Getting a new haircut to get you in the mood?

Just as a frame should be chosen to complement a picture, a hairstyle should be chosen to complement the face that it surrounds. Here are a few tips to get the right cut for your face shape.

Oval : This type of face — which features a gently rounded hairline and a jaw line that is only slightly narrower than the temples — is considered the “ideal” shape because of its natural balance and symmetry. People with this face shape can switch hairstyles — and looks — with the greatest of ease.

Square :The key to complement this face shape is to introduce an element of softness. Wispy fringes, flowing layers, angles cut around the face starting at the cheekbone, and wavy or curly hair can all play a role in balancing the square-shaped face and showcasing its strength and beauty.

One of the keys to properly framing a square face is to create an illusion of length, which is one of the reasons why hair that’s below the jaw line — and even past the shoulders — is especially suitable. If the hair is to be worn above the jawline, the illusion of length can be created by adding height at the crown. Severe cuts and styles — such as straight bobs, thick linear fringes and even centre fringes — should be avoided with a square face, as they tend to add severity to the look.

Round :Like the square face, this “full” face — which features a round hairline and chin line and marks its widest point at the cheeks, benefits greatly from the illusion of length. When dealing with a round face, it’s best to create fullness and height at the crown, while keeping the rest of the hair close to the face to avoid adding any additional width to the sides of the cheeks.

Like the square face, those with round faces should avoid centre parts and linear fringes, although fringes brushed to the side are flattering. Haircuts that end at the chin line should also be avoided, as they will only emphasize the roundness of the face.

Heart :The objective of choosing a hairstyle for a heart-shaped face — which is characterized by a wide forehead and a small, delicate chin — is to create an overall balance by making the forehead seem narrower and the chin seem wider. This is best accomplished with styles that add fullness to the lower part of the face. Chin-length bobs are especially flattering to those with heart-shaped faces, as are lots of full, wavy curls — all of which create an illusion of width at the lower part of the face. Fringes, especially those that are brushed to one side, are ideal for helping break up the wide forehead that’s typical with the heart-shaped face.

Triangular :As the exact opposite of the heart-shaped face, the triangular face is most narrow at the temples, slightly wider at the cheeks, and widest at the jawline. The secret to flattering a triangular face is to create fullness at the upper part of the face, while drawing attention away from the jaw line. One way to do this is by using lots of layers to create a top-heavy style that tapers off as it approaches the lower part of the face.

Rectangular :The rectangular face is long and slender, and as such requires a hairstyle that’s built around width and volume — two features that can de-emphasize the length of the face and create a more balanced look. Rectangular faces look best in short- and medium-length hair, as opposed to hair that falls below the shoulders and makes the face appear even longer. Layers are also important for this shape of face, as they create volume and counteract the shape’s natural “straight” lines with softness. It goes without saying that height at the crown should be avoided.

Diamond :The best way to approach a diamond-shaped face — which is known for its narrow forehead and chin and very wide cheek line — is to choose a hairstyle that adds width to the top and bottom of the face and makes the middle of the face, or cheek line, appear less prominent.
Wide, wispy fringes and a chin-length cut can help build width where it’s most needed. Volume should be avoided at the cheek line, as it will only serve to emphasize the width of the face.

Pear :As its name implies, the pear-shaped face features a narrow forehead and a wide jawline and chin line. As such, it requires a hairstyle that draws attention to the upper part of the face by building width and volume and deflects attention from the middle-to-lower part of the face.
Full, layered looks that features height at the crown are ideal for the pear-shaped face.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels