Hairstyles For Your Face Shape

Your face shape is the starting point to choosing a new hair style. Your hair type is the next consideration. Is your hair naturally straight, wavy or curly? Is your hair fine, medium or thick? Lastly, take volume into consideration.

It's hard to be objective about your own face shape, but here's a sure fire way to be sure your not biasing your own analysis. Hair designers are the ultimate judges of your face shape, but if you need a little help try this experiment.

Here are lots of suggestions on how to figure out your shape, from outlining your face shape on a mirror with lipstick to draping it with a towel and asking others to help you guess the shape.

But, there is actually a scientific way to determine your face shape once and for all. To find out the shape of your face, measure it with a tape measure or ruler. You will take the following measurements.

• 1. Measure your face across the top of your cheekbones. Write down the measurement on a piece of paper.
• 2. Measure across your jaw line from the widest point to the widest point. Write down the measurement.
• 3. Measure across your forehead at the widest point. Generally the widest point will be somewhere about halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline. Write down the measurement.
• 4. Measure from the tip of your hairline to the bottom of your chin.

Here are the types of face shapes:

Oval - Length equal to one and a half times width.
Round - Your face is as wide as it is long. This may vary a little but generally the measurement is close.
Oblong (or rectangular) - Longer than it is wide.
Triangular - Reverse of the heart shape.
Heart - Narrow at jaw line, wide at cheekbones/and or forehead.
Square - your face is about as wide as it is long.
Diamond - Widest at cheekbones, narrow forehead and jaw line of approximately equal widths.

Oval

Only slightly narrower at the jaw line than at the temples, with a gently rounded hairline.

Try

A variety of styles . . . most any hair shape looks good on you. Your "perfect" features allow you to wear more styles than any other face shape. Have you ever noticed the majority of models fall into this shape? Have you noticed how many different hair styles they can wear?

You can wear short, medium and long hair styles. Your face shape is well "balanced" or in even proportion. You will look best when styling your hair off your face. Most oval face shapes can wear slicked-backed looks as well.

Avoid

Covering up your "perfect" features with heavy bangs, or too forward-directed styles.

In wearing your hair style on your face, you'll lose your face shape behind the hair. It may appear to add weight to your face.

Go To: Oval | Round | Oblong | Triangular | Heart | Square | Diamond