The Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Perfect Hairstyle for Your Face Shape

Deciding on the best hairstyle you should have isn’t just about cutting a picture you’ve seen in a celebrity magazine and showing it to your stylist telling them to copy it, but complementing your own natural features, highlight your best assets, having a hairstyle that really flatters your complexion and brings out the best in you. But where do you begin? Start by finding your face shape, and get the advice on what will suit you best, which celebrity hairstyles you can pull off, what to avoid, and even master some simple new hairstyles technologies.

How to Determine Your Face Shape

Once you have narrowed it down to a specific facial shape, you must consider different hairstyles. Experts via The New York Times say that there are basically seven types: oval, round, square, heart, diamond, and oblong. To find yours, stand in front of a mirror and trace the outer shape of your face with your dry-erase marker or a lipstick, although if you prefer precision you can always take measurements of your forehead, cheekbones, jawline and the length of your face.

• Oval: Face length is longer than your cheekbones, and your jawline is narrower than your forehead.
• Round: Length is approximately the same as the width of your face, with round curves and no sharp edges.
• Square:  Jawline, cheekbones, and forehead all about the same width, so your face looks angular and strong.
• Heart: Your forehead is the widest and your jaws and chin pretty narrow.
• Diamond: You have remarkable cheekbones, with little wider measurement for the forehead and jawline.
• Oblong: Your face is longer than it is wide, and the cheek line is straight.

Hairstyles for Each Face Shape

Now that you’ve identified your face shape, let’s find the perfect style for you.

Oval Face Shape

If you have an oval face, lucky you—this shape is considered the most versatile for hairstyles. You can pull off almost any look, from long, flowing waves to a blunt bob. The key is to avoid styles that elongate your face even more, like extreme length without layers. Instead, try shoulder-length waves or a layered cut to add texture and volume.

Round Face Shape

 A round face is already thick in both dimensions, and needs to visually stretch outwards and upwards. Think layering: cuts that add volume at the top will lengthen your face, while a side-swept bang or an asymmetrical bob will add more of that crucial angularity. On the other hand, steer clear of the classic blunt bob, which ends directly against the jaw and can make any roundness seem even rounder.

Square Face Shape

Square faces have sharp, angular jawlines. You really need to soften those angles here. Texture and layers around the face help you achieve softening of features. Shoulder-length cut with gentle waves or lots of long layers could dissolve strong angularity. Side-swept bangs will help soften and offset that square jawline.

Heart Face Shape

 A heart-shaped face generally has a wider forehead, while the chin is narrower in width – the natural symmetry helps to balance your look. I would recommend weaving in volume around your jawline. A long bob or chin-length layers would be great. You want to avoid short bangs that accentuate the width of your forehead. 

Diamond Face Shape

 A diamond face shape has strong, high cheekbones to enhance, so soft layers that frame the face work well. Waves that start at the chin and go through medium length look good. Avoid styles that add volume to the cheek area, as this widens the face.

Oblong Face Shape

 If you have an elongated face you need to add width, not length. So consider a cut with loads of layers, or a bob that ends at the chin – both will give your face an instant fullness. Bangs can be a great way to shorten the extension of your face (think blunt or curtain bangs). Avoid hair that lifts the hair at the crown – again, it will add further length to your face.

Choosing Hairstyles Based on Hair Type and Texture

Know your face shape, and then take into account your hair texture and type. All hair types will react differently to styles, so knowing how your naturally textured hair will respond is important to taking your ‘do’ to the next level.

• Straight Hair: With straight hair, styles that add bulk like layered cuts or blunt bobs can stop your hair from appearing flat. Adding a few waves or curls probably changes your look.
• Curly Hair: Styles with layers can shape curls and add detail to curly hair. Steer clear of blunt cuts which might give a blocky form; instead, pick styles that follow your natural curl.
• Wavy Hair: Wavy hair suits simple and relaxed styles. Emphasize your waves with long layers, reducing heaviness while keeping a natural, beachy style.
• Thin vs. Thick Hair: For thin hair, look for a cut that increases volume and helps hair appear fuller – layers and texturizing work well. For thick hair, select layers to reduce weight.

Hairstyles for Different Lifestyles

Besides face shape and hair type, lifestyle is the most basic need that determines a hairstyle.

• Busy Professionals: When you’re always on the move, you need a low-maintenance style without sacrificing professionalism. A shoulder-length bob or long layers are sleek, yet easy to manage.
• Active Lifestyles: If you are an athlete or someone who regularly hits the gym or leads a very active lifestyle, consider a hairstyle that can stay in place and be easy to manage: layers with a ponytail or a pixie cut.
• Fashion-Forward Individuals: For the style-conscious person who wants to be on trend, there’s the loud cut that makes much noise. The asymmetrical bob and the shaggy cut with bangs could work together to make you stand out while at the same time being flexible.

Leveraging Online Resources to Find the Perfect Style

There’s a lot to think about when choosing the right hairstyle—but luckily, there are also plenty of online resources to help you. One great place to start is AllThingSalon.com.

How AllThingSalon Can Help You Choose the Perfect Hairstyle

AllThingSalon is an amazing resource for anyone looking to find the perfect hairstyle.There’s a wide variety of master styling tips, hair care advice, and the latest hairstyle trends on this website. If you are looking for inspiration, step-by-step guides, or in-depth advice on which styles will work best with different face shapes, AllThingSalon is what you need. They give in-depth resources to help you figure out what might work best for your face shape, hair type, and lifestyle, thus arming you with the best decision made with confidence in your look.

The Role of Hair Stylists in Achieving Your Desired Look

After you have an idea of what you’d like, it’s important for you to tell your hair stylist how you want it and show pictures as examples. Your stylist may suggest different options for you depending on your face shape, hair type and maintaining your hair for the new look. Try your best to set you expectations as clear as possible. Ask how your new hair will be styled at home so you know how to care and manage it between visits.

Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Hairstyle

• Ignoring Face Shape: Picking a style that does not suit your face shape could give an unfriendly appearance. Think of your special facial features.  
• Overlooking Maintenance: Certain hairstyles demand daily care and styling. Be certain you are ready to keep up with your new look before jumping in.  
• Following Trends Blindly: Popular hairstyles might not always fit you. Think if the style matches your face shape, way of life and type of hair.

Conclusion

Choosing a great hairstyle for face shape is all about balance: enhancing all the flattering features and, of course, harmony in your face and hair. Taking a good look at the shape of your face, your hair type, and what you need from a style will bring you a style that is really flattering for you to the best of your ability. And if unsure, online resources, like AllThingSalon.com, and conferring with a professional stylist will be sure to make the difference.

Now that you are all armed with the right information, let’s get a little bit closer to your ideal hairstyle. So take this step toward your perfect look, and after that, embark on this exciting experience of fun and trying out different combinations—after all, hair is one of the most exciting ways to express yourself!