Personal Hair Advisor: There are four main
face shape categories: round, oval, long and square. Whichever one you fall into, there is a hairstyle that will work for you. Whether your hair is curly, straight or somewhere in between, the right cut and volumizing techniques will complement your face and features. Which cut are
you considering? Come tell us all about it on our
Choosing a Haircut? debate board!
(Read below for more information on face shapes and the cuts that best suit them).
Round: Although many women describe their faces as round, this is in fact the rarest face shape. It is often just your hairstyle that makes your face appear round. The key to de-emphasizing roundness is to keep your hair off your face. This will open your cheekbones, jaw and eyes. You can wear your hair either long or short, just be sure to have a few layers that you can use to create some volume on top of your head. This will make your face appear longer and slimmer. Try using a round brush and blow-drying your hair on a low speed so you can build body slowly as you dry. Blow-drying with your head upside down is also a great way to create volume. Make sure your hair isn't too full on the sides though. This will only accentuate the round shape you're trying to downplay.
Oval: If you have an oval face, many styles can work for you. You can go either short or long, but keep your hair mostly all one length. Too many layers can create a lot of volume. Many women with oval faces also have small faces and high-volume hair can be overwhelming. Long, wispy bangs are generally very flattering if you have an oval face shape.
Long: The one haircut you should avoid if you have a long face is a bob. A short, blunt cut, especially where the hair comes to the corner of your mouth, will accentuate the length of your face, particularly in the chin area. You should also avoid short bangs and volume on top. Instead, create volume on the sides. The best way to achieve this look is either to blow-dry on a low speed with a round brush or use large Velcro rollers around your face. Velcro rollers can be used after your hair is dry. Just heat them up with your hair dryer and let them cool for about 15 minutes. Also, try to keep your hair off your face as much as possible. This will open up your features and make your face appear fuller.
Square: If you have a square
face, don't cut your hair too short. You want to keep length in the back. You can also do a few bangs, but they should be soft and wispy, not straight across. To foster the illusion of a rounder face, create volume on the top and the sides. I recommend blow-drying your hair upside down, always on a low speed. Velcro rollers are also an easy and effective way to create soft, bouncy waves that help soften a square, angular face.
Yes, that's the only celebrity comparison I ever get. Even when I was little I was called Wednesday Addams.
