around with a variety of up-do styles and styles with your hair down to see what you like best.
• You should find that most styles work well on this face.

4. Pear-Shaped Face

• A pear-shaped face starts out narrow at the forehead and widens to be quite broad at the jaw.
• People with this face will use long layers to increase the width of the forehead while diminishing the width of the jaw. The main idea here is to give volume and width to the top part of the hair.
• A blunter cut for the top layers can help with this but you can also achieve this by styling the hair so that the bangs and top part of the hair have more volume. Try to keep the rest of the haircut (the lower layers) straight and narrow to minimize the volume near the lower part of the face.

5. Rectangular Face

• A rectangular face is similar to an oval face except that the jaw and forehead are squarer. Unfortunately, this face shape isn’t quite as versatile in terms of long layers as the oval face is but you can still get a great look for this face shape if you make an effort. Y
• Our goal to achieve facial balance here is probably going to be to minimize the length of the face. Do this by avoiding straight, narrow haircuts and instead offer volume. A combination of short layers and long layers can provide this.
• A style that has volume around the top of the head will also help.
• Side-swept styles are ideal for long layers on the rectangular face shape.

6. Round Face

• A lot of women with a round face don’t like the fact that their face is round because it makes them feel chubby. The right style can make a round face really cute.
• You want to create height on the top of your head to make it look like you have a slightly longer face.
• You want to make sure that you don’t have curls or blunt layers cut around your cheeks.
• You might want to play around with highlights in the color of your hair to help change the shape of your face when you wear your hair down.

7. Square-Shaped Face

• Finally, there is the square face that combines elements of the round and rectangular face.
• Ironically, the goal here is to try to gain the elements of those two things that are missing: You want a look that will make it seem as though your face is longer and rounder than it really is.
• The ideal look here is a style that is designed with wispy long layers that are cut to a medium length.
• You can play around with different styles but you want to avoid anything that is too straight—no straight-across bangs or chin-length bob cuts.
• Other than that, it’s a matter of just seeing what you like with your long layers.

Comments

Joann Curit from Maylao Cabadiangan Liloan Cebu on April 13, 2019:

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how abou me Im chubby what is best for me

Ayesha on October 18, 2012:

This is a really very int. hair cut for all types of face shape I really loved it thanx for sharing with us.

wonderingwoolley from Madison, WI on February 06, 2012:

This is a great article. I really learned a lot, because I hadn't thought about it so much before. Thanks for sharing!

m from New Zealand on January 22, 2012:

I followed you by the way. I love your hubs!

m from New Zealand on January 22, 2012:

I have a round face shape and I love wearing layers! Wearing layers definitely frames my face. I like using celebrities as a guide for choosing my hairstyle.

For example, Rihanna. She has a heart face shape who can pull of short hairstyles. Anyone with a heart face shape can also look good with short hair because of that strong jawline.

eire on January 19, 2012:

this helped me to choose my hairstyle. great info and pix... thanks for this great article!

trimar7 from New York on October 22, 2011:

Great hub - very informative but one little bit of side info - the women in your photos would look great no matter their hair style; they are all just simply beautiful women. Why not get some more average looking women in your photos to show the hair styles. I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but let's be honest some women can wear anything!

Mae Williams from USA on August 10, 2011:

Informative...I am licensed to do hair. I think most women prefer long hair with layers. Magazines use professional stylists and the perfect lighting. I always asked clients to show me a picture of what they Hope for..because hair texture and how you blow dry your hair makes a world of difference. Often times your hair is not and will not do what you see in a photo.But it can come close with the right products and cut.

fashion on July 15, 2011:

This is a very informative Hub with cute picture.You have given info about shapes of face which looks very useful.

Sue B. on April 21, 2011:

Informative hub! Although everyone seems to forget about the oblong or long face shape!

pharbert from Nashville, TN on March 01, 2011:

This is my first visit to your hub and I really enjoyed your article. Keep up the great work and great advice.

Thanks......Patti C.

nisar khan on January 19, 2011:

i love you

mysisters on January 13, 2011:

This is a very informative Hub with great pictures. Adding layers definetly makes a difference and adds more body to your hair.

Dianemae on November 12, 2010:

Great job. I have a square face and you have given me some ideas. Thanks

kingkhan78 on August 22, 2010:

interesting information thanks for sharing

Research Analyst on June 21, 2010:

Long hair is so versatile and can change easily by picking a shade darker or lighter in hair color. Your hub explains really well how the shape of the face can look best in the right haircut.

Proyramu~ on June 18, 2010:

Great article, really helpful! but still wondering what i should do hard to choose one... lol

Thanks!

Isable on May 26, 2010:

I like the hub, i'm round face, i like the pictures too, thank you!

Rachel B. on March 30, 2010:

I was just thinking about adding more layers to my hair. Now I'll make sure the layers are right for my face shape. Thanks for the article!

Dr Anthony from Pakistan on March 21, 2010:

Wow this is so mysterious, foboulus and mind blowing! I liked the story and I will share it with my friends, think they will lied it so much as I did. I think so it is good place to gain a lot of knowledge as much as more experience from such type of educational Blogs. Indeed I gave the link to you blog to some of them and they are now your constant readers. Thanks for sharing and i hope you will be here for more information in the future.

skye2day from Rocky Mountains on March 04, 2010:

Hi Kathryn Great tips. Job well done. I like the pictures. Visual is very good. I am a hairstylist of many years. I can see you did your homework. Thank you for Blessing others. I hope many a woman read this so they get the best look to enhance their natural beauty.

I wrote a hub based on hundreds and hundreds of true testimonies including mine on hair loss and hair growth. It is in the 'Cleanse'. With regular use one will stop hair loss on fine and or thinning hair and grow new hair that moves, shines and is healthy and grows in density. Many lives have changed. Good hair days go a long way. Please go and read my hub if you or your readers find an interest. It is a God send.

May God Bless you Kathryn. In joy.

Apple Meneses on February 18, 2010:

Thanks for the tips.=)

Kathleen Lewis from Southern Michigan on December 04, 2009:

I can't seem to identify the shape of my face. To me, it is square. To my friend, it is heart shaped. To my sister, it is oval. Sheesh...how could my face look so different to others???

Rose West from Michigan on November 20, 2009:

Lots of great information here! Thank you!

noor tony on November 14, 2009:

Thanks for your useful hub

1st1up on November 13, 2009:

I'm getting my shoulder length hair cut today,,,,into layers, thanks to your informative blog:-)

terrowhite on November 11, 2009:

Cool man! I enjoyed your hub. different faces and different styles, interesting. I had fun watching the video too.. :)

Maggie Butler from Little Ole' Iowa on November 05, 2009:

Wow....Thanks Kathryn, I just had my hair cut in long layers and your hub was very informative..... Looking forward to more of your hubs.... Maggie Butler

Priscilla Chan from Normal, Illinois on November 05, 2009:

Thanks for the great information! I have a square face and I find that is hard to get a hair style to flatter my face. My hair is straight because I am Asian. I don't want a perm though. Any suggestion?

Jiberish from florida on October 28, 2009:

Very Nice, I wonder if it works for thick curly hair, as you can see I need help. :)

MissE from Texas on October 28, 2009:

Cool hub. I like having layers but I can never figure out what my face shape is! People always tell me different things! LOL! Oh well.

happygal08 from Las Vegas, Nevada on September 04, 2009:

Very informative. Enjoyed the video. The pictures helped to visualize the different face types. I have thick hair that has a tendency to frizz, so a layered look has always been my best option.

AllMomNeeds2know on August 06, 2009:

Great article, information and pictures. I always get long layers cut in my hair. I have curls and wear it curly an straight and layers help with all of that.

shellemie on August 05, 2009:

This hub is helpful. I think my face is a cut between being oval and diamond. I now have a straight, above shoulder length layered haircut. But I always wear my hair longer than this. I know when a particular cut suits me. It's when people comment on it.

dohn121 from Hudson Valley, New York on August 04, 2009:

Wow, very interesting hub. I'm really low maintenance and so like my hair very short (borderline marine buzz-cut) because it's summertime and I also don't like take too long shampooing my hair. Beautiful photos by the way! Great choices! Thanks.