Have you ever wondered what face shape YOU have? Lets face it, there are many different face shapes, so it can be difficult to determine exactly what face shape you have. The different types include oval, long, round, square, heart and diamond, and if you’re not sure which you are, keep reading…

To help you determine your face shape, and help you decide which hairstyle will best suit your face shape, we’ve gathered some handy tips together.

Measuring your face

First, measure your features which include your forehead, cheekbones, jawline and the length of your face.

Measuring your forehead – start by measuring the widest part of your forehead. This is usually halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline. Once you’ve measured the widest part of your face, write it down.

Measuring your cheekbones – when it comes to choosing the perfect hairstyle for your face shape, the width of your cheekbones plays a crucial role. To measure your cheekbone width, place the tape measure across the pointiest part of your cheekbones, just below the outer corners of the eyes.

Measuring your jawline – take this measurement from the tip of the chin to below the ear at the point where your jaw angles upwards. Once you’ve measured one side, multiply that by 2 to get the jawline length.

Measuring the length of your face – lay the tape measure from the centre of your hairline right down to the tip of your chin.

Now that you’ve written down all of your measurements, check to see which of these parts is the largest or widest or narrowest and determine which is closest to yours.

Oval Face

One of the ideal face shapes for women is oval, which has perfect proportions. Your face will taper towards the chin with a slightly wider forehead. Your face is neither long or wide.

If you are one of the lucky people with an oval face, you can have any hairstyle and haircut you want. Short pixie cuts as well as long glamourous waves will look equally great on you.

There is however one hairstyle that oval-shaped faces should avoid at all costs, it’s an extra long, blunt-cut hairdo, this just flattens and drags your face down.

Round Face

A round face is a face shape that’s equal in height and width, often widest at the cheek bones.

When it comes to hairstyles for this face shape, you should choose a deep side part and a long side fringe to minimize roundness.

In general, medium length and long hairstyles are recommended to give the illusion of softness around the face. So long as length doesn’t end at the jawline which just adds width to your face where you need it least. You can also wear your hair in a short pixie style.

Square Face

Square face shapes are similar in appearance to a round face, but have a more pronounced, wide jawline.

Your forehead, cheekbones and jawline are almost the same width. A square and bony jawline is your prominent feature.

Having a fringe requires a soft textured finish as opposed to a solid blunt finish which shortens your face even more. Wavy hair is also great as it softens the facial features. An angled, asymmetrical bob, with a side swept fringe and a deep side parting also looks fabulous on a square face. Equally great is a shorter shaggy pixie cut.

Long Face

A long face also tapers towards the chin. It will however be elongated from the forehead to the chin and some people may have a prominent chin.

Wearing a solid fringe and shorter hairstyles will give width to your face such as a classic bob that’s length finishes at cheekbone is perfect. Soft curls and waves will also lift your features, while upping the volume of your hair at the sides will give the illusion of a shorter face shape.

A layered mid-length curly style will look best on those with long faces as it is layered through the back, sides and top with plenty of body and bounce.

Heart Face

This face will strongly taper towards the chin. The forehead will be wider and may be a prominent feature as the chin tends to be pointy. This is known to be the most attractive face shape.

Hairstyles that suit this face shape are Lobs because the length takes the focus off the jawline and elongates the face, creating balance.

Avoid heavy fringes or excessive short layering. Those styles will only accentuate the wider top half of a heart-shaped face.

Diamond Face

This face shape is highly angular and somewhat bony. It is widest at the temple and is the least common of all the face shapes.

A short crop cut is perfect for a diamond face shape as it will open up your face and highlight your cheekbones.

Also long hair is great when it comes to diamond shaped faces, especially with side swept fringes, face framing layers and also pulled back off the face makes this a versatile hairstyle.

No matter what face shape you have, we as professionals are trained in knowing what is going to suit you best, so talk to your stylist during your consultation and be brave. Take a risk! After all, hair grows and we can change it regularly.