About 4 years ago, I was asked to teach a class on face shapes and hair cuts that compliment each face shape. Once you know your face shape and the do's and don'ts, you can save yourself from expensive embarrassing hair cuts and trendy styles that don't flatter your face. I don't know about you, but getting a new hair cut always makes me feel so good. Hair cuts have been on my mind lately because I just chopped my hair off by myself for the first time last week. It was a very liberating experience since I let it grow so long and lifeless. I didn't have my professional hair cutting sheers on me at the time, so I used my really sharp Martha Stewart craft sheers and they did quite well. Apart from my one year old who kept interrupting my hair cut in our bathroom by pulling down the toilet paper roll and her determination to stick her fingers in the toilet, my hair came out just the way I wanted it.
The first thing you will need to do is take a tape measure and measure your face from side to side at the jaw bone, cheeks and forehead. Then measure from top to bottom of your forehead to chin. Write these numbers down on a piece of paper and it will help you see where your face in narrow or wide to determine what shape you are. Here are the seven basic face shapes. The Oval is the ideal face shape and compliments almost any hair style. A good hairstyles will cut hair according to your facial features and by doing this they will be able to accent or disguise your facial features to make your face appear as if it is Oval in shape.
Oval
The oval face is 1.5 times longer that it is wide and its forehead is slightly wider than the jaw. Considered the most ideal and versatile facial shape by hair experts, many haircuts and styles suit an oval face. However, the best styles to go for are the ones that have layers at the height of you best features such as cheekbones, lips or chin. Short layers at the top of the head should be avoided as they make the face look longer, while ladies with an oval face and thick and curly hair should avoid blunt cut as it looks like a pyramid.
Rectangular
Long and narrow facial shape with a square chin and hairline is known as Rectangular facial shape. Hair cut for rectangular face should add width to its sides, play down on its length by adding a fringe on the forehead and a style that has a side part to soften the squareness of the face. Extremely long or short haircuts make the face look longer while chin-length bobs and haircuts add width to the face. Another way to add the width is to add the curls & waves in your hair. However, short layers lend volume to the top further elongating the face then balancing it.
Round
This facial type has a round chin. Hairstyles should add height on top of the head. You have to cut the bulk from the sides of your face to give it an oval look. So, one length haircut or blunt cuts on short hair should be avoided. Hair width needs to be minimized on the sides and around the ears by keeping them flat at those points. Wispy tapered ends take away the attention from the roundness of the face. Hair styles that fall right below the chin and have layers from the top down, elongate the face and look good.
Square
Facial shapes that have a square jaw line and hairline and seem too short, need a hairstyle that lends length and roundness to it. Layered hair around the jaw line soften it a bit while wispy hair take the attention away from the squareness of the face. Layered haircuts that frame the face are best for square faces. Best options are the short, spiky cuts or long, sleek styles with top down layers starting at the jaw line. Blunt cut bangs or chin-length bobs make the face look squarer.
Heart
This facial shape is widest at the temples and narrowest at the jaw line with a small and delicate and sometimes pointed chin. Hairstyle for this shape needs to add width at the jaw line. Eyes and cheekbones are generally strong points of the heart shaped face. Women with short hair can keep the top layers soft and long or side-swept bangs while the women with longer hair can try long, wavy layers that come across to your cheekbones that lend certain rounded look to the pointed chin. Harsh choppy layers or blunt cut bangs do not suit a heart-shaped face.
Pear
This facial shape has a narrow forehead and wide jawline with a round chin. Attempt is to add width to the forehead and the temples while taking the attention away from the roundness of the jaw. You hair should appear wide and full at the top and temples and could be wear brushed away from the face and up toward the ears. Down from the ears, the hair should fall along the chin to soften it and narrow down the jaw line. Chin length hair is best. Decrease the hair volume from the top, the sides and around the ears. Curls around the temples will soften the face.
Diamond
Widest at the forehead but narrow at the forehead and chin, hair styles for a diamond face needs to add width to the forehead and soften or disguise the cheekbones to give an illusion of the oval face. Add more fringe and volume to the forehead and the chin while smooth hair compliment the cheekbones better. A low side parting and a sweep of hair brushed across the forehead add width to the face and make it look shorter. Asymmetric haircuts look good too along with adding to the hair volume with curly or wavy styles.
* So now that you know what face shape and hair cut work best for you, go get a hair cut and put your best face forward! :)
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