Face Shapes and Hairstyles – Here’s what worked and what didn’t!

Whose face shapes most resemble yours?

One thing I’ve learned in the process of doing thousands of makeovers is that it is extremely hard to be objective about ourselves, especially when it comes to diagnosing our own face shape.

The majority of women who I’ve done makeovers for, when questioned, thought they had a different face shape than they actually had. Most often we think we have shapes that are not right, for instance; I’m too fat, too big, too long, too round . . . you know what I mean.

Your eye is much better at seeing and what works and what doesn’t work so well when we are looking at someone else. Here are some celebrities we saw at the Emmy Awards. Of course, the gowns will influence the choice of hairstyle in some instances but, face shapes must play a very important role on the final hairdo that is chosen.

Hairstyles for Heart Face Shapes

As you can see from the photo at the top of this article Kim Kardashian – has a heart shaped face, wider cheekbones narrowing chin line. We rarely see her with her hair up, but this twisted updo created one sweet look on her!

• Why it works – — Kim’s updo was kept narrow at the temples with just a bit of height on top. If this do had been styled to be too full and wide or too big on top, it would have accentuated her narrow chin-line and made her look too top-heavy.

Hairstyles for Round Face Shapes

Kelly Osbourne – has a round face shape, it is pretty much as wide as it is tall with roundness in the cheeks and the chin-line.

• Why it doesn’t work – women with round faces should always steer clear from big, rounded, poufy hair styles. The top of her hair is too full and rounded which looks top-heavy and adds fullness to her face.  Kelly is adventurous in changing up her hairstyles and lately has lately had some much better haircuts on her. How much better does this asymmetrical hairstyle look on Kelly?

Hairstyles for Square Face Shapes

Heidi Klum – has a square face shape with her jaw bones and hairline more prominently square. (Most people don’t have a perfectly square, round, heart or triangle shaped faces, but will fall closer to one shape than another and Heidi leans more toward a square face shape.

• Why it doesn’t work – Heidi’s updo looks too severe. She needs some tendrils or wisps to soften the straight lines in her square face. An off-center part and height at the crown rather than the front would break up the symmetrical lines of her face.  It’s right to bring height to the top, to elongate a square face shape but, the overall shape of this updo is too square.

Hairstyles for Oval Face Shapes

Eva Longoria Parker – has an oval face shape which balances well with bangs or no bangs, short or long hair in bobbed hairstyles or layered haircuts, just about any hairstyle works with oval faces.

• Why it works – Eva’s updo is edgy and elegant, and because it fits her face shape so well, it was perfect for the Emmy’s. This type of updo, all off the face with a textured look to it, was like the one we saw on Heidi Klum, but wouldn’t you agree . . . it looks much softer and well designed on Eva?

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

• Hair Styles for a Square Face
• Hair for Your Face Shape
• Haircuts for Heart Shaped Faces
• The Bob Hair Style Part II
• Bangs or No Bangs
• Hairstyles for Round Faces
• What Should I Do With My Hair?

If you have an Oval Face . . . Rejoice!

A friend called me yesterday and asked what’s hot for hairstyles for oval faces. She’s been wearing the same hairdo now for about 8 months and is ready for a change.  I don’t get asked that question often I suppose because women with her face shape can wear almost anything, you know, long, medium, short, with bangs or no bangs . . . blah, blah, blah.  But, that’s not all together true . . . if you have an oblong oval face and wear a long hair style without framing the face with layers . . . it will drag out your face and make it look longer. For example, Ann Coulter has pretty hair but . . .  it’s all wrong for her oblong face. Women with faces like Ann’s, need long face framing layers to add softness and width to the face. She could still wear it long, maybe just past the collar-bone, with long layers and a deep side part. Here are some more great looks:

A retro glam wave is hot right now whether it is worn short, medium or long. Put in a deep side part and make sure the top is styled flat to your head. Long face framing layers can be worn straight, curly or with wavy hair.  This is a simple sytle to create. See how Kate Winslet does her retro glam hairstyle at the Grammy’s.

A trendy mid-length hairstyle doesn’t get any easier than this! These long layered hairstyles for can be blow-dried and touched up with a curling iron to create a simple, casual look and just as easily put up into a ponytail, bun, braids or a twist.

These new pixie cuts on Jessica Stroup, Hayden Panttiere and Michelle Williams are so cute! This is the trendy short haircuts on the celebrities these days that I think we’ll be seeing crop up everywhere . . . at least for the brave, who get sick and tired of their long layered hair and want to make a new trendy statement!

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

• Bangs for Oval Faces
• Haircuts for Heart Shaped Faces
• Face Shape and Hairstyles
• Hair Perms
• Hair for Your Face Shape
• Custom Virtual Hairstyles
• Face Shapes and Hair Styles

Bangs or No Bangs – Points to Consider Before Making the Cut

Have you been considering bangs? (or fringe as they are called in the UK) If so, there are many points to consider. If you just don’t want to do anything with your hair, you generally throw it up in a clip or scrunchie and run out the door every morning, then no bangs are probably not for you. If you can’t stand hair in your face, think twice before a haircut with bangs. If however, don’t mind taking a little time to style your hair and you still think you want bangs, take the following into consideration.

• Is your hair curly or straight?
• What is your face shape?
• Will you be using hair styling tools daily?
• Where do you want your bangs to hit your face? Eyebrow? Above or below Eyebrow? Side swept? Left or right? Flat or with a bend or curl?

Why does all this matter? Knowing the answers to the questions above will help to determine which haircut is really best for you, your hair type, and your face shape.

If you have your heart set on bangs, avoid the temptation to cut them in yourself.

My best advice: Enlist the services of a professional hairdresser.

Professional hairdressers are well versed in different face shapes and the hair styles that will compliment them. Clip pictures out of magazines to bring with you to the hair salon. Knowing the look you are trying to achieve with bangs or no bangs will help your hairdresser determine whats best for you.

Finally, remember, once you cut those bangs, they are yours until they grow. Make sure you consider all the variables before you choose bangs or no bangs.

Author Bio:

The Beauty Lady is a 25-year hair salon professional and educator, based in California. She is the author of Go Inspire Beauty, where she offers beauty advice, tips, tricks, and product recommendations to help you look and feel your best.

For further discussion on bangs hairstyles you might want to check out these other articles:

• Hair Bangs; New York Fashion Week Style
• Haircuts With Bangs a Fashion Must Have
• Hairstyles with Bangs
• Long Hair Styles with Bangs
• Short Hair Bangs . . . and the Winner is
• Celebrities with Bangs
• Bangs or No Bangs