by Marlin Bressi

Created on: November 18, 2010   Last Updated: November 15, 2011

When selecting a hair style, facial features should play a major part of your decision.  The ideal hair style is one that accentuates your best facial features while downplaying and minimizing features that may not be so great.  The ideal hair style should also create the optical illusion of an oval face shape.  In other words, if you have a round face, the goal is to find a style which lengthens it, and if you have a narrow face, the ideal hair style will provide extra width.

Here are a few common facial features that may influence your hair style decision:

1. Large forehead-  Bangs are the best way to make a larger forehead more proportionate.

2. Prominent nose- To downplay the length or width of a nose, choose a longer style with lots of layers, and a long side-swept bang.

3. Prominent chin-  Never choose a cut that is shorter than chin length.  Medium length styles are best, with lots of choppy layers.

4. Wide-set eyes-  Bangs can make eyes seem wider apart, so if you already have wide-set eyes, skip bangs altogether.

5. Receding chin- A chin-length angled bob will help create the illusion of a stronger jawline.  

6. Small features- If you have a small nose and mouth, your best bet is to go dramatically short.  A pixie cut is ideal for those with small features.

7. Sharp cheekbones-  If you have high, well-defined cheekbones, you should be able to pull off any style.  But if you really want to emphasize your cheekbones, choose a short to medium length style.

8. Large ears- The best way to disguise prominent ears is with texture, such as curls, waves, and volume.  Length helps, too.

9. Round face- The goal is to minimize width while accentuating length.  Straight-across bangs and center parts are absolutely forbidden.  Always go with a side part, and either no bangs or long side-swept bangs.

10. Long neck-  If you have a long neck the proper style will make you look like a Botticellian beauty; the wrong style, however, will make you look like a giraffe.  Look at the paintings of Sandro Botticelli and you'll see all types of long-necked women, and all of them have long flowing hair with loose gentle waves and cascading curls.

These are the ten most common facial features which should influence your hair styling decisions.  If your features aren't on the lest, then there's a good chance you can choose almost any style you'd like.

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