Have you ever gone into a hair salon with a photo of your favorite celebrity and asked for their exact haircut, only to leave the salon wondering why those bangs that looked so beautiful on Gigi Hadid or that long bob Kendall rocks don't give your own face that supermodel vibe?
It's not just because Gigi and Kendall have the world's best glam squads available at their beck and call, it's likely also because the hairstyle you chose just don't suit your face shape. Although confidence is all you need to wear a new cut proudly, there's nothing wrong with consulting your face shape and angles to ensure that you choose the best hairstyle suited for your unique facial features. We're here to help you figure out the best hairstyles for your face shape, so you can rock runway-worthy 'dos every day even without your own personal glam squad.
Determining Your Face Shape
At this point, you may be asking, 'what is my face shape?' The most common mistake most people make when trying to determine their face shape is thinking that their faces are simply round. If we asked you to draw a picture of your face, the head shape will likely be either round or oval, but there's so much more to it than that. When determining your face shape, you should be looking at your hairline, width and length of your face, and jawline.
The easiest way to know what face shape you have is to pull your hair back, take an eyeliner or lip pencil, look in the mirror, and trace the outline of your face. Your face shape should fall within one of the following categories: long face, oval face, square face, round face, heart-shaped face, and diamond-shaped face.
Oval face shape A face shape is considered oval if the length is longer than the width, and the jawline is only slightly narrower than the hairline, which is gently rounded. An oval face shape has no prominent points or angles. Some celebrities you may recognize with an oval face include Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, and Bella Hadid. If you have an oval face shape, you're in luck! This face shape is considered to be the most versatile for hairstyles, as it is well-balanced and evenly proportioned, so feel free to experiment.
Best hairstyles for oval faces
Best hairstyles for oval faces
When choosing the right hairstyle for your oval face, the main goal is to avoid elongating your face. If you're looking to go shorter, try a blunt bob with face-framing pieces that clears the shoulder. Otherwise, choose a shoulder-length cut with subtle layers to add volume and keep your hair from falling flat. If you're looking to keep your hair long, a simple part change can make all the difference. Try side-swept bangs, which look great on oval faces to frame your face and achieve a balancing effect without having to cut your hair.
High-fashion, slicked-back looks and updos are also ideal to create on oval shaped faces, as you do not need to overcompensate a certain side or think too hard about softening certain features. Have short hair but want to try out a sleek high ponytail? Clipping in a few wefts of hair extensions will make all the difference. Remember, the best hairstyles for oval faces are styles that keep your hair away from your face, exposing your balanced features. If you're wearing your hair down, be sure to have either one or both sides of your hair tucked behind your ear showing off your cheekbones.
Hairstyles to avoid for oval faces
When styling an oval face shape, try to keep the face as clear as possible. Steer away from heavy bangs, as this could make your face appear shorter, and avoid hairstyles that are one length, as this could make your face appear longer.
Heart-Shaped Faces Just like a heart that you would draw out, a heart-shaped face is wider at the hairline and temples and tapers to a small, narrow chin, that is slightly pointed. Your forehead may be a prominent feature, and if you have a heart-shaped face, you likely also have killer cheekbones. Think Tyra Banks, Kourtney Kardashian and Reese Witherspoon, who all have typical heart-shaped faces.
Best hairstyles for heart-shaped faces
When choosing a hairstyle for your heart-shaped face, you can either choose to accentuate your tapered face shape, or to balance it out by making the bottom half of your face appear wider. If you choose to accentuate your face's heart shape, pull your hair up into a high top knot, or slicked-back high ponytail. Otherwise, opt for a lob that just clears the shoulder to add wideness around your jawline. If you would like to keep your hair longer, try a deep side part with loose waves that break at the collarbone to draw attention away from the forehead.
Hairstyles to avoid for heart-shaped faces
A "true" heart-shaped face has a widow's peak hairline. If you have one, try and avoid forcing a middle part. Chances are, one side of your hair will part as you would like it to and one side will have a mind of its own. Instead, part your hair slightly off center to whichever side your hair naturally falls over the widow's peak. Also, skip out on short bangs as these could make your chin look even narrower.
Square Faces Square-shaped faces are wide, and the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are almost the same width. The strong jawline is a prominent feature of square-shaped faces, like on Hailey Baldwin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Olivia Wilde.
Best hairstyles for square-shaped faces
When choosing a hairstyle for a square-shaped face, you can either choose to accentuate the squareness of your face or soften your strong jawline. If you'd like to enhance your face shape, go for some blunt bangs or a short bob to really show off that strong jawline. If you'd like to de-enhance the squareness, try some soft, wispy bangs falling to the side to create diagonal lines and soften the lines on your face, or wear your hair straight and long with layers that start a few inches from the end to draw the eyes down and add length to your face. If you're brave enough to try bangs, go for shorter, subtler bangs that hit the cheekbone to highlight them.
Hairstyles to avoid for square-shaped faces
Avoid overly thick bangs or blunt hairstyles, as this could accentuate the angles on your face even more. Also, any severe, slicked back looks should also be avoided, if you are trying to soften your face shape. Curls could also widen your face, so opt to wear your hair in either loose waves or straight.
Round Faces Round shaped faces are the same in width and length, with no prominent angles or corners. Round faces are usually "baby-faces," which means you look younger and can opt for more youthful hairstyles. Celebrities like Selena Gomez, Kirsten Dunst, and Ginnifer Goodwin, will be your hair-spiration here.
Best hairstyles for round faces
When styling a round face, your main goal is to elongate the face and make it appear more oval. A quick trick to doing this is to always leave a little piece of hair untucked on one side of your face. This will visually shorten the width of your face and tricks the eye into thinking your face is narrower.
Short hair is particularly flattering on round faces, if parted and styled the right way, so go ahead and make the chop to that trendy lob. Try a deep side part to also create more angles to a round face, or pull your hair up into a high pony to elongate the face. If you're feeling especially daring, a short pixie cut with volume at the top looks fabulous on round face shapes, as it adds texture and angles, without looking harsh.
Hairstyles to avoid for round faces
A common mistake for round-faced women is to hide their face behind lots of hair, which actually ends up accentuating the wide face. Instead, go for medium length hair with long, face-framing bangs, and keep the texture smooth and sleek. Avoid soft, wispy bangs, as this can further accentuate the softness of your features. Instead, opt for side swept bangs or bold bangs.
Long Faces The easiest way to describe a long face shape is that it's an oval face shape...just longer—the length of the face noticeably longer than the width of the face. Think Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, and Hilary Swank.
Best hairstyles for long faces
The main goal for long face shapes is to make your face appear wider than it is to balance out the longer length, so curls are an excellent option for you. Why do you think Carrie Bradshaw always looked so fabulous? In addition to her drool-worthy closet filled with clothes by couture designers, she let her natural curls run loose and wild, opening up her face shape.
Hairstyles to avoid for long faces
Keeping with the "wider not longer" rule, avoid hair that is too far past mid-length, as this lengthens the face. Also, avoid one-length hair or super sleek looks which can also make your face look longer.
Diamond-shaped faces You likely have a diamond face shape if your forehead and jawline are the same width and the widest part of your face is at your cheekbones with a narrow chin. Think of your face like the actual gem, narrowing at the top and bottom. Halle Berry, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ciara all have famously diamond face shapes.
Best hairstyles for diamond faces
Diamond face shapes are coveted because they are symmetrical and balanced, so your main objective is to accentuate your elegant face shape, rather than balance anything out. Opt for long, side-swept bangs to highlight your cheekbones with long layers, or go short with a textured lob. As well, try out a sleek middle part with your hair tucked behind your ears or a sleek high ponytail to show off your bone structure.
Hairstyles to avoid for diamond faces
With diamond faces, it's not so much what to do as what not to do. Diamond face shapes can pull off pretty much any hairstyle, however, there are a few styles to avoid. Because your face narrows at the chin, avoid heavy, rounded bangs, which shorten the face, making it look smaller than it is. On that note, try to avoid straight-across bangs as well, as these accentuate the widest part of your face, making your chin appear even narrower.
Your face shape is an important step when choosing the right hairstyle for you—one that many people skip. By determining your face shape and looking at celebrities with the same face for hair inspiration, you can be sure that your inspo photo will translate well onto you.
