| Face Shape | Description | Ideal Hairstyles | Avoid Styles | Examples of Celebrities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oval | Balanced proportions, forehead slightly wider than chin, rounded jawline | Layered cuts, soft waves, shoulder-length styles, bobs | Very long styles that elongate the face, blunt cuts without layers | Beyoncé, Jessica Alba |
| Round | Equal width and height, fuller cheeks, rounded jawline | Long layers, pixie cuts, voluminous waves | Blunt cuts, bobs that end at chin | Selena Gomez, Emma Stone |
| Square | Strong jawline, equal width of forehead, cheekbones, and jawline | Side-swept bangs, soft waves, layered cuts | Blunt bangs, short bobs that add width to the jawline | Angelina Jolie, Olivia Wilde |
| Heart | Wider forehead, high cheekbones, narrow chin | Chin-length bobs, side parts, layered waves | Heavy bangs, short cuts that end at cheek level | Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson |
| Diamond | Narrow forehead and chin, wide cheekbones | Medium to long cuts, shoulder-length layers, deep side part | Straight across bangs that emphasize cheekbones | Halle Berry, Vanessa Hudgens |
| Oblong (Rectangular) | Long and narrow face, with forehead, cheekbones, and jawline roughly equal in width | Side parts, waves and curls, mid-length layers | Long straight hair without layers or volume | Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler |
Introduction
Choosing the right hairstyle for your face shape can make a dramatic difference in your appearance. The right cut and style can highlight your best features, bring balance to your proportions, and give you a polished, flattering look. If you’ve ever tried 90s men’s hairstyles or modern trends and felt that some looked better than others, the reason often lies in how well the style suits your face shape. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through various face shapes, discussing the most suitable hairstyles, styling tips, and even specific details on what to avoid. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to pick a hairstyle that enhances your unique face shape.
What Face Shape Do You Have, and How Can It Affect Your Hairstyle?
Your face shape plays a crucial role in how a hairstyle frames your features. Identifying whether you have an oval, round, square, heart, diamond, or oblong face shape is the first step toward choosing a hairstyle that flatters your proportions.
- Oval Shape
An oval face shape is often seen as the most versatile due to its balanced proportions. The forehead is slightly wider than the chin, and the jawline has a gentle curve. Oval shapes have more flexibility with styles as they can pull off almost any look.- Layered Cuts
Layered hairstyles bring volume and movement to oval faces, making them an excellent choice. Layers can help break up the length of the hair, adding a balanced fullness without overwhelming the oval’s natural shape. - Soft Waves
Soft waves beautifully frame the face and add a bit of width at the cheekbone level, which enhances the natural contours of an oval face. Soft waves give a relaxed, stylish look and are easy to achieve. - Shoulder-Length Styles
A shoulder-length cut offers a medium-length option that works well with the oval shape. This style is versatile and can be styled with curls, waves, or kept straight, giving an elegant look. - Bob Cuts
A bob cut that ends at the chin or just above the shoulders complements an oval face without disrupting the shape’s symmetry. Adding a side part or subtle layers can make a bob look more dynamic on an oval face.
- Layered Cuts
- Round Shape
Round faces have fuller cheeks and are generally as wide as they are long. The goal with a round face shape is to add length and create angles, which helps balance the proportions and adds a slimming effect.- Long Layers
Long layers work wonders by elongating the face. The added length gives the illusion of a more angular face structure, which balances out the roundness. - Pixie Cut
A pixie cut can be particularly flattering on round faces if it’s styled with volume at the crown. This height at the top draws the eye upward, lengthening the appearance of the face. - Voluminous Waves
Adding waves with volume at the top and soft texture toward the ends helps to create an illusion of longer vertical lines, which can balance out a round face shape. - Side Parts
A deep side part can add asymmetry to a round face, breaking up the circularity. This also creates a visual length, which balances the width and gives the face a more oval appearance.
- Long Layers
Which Hairstyles Are Best for Square Face Shapes?
Square face shapes have strong jawlines and equal proportions across the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. Hairstyles that soften the edges and add texture tend to look best on this shape.
- Side-Swept Bangs
Side-swept bangs are a perfect way to soften the jawline and create diagonal lines that break up the boxy appearance of a square face. This adds a bit of roundness to the overall look. - Soft Waves
Waves add volume and movement to the hair, which helps offset the sharp angles of a square face. Soft waves bring in softness and balance to the structure of the face, making it appear less rigid. - Layered Cuts
Layered cuts, especially when they start below the chin, can help reduce the boxy effect. Layers add an airy feel that balances the face’s strong lines. - Textured Lob
A lob (long bob) with texture or slight waves can be incredibly flattering on square faces. The length adds enough volume to soften the look, and the texture breaks up any harsh lines.
What Hairstyles Work for a Heart-Shaped Face?
Heart-shaped faces are characterized by a wider forehead and high cheekbones that taper down to a narrower chin. The goal is to balance the width of the forehead while adding volume around the jawline.
- Chin-Length Bobs
A chin-length bob draws attention down to the jawline, adding volume where the face narrows. This helps balance the forehead and jawline proportions. - Side Parts
A deep side part shifts attention away from a wider forehead. It can create a flattering asymmetry that balances the face shape. - Layered Waves
Waves that fall around the jawline and below the chin help fill out the narrower lower half of the face, creating a balanced look. - Wispy Bangs
Wispy bangs can be flattering for a heart-shaped face as they minimize the width of the forehead without overpowering the face’s natural shape.
How Can a Diamond Face Shape Influence Hairstyle Choices?
Diamond face shapes feature a narrow forehead and chin, with the cheekbones being the widest part of the face. The goal for diamond faces is to balance out the cheekbones and soften the angles.
- Medium to Long Cuts
Medium or long hairstyles are ideal for diamond-shaped faces because they add length and soften the cheekbone width. This helps create a softer, more balanced look. - Shoulder-Length Layers
Layers at shoulder-length add width to the chin area, which balances the narrow forehead and chin of a diamond face. - Deep Side Part
A deep side part creates asymmetry that distracts from the widest part of the face, helping to soften the cheekbones and create balance. - Curly Styles
Curls and waves add volume at the chin and forehead, creating a well-balanced look that harmonizes with the prominent cheekbones of a diamond face.
What’s the Best Hairstyle for an Oblong (Rectangular) Face Shape?
Oblong or rectangular faces are longer than they are wide, with the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline of similar widths. Styles that create width and reduce length tend to be most flattering for this face shape.
- Side Parts
A side part breaks up the length of the face and adds the illusion of width, making it an excellent choice for oblong faces. - Waves and Curls
Adding waves or curls brings width and volume to the sides of the face, which reduces the perception of length. - Mid-Length Layers
Layers cut at medium lengths add volume around the cheeks and jawline, which helps balance the face’s longer shape without elongating it further. - Bangs
Bangs, whether blunt or curtain, can create a shorter face appearance by covering part of the forehead. They bring balance by adding width across the top of the face.
Conclusion
Choosing the best hairstyle for your face shape is an art that combines understanding facial structure with personal style preferences. By matching a hairstyle to your face shape, you highlight your unique features, create balance, and project confidence. Whether your face is oval, round, square, heart-shaped, diamond, or oblong, there’s a hairstyle that can bring out the best in your look. Even if you love retro styles like 90s men’s hairstyles or modern cuts, knowing what works with your face shape makes all the difference. Experiment and have fun with different styles to find the perfect match for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What face shape suits all hairstyles best?
Oval faces are generally the most versatile and can accommodate a wide range of hairstyles because of their balanced proportions.
2. How can I determine my face shape?
To find your face shape, measure the width of your forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and the length of your face. Compare these measurements to see which category your face fits best.
3. Are bangs suitable for round faces?
Yes, especially side-swept or curtain bangs, which can add dimension to a round face by breaking up its symmetry.
4. What hairstyle adds volume to thin hair?
Layered cuts, curls, and waves can add texture and create an illusion of fuller, more voluminous hair.
5. Can I mix elements of different styles for a unique look?
Absolutely. Combining elements that flatter your face shape can create a unique look tailored specifically to your features.
