About Face

Question of the day:  What hairstyles flatter your face shape?  

It's time to answer the age old question with a few facts about what really creates the most stunning silhouette just for you.

Oval

• If your forehead and jawline are about the same width......
• Ideal for either short, medium or long cuts
• You can pull off fringe, depending on the thickness of your hair
• Add soft layers throughout to add volume
• Add lowlights around the face to accentuate bone structure
• Avoid blunt, heavy bangs and "forward-directing" styles

Round

• When the length is equal to the width
• Works well on those with more pronounced cheekbones
• Side-swept bangs works well
• Adding lowlights on the sides of the face and highlights at the crown creates the illusion of length
• Avoid short, blunt fringe, chin-length bobs, fullness at the sides near the ears and center parts

Heart

• Width at the forehead and cheekbones, narrow at the jawline
• Choppy, piece-y cuts are a plus
• Short bobs work well
• Wispy fringe is flattering
• Avoid blunt fringe and top-heavy styles.  It makes the jaw appear narrower.  
• Steer clear of any styles that are too "slicked" back away from hairline

Oblong

• Represented by a long cheek line, most likely longer than it is wide
• Unstructured, messy cuts are appealing
• Short razored cuts are more avant-garde
• Avoid shoulder-length styles, extreme length, center parts and too much height at the crown

Square

• Customarily known to have a prominent jawline and/or cheekbones
•  Try keeping your haircuts more on the round side
• Add height to the crown with layering 
• Curly hair with this face shape is a bonus, it tends to soften the stronger features
• Lighten the hair around the face to dissolve any harsh angles
• Avoid extra-long straight styles, straight fringe and a center part

It's always sensible to find a picture of someone with a similar face shape to take it to your hairstylist.  That way, when communicating to he or she what you're looking for you are more likely to be on the same page and will end up more a promising result.