By Victoria Wurdinger
*If you are unsure of your face shape find or take a picture of yourself (hair off your face) and just draw the outline around your face to find your face shape.
- The OVAL FACE is considered a classic ideal because it works with most any haircut or length. That’s
because it’s proportional and balanced; it’s 1.5 times as long as it is wide and features a forehead that’s a tad wider than the jaw-not to be confused with your chin. This also means your forehead accounts for about one-third. Your chin is neither square nor pointed, but curves gently, like the end of an egg. If this describes your face, you can wear super-short crops, very long hair, or anything in-between. If your face is both oval and petite, avoid super-full looks and Texas style volume; they’ll overwhelm your features.
- An OBLONG FACE looks like an elongated oval. If you have an oblong face,
your chin will appear too long or slightly out of proportion with your forehead. The illusion of width fixes this easily. Look for a chin to shoulder-length cut with fullness at the sides. Avoid styles with volume on top; they’ll elongate your face even further. If your chin is very pointed, opt for a cut that falls above it; it”ll draw the eye upward.
- The SQUARE FACE is wider than it is long and often features a prominent, squared jaw line. With this
facial shape, the idea is to create a slimming effect via the illusion of more length and less width. To create it, get a cut that’s somewhat longer than chin-length, so it draws the eye down. It can be quite long or fall to the clavicle bone. Also, opt for styles that are full, not flat, on top. Layers soften this strong facial shape and cuts with angled sides are ideal. Also, try sides that move inward to create an elongating effect.
- The HEART-SHAPED FACE is a flipped version of the square face in that it is wider at the forehead,
rather than the jaw line. The jaw is a bit narrow and often, the chin is small or even pointed. If this describes your face, opt for shoulder-length cuts with layers near the jawline, or a shorter flip, which adds width at the jaw. Sometimes, a perm is the perfect solution because curls always add width at the sides. Don’t add height or width on top: add bangs to conceal a too-wide forehead.
- The PEAR-SHAPED FACE is too wide at the jaw line and chin. It has the opposite problem of the heart-shaped face. If your face has a slight pear shape, expose your narrow forehead by wearing hair back off your face or by growing out your bangs. This draws the eye up, away from the jaw line. A jaw-length blunt cut is the least flattering style for square, heart-shaped or pair-shaped faces.
- The ROUND-SHAPED FACE. If your cheeks are round and wide or your chin round, this type probably
describes you. Because the proportions of this facial shape are too wide, longer hair or any cut that creates the illusion of length slenderizes your face. Hair that covers your ears and moves onto your cheekbones conceals width, as do curls and side wisps. Don’t go for a cut that’s shorter than ear-lobe length; roundness will be too apparent. If you like long hair, have the sides layered or feathered on an angle. If your face is round and full, look for bangs that draw the eye upward. Volume and curl can be added when you style your hair.
No matter what face shape or haircut you have, we have all the
hair
products to fit your style.
