Face Shapes and Hair Cuts.
Determine your face shape
Preparation:
- stand in front of a well-lit mirror
- have a notepad and pen or pencil to make notes
- pull your hair back and away from your face, securing it with hair clips or a head band
- draw a shape on notepad to represent basic outline of your face; then draw a line vertically down the center + one line across the top (forehead) + one line across the middle (cheekbones) + one line
- across the bottom (jawline)
- get a 12-inch ruler
- Length: Hold the ruler vertically. Measure the length of your face from hairline to chin. Write the measurements in inches on notepad.
- Width-Forehead: Hold ruler horizontally. Keeping the ruler perfectly straight, move it up to your forehead and measure the widest part. Jot the measurements down on the notepad, beneath the measurement for your face length.
- Width-Cheekbones: Move the ruler down to your cheekbones. Hold the ruler with both hands and measure across the top portion of your cheekbones. Read your measurement, and write your findings down on the notepad.
- Width-Jawline: Move the ruler, so that it is now down to your jawline at the widest point. Read your measurements, and write the results down.
Results
Round Face – Your face is as wide at the cheekbones as it is long. This may vary a little but generally the measurement is within 1/4 to 1/2 inches.
Heart – Your face is narrow at jaw line, wide at cheekbones/and or forehead.
Square – Your face is about as wide as it is long at the jawline and forehead.
Oval – Your face is widest at cheekbones, narrow forehead and jaw line of approximately equal widths.
Hair Cut Recommendations
Round Face: A side part will make your face appear longer. A strong fringe (bang) is good to add corner to the round face shape. A short cut that tapers in above the ears and has lots of layers at the crown for height or a long style that is layered below the chin. Extra width or curl at the sides will make your face look even fuller. Avoid length of layers right at chin length.
Oval Face: An oval face shape is the most versatile. To widen a narrow face, go for short or chin-length hair that is slightly layered at the bottom or full at the sides (not on top) and tapered in. Soft, side-sweeping fringe is a good bet, as is face-framing layers in front; they de- emphasize the length of the oval face. Asymmetrical parts or cuts add width to a narrow face.
Heart Face: Keep the length at the narrowest part of the face or below. Avoid super-short cuts or styles with center parts. Soft rounded or sweeping fringe, curly or wavy styles, texture on top, hair that is long on the neck and at the bottom, flippy ends, and tousled layers all will compliment your bone structure and soften the effect of a pointy chin.
Square Face. Any texture in the form of curls or layers will look great on square faces. They will soften your features and add roundness to your face shape. Long layers that begin at the jaw and continue downwards complement a square face and look great with a side swept or rounded fringe. To add height, try some short layers for volume. Off center partings either straight or diagonal will add a twist to your hairstyle and also look great with just a little back- combing for that extra height.
