Face Types

face

FINDING YOUR FACE SHAPE

There are so many face shapes in this world. It seems like every time I read a story about finding “the right haircut” there are only 4 (maybe 5) face shapes to choose from– but not everyone can be squeezed into those little boxes. Over the years, I’ve spoken with many people who have always thought they were one face shape (and followed the guides for that face shape) only to learn that their face was another shape entirely. Perfect example– one of my clients had  always thought she had a heart shaped face just because she had a pointed chin like Reese Witherspoon. The thing is, you can have the pointed chin of someone who has a heart-shaped face but if your hairline is more narrow, as my client’s was, you would fall more in the diamond family.

In the beauty industry, whether it's makeup, hair- or even clothing- being discussed, face shape plays a part.

Though every person's face is unique, it's generally accepted that there are seven basic face shapes. And though many people may not have thought about the shape of their face, there are many whose faces have characteristics they don't love.

Whichever category you fit into, there are simple things you can do to enhance your best features and bring forward your best 'you.' Here, we explain the characteristics of each face shape, how to determine which general shape you have, and some quick tips to enhance those features that are your most beautiful.

The main idea behind the hairstyling tips is to make your face shape, whichever shape it is, look balanced and proportionate.

OVAL

The oval face shape is considered (in hairstyling textbooks, anyway) to be "ideal." The reason is that oval face shapes are well-balanced, not overly sharp or angular, and not overly rounded or full. I disagree with the principle that there is one "ideal" face shape. I genuinely believe that other face shapes- and a whole variety of different features- are truly beautiful.

The oval face shape is widest at the cheekbones, but not by much. It narrows a tiny bit at the jawline and at the forehead. The width of the forehead and the width of the jawline (corner to corner) is nearly equal.

Because the oval face shape is so well-balanced, it tends to look proportionate and nice with pretty much any hairstyle or length. Long or short, curly or straight, bangs or no bangs... there's really not much you can do with the hair that will make the face shape itself look unbalanced.

People with an oval face really can play with different styles. There's not much that won't look good with their face... unless it's something that's just plain out of style.

SQUARE

The square face and round face are the two most common face shapes. The square face does not narrow much from the cheekbone to the forehead, nor from the cheekbone to the jawline. The square face may also look angular- the jawline may appear sharply-angled at the corners, and even the forehead may be squared off.

The way to enhance a square face is to steer clear of blunt bangs, center parts, and blunt, jaw-length bobs. Try side-swept bangs, curl or waviness, and layers to bring softness to the angles of this face. Also, part your hair on the side, and if you pull your hair back, leave some wispy pieces hanging around your face. Short to medium length hairstyles suits the square face shape, because of the strong jaw.

ROUND

Round face shapes are exactly as they sound- the widest point is across the cheekbones, narrowing some at the forehead and jawline. This face shape is not angular at all, and is wider than the typical oval or oblong face.

When working with a round face shape, you may want to avoid any hairstyle that's ear-length. (This length gives a wider appearance.) Also, avoid blunt-cut straight bangs and styles that add volume or curl to the sides without any up on top. The most balanced and flattering styles on a round face are those that add fullness at the crown or top of the head, as well as longer styles with little width. Wispy bangs or side-swept bangs are best, and very short styles can work as well. (Just not ear-length.)

TRIANGLE or PEAR

The triangle or pear shaped face is most narrow at the forehead, and widest at the jawline. The jawline may be angular or rounded.

The triangle face shape is most complemented by short hairstyles that have volume at the top, crown, and/or temple areas. Curl and wave works well here. Avoid chin-length styles, particularly if the hair is straight. For longer styles, use short to medium layers to keep some volume up top that tapers toward the bottom. Also with longer lengths, the jaw will be best balanced with waves or curled-in layers rather than layers that flip outward.

HEART or INVERTED TRIANGLE

The heart shaped face is sometimes called the inverted triangle, particularly if the hairline doesn't come to a point on the forehead. This face shape is the opposite of the triangle or pear; it is widest at the forehead and it narrows toward the jawline. The jaw is the most narrow area of the face. Again, it may be angular or more rounded.

People with heart shaped faces may want to avoid blunt-cut, straight bangs, as they will make the face appear shorter and the forehead wider. Slick-backed styles will have the same effect. Chin-length and jaw-length bobs look fantastic on this face shape. Texture such as curl, wave and long layers also accentuate its features. Try side-swept bangs, side parts, and wispy layers to create balance to this pretty face shape.

OBLONG

The oblong face shape is rectangular, and has similar qualities as the square face shape except that it's longer. It tends to be angular, but not always. Oblong faces are pretty straight, with the cheekbones not any or much wider than the forehead and jawline.

What to avoid: center parts, no-bangs or slicked-back styles, chin-length styles with no texture or fullness, and styles that add volume on top but not at the sides. The best styles for this face are full, textured styles- think curl or wave, and layers. Short and medium length styles work well on this face, like 'wedge' cuts and graduated bobs that are shorter than the jawline. Shoulder length cuts with layers that kick out or have texture are flattering, as are side parts and blunt cut bangs.

DIAMOND

Diamond face shapes are not so common. They are characterized by a narrow forehead and jawline, with the cheekbones being the widest point of the face. The cheekbones are often high and defined on this face shape.

With diamond faces, the goal is to add fullness or texture at the forehead and jawline, and to avoid fullness only at the cheekbone area. Short styles can work well on this face, but they should be shorter than ear-length and should include some sort of bangs. Center parts also tend to create an unbalanced look on this face. Along with short styles, chin-length and shoulder-length styles are also great choices. You may use a flat iron to make the ends kick out or look choppy. Blunt cut, straight bangs highlight this face's beautiful cheekbones, as do side parts. Even tucking hair behind the ears shows off the gorgeous cheekbone features this face shape has.

The bottom line when it comes to face shapes is that each has positive attributes that can be accentuated with the appropriate hair cut, style and texture. There is no 'perfect' face shape, so work with what you've got, get recommendations from your stylist, and become the most 'perfect' you you can be.