Choosing the Hair Style
Firstly you need to determine what shape your
face actually is. It may not be one exact type, in fact it will
more than likely be a mixture of two or maybe even more but it should
resemble one more the others In front of a mirror, pull your hair
off your face by wetting it and combing it back or tying it at the
back.
Take a pace away from the mirror or, use
a photograph of yourself facing straight into the camera with your
hair off your face as above. Draw an outline of your face with lipstick
on the mirror, on transparent paper or on the photo itself.
Now look at your outline and compare it to the options below:
Oval
Length equals around one and a half times width
As oval is considered to be the ideal face shape it is therefore
the most versatile, so nearly every hair style will look good on
this face. You can wear short, medium or long hair styles. Your
face shape is in even proportion. You will look best when styling
your hair off your face. Avoid wearing your hairstyle on your face
as you'll cover your face shape behind the hair and it may appear
to add weight to your face.
Round
Round hairline and chin line, wide face and round cheeks
If you have a round face shape, the goal here is to slim the face.
Hair below the chin line should be worn with a face-lengthening
center parting. For hair above the chin line, wear an off-center
parting to break up the roundness. Creating volume at the top of
your head and keeping your forehead bare will also slim your face.
It's best to avoid short and sleeked-back hairstyles. In shorter
styles, it is best seen with hair brushed away from the face, building
extra volume at the top of head to narrow the roundness of your
features. Because the widest part of your face is at the cheeks
and ears, you need to avoid having the fullness of the cut here
as it will make your face appear wider. Also keeping hair off the
face at the cheek area is recommended.
Square
Straight hairline, angular jaw with wide face
Your hairstyle should try to soften the sharp angle of your jaw
line and minimize a squared-off forehead look. Hairstyles that emphasize
the cheekbones are most flattering, so short layers (cut into longer
hair) that swing forward onto cheekbones will look great. Waves
at the temple also soften the square of your face. Hair length is
best medium to long about one inch below the chin, or extending
to shoulder length, to reduce and soften the squareness of the jaw.
Hair worn on the forehead is always perfect for you, as long as
it is wispy or fringed. Hair turned under at the bottom will narrow
the width of the jaw. Styles in loose curls and waves soften a square
face.
Triangular or Pear
Wide chin and narrow forehead
When choosing a style for this face shape, you should seek on a
look that narrows the chin and widens the forehead to balance proportions.
Wear your hair wide and full at the top and temples, brushed away
from the face and up toward the ears to widen forehead. From the
ear, angle hair forward to the chin to soften and narrow a strong
jaw. Do not wear styles that are full at the jaw line. Your best
hair length is chin length or longer (medium to long). Decrease
volume at the top and sides, especially around the ear areas. Adding
curl and fullness to the chin area and just above the temples can
help round your look.
Heart
Narrow jaw line, wider at eyes
If this is your face shape, you'll want a hairstyle that extenuates
the jaw line and narrows at the eyes. Heart shape faces need a softer,
curlier style. a chin length look is perfect. The objective is to
create width around a narrower chin. Side slanted waves draw attention
away from the jaw line. Best looks are full curly / wavy bouncy.
Your hair type will also determine the best style. If natural curly,
wavy, straight, make it part of your style. Your facial shape is
only the starting point.
Oblong
Long and slender, about the same width at forehead and just below
cheekbones. May have a very narrow chin or a very high forehead.
Hairstyles for this face shape should add width and fullness to
the sides of the face and around the eyes, cheekbones and ears.
This shape benefits from a low side parting, with a sweep of hair
brushed across the forehead and secured with a butterfly clip. Widen
face and reduce its longish look with a side parting so the hair
flows all to one side. Asymmetric haircuts will look great on this
face shape. Your best hair length reaches half way down the neck.
Favor volume with curly or wavy styles, giving you the illusion
of balanced width.