by Melissa Raissa

Created on: October 16, 2009   Last Updated: November 13, 2009

Our faces and features need to work together with our hairstyle in order to create a harmonious look. Every person has a unique combination of features that has to be taken into consideration in finding the right style for your hair. Determining the shape of our face and the overall characteristic of our facial features will help us in figuring which styles will work for our particular constitution.

Face Shape

Oval faces have the best facial proportion among all other shapes. It's hard to go wrong with an oval face making them the ideal profile which we try to achieve on other face shapes. Women with oval faces look great in pixie cuts or in pulled-back styles which emphasize their frame and features. Oval-shaped women can get away with a wide range of cuts from straight, short bobs to long, curly styles and everything in between.

Round faces are wide at the sides especially at the cheeks and jawline. A long hairstyle that covers the sides will bring more focus to the center of your face. Avoid one-length bobs which has a tendency of making your head look like a lollipop on top of your body. Long, layered cuts can minimize the volume along the fullest part of your face and transfer it to less imposing areas such as the neck. Layered cuts also contours the sides of your face giving them more depth.

Square shapes have a very distinguished jawline which can be easily camouflaged by long, straight hairstyles which cover the sides of your face. Wavy hairstyles can soften your features even further. Long layers and bangs are also great for contouring the face and are easier to maintain than curly or wavy styles.

Heart-shaped faces are wide at the forehead and cheekbones narrowing down to the chin. Hair styles with bangs that taper down at the ends create a wispy look which is also great for covering the forehead. Wavy hair that starts billowing at the forehead can go against the breadth of the forehead thus balancing it with the rest of your face.

Oblong faces have a slender frame, with the sides of their face being overpowered by the forehead and chin. The width of the hair that fall along the sides should measure no more than one-third of the width of your face to avoid narrowing the appearance of your head. Hairstyles with chunky bangs that cover the forehead and eyebrows are a very chic look for long faces. Side-swept bangs can achieve the same effect without looking too edgy.

Facial Features

Small or delicate features such as slight noses, lips or eyes will benefit

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