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How to Choose a Hairstyle to Suit Your Face Shape

By Tony Norman

As a hairstylist, I often get requests from women coming to my salon with pictures of their favorite celebrity and say, "I want a hairstyle just like hers". I hate to disappoint – what I've is a pair of scissors not a magic wand – it's impossible to make a perfect clone if your face shape differs from your idol.

You can't look like Mischa Barton (heart face shape) if you've a similar face shape to Drew Barrymore (round face shape). Your aim is to have a hairstyle that flatters your best features while masking any flaws. So, before deciding on the cut, you should first determine your face shape.

How to Find Out My Face Shape?

To find your face shape, you can ask your friends to help you out or look in the mirror with your hair tied back so that you see only your face. Then trace the outline of your face shape with a non-permanent marker or even an old lipstick and stand back to look at the shape you've drawn. Alternatively, try this:

1. Measure your face from the top of your cheekbones.

2. Measure across your jaw line from the widest points.

3. Measure across your forehead that would be somewhere around your eyebrows and hairline.

4. Measure from the tip of the hairline to the bottom of your chin and note all measurements.

For an oval face, the length is equal to one and a half times width. When the width and length of the face is equal, you've a round face.

If your face's longer than its wide, your facial shape is oblong. You know you've a heart shaped face if your face is narrow at the jaw line, wide at the cheekbones or forehead.

It's a square when your face is just about as long as it's wide. Lastly, when your face is widest at the cheekbones with a narrow forehead and jaw line of equal widths, you get a diamond shaped face.

Now, choose the hairstyle that suits you best according to your face shapes.

How Do I Know What Hairstyle Is Right for Me?

Oval face: Oval shape is considered as the ideal face shape and the easiest to work with so you can get away with almost any hairstyles. If you intend to keep your hair long, then have it styled with soft layers throughout or a short bob which is longer at the sides and shorter at the back. Avoid covering up your perfect face shape with heavy bangs – be proud of it and show off!

Celebrities with oval faces: Jessica Alba, Kim Kardashian, Charlize Theron.

Round face: As a thumb of rule for round faces, you want to add height not width to the face so go for choppy layers at the back and the bottom of your hair for a slimming look. Avoid full bangs as it'll make your face look wider. Instead, choose to have soft, feathery bangs or side-sweeping ones. Also, since your widest point is your cheeks, make sure to avoid having fullness of the hair here or you'll end up looking as if you're wearing a helmet!

Celebrities with round faces: Miranda Kerr, Selena Gomez, Kristen Dunst.

Square face: To soften an angular face shape, choose a hairstyle which is feathered at the crown and becomes softer around the ears. This will draw the eye away from a strong jawline. You should also stay away from any short hairstyle above the jaw line as it does nothing flattering but only exaggerate the edges and angles of your face.

Celebrities with square faces: Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Katie Holmes.

Oblong face: Oblong face shape shares about the same characteristic as a square face except that it's longer with high cheek bones and a raised forehead or the hairline and jaw line are narrower. Short and medium-long haircuts with longer top layers and bangs are best for you. A razor cut that's edgy would look good too. However, short layers, long hair or middle parts are definitely no-no's on oblong shaped faces.

Celebrities with oblong (long) faces: Liv Tyler, Mila Jovovich, Gisele Bundchen.

Heart face: To draw attention away from a pointy chin and wide forehead, go for a haircut which will create volume at the bottom of your face. Layered chin-length and shoulder length haircuts will work well on heart shaped face too. If you want bangs, make sure that they are feathery and side sweeping, not blunt ones that make your face shape shorter and wider. Also, deep side partings will visually break up the width of the forehead, and avoid keeping your hair too long.

Celebrities with heart faces: Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johannson.

Diamond face: To add fullness to your forehead and chin, choose a hairstyle which add width at the chin area. There's nothing more flattering than a haircut that adds softness and width at the cheekbones, and fills out a pointy chin. Bangs are also a great on diamond shaped faces – side sweeping, feathered or layered. Short haircuts with no bangs, middle partings that will add more length to the face are not recommended.

Celebrities with diamond faces: Rihanna, Sophie Dahl, Vanessa Hudgens.

how do i know what hairstyle is right for me

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