Hairstyles are meant to enhance one’s beauty, not diminish it. One of the most common mistakes some women make is not considering their facial geometry, along with ignoring the prominent features of their faces.
Having a hairstyle that does not harmonize with your face can make it look chubbier, slimmer, rounder, or broader than it actually is.
If you have been wondering what the best hairstyles for your face shape are, don’t despair! We have created this helpful guide for you to follow!
Steps to Determine the Shape of Your Face
To accurately identify the dominant features and the curves of your face, along with your face’s external shape, it is imperative that you get rid of the hair that is falling around your face. And by getting rid of, we mean, use a scrunchie to hold the hair back, so that it does not obstruct the facial perimeter.
Find the Widest Part of Your Face
Stand in front of a mirror with your hair tied back. Try inspecting the broadest part visually, or if it’s hard for you to tell, you can take measurements using a standard measuring tape.
- Wide forehead: Having a broad forehead and slimmer chin area simply means that you either have a triangle-shaped face or a heart-shaped one.
- Wide jaw: In case your jaw is the widest part, it most likely means that your facial structure is pear-shaped or triangular.
- Wide cheekbones: With wider cheekbones, there is a chance that you fall into the category of diamond face shape.
Can you not relate to any of the conditions above? If that’s so, then you might have a square, round or rectangular face shape. This means that your cheekbones, jaw, and forehead all are the same width.
Find the Length of Your Face
Take a measuring tape and compare the width to the length of your face. If the difference between the length and the width is negligible, then you probably have a round face.
If your length is larger than your width, then your face falls into the classification of an oblong or a rectangular face shape.
Find the Shape of Your Jaw
The jaw is the defining feature of your face. If it is pointy and narrow, coming to a point at the chin, then you fall into the category of heart shape.
Rounder jaw means an oval or round face, while a stronger and wider jaw means that you have a rectangular or square face shape.
Use the Picture Method
After considering the defining factors: the length, width, and shape of the jaw, take a clear picture of yourself with your hair tied at the back of your head.
By examining and tracing the outline, you will be able to figure out which shape you resemble the most.
Now that you have determined which category of facial shape you fall into, let’s look into hairstyles for each shape!
Are you curious to find out what goes best with your face? Let’s dive right in!
1) Best Hairstyles for a Round Shaped Face
A rounder face on women is usually associated with a youthful appearance. It simply means that your face is neither long nor wide.
The width and length are equal with wide-looking cheekbones, and that is what gives you the rounder appearance.
With circular features like a rounded chin and cheekbones, you probably want to avoid haircuts that will make the face appear even rounder.
Go for something that adds some pattern and dimension to your face.
- A shaggy short cut with bangs: This cut is best carried on a rounder face. The edgy details balance out the circular outline of your face.
You can approach this shorter cut in multiple ways: you can go with the textured appearance or a simple, clean look, both work well.
If you have type 3 or 4 hair, then grow some length first before getting this style.
- Pixie cut: The legendary pixie cut is ideal for ladies with a broad and rounder face. The edgy appearance goes in contrast with your fuller and wider cheekbones. It also aids you in making your face look elongated.
For a more enhancing look, you can color your strands with a vibrant hue.
- The classic Rachel cut: When the first episode of FRIENDS aired back in 1995, the famous Rachel Green’s haircut became trendy right away.
The side-swept bangs help you deal with the roundness, and the angular finishing contrasts with the roundness of the face.
- Smooth loose long curls: Nothing’s better than having well-defined curls for a round face. The loose curls give you a gorgeous look along with some defining features.
For the curls to be loose, make sure you use styling products to make yourself ready for the curling iron.
- Asymmetrical bob: This easily manageable cut is ideal for women who just want to get ready in minutes.
- Celebrities with a round face shape: Mila Kunis, Isla Fisher, Kate Bosworth, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Goodwin.
2) Best Hairstyles for a Square Shaped Face
For women, the struggle to find the best haircut for a square face is real. The well-defined bone structure, strong jaw, and wide forehead can make it more difficult to find that perfect haircut.
The width of the forehead, jaw, and cheekbones is nearly equal. Therefore, you must choose a hairstyle that compliments the dominating structure.
- Long curls: Your aim should be to soften the angular features of your face. Long curls serve this exact purpose well.
- Long black river waves: This is a perfect hairstyle to conceal more prominent features like high cheekbones and a wider set jaw. Long river waves make your face appear softer and more elongated.
- Lob with layered bangs: It goes with every face structure. But one thing that you should keep in mind is that, for a square face shape, it is imperative that you keep the layers long at least of shoulder length. Any shorter than that, and you will be drawing attention to the jawline.
- Mild cascading curls: There are no better options to minimize the squarer appearance than curls. Mild cascading curls are desirable for casual occasions where you don't have to work much on the actual style.
- Layers with side-swept bangs: you can pull off a bewitching look with this cut. Just combine the layered appearance with edgy side-swept bangs.
Celebrities with the square face shape: Billie Piper, Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Kelly Osbourne, Sandra Bullock.
3) Best Hairstyles for an Oval Face Shape
For both men and women, the oval face shape is often regarded as the “ideal” structure because of its well-proportioned appearance. The forehead is a little wider than the chin area. Downward from the forehead, the width reduces gradually, giving you a well-balanced facial construction. This facial shape can wear the most variety of cuts!
- Wavy long bob: This hair cut exudes a casual carefree appearance.
- Layered pixie bob: This hairstyle is a perfect example of how you can turn the enchanting pixie hairstyle into an enticing fuller appearance.
- Long face-framing layers: A desirable choice for straight hair. For a fun twist, you can add waves by using a curling iron at the tips.
- Short layered cut: Short textured or layered cuts add a captivating touch to your overall appearance. To make it more enhancing try adding highlights to your layers for more depth.
- Pixie cut with a side part: Pixie cut with a side part is a fun combination. The side part hides a more elongated forehead and reveals the well-defined bone structure of your face like the jawline and cheekbones.
Celebrities with the oval face shape: Charlize Theron, Cindy Crawford, Courtney Cox, Rihanna, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz.
4) Best Hairstyles for a Rectangular Face Shape
You have a rectangular face shape if from the forehead to jaws, you have the same width all the way down the face.
Rectangular face shapes are similar to Oval or Oblong facial shapes; the only difference between these two is that in a rectangular shape, you have more defined and angular features.
However, the haircut choice for both is the same.
- Blunt bangs with straight hair: For an oblong face shape, you need something that makes your face less elongated. Blunt bangs with short straight hair are a perfect example of how you can make it work.
- Sleek bob: Keep the length to our chin, and the bob hairstyle will help you pull off an appealing look. You can either combine it with waves or straight strands.
- Shoulder length hair with bangs: Hiding your forehead is the best way to keep the attention away from wider features of your face. Keep the length shoulder-length for a less elongated appearance.
- Shoulder length hair with side-swept bangs: A sophisticated look is all you need to conceal the features that draw too much attention.
- Thick wavy shoulder-length hair: A voluminous appearance is what you need to make your face look oval. Therefore, keep up the fuller look with wavy shoulder-length hair.
Celebrities with Rectangular shaped faces: Kim Kardashian, Angelina Jolie, Sanna Lathan, Victoria Beckham, Liv Tyler, Carrie Underwood.
5) Best Hairstyles for a Heart Shaped Face
The prominent feature in a heart face shape is the extra-wide forehead. The width decreases as we move down to the chin. The chin area is more narrow and comes to a point. It is also known as the inverted triangle look. Highlight your heart-shaped face with a new haircut and style.
- Long wavy hair: With a heart face shape, it is trickier to make your face equally proportioned. You want to make your forehead less wide and chin area less narrow. Try going for long wavy hair that will help you complement your facial structure.
- Lob with bangs: This hairstyle is universal; it easily goes with every type of face shape. The bangs will help you camouflage the width of the forehead while giving you an appealing look.
- Side part pixie cut: Again, the pixie cut to the rescue. This gorgeous style enhances the strengths of your face and hides the weaknesses effectively.
You can use a textured finish to the tips for a more striking look.
- Long side-swept bangs: A working choice for women who are tired of looking for ways to hide their wide forehead. The long look, on the other hand, will prove you a stylish finish.
- Shoulder-length layers: This, another flattering hairstyle for a heart face shape that will surely work with the inverted triangle geometry of your face.
Celebrities with Heart Shaped Faces: Eva Longoria, Cheryl, Naomi Campbell, Mary Kate Olsen, Nicole Richie, Reese Witherspoon.
6) Best Hairstyles for a Diamond Shaped Face:
Not to be confused with the heart face shape; the forehead is considerably narrower in this case.
The prominent features include high and full cheekbones with a pointy and angular chin area.
Let’s look into some hairstyles that will help soften more angular features.
- Chin length bob: It will help take the attention off the angular dimensions of your face. Make it short for a softer touch.
- Long layered waves: The layered waves will provide you with a softer appearance, which is perfect to downplay the more angular features.
- Pulled back slicked hairstyle: For a confident look, pull all of your hair back and apply a hair serum to make it look slick. This way, you will be able to showcase your prominent features.
- Side-swept bangs: It may be desirable for you to make your face appear more oval rather than diamond. To do this, keep it long to conceal the stronger jawline.
- Short crop style: It plays the same role as the pixie cut — highlighting the prominent cheekbones.
Celebrities with a Diamond Shaped Face: Megan Fox, Scarlet Johansson, Keira Knightley, Gisele Bundchen.
