Selecting the Right Hair Styles For Your Face Shape The Visual Method

Oval Shaped Face ----Slightly narrower at the jawline than at the temples, with a gently rounded hairline. Oval is considered by many to be the loveliest and most versatile face shape since nearly every style looks sensational on this face with perfect symmetry.

Try: Most any hair shape works well. Short, medium and long lengths, plus styles swept away from face.Hair pulled back shows off the oval face the most. In long styles, a great classic look is a center or side part with hair touching shoulders. The short-layered looks with curls and a close extended nape focus on this oval.

Clothing tip: Wide-open necklines or close-necked collars emphasize the oval face.

Round Shaped Face ----Full-looking face with round chin and hairline.

Try: Chin-length or longer styles, cuts with fullness and height at the crown, layered top, off-center parts. Hair below the chin line should be worn with a face-lengthening center part; for hair above chin line, wear an off-center part to interrupt the roundness. Height at the crown and a bare forehead lengthen and slim the face. It's best to avoid short and sleeked-back hairstyles. In short-angled styles, you are best seen with hair brushed away from the face, building extra crown height to narrow the roundness of your features. Though bangs shorten the face, you can wear curly, tousled side bangs. Always avoid straight-falling bangs. Wear longer styles closer to the face to give length.

Clothing tip: Avoid rounded, scoop necklines. Use vertical clothing lines and v-neck lines to add angles to the roundness.

Square Face ---- Angular jawline, same width as forehead
This face is characterized by an angular jaw and square brow, with jaw and brow being nearly the same width. The goal: soften the sharp angle of jaw line and minimize squared-off brow.

Try: Styles that lengthen the face and add fullness on top work best. Avoid styles that add width at the jawline. Hairstyles that emphasize the cheekbones mid-line of the face are most flattering. Bangs and waves at the temple also soften the square. Wear your best styles with hair swinging forward onto the face to reduce the angles. Hair length is best about 1-1/2" below the chin, or extending to shoulder length to reduce and soften the squareness of your jaw. Hair worn on the forehead is always perfect for you, as long as it is wispy or fringed. Never wear straight bangs. Hair turned under at the bottom also will narrow the width of the jaw. Styles in loose curls and waves add extra dimension to the square face.

Makeup tip: Makeup that emphasizes the cheekbones softens the square. Darken the outer corner of the jaw to soften the lines and make them recede.

Triangular Shaped Face ----This shape has a wide chin and a narrow forehead. The goal: narrow the chin and widen the forehead. Wear your hair wide and full at the top of the head and temples, brushed away from the face and up toward the ear to widen forehead; from the ear, angle hair forward toward the chin to soften and narrow a strong jaw. Do not wear styles that are full at the jaw line however. Your best hair length: chin length or longer.

Clothing tip: Avoid ruffled necklines, which add fullness tot he lower face. Closed-neck collars and necklines are best.

Makeup tip: Highlight the forehead and temples to add width to the upper half of your face.

Heart Shaped Face ---- Wider at the temples and hairline, narrowing to a small chin. This is an upside down triangle face. There is very little of your face at the jaw line, much more at the eye line, cheek bones and even more at the brow line.

Try: Chin-length or longer styles, side parts, swept forward layers around the upper face, wispy bangs.
The goal: diminish forehead width and create a wider, fuller jaw effect. If you want bangs, wear them full and curly if possible. Wear a side part with soft three-quarter bangs swept over one side to balance your forehead width. The styles should be fuller at the top than at the jaw line. Upswept at the sides and off the forehead further emphasize your feminine appeal . A medium length to mid-neck is your best look. Fullness at the bottom, with hair directed forward onto the cheeks gives you the appearance of a wide chin. Curls or loose waves, shaped from the ears down, add width and fullness to your chin.

Clothing tip: Use V-neck and "Sweetheart" neck lines to repeat and emphasize the heart shape.

Makeup tip: Highlight the temples if you are not wearing bangs to, broaden the forehead.

Oblong Face ----This shape is long and thin, often with a chin that tends to look pointed. There is very little difference in width between the top, middle or bottom of your face but it is more rounded than the square face. Hairstyles should add width and fullness to the sides of the face and around the eyes, cheekbones and ears. This shape benefits from a low side part, with a sweep of hair brushed across the forehead and secured with a comb. The look of volume with an asymmetric flow of hair to one side widens your face and reduces length. Straight-falling bangs or bangs blended with the sides of your hair shorten the overall face length. Your best hair length reaches to the middle of the neck. Favor volume with curly or wavy styles that are very becoming, giving you the illusion of balanced width.

Clothing tip: Avoid long v-necked and vertical lines at the neckline. Use high necklines to shorten the length of the face.

Makeup tip: To shorten the face a bit,. use darker foundation, powder or blusher to darken the chin.