If you were ever a little unsure exactly what shape your face is, try this, and then keep reading to learn about hairstyles that will flatter your face shape!
How to discover your face shape:
Using a flexible tape measure, make the following measurements and write down the results:
- 1. Across your forehead at the widest place, about half way between your eyebrows and your hairline
- 2. Across your cheeks from the edge of one cheekbone to the edge of the other
- 3. Around your jawline, between where it’s widest on each side
- 4. From our top hairline to the tip of your chin
Compare those numbers. The face shapes are:
Round: Approximately as wide as it is long
Oval: Greater length than width
Long: Length is 1½ times the width
Heart-shaped: Wide at the forehead and cheeks and more narrow at the jaw. Often has a pointed chin.
Square: Equally wide at the forehead, cheeks and jaw
Diamond: Wide at the cheeks and more narrow at the jaw and forehead
Then what?
Now there’s a decision as to whether you’d like to camouflage your face’s shape, or allow it to be what it is. Some hair stylists recommend hairstyles that will lengthen a round face, for example, or widen a long one. But if you like the shape of your face, why hide it? This is a personal decision, and your thoughts can be shared with your hair stylist.
Some general tips:
- A short or cropped style will help a short neck to look longer, as will long hair piled up
- Hair close around the face will help camouflage a double chin
- A short cut will look good on a person with a well-formed neck, delicate features, firm jaw, and / or a well-shaped head. Those features will show to advantage when they’re not shadowed or covered by hair
- Long hair will look good on a person with very healthy, shiny hair, and if it’s cut in an up-to-date style and doesn’t fall below the cleavage.
- Layered cuts can soften facial features
- A chin-length cut of straight hair will look good on a long face, as will curls and waves, but not styles which pile the hair up
- A short, wispy cut will look good on a round face
- A short, spiky cut will look good on a square face, as will any sleek style that extends below the jawline