Did you know that certain haircuts are better than others, based on your face shape? Before heading into the salon, finding the best hairstyles for your face shape can help make for a more flattering hairstyle. Of course, you can choose any shape or style you like, but stylists agree that there are some things to keep in mind so you can get the right haircut for you. Going for a cut that accentuates your best facial features and hair texture can be a fool-proof way to walk out of the hair salon feeling happy.
But how do you find out what your face shape is? First, the basics: You either have an oblong, oval, round, heart, or square shape face. To determine which one belongs to you, start by looking in the mirror at your bone structure.
Oblong face shapes will be longer than they are wide, and your forehead, jawline, and cheeks will all be about the same width. This differs from oval face shapes: While an oval-shaped face is longer than it is wide, the cheekbones will be wider than if you had an oblong face shape. Round face shapes are circular, with wide cheeks and rounded chins, and have soft angles all around. Square face shapes are similarly proportioned to round but with more angular features and a square-shaped chin. If you have a heart-shaped face, you’ll notice a wider forehead, prominent cheeks, and a narrow chin.
“You want to take into consideration where the hair will widen the face or make it more narrow,” says Mia Santiago, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Headspace by Mia in Columbus, OH. “For example, straight-across bangs on a rounder face shape will make the face look wider and overall bigger, whereas a curtain bang will accentuate the eyes and cheekbones giving the face more contour and narrowing the face shape.”
We chatted with several celebrity hairstylists to get their best advice on how to choose a cut for all the different face shapes, so you can get the right hairstyle for you. From short bobs to side-swept pixie cuts, we’ve found all the hairstyle options to accentuate your best features. Read on for the experts’ pro advice and plenty of inspo photos to take into the salon for your next visit.