Hairstyles. Advice and pictures of hair styles

Choosing the Hair Style that best suits your face shape.

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Before you browse our gallery of hair styles pictures we recommend that you read through this advice on choosing a hairstyle that will compliment your face shape, some samples here.

Firstly you need to determine what shape your face actually is. It may not be one exact type, in fact it will more than likely be a mixture of two or maybe even more but it should resemble one more the others

In front of a mirror, pull your hair off your face by wetting it and combing it back or tying it at the back.
Take a pace away from the mirror or, use a photograph of yourself facing straight into the camera with your hair off your face as above.
Draw an outline of your face with lipstick on the mirror, on transparent paper or on the photo itself.
Now look at your outline and compare it to the options below\

Oval - Length equals around one and a half times width

As oval is considered to be the ideal face shape it is therefore the most versatile, so nearly every hair style will look good on this face. You can wear short, medium or long hair styles. Your face shape is in even proportion. You will look best when styling your hair off your face. Avoid wearing your hairstyle on your face as you'll cover your face shape behind the hair and it may appear to add weight to your face.

Round - Round hairline and chin line, wide face and round cheeks

If you have a round face shape, the goal here is to slim the face. Hair below the chin line should be worn with a face-lengthening center parting. For hair above the chin line, wear an off-center parting to break up the roundness. Creating volume at the top of your head and keeping your forehead bare will also slim your face. It's best to avoid short and sleeked-back hairstyles. In shorter styles, it is best seen with hair brushed away from the face, building extra volume at the top of head to narrow the roundness of your features. Because the widest part of your face is at the cheeks and ears, you need to avoid having the fullness of the cut here as it will make your face appear wider. Also keeping hair off the face at the cheek area is recommended.

Square - straight hairline, angular jaw with wide face

Your hairstyle should try to soften the sharp angle of your jaw line and minimize a squared-off forhead look. Hairstyles that emphasize the cheekbones are most flattering, so short layers (cut into longer hair) that swing foreward onto cheekbones will look great. Waves at the temple also soften the square of your face. Hair length is best medium to long about one inch below the chin, or extending to shoulder length, to reduce and soften the squareness of the jaw. Hair worn on the forehead is always perfect for you, as long as it is wispy or fringed. Hair turned under at the bottom will narrow the width of the jaw. Styles in loose curls and waves soften a square face.

Triangular or Pear - wide chin and narrow forehead

When choosing a style for this face shape, you should seek on a look that narrows the chin and widens the forehead to balance proportions. Wear your hair wide and full at the top and temples, brushed away from the face and up toward the ears to widen forehead. From the ear, angle hair forward to the chin to soften and narrow a strong jaw. Do not wear styles that are full at the jaw line. Your best hair length is chin length or longer (medium to extra-long). Decrease volume at the top and sides, especially around the ear areas. Adding curl and fullness to the chin area and just above the temples can help round your look.

Heart - narrow jaw line, wider at eyes

If this is your face shape, you'll want a hairstyle that extenuates the jaw line and narrows at the eyes. Heart shape faces need a softer, curlier style. a chin length look is perfect. The objective is to create width around a narrower chin. Side slanted waves draw attention away from the jaw line. Best looks are full curly / wavy bouncy. Your hair type will also determine the best style. If natural curly, wavy, straight, make it part of your style. Your facial shape is only the starting point.

Oblong - Long and slender, about the same width at forehead and just below cheekbones. May have a very narrow chin or a very high forehead.

Hairstyles for this face shape should add width and fullness to the sides of the face and around the eyes, cheekbones and ears. This shape benefits from a low side parting, with a sweep of hair brushed across the forehead and secured with a butterfly clip. Widen face and reduce its longish look with a side parting so the hair flows all to one side. Asymmetric haircuts will look great on this face shape. Your best hair length reaches half way down the neck. Favor volume with curly or wavy styles, giving you the illusion of balanced width.