Face Shape and Hair Styles!

Figuring out your face shape

If you’re good with numbers, try out this scientific way to find out what face shape you have!
You can use a ruler or a tape measure, and be sure to write down all the measurements!
1.    Measure your face across the top of your cheekbones
2.    Measure across your jaw line at the widest point
3.    Measure across your forehead at the widest point
4.    Measure from your hairline to the bottom of your chin
The equations probably won’t be exact, but should be pretty close:

If the width of your face times 1.5 equals the length of your face, then you’re OVAL.
If your face is much longer than it is wide, you’re OBLONG.
If your face is as wide as it is long, then you’re ROUND or SQUARE (you’ll see the difference in the angles)
If you’re narrow at the jaw line and wide at cheekbones and/or forehead, you’re HEART-SHAPED.
If you’re widest at the cheekbones, then you’re DIAMOND-SHAPED.

Oval – Like: Jewel, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Aniston, Keira Knightly, Natalie Portman
For you:
•    This is what hair stylists call the “perfect” face shape for any cut, so for you, anything goes!  Just don’t cover up those great features with too much hair in your face!

Heart –Like: Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lopez, Rachel Bilson, Reese Witherspoon
You should choose:
•    Styles that are fuller around the chin and jaw help to make your face appear more oval, which is the goal of all hair styling.

  

Round – Like: Christina Ricci, Kate Winslet, Drew Barrymore, Michelle Williams, Fergie, Kelly Clarkson, Mandy Moore, Kirsten Dunst
Some choices for you are:
•    Sleek at sides with volume on top
•    Layered hair falling into face
•    Curly hair should be all one length and longer
•    High pony tails and updos with tendrils around the face
Avoid:
•    Round or geometric styles
•    Hard lines
•    Wide block bangs
•    Fuller curls – they all enhance the width and roundness of you face!

Square – Like: Minnie Driver, Sandra Bullock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vanessa Hudgens, and Renee Zellweger
Yes to:
•    Chin length layers
•    Long wispy bangs
•    Graduated or classic bobs
Avoid:
•    Geometric wedges – makes face look         wider

Long – Like: Sarah Jessica Parker, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Liv Tyler, Kate Hudson
Do:
•    Put in layers at eye and cheekbone levels
•    Long styles and curly bobs balance towards oval
•    Side parts create illusion of roundness
•    If you have them, emphasize curls
Avoid:
•    One-length, straight hair – makes face seem even longer!

Angular Diamond – Like: Cate Blanchett, Kate Bosworth, Nicole Kidman, Victoria Beckham
Good:
•    Chin length bobs
•    Feathered shoulder length styles,
•    Heavy bangs,
•    Spikey flips

Now that you know some of the basics, it’s time to go through the magazines, and cut out pictures, of some of the styles you’d like to have, or even draw your own.  Always remember to take into account who you are!  For example, if you do a lot of sports and need to put your hair back in a pony tail, remember to choose a style long enough, or start working out some options for keeping your new hair out of your face that you can live with!  Armed with all this, you and your stylist should be able to find the match between what you like, what suits you, and what the possibilities are with your unique head of hair!  

Jennifer image ©David Gabber/PR Photos , Rachel image © Scott Alan/PR Photos, Ricci image ©Anthony G. Moore/PR Photos , Kate Hudson, Vanessa images ©Glenn Harris/PR Photos, Kate Bosworth ©Janet Mayer/PR Photos