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Margarets Pages on HAIR .. Styles for the face shape

A hairstyle can balance the shape of your face, drawing attention away from chubbiness, giving a fuller shape to a thin face, shortening a long one, rounding a square one. Some styles here can act as a guide for you - for your face shape.

Probably the easiest way to find your face shape is to pull the hair back from your face and look closely into a well-lit mirror.  Use a lipstick or soft eye pencil and draw a line on the mirror around outline of your face reflection.  When you stand away you will get an idea of which shape to look at.

ROUND - the cheeks are the widest part of the face.  Having a round shaped face doesnt mean you are overweight.  Avoid bubbly perms and ringlets and swept-back styles. These have the effect of making the face rounder.

A shorter style with height on top and sides off the face will accentuate the cheekbones.  A layered fringe takes attention away from the wide hairline.  Look for unfussy styles with top height and bobs that are flicked out below the jawline.   Simple styles to frame the face and give the impression of being smaller. Styles worn on the face and side partings are ok.

LONG - generally this face has a long chin or a high forehead.  Long straight hair accentuates the length and makes the face look droopy. Avoid one-length styles, and those pulled severely off the face. These will draw attention to your chin and forehead.

You need short wide hairstyles to balance the face length.  A heavy fringe makes the face look shorter as do styles with width.  Chin-length scrunch-dried or curly bobs will balance a long face.

HEART shape has wide cheekbones and broad forehead tapering down into a small sometimes pointed chin. Hair styles needs to balance a narrow chin and wide brow by increasing width around the chin. Avoid any style with a middle parting or a very short fringe.

You need short wide hairstyles to balance the face length.  A heavy fringe makes the face look shorter as do styles with width. Chin-length scrunch-dried or curly bobs will balance a long face.

They make your forehead look even broader. Wear a longer fringe and keep the sides flat against the cheeks, to emphasise the smallness of the chin. Choose wavy or straight short bobs, short and spiky-styles.  Unstructed, wispy fringes will divert attention away from  wide foreheads.

SQUARE - this shape means that you have a fairly broad jawline that is often squarish in shape and roughly the same width as your  cheekbones.  You need to soften this heavy jaw and wide hairline with a fringe and layers onto the face.  Blowdrying a jaw-length straight bob will add roundness.  Avoid geometric shaped hairstyles and long bobs

with heavy fringes.  Also avoid short cuts,  severe styles where hair is scraped off the face and centre partings.  This shape face will be complemented by wavy hair which acts like a frame. Look for styles that are dried falling onto the face, and also try side-partings.  Fringes combed away from the face are good.

DIAMOND shaped needs a fringed style to minimise the contrast between a narrow brow and wide cheekbones.  Brushing hair onto the cheeks will soften the pointed chin.

This style on left, will suit a Diamond shaped face and  will emphasise the eye and disguise a cowlick and wide cheeks. On the right, this style emphasises the head shape and jawline, and helps disguise a large forehead and uneven front hairline.

OVAL - you are the lucky one because any style should suit you. All features are in proportion so emphasise them with a short crop.  Or wearing a straight bob above the ears will a soft fringe will look wonderful.

Style (right) is good for an OVAL face. (left) - this style would suit an Oval and a Square shaped face and will emphasise the eyes, lips and jawline, and disguise a narrow jawline and uneven nape.

The shape of your face is one of the most important considerations when choosing a new hairstyle, but you should also take into account your overall body shape. (see my Image pages)   *Traditional English pear-shapes should not go for cropped elfin styles or anything similar.  They will only draw attention to the bottom half of your body - making your head look small for your body and your hips even wider. * Big busted girls should also avoid very cropped styles and go for a full head of hair instead.  Unless, you want to draw attention to your chest!!.. * Very petite girls should try to avoid having masses of curly hair - it will probably make your head look too big for your little body.

Do you have a problem area - see how to disguise some of them. * Big ears - choose a style that gives volumn at the sides. * Big nose - opt for a layered fringe and softly layered styles to draw attention away from it. * High Forehead - never style hair away from the face.  Go for a full or layered fringe. * Low Forehead - avoid emphasising your forehead with an off the face style.  Go for a full fringe. * Double chin - there's no need to cover up with polo neck and scarves - choose a style that falls onto your face and that isnt cut above chin level. * Eyes close together - try to avoid styles with a heavy fringe.  Instead go for an upswept look, that's styled away from the face. * Small face - don't overwhelm delicate features.  Wear your hair off your face and style it to give height on top and plenty of volume at the sides.

This style is good for OVAL & ROUND face shapes and will emphasise the eyes, lips, and bone structure of face. It will disguise strong growth patterns.

This style is good for an OVAL, ROUND or  SQUARE face shape and will bring out the eyes and cheekbones.  It will disguise lack of height and hair that is difficult to grow.

A style that suits all face shapes, this one will disguise uneven napelines, and odd ears, and will emphasise the eyes, jawline, and lips.

Another style that will suit all face shapes.  This will disguise odd ears and large foreheads quite well, and will bring out the condition of the hair, eyes and lips.

This site is meant to be a fun way to look at ways to do your hair.  I am not a hairdresser

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updated 9 May 2009