When looking for the perfect hairstyle if you are not considering your face shape, you are doing you and your hair a big disservice. If you ever left a hair salon thinking, “why do the same haircut and style that looked amazing on her look so bad on me!?,” I can tell you why–Not every haircut or hairstyle is made for everybody. Some styles just look better and the main reason has to do with face shape. Do you even know your own face shape and how it factors into your hair styling options?
Determining Your Face Shape
To learn the shape of your face, you need to drop the misconception that your face is simply “round”. If asked to draw your face, you would most likely draw a round or oval shape. However, it’s important that you recognize that your face is more complex than that.
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To determine the shape of your face, you need to recognize your jawline, your hairline, and the length of your face and the diagram above shows you how. Now that you KNOW your face shape, let’s find the best hairstyles for you to wear.
Hairstyles for Round Faces Face Shape
Round-shaped faces have no prominent corners or angles. They are mostly the same width and length throughout. Round faces are great for youthful styles. They tend to be “baby-faces,” so embrace your youth!
A round face shape should be styled to make them appear more elongated and oval. You can achieve this by leaving a bit of hair untucked and leave it resting on the side of your face. This makes your face look narrower by tricking the way the eye perceives the width of your face. You can create more angles by trying a deep side part, or you can elongate your face by pulling your hair up and styling it with a high pony. If you feel daring, you can try a short pixie cut with some volume on top. This adds angles and texture without looking harsh.
Hairstyles for Square Face Shape
Square-shaped faces are wide and the cheekbones, forehead, and jawline are close to the same width. People with square-shaped faces also have very prominent jawlines. This means that girls with square-shaped faces tend to photograph well, so don’t shy away!
Two of the most popular styles if you possess a square face shape are accentuating the squareness of your face and softening your strong jawline. If you want to highlight your strong jawline and enhance the shape of your face, you should try a short bob or some blunt bangs. However, if you want to steal the spotlight from the squareness of your face, then try soft and wispy bangs that fall to the side of your face. This will create diagonal lines that will soften the lines on your face. You could also wear long and straight layered hair that adds length to your face and draw the eyes down.

Hairstyles for Heart-Shaped Faces
Heart-shaped faces look like heart drawings. They are wider at the hairline and temples, and they reduce down to a narrow and slightly pointed chin. They tend to have prominent foreheads and great cheekbones.
The best styles for a heart-shaped face are ones that accentuate the shape of the face or make your face look wider by focusing on the bottom half of your face. You can pull your hair up and make a high top to do this. If you’re feeling daring, you can style it into a space bun. An elegant style you can showcase is a deep side part with loose curls. It accentuates your beautiful and feminine shape. However, if what you are looking for is to balance all of your features, the best look is shoulder length hair. This style adds volume to the bottom of your face by creating the illusion of a wider jawline.
Best Hairstyles for Oval Face Shapes
Oval face shapes have no prominent points. The length of the face is longer than the width, and the jawline is only a bit more narrow than the hairline. If you have an oval shape, feel lucky! The oval shape is highly desirable because it’s considered the most versatile for hairstyles. This is due to oval faces being usually well-balanced and evenly proportioned. Oval shapes look great with all kinds of hairstyles, so don’t hesitate to experiment!
You can explore many styles, such as a RiRi pixie cut, layer your hair, be stylish and rock out with a middle part, or take a risk with some bangs. Some of the best styles are ones that keep hair away from your face to highlight your best features. Styles like side-swept bangs, or high-fashion slick-back looks frame your face perfectly. Simple styles like updos work well too. They are great because there is no need to overcompensate on a certain side and there is no need to focus much on softening certain features.

Hairstyles for Long Faces
Long-shaped faces are very similar to oval-shaped faces, except they are just longer. The best styles for long-shaped faces make your face appear wider. Curls are the greatest way to achieve this look. The best widening effect can be done with flat-iron waves, which give you big curls and waves. You can achieve this by having the widest part of your waves around your cheekbones.
This will trick the eye by making your face seem wider than it is. You can go old-school with a blowout if you want a simple and quick way to achieve more width. Any style will look great if you remember that you are adding width to your hair and not length.
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No matter what your face shape is, you will find the perfect hairstyle to give you a flawless look. We are all too often our worst critic so figure out your shape and give those tips a try. You won’t be disappointed. What’s your face shape? Share below!
Sabrina
It’s been a hot summer, so I’ve been wanting to get a new haircut at the salon. I have a square shaped face, so now I know which styles I should go for. Thanks for sharing this helpful article.
Thanks for explaining how bunt bangs or a short bob can highlight your jawline. My sister has a really prominent jawline, and she tends to be pretty insecure about it. I’ll be sure to advise her to get a short bob so that her hairstyle can work with her face shape; allowing her to use her features in her favor.
Mine diamond shaped ( wider hairline with a pointed jaw. Any ssuggestion? I have medium length 4c hair when stretched.
Here’s my face: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ff12f5219652df5da104bee94408a8b64ce0a521784b9aa77426c118eb1f7c7b.jpg
Thank you so much for informing me that long faces should try to give their hair volume, and you should try to widen your face shape by using curls. About a week ago, I decided that I want to switch up my regular style. I want to try a new hair style. It sounds like I should try something with layers! I will have to look for hairdressers in my area that could help me find whats right!
I’m glad you mentioned that oval-shaped faces look good when the hair is kept away from the face so its features can be highlighted. My self-care has been slipping over the last couple of months, and I think it would be really beneficial for me if I mixed things up by getting a new hairstyle from a salon within the next week or so. Since I have an oval face shape, I’ll be sure to keep your tips in mind so I end up with a style that’s flattering!
Author
Good for you. Do it and thank you
It’s good to know that those with long-shaped faces should choose hairstyles that accentuate width. I want to find a local salon to change up my hairstyle since I think it would help get me out of the rut in my dating life. My face shape is a mix of long and oval, so thanks for teaching me what factors to consider as I try to pick the best style!
Thanks for sharing such a piece of wonderful information about how to choose The right hairstyle for your face shape. Awesome post!
Thank you for explaining how a variety of hairstyles look good on people with oval-shaped faces since they typically have even proportions. My sister is interested in getting her haircut so that it will be easier for her to manage before her wedding next month, but she wants to find a way to prevent her chin from looking too long when her pictures are taken for her wedding announcement. I wonder if she should visit a salon in order to find a style that will work for her.
Thank you for explaining that oval faces look good with any kind of hairstyle. My daughter always wants to experiment with her hair and has been wondering what kind of haircut she should get next week. I’ll share this advice with her so that she can understand that anything will work with her face shape.