Is your face more Diamond, Heart, Oval, Long, Round or Square shaped?

 

What is the shape of your face and what are the hairstyles that will suit you best?

The shape of your face and facial features can be both complimented and opposed by cut and style of your hair. for example, a large forehead can be muted with a sweeping fringe and high cheekbones can be emphasised with soft waves bent at the temple.

It is important to consider the features of your face that you like and discuss with your stylist the best way to highlight them before committing to any big change with your hair.

Take a look at our guide to defining your face shape and the styles to consider and avoid. Discuss with your stylist during your consultation – for styling appointments why not book on line here?

 

The Diamond Face

A face shape that is narrow at the forehead and chin and widest at the cheekbones

You will have;

• Narrow forehead,

• Sharp & narrow chin

The Style

Styles such as loose curls that are full at your temples and chin with the hair close to your head in the cheekbone area will work best with your features. The hair looks best in a slightly off-center parting with a side sweeping fringe. Medium length styles compliment your face shape and those with symmetrical lines will balance out the narrower proportions of the face.

Avoid

• The very short styles and a center parting as this will add fullness at your cheeks and imbalance your facial features.

• Also avoid hair cut in at the temples and too much volume at the top of the head as this will draw attention to the cheeks and create a top heavy look.

The Heart Shaped Face

A heart shape face has a narrow jaw and is wider at the forehead and/or cheekbones. The only difference between the heart and inverted triangle face shape is that a heart shape face has a widow’s peak.

 

You will have;

• broad forehead/widows peak

• narrow chin

 The Style

A side swept fringe draws attention to your eyes and away from your chin. A bob is also a great way to balance a heart shaped face. Long layers are a must whether your hair is short or long and a centre parting tends to suit you best. A soft style with a light fringe covering your forehead disguises a strong widows peak. Soft waves and curly styles suit you and styles that add volume at the jaw-line

AVOID

• Choppy layers, super short hair and volume at the crown.

• Pulling your hair back off your forehead.

• Styles that are full at the temples.

• Straight fringe.

• Too much height on top of your head.

• A low side parting

The Oval Shaped Face

An oval face has a length that is equal to one and a half times the width. You will have a narrow and softly pointed chin and your forehead is wider than the chin. Your cheekbones are a dominant feature and the face tapers gracefully from cheekbone to chin.

You will have

• Defined cheekbones
• Narrow, softly pointed chin

Widely considered to be the most balanced and beautiful face shape, you can choose almost any hairstyle and length. Your main considerations are the styles that will suit the texture, curl and quantity of your hair as your features are already balanced. If you are over 40 its best to keep the length on or above shoulder length and to choose styles that sweep hair away from the face.

AVOID 

• short layers that add height at the crown or top of your head 
• a blunt cut if your hair is curly or thick.

Celeb’s who share your face shape – Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, Halle Berry, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz

The Oblong Face Shape

An oblong face shape is longer than it is wide (imagine the proportions of a rectangle). Long and narrow, this face shape generally has a high forehead, straight cheekbones and a long, narrow bone structure.

You will have

• High forehead
• Narrow face & long jaw

The Style

A hairstyle that is short to medium in length will most compliment a long face. You can soften the face shape with soft layers that fall around your face. Any hair cut that is below the chin is best for this face shape. Styles that create width work wonders, such as chin length bobs, brow skimming fringes and curls or waves. The style should add width at your temples and cheekbones. A little volume (not too much) at the top of your head is also good to create different dimensions. If you have a high forehead,a fringe is a good way of breaking up the wide expanse of face. Keep your hair either straight and wispy or swept off to the side and not too thick. Keep the sides off your face, either swept back or short & long hair should add width at the neckline.

AVOID

 

• Long straight flat hair as this will only make face even longer as will super short hairstyles.
• Highly stylised styles such as angular cuts, extremely short styles, severely slicked down.
• Volume only on top of your head.
• Center parting.
• Hair close to the sides of your face.
• If you have a high forehead, hair combed straight back

The Round Face

A round face is as wide as it is long with soft, round edges. Your cheeks and jaw are the same width. The lines of the face are curved with the width at the cheek below the cheekbones and your hairline is wide and round.

You will have

• Cheeks and jaw of same width
• Wide rounded hairline

The Style

Go for styles that add height to the top of the head with your hair off the face, but close to the head. A centre or long diagonal parting and layers will compliment your face shape and create dimensions. Styles that end just below the chin, or with layers ending below the chin look best. Hair styled in gentle waves with whispy ends will give your hair texture.Side swept bangs are also a good look for those of you with round faces.

AVOID

• curly short hair, short, cropped styles, styles that add volume at the sides.
• Styles that add width.
• Round styles.
• Straight bangs (fringe).
• Very short hair.
• Very curly hair.
• Very straight hair

Celeb’s who share your face shape – Kate Winslet, Fergie, Oprah & Keira Knightly

 

 

The Square Face

Wide forehead and square jaw line. Both forehead and jaw line are wide and square. Cheekbones and jaw are the same width. Hairline is usually straight across.

 

You will have

• Broad flat lines to your face
• Flat chin almost/in line with jaw

The Style

The goal with a square face shape is to play down your angular jaw line. This is easily accomplished with texture such as curls or choppy ends. Short to medium length is the best but if you like longer hair then go for layers that start at the jaw and work their way down. Layered bobs with wisps around the face, and long layers are generally recommended for this face shape – styles that add height to the top of the head. A good tip when styling is to curve and angle hair across the forehead. An off-center parting with soft, layered styles, whisps, curls and waves will compliment your face. Hair close to  your ears will also emphasise good, angular cheekbones.

Avoid

• very short or cropped hair or
• slicked-back styles.
• very straight styles,
• styles that add width to your jaw-line

Celebrities with Square Face Shapes Sandra Bullock, Demi Moore