It’s time to put your best face forward. Facial shapes come in a variety of different forms: round, oblong, oval, square, triangular, diamond and heart-shaped.
You don’t need a how-to book or even a stylist to help; simply face the mirror and trace the outline of your face with an eyeliner pencil. Stand back and marvel. Once you have your true facial shape, it’s a cinch to pick the most flattering hairstyle for you.
If you are an oval, the sky is the limit. Go bold, go long or short, and have fun doing it! The tricky facial shapes are the more angular ones such as square, diamond and triangular. If you think you have one of these types, sit up and pay attention.
A square face shape will have a wide forehead and/or jaw line (think Jennifer Aniston) and generally can rock longer layers with a side-swept bang never shorter than the nose. The point is to offset the strength of the square edges and to soften with movement attained by layering.
A diamond shape is a wide middle, usually characterized with high cheekbones and a very narrow forehead and chin. The most ideal hairstyles for the diamond are ones with height on top and bottom, maybe with a long shag haircut or voluminous waves. A shorter blunt bang can draw the eye upward, taking the focus off the high cheekbones.
The triangular facial shape is wider at the jaw line than the forehead. I would choose a chin-length bob with a soft fringe cut into the sides of the face and a deep side part to offset the proportions.
The heart facial shape is one of my favorites. You will first recognize it by the high forehead and narrow chin. It looks, well, like the shape of a heart. Fuller layers that come around the chin and hug the neck are ideal, but don’t be afraid to part it down the middle and go bold. Christina Ricci has a beautiful heart facial shape, and she has had a series of stunning styles from short to long.
The last two are oblong and round. The oblong face is often referred to as “thin” or “long” and can be balanced with creative hair coloring to create the illusion of thickness in all the right places. Also, try a shoulder-length bob with graduated longer layers with a fringe bang swept to one side for a change.
The round face is the most common and one of the most challenging. I have a round face that my mama says I inherited from her. Thanks, Mama! The features are soft and have no real angles. The chin-length bob is the quintessential miracle worker for the round face. Avoid waves and opt for straighter styles to minimize the fullness.
So, now you have all the tips and secrets for facing the facts about your facial shape. The main thing to remember is that each is beautiful in its own way.
David Creel has 20 years experience in the beauty industry and owns Beautiful With David salon in Jackson. Contact him at [email protected].
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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