The shape of your face is an important factor to consider when choosing a haircut that flatters your features.
There are six basic face shapes: oval, oblong, round, square, heart, and diamond. In order to identify your face shape, it helps to push all the hair away from your face and hold it back in a towel or hair tie. Read on to identify your face shape.
- Oval, considered the ideal face shape, gracefully tapers to the chin with a wider forehead and pronounced cheekbones.
- Oblong also gracefully tapers towards the chin. The features are elongated and there may be a prominent chin.
- Round faces have almost the same width as length. They are widest at the cheeks.
- Square faces have almost an equal width of forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. The jaw is pronounced and square.
- Heart shaped faces taper strongly toward the chin, which tends to be pointy. The forehead may be wide.
- Diamond shapes are angular and widest at the temples. Diamond is the least common face shape.
Now that you’ve determined your face shape, let’s talk about which type of haircut may suit you!
- Round faces can pull off asymmetrical cuts with a mix of different lengths. Side swept fringe with a deep side part also flatter round face shapes. Textured, long-ish bobs that hit below the jawline are also flattering. Long layers and triangular bobs are classic, A+ looks.
- Oval faces can get away with the super short baby bangs that are trending now; keep them pieced and textured. Oval faces can also support blunt, straight across bangs.
- Oblong faces look nice with a blunt fringe which hits at the brows. This breaks up the face so it doesn’t look as long. Oblong faces can work with a center part, adding some beachy textured waves to soften the look.
- Square faces are complemented by a textured bob that hits at the jawline, which softens the overall shape. A shaggy cut with short layers also softens a square shape. Longer hair with a part down the middle will draw attention away from the jaw. Try adding some soft waves below the ears or keep it sleek for a refined look.
- Heart-shaped faces can benefit from a bob with lots of volume just below the jaw, this de-emphasizes a pointy chin. A deep side part will also bring out the eyes; try pairing with a pixie cut for an elegant look.
- Diamond-shaped faces can look very narrow when there is too much hair around them. With fringe, stick to a side-swept style. Diamond-shaped faces look great in sleek, pulled back styles, or hair half pulled back away from the face. Layers are a diamond-shaped face’s best friend: they soften the look and open up the face.
