The Best Hairstyles For Your Face Shape
What do you think your face shape is?
Did you say round? Most people mistakenly believe they have round faces, often overlooking some of the subtler angles. Figuring out your actual face shape isn’t too complicated - pull your hair back and look at your hairline, width and length of your face, and jawline. You can even use an eyeliner or lip pencil to trace the outline of your face.
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There are 6 dominant face shapes: oval, square, round, oblong, heart, and diamond.
Oval: The length of an oval face is longer than the width, with a rounded hairline and a jawline only slightly narrower than the hairline. The oval face shape has no prominent points.
Square: Square shaped faces are wide. The forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are almost the same width. The strong jawline is a prominent feature of square shaped faces. Round: Round shaped faces are pretty much the same in width and length, with no prominent angles or corners. Oblong: The oblong face is often mistaken for an oval face but will have a longer shape that is not as wide as oval. Heart: A heart shaped face is wider at the hairline and temples and tapers to a small, narrow chin, which is slightly pointed. Diamond: Diamond faces have a narrow forehead and jawline with cheekbones at the widest point of the face. |
Even without knowing your true face shape, most of us are able to recognize what looks better and what looks worse when it comes to our hair, so most of us make small adjustments within that comfort zone but never really dramatically change our style.
Taking a moment to better understand why certain things do and don’t work may open up possibilities and provide you with more confidence when you’re ready to make a bigger change.
Oval
If you have an oval face, you’re in luck! This shape is considered to be most versatile, as it is usually well-balanced and evenly proportioned. Almost any style at any length works for an oval face shape.
Do: Experiment! Try a pixie cut, layer your hair, rock a middle part or wear a sleek ponytail. The best hairstyles for oval faces are styles that keep your hair away from your face, although side-swept bangs can also work as they create a gentle frame.
Don't: Opt for heavy bangs, they will shorten your face. Also avoid one length hairstyles that will lengthen your face. If you like to wear your hair down, try tucking one or both sides behind your ear to show off your cheekbones.
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Celebrities you may recognize with an oval face include Tina Fey, Kate Middleton, and Jessica Alba.
Square
Get your camera ready, square faces usually photograph the best!
Do: Keep your styles soft, wispy, and falling to one side. This creates a gentle frame for the stronger lines of your face.
Don’t: Try solid bangs or blunt hairstyles, and avoid any severe, slicked back looks. Curls have the potential to widen your face, so stick with either loose waves or a straight look.
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If you want to wear your hair…
Short – Try a layered pixie with a lot of texture.
Why: It puts the emphasis on your cheekbones and eyes, rather than your jaw. To style: Mix a light oil like Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment with Aquage Transforming Paste to create a smooth, textured, and carefree look.
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Medium – Consider a shoulder-length cut with layers starting a few inches above the ends.
Why: Feathery layers prevent the eye from focusing on sharp angles. A slightly off-center part creates an asymmetrical effect, which also offsets square features.
To Style: Even if you don't have naturally wavy texture, you can still get the beachy look by using a texturing spray like Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Spray. Mix it with a slightly heavier oil like Moroccan Oil Light to create shine and keep frizz or flyaways at bay.
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Long – A collarbone to breastbone length with layers and slight bangs that rest at the cheekbone is a great choice.
Why: The airy fringe around the face and a light scattering of layers eliminates hard angles. Keep your layers minimal if your hair is fine. To style: The BIO IONIC Long Barrel Styler works great to form loose waves in longer hair. Create a supportive foundation by applying Pureology Clean Volume Instant Levitation Mist for heat protection and a weightless volume.
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Round
Congratulations, round faces are usually the most youthful which means you’ll look younger longer!
If you want to wear your hair….
Short - Spiky layers with fullness through the crown is the way to go.
Why: The choppy pieces on top add height which lengths your face and emphasizes your eyes. They also add texture and angles, without looking harsh. To style: Use a mini iron like the BabylissPro Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra Thing Straightening Iron to grasp your shortest strands and transform your pixie with smooth, cool texture. Finish with Redken Rewind 06 Pliable Styling Paste to achieve a lasting style that doesn’t feel hard to the touch.
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Medium - Show off your features with a choppy, layered bob and a deep side part.
Why: A deep side part and choppy layers minimizes the round face shape and gives the eye something to follow. To style: Add volume to elongate your face by using a leave-in foam like Aquage Volumizing Treatment.
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Long – Try barely there layers that start at the jawline.
Why: Long, staggered layers are an easy way to make your hair, not your face, seem fuller. Light layers near the bottom will keep volume away from the sides, where you don’t need it, and focus it near the ends, where you want it.
To style: Play up your shine and texture by using a nourishing cream like Matrix Style Link Smooth Setter Smoothing Cream instantly improving manageability with moisture while leaving your hair soft with a shiny finish.
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Oblong
Some of Hollywood’s most beautiful and versatile actresses have an oblong face. Think Hilary Swank, Liv Tyler, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Do: You’re looking for width rather than length so choose styles that make your face appear wider. Think curls! You want the fullest area of your hair to be around your cheekbones, to create the illusion of a wider face.
Don’t: Try to wear your hair super long as doing so will only length your face. Also, avoid one-length and super sleek looks that can also make your face appear longer.
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If you want to wear your hair….
Short – Ask your stylist for a pixie with subtle layers.
Why: Subtle layers worked into the shorter length provides volume in the right areas and lifts the focus to your eyes. To style: For a high-gloss finish without weighing your hair down, shampoo and condition with Aquage Volumizing Shampoo and Aquage Volumizing Conditioner then apply a light coat of Kenra Platinum Texturizing Spray.
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Medium - Consider a fuller look that lands on the shoulders.
Why: The variations in length keep your hair from falling flat against your head. If your hair is fine, keep uneven pieces around your face so your hair looks as full and dense as possible. To style: Go with a deep side part and play up your texture. Style with the PARWIN PRO 5 in 1 Curling Wand with 5 interchangeable barrels and tourmaline and ceramic technology. Finish with Matrix Style Link Style Texture Builder Messy Finish Spray. You’ll have countless looks at your fingertips.
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Long - Layer longer strands throughout your hair, with shorter pieces around your face and add an old Hollywood texture.
Why: By creating movement around your face you’re softening the areas between your hairline, brow, and chin removing length from your face.
To style: Flat-iron waves are a great way to achieve old fashioned texture and big curls for a widening effect. Try the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron and make sure to keep your length protected with a heat protectant like Matrix Style Link Heat Buffer.
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Heart
If you have a heart shaped face, you probably also have killer cheekbones. Yay!
If you want to wear your hair….
Short - A soft pixie cut close on the sides and nape area with short layers on top is the perfect look for a heart face.
Why: A deep side part with loose texture looks super elegant and shows off that beautiful, feminine face shape. The choppiness also breaks up a wide forehead.
To style: To extend the life of your awesome pixie, try Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Two Day Extender. This weightless extender encourages your strands stay upright and ensures your style will last longer.
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Medium – Go for collarbone-ish length with sweeping bangs and structured layers.
Why: Shoulder-skimming layers draw your eyes away from the chin area and add balance by creating the illusion of a wider jawline.
To style: For a full-bodied look like Witherspoon's, the Elchim 3900 Healthy Ionic Hair Dryer is the way to go. Its ionic and ceramic air flow system hydrates and makes hair glossy. Pair this with Sexy Hair Concepts Big Sexy Hair Powder Play and Nano Thermal Ceramic & Ionic Round Barrel Hair Brush to get a flawless finish.
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Long - Keep is simple with long hair and longer layers.
Why: Long hair is beautiful on the feminine heart shaped face but you want to have some layers that break away around the cheekbone and the chin to bring some attention to that area.
To style: Keep your hair looking smooth but care-free by quickly running a 2" Gold Plated Salon Curling Iron/Wand through your hair and finishing with a light application of Matrix Mineral Airy Builder. If you have a frizz free natural texture, let your hair air-dry.
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Diamond
If you have a diamond face shape you are probably as stunning as the gem itself!
Do: Opt for any hairstyle that you can tuck behind one or both ears to show off your wonderful cheek bone structure. Try a look with straight bangs to shorten longer diamonds.
Don’t: Go too short or add too much height on top. Avoid middle parts and styles that leave no hair to soften the neck or chin areas.
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If you want to wear your hair….
Short – Think a modern twist on the classic Meg Ryan look.
Why: With fringe that falls just below your eyes, you bring attention to the best feature of a diamond face, the great cheekbones. Leaving a bit of hair on the neck widens the chin just a touch and balances the face shape.
To style: Texture texture texture! Try Pureology Style + Protect Mess It Up Texture Paste.
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Medium – A textured lightly layered A-line bob is your best choice.
Why: The volume and texture of the A-line bob brings focus upward and softens the harder lines of the diamond face shape.
To style: Go for the care-free tousled look with by barely running the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron over your air midshaft and a few ends. Finish with a mix of Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment and Kenra Platinum Texturizing Spray.
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Long – Are you noticing a pattern yet? Even if you want to wear your hair long, think texture! Create texture around the face with fringe landing over your eye, on your cheekbone, and a little above the jaw.
Why: Again, it’s all about softening the frame of a diamond face. To style: Use the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Dryer and a Nano Thermal Ceramic & Ionic Round Barrel Hair Brush to create a little volume. Finish with Sexy Hair 3 Piece Big Play Volumizing & Texturizing Powder to encourage movement and soft pliability.
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The bottom line when it comes to every face shape is, you should be drawing attention to your best facial features and accentuating length in your neck and collarbone while pulling focus away from harsh and heavy lines on and around your face. It’s also important to remember some faces are a mix of two shapes and, while face shapes are a valuable guideline for choosing a great haircut and style, guidelines are just that — generalities. Your face shape isn’t the only thing you should take into consideration when contemplating a change. Your body type, height, current weight, and your individual features also play a role.
So next time you head into the salon, instead of just saying "the same as last time", talk to your stylist about your face shape and the potential of changing things up a bit!
Fun facts - In 2007, Dr. Kendra Schmid, along with Dr. David Marx and Dr. Ashok Samal, developed and published a face attractiveness index based on pattern recognition. Years later, Dr. Schmid was also involved in research commissioned by OPSM Opticians where additional (but rare) face shapes were discovered including kite, teardrop, and heptagon.