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Simple strategies that use facial structure to balance & enhance.
Ever
walk into a hair salon armed with a magazine picture of a truly "great"
haircut, only to leave an hour later looking ridiculous, even though the style
was exactly what you ordered? If you've ever had that experience -- and many
women have -- you may have fallen prey to a common misconception: A haircut,
is a haircut, is a haircut.
When it comes to individuals, nothing could be further from the truth. Believing
otherwise is like saying it's okay to put a picture of the Mona Lisa in a 1960s,
psychedelic frame.
While the wrong frame can prove disastrous, the right one can transform a nondescript,
simple picture into a refreshing piece of art and expound and enhance even the
most extraordinary of portraits or scenes.
In the world of beauty, hair serves much the same role as does a frame -- it
surrounds the picture, or face, and has the potential of illuminating desirable
features, downplaying less-than-desirable ones and creating balance and symmetry.
Just as a frame should be chosen to complement a picture, a hairstyle should
be chosen to complement the face that it surrounds.
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing the right hairstyle
is the shape -- or structure -- of the face.
Faces typically mirror one of eight shapes --oval, square, round, heart, triangular,
rectangular, diamond and pear -- and while each shape has its own unique beauty,
it takes the right hairstyle (or frame!) to create the greatest degree of balance,
symmetry and style.
Oval
When it comes to
wearing a variety of hairstyles, those born with an oval face must have arrived
under a lucky star.
This type of face -- which features a gently rounded hairline and a jawline
that is only slightly narrower than the temples -- is considered the "ideal"
shape because of its natural balance and symmetry. As such, it can pull-off
any hairstyle with flair.
It's no wonder that many of the world's most successful -- and chameleon-like
-- models have oval faces: They can switch hairstyles -- and looks -- with the
greatest of ease.
Some people believe that the only thing a person with an oval face shouldn't
do is cover up their "perfect" features with heavy bangs or too much
"forward-brushed" hair.
Square
The hallmark of
a square face is an equally square jawline and hairline -- two strong facial
features that can lend a look of quiet determination and character to those
who possess them.
The key to cultivating what many see as a look of nobility and mystique with
this interesting face shape is to introduce an element of softness.
Wispy bangs, 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 jawline -- and
even past the shoulders -- is especially suitable. If the hair is to be worn
above the jawline -- and some believe that it shouldn't -- the illusion of length
can be created by adding height at the crown.
Severe cuts and styles -- such as straight bobs, thick linear bangs and even
center bangs -- 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 chinline
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 center parts and linear
bangs -- although bangs brushed to the side are flattering. Haircuts that end
at the chinline 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.
Those with heart-shaped faces should avoid styles that emphasize the upper part
of their face, as doing so will only make them seem "top heavy."
Bangs, 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 jawline. 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.
Side parts and bangs can help de-emphasize the overall length of the rectangular
face; and 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 cheekline -- is to choose a hairstyle that adds width to
the top and bottom of the face and makes the middle of the face, or cheekline,
appear less prominent.
Wide, wispy bangs and a chin-length cut can help build width where it's most
needed. Volume should be avoided at the cheekline, 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 chinline.
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. A classic shag hairstyle is suitable for those with pear-shaped
faces, as is hair that's well past the jawline.
To determine your face shape, simply take a few minutes to analyse it in the mirror. Or, take this article or a few photos of models with faces you think are shaped like yours to your next salon visit, to discuss with the stylist. As the Greek philosopher, Aristotle so memorably said, "Know Thyself". And you're on your way to getting a hairstyle that really makes the cut!
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