Why face shape matters when choosing a hair cut

You often here about face shape when it comes to conversations about contouring and highlighting, but it can come into play when deciding on hair cuts and styles as well. To be clear, anyone with any face shape can of course wear any style they so please. But if you’re looking for how to naturally suit your face shape, look no further.

It can be confusing what all that expert hairstylist lingo really means, so we wanted to shed light on the different lengths and styles that best complement your face. To clarify these guidelines, we went to some of the best stylists in the biz for their expertise. Keep scrolling for all the information and advice they offered.

1) FINDING YOUR FACE SHAPE
Many people have a distinct face shape. They are generally categorized into six shapes: oval, long, square, round, diamond, and heart-shaped. If you can’t tell by looking in a mirror what shape you are, there is a way to measure the face that can point you in the right direction.

If you try that and still aren’t sure about your face shape, chances are it doesn’t really matter—beauty advice about face shapes is primarily designed for women with strong features that they want to downplay, such as those with distinctly round, square, long, or heart-shaped faces.

Women with oval and diamond faces tend to have the most versatility; instead of focusing primarily on flattering their face shapes, they may want to pay more attention to hair texture and thickness. The same applies if you don’t have an obvious face shape.

Maybe your personality or the length of your hair is more important to you. If you have a distinct hair texture like super fine or very curly, exploring flattering cuts for that may be a better road to take. Remember, too, that everyone is different and you don’t have to follow every beauty rule in the book.

2) HIGHLIGHT YOUR FAVORITE FEATURES
Since there will be many hairstyles that suit your face shape, it may be difficult to know where to begin. The basic rule of finding a great haircut for your face shape is to highlight your best features.

According to the “rules,” there are a few features to look for:

Heart-Shaped Face: Try to draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones with bangs or volume along the sides.
Long Face: The longer your hair is, the longer it will make your face look. It’s often best to go with shorter styles or those that have plenty of volume. Bangs are great as well.
Oval Face: Nearly every hairstyle flatters this shape. If yours is on the longer side, follow some of the suggestions for long faces. Finding a good style for your hair texture is probably more important.
Round Face: Some of the better options include haircuts that are below your chin. With curly or wavy hair, going too short may add more width to the cheek area. Short styles that add volume on top can elongate your face.
Square Face: You may want to play down a strong, angular jaw. Texture, in the form of curls or choppy ends, does a brilliant job at this.​

3) DO WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BEST
When you read about hairstyles and face shapes, you may feel inundated by rules. While these are guidelines for flattering haircuts, they are really just suggestions. The secret to looking gorgeous is really in one’s attitude. The last thing you want to do is get a haircut that makes you feel unlike yourself.

If you want a haircut that doesn’t abide by the “rules” of your face shape, then, by all means, get that haircut. How you feel about yourself always trumps what the beauty industry thinks is flattering. If you have the right attitude, you can carry any haircut.

4) DON”T BE DISCOURAGED Don’t
The good news is that almost all of the trendiest hairstyles can look great on all face shapes. Bobs do. Shoulder-length cuts really do. Bangs do. Long hair does. Even the pixie works on most face shapes.

With each of these types of cuts, there may be elements that would be more flattering on you. If you have your heart set on a certain cut, tell your stylist. The two of you can work on finding the best style within the cut that suits you best