I discovered that women’s haircuts that suit you according to the shape of your face.

What is the best haircut for your face shape? Should you rock a chic short bob? Or long, face-framing layers that would highlight your cheekbones? There is a delicate art in combining facial shapes and hairstyles.

Although your stylist can recommend variations that you’ll love, it’s a good idea to have a clear vision of what you’d like before you visit the salon. Find out more about how to enhance your unique face with this guide on choosing the best haircut for your facial shape!

What is the shape of my face?

Determining your face shape can be a difficult process. Often, it’s not something most people consider until they’re about to get a haircut. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to figure out your facial shape.

To begin with, you should tie your hair back so that you can see your cheekbones, jawline, and chin more clearly. Once you’ve done this, take a picture of your face with your phone and use a photo editing app to trace the outline of your face. If you have a tablet with a larger screen, it could be even more useful.

After tracing the outline of your face, mentally go back and analyze which shape most closely resembles the one you drew. Does it look more like a rectangle, an inverted triangle, or another shape? By doing this, you will be able to determine your face shape more accurately and make informed decisions about your hairstyle and style.

There are several different face shapes that we can identify by measuring or observing its outline. Here are some of the most common shapes and some styling tips for each:

Rectangular or square face: If your outline looks like a square, you probably have a rectangular or square face. You’ll want to soften the appearance of your jawline without creating harsher lines. You can do this by gently tucking your hair towards your chin.

Oval face: If your face is naturally more oval, you can wear almost any style. However, you will want to avoid long straight hairstyles that can elongate your face and make you look horny.

Round face: Rounder face shapes need more volume at the top to balance out the width of the cheekbones. A layered haircut is recommended to give more dimension to the face.

Heart face: If the hairline is the fullest area and the lines taper to the chin, you have a heart face shape. A short or medium haircut is recommended to balance the shape of the face.

Diamond face: If your cheekbones are the longest measurement, you probably have a diamond-shaped face. To soften angular features, a haircut is recommended.

Now that you’ve identified your face shape, it’s time to select your most flattering haircut.

Haircuts for oval faces

Oval faces have a slightly narrower jaw compared to the forehead and high cheekbones, giving them a slightly longer look. If you have an oval face, almost any hairstyle will suit you.

The ideal hair length will depend on how close your appearance is to an oblong shape. If your face is longer, a shoulder length or longer haircut with subtle layers will suit you. If your face is rounder, consider an ear-length bob.

As for the best bangs for oval faces, consider long, straight, blunt bangs swept to one side. For effortlessly romantic hairstyles, choose longer or shoulder-length hair without bangs and with a center part paired with soft, face-framing waves.

What you should avoid are long straight hairstyles with only one length. These hairstyles draw the eye downward, which can make your face appear longer. If you go for a one length cut, part your hair to one side and sweep the fuller side back with a barrette to give it an asymmetrical look. This breaks up the visual field and slightly rounds your face.

Also avoid haircuts with thick, straight bangs, as they can visually make your face appear shorter.

Haircuts for round faces

To achieve a longer facial look, it is recommended to go for softer short haircuts or longer styles with long layers starting around the jawline. If you want to wear bangs, consider a shorter, side fringe to slightly elongate your face.

On the other hand, it is important to avoid one-length haircuts that fall around the ears, as these can puff out around the face and create a childish look. Short face-framing layers or voluminous curly hairstyles are also not recommended for those with round faces.

Haircuts for long faces

If your face is long, which means your forehead, chin, and cheekbones are almost the same width, you can choose to highlight your forehead with sweeping bangs or cover it with long bangs that brush the eyebrows if you want to make your face appear more short.

In general, it is advisable to go for shorter or layered cuts and a lot of volume on the cheekbones to prevent long face shapes from appearing even longer. Shoulder length haircuts and styles with side bangs are great options for long face shapes.

In addition, it is important to consider how to style your hair on a day-to-day basis. Loose hair flatters oblong faces, so it’s a good idea to choose a style that’s comfortable for you to wear every day.

Haircuts for heart-shaped faces

Do you have a heart-shaped face, with a narrower chin, high cheekbones, and a broader forehead? If so, add some volume on top to balance out your wide forehead.

If you have longer hair, cut layers towards your collarbone to give the illusion of a shorter jawline. Layers are crucial for heart-shaped faces because they soften the shape of your face and make it appear longer. Talk to your stylist about gradually getting used to layering with future cuts.

If you go for layers, select the ones that sweep back from your face instead of in. If you go with a bob or lob, curl the ends to give them more volume. This widens the field of vision along the jawline, making it appear wider and less severe.

As for the worst hairstyles for heart-shaped faces, stay away from short bangs and center part, as they draw attention to your wide forehead.

Haircuts for square faces

If your jawline is particularly angular and prominent, and your cheekbones, forehead, and jawline are the same length, you probably have a square face.

To soften this face shape, consider side-swept bangs that are longer at the ends and shorter in the middle. This style will elongate your face and provide the look of bangs without adding extra volume to the square areas of your face.

Another option to soften the angles of your jaw is a short, tousled cut. If you prefer long hair, opt for layers and soft waves to tone down harsh lines.

Avoid blunt haircuts, a super straight look, haircuts that are too short like a pixie, and straight bangs across the forehead, as these accentuate the angles and make your face look even more square.

Haircuts for diamond-shaped faces

Diamond-shaped faces have broad cheekbones but a narrower jawline and forehead, and like round faces, you can soften this shape with medium to long layered haircuts, worn with side parts and tousled waves.

If you prefer a shorter haircut, try a textured lob cut. Chin-length locks are ideal for diamond faces as they add volume at the bottom, while ponytails with a sleek back are also a great option. To add height on top and balance out the high cheekbones, you can use a bobby pin and slightly tease the front.

Haircuts for rectangle or triangle face

There are face shapes in between, such as the rectangle, which is an elongated square face, or the triangle, which combines square and diamond face shapes.

If you have a rectangular face, the goal is to soften your facial features with soft layered cuts, romantic waves or curls, rounded bangs, or curtain styles. However, having a hairstyle that is too long for the rectangular face shape should be avoided.

On the other hand, if your face shape is triangular, with a jaw that is wider than your forehead, consider layering cuts to soften your features. Make sure the layers end around the eyes or cheekbones. As for the ideal bangs for the triangle face shape, short side swept styles are the most recommended.