- Description
- Product Reviews
- Face Shape and hairstyle guide
Choosing a perfect hairstyle for your face shape
Before you can pick out the perfect hairstyle for your lace wig, you must first understand which of the most common face shapes you are. Our face shape and hairstyle guide below might help.
Look at a photo of yourself that has the hair off your face and find the best match from the following descriptions and pictures. It's important to remember that even though your face may not be an exact match of any single shape, it will resemble one shape over all.
Oval Face Shape
.jpg)
- Curvilinear shape.
- Length is equal to one and a half times width.
- The forehead and jaw are the same width.
Hairstyles to Try
- Any shape and style can be worn, whether it's short, long, layered or bobbed.
- The only thing to consider with an oval face shape is what part of your face you want to accentuate. This is where you can get creative with bangs or how you style your hair everyday
Hairstyles to Avoid
- The main thing to consider is to not choose hairstyles that hang in your face or eyes.
- Or hairstyles that just cover over your beautiful face shape.
The Right Short Hairstyle
This hairstyle has some height on top and features soft wispy bangs that accentuate and draw attention to the eye region. This style works well and has no negative effect on the length or width of the models face shape. Alternatively, no height or bangs would also look just as good.
The Wrong Short Hairstyle
This face covering look creates the illusion of squareness on the face due to the heavy straight across bangs. The small amount of height on top does create a somewhat round shape but the fact that the hair is falling onto the face is where the eye focuses and draws its conclusion of squareness. Our model has lost her great oval shape with too much hair on her face.
The Right Medium Hairstyle
This chin length bob cut with side-swept bangs sits nicely on the models oval shape face. Although the hairstyle itself has a rounder shape, the chin area on the models face brings the style back in proportion, balancing it out rather nicely. That is the benefit of having an oval face shape!
The Wrong Medium Hairstyle
This style has too much hair suffocating and covering up what is normally the ideal shape to work with. The hairstyle takes over to become the attention getter with its square shape being the main attraction. Hairstyles should complement face shapes (the frame around the picture), not cover them up.
The Right Long Hairstyle
This is a simple and soft wavy look which falls below the shoulders with a side part and no bangs. This hairstyle appears oval in shape mainly due to the absence of bangs which could be added without any real shape dilemmas. To suit heavy bangs, the side part could move to the middle, creating a slimmer shape, or height could be teased into the crown area.
The Wrong Long Hairstyle
From a face shape suitability perspective, this hairstyle does nothing to show off the models great oval face shape. The feathered long layers don't work and the bangs shorten the overall shape of the face making it appear much shorter than it really is.
Round Face Shape
.jpg)
- Circular shaped.
- Length is approximately equal to width.
Hairstyles to Try
- Hairstyles with height and fullness at the crown will give the illusion of a narrower face shape, particularly those short in length.
- Longer hairstyles or ones that are kept close to the cheeks with no width will look better.
- Middle parts are great for creating the illusion of narrow length.
- No bangs are the ideal as the focus point becomes the bridge of the nose, creating a more oval shape.
- If bangs are used they should be swept across, or in the case of solid bangs, only where there is substantial height on the top.
- Short hairstyles are great and do not suffocate small round faces.
Hairstyles to Avoid
- Hairstyles that add volume through the sides such as chin length bob cuts, straight or kicking out in design.
- Side parts and heavy straight across bangs create a wider shorter shape and therefore should be avoided at all costs on hairstyles without any height.
If you like any of the following hairstyles, click on each image for larger views, how to style steps and a try on link for the virtual hairstyle.
The Right Short Hairstyle
This hairstyle adds height and makes our round models face appear longer than it actually is. People with round faces need to add height not width, which is exactly what this hairstyle does.
The Wrong Short Hairstyle
This hairstyle makes our round models face appear even rounder and wider. The bangs make the face shorter while the sides that kick out once again promote width. This is a good example of what not to wear.
The Right Medium Hairstyle
This hairstyle gives the appearance of an oval shape. The sides help slim the face down, while no bangs show off more forehead and therefore a longer shape. The off centre part helps divide the face evenly making it also appear longer rather than wider. It's a nice look!
The Wrong Medium Hairstyle
This example shows how adding width rather than length to round face shapes is disastrous. The bangs shorten the face while the hair that kicks out only accentuates width and roundness. This is a nice hairstyle but is definitely not good for round face shapes.
The Right Long Hairstyle
This soft layered look is fabulous for our models round face shape. The middle part helps divide her face into two longer portions while the absence of bangs doesn't compromise any vertical length. Straight hair would actually be more suitable and slimmer in design but this example shows a good indication of how shape is everything in hairstyle design.
The Wrong Long Hairstyle
This hairstyle shows how a round hairstyle and a round face really don't complement each other. Although having this much volume at the crown can sometimes be a good thing, this style adds width to the sides which makes the face appear larger and incredibly round. The bangs are a nice touch but cover the face up too much. It is a lovely hairstyle but it is just not suited to a round face shape.
Square Face Shape
.jpg)
- Strong and broad forehead.
- Angular jaw.
Hairstyles to Try
- Wispy forward falling hair onto your face will soften your jaw line.
- Wearing bangs swept over to one side will create diagonal movement to minimize square shapes.
- Short to medium length hair will also suit you, especially if the style is rounded in shape or has wispy ends.
- Styles with height at the crown will also work in your favor.
Hairstyles to Avoid
- Avoid blunt bobs, especially sitting at chin length with straight heavy bangs as this will accentuate your jaw line and squareness.
- Middle parts with solid bangs can also work against you.
If you like any of the following hairstyles, click on each image for larger views, how to style steps and a try on link for the virtual hairstyle.
The Right Short Hairstyle
This short concave bob is a great looking hairstyle for a square face shape. The sides falling forward soften the jaw line, while the diagonal bangs also are ideal for minimizing squareness. The hairstyle has a rounded appearance making it the right choice for framing square face shapes. Other short styles that will work are looks with soft wispy side parted swept across bangs in wavy or curly textures.
The Wrong Short Hairstyle
This short cut illustrates really well what to avoid on square face shapes. Firstly, the top area has a very square shape about it. Secondly, the short tapered sides accentuate the squareness of the jaw line, and the square hairline only adds to what is doomed from the very start. Definitely the wrong cut for square face shapes.
The Right Medium Hairstyle
This hairstyle has all the right ingredients to suit and compliment square faces. The sides are soft and wispy, falling onto the jaw line hiding squareness, and the side swept bangs create a diagonal illusion that loses any focus on squareness. The graduated sides and back angle up creating a whole new shape to frame the face. Other variations in different textures will also work keeping to this theme.
The Wrong Medium Hairstyle
If a picture tells a thousand words, what does this say to you? Terrible in capital letters! The shape of the cut makes a square face shape look even squarer. The straight across bangs shorten the length of the face, while the chin length sides create width and draw attention to the jaw area. This shape should be avoided.
The Right Long Hairstyle
This long wavy hairstyle with side-swept bangs is just right for square faces. The waves are open ended and have curved lines that are softer to the eye, and the across bangs also help to change the perception of shape to the eye making it appear rounder rather than square. Other good long looks include wispy face framing layers in straight, wavy or curly textures.
The Wrong Long Hairstyle
This hairstyle looks very heavy and solid all over making it a bad choice for square face shapes. The heavy bangs create a very square shape alone, but once they are added to the straight sides and back, the result is very square and angular. The sides need layers, while the bangs need to be less heavy and more across. This is a good example of the wrong cut for the wrong face shape.
Heart Face Shape
.jpg)
- Wide at the forehead and cheekbones.
- Narrow at the jawline.
Hairstyles to Try
- Any textured chin-length hairstyles will suit best.
- If bangs are wanted make sure that they are side-swept bangs not straight across as blunt cut bangs will only make your face shape shorter and wider.
- Shoulder length cuts with wispy layers that kick out will also work very well.
- Height on top will work but only if they belong to shoulder length or longer hairstyles.
Hairstyles to Avoid
- Short, full hairstyles like slicked back looks that emphasize your upper face.
- Short styles with heavy straight across bangs that create an upside down triangular shape.
If you like any of the following hairstyles, click on each image for larger views, how to style steps and a try on link for the virtual hairstyle.
The Right Short Hairstyle
This is a great short hairstyle that really suits our models heart face shape. The height achieved on top adds needed length that balances out what is known as a short and mostly wide face shape. The absence of bangs also gives the illusion of more face and more height. It's simple but it is what is needed.
The Wrong Short Hairstyle
Definitely the wrong hairstyle for heart face shapes. This cut positions hair where it just isn't needed. The heavy bangs make our models face appear shorter and wider than it already is. Next, the long wispy sides promote width, which is once again the opposite of what heart face shapes require for balance. This shape in any texture will not work and therefore must be avoided.
The Right Medium Hairstyle
This beauty has everything that's needed to make it the perfect hairstyle for a heart face shape. The top area has long heavy bangs swept to the side that shows off the forehead. This creates needed vertical length. The sides and back are layered and then kicked out through styling to compensate for the narrow chin that are customary with heart faces. A similar shape in other textures will work just as well.
The Wrong Medium Hairstyle
This look is too square and horizontally short to suit our models heart face shape. The solid across bangs only exaggerate the box like shape that makes up this hairstyle. The bangs need removing and the sides layering for any suitability. This is a good example of what not to try if you have a heart face shape.
The Right Long Hairstyle
This soft forward falling hairstyle has all of the right attributes for heart face shapes. The middle part helps divide the face into two long shapes which creates the illusion of vertical length. The layers through the sides frame the chin area and below, adding hair where it's needed. Waves and curls in the same shape will work very well and actually appear softer.
The Wrong Long Hairstyle
This wavy look shows what not to try if you have a heart face shape. Firstly, the heavy bangs shorten the length of the face making it look wider than it already is. Secondly, the width achieved through the layers and waves once again adds width to the entire look. The result is a short, wide, fat, squashed look. Now you know what to avoid!
Triangular Face Shape
.jpg)
- Forehead and cheekbones are narrow.
- Jawline is wide.
Hairstyles to Try
- Layered hairstyles will help balance and soften your prominent jaw line.
- Styles with layers that taper at the jaw line can also be flattering.
Hairstyles to Avoid
- Shorter is generally better than longer.
- Avoid any hairstyle which will draw too much attention to your chin area such as straight solid bob cuts.
If you like any of the following hairstyles, click on each image for larger views, how to style steps and a try on link for the virtual hairstyle.
The Right Short Hairstyle
This short layered hairstyle is perfect in how it puts hair exactly where it's needed to make our models triangular face shape look balanced and proportional. The heavy top layers allow hair to be rounder and fuller above the ears, while no bangs make the face shape appear longer, bringing attention to the forehead and away from the jaw line.
The Wrong Short Hairstyle
This short hairstyle is the perfect example of what doesn't suit triangular faces. For a start, the bangs are heavy forward falling and in the eyes. This makes the overall shape of the face appear to be shorter and wider. Worse still, due to the sides being layered in short, the jaw area actually appears larger and wider than it really is. The geometry is all wrong as our image shows very well.
The Right Medium Hairstyle
This is a very nice hairstyle shape which suits our models triangular face shape to a tee. The sides fall softly onto and away from the jaw line creating cover in the right places, and the side swept bangs work well to create diagonal direction drawing attention to the eyes. The zig zag part creates some height and builds length into the look, while an all over rounded shape frames the face nicely.
The Wrong Medium Hairstyle
Too wide, too square! This hairstyle is the worst possible shape for triangular faces. The sides only make the jaw area, which is already large naturally, look even wider and bigger. The heavy bangs make the face shape appear even shorter and wider which leads the eye to the sides and width once more! The hairstyle follows the actual shape of a triangular face shape instead of compensating and adjusting it.
The Right Long Hairstyle
This long soft wavy hairstyle is a nice look and a great example of how to design a hairstyle that will suit triangular face shapes. The soft waves have a naturally soft appearance that falls nicely due to the layering. The middle part also helps to top divide the face into two long narrow portions to create the illusion of length. This shape will work in straight and curly textures.
The Wrong Long Hairstyle
Another good example of the wrong hairstyle on the wrong face shape! Triangular faces are pear shape and are narrowest at the top forehead region and widest at the jaw line chin area. This hairstyle follows that same shape. This style kicks out at the bottom and sides and only draws further attention to the jaw region, while the heavy bangs, although to the side, still make the face look shorter and wider.
Diamond Face Shape
- Forehead and jawline are narrow.
- Cheekbones are wide and high.
Hairstyles to Try
- Hairstyles that add width at the chin area such as chin length bob cuts or shoulder length wispy kicked out looks.
- Styles that tuck in behind the ears also work well to show off a wonderful cheek bone structure.
- Hairstyles with straight across bangs will also work to shorten long faces, as will side parts.
Hairstyles to Avoid
- Try and avoid short hairstyles with height on top, particularly ones without bangs.
- Avoid styles that leave no hair on the neck area or the chin area.
- Middle parts will add length so they should also be avoided.
If you like any of the following hairstyles, click on each image for larger views, how to style steps and a try on link for the virtual hairstyle.
The Right Short Hairstyle
Here our model shows a good example of what hairstyle suits diamond face shapes. The bangs help to shorten the length of our models face which is what is needed for diamond faces. The side part helps make the face appear wider by creating the illusion of one larger shape which the eye focuses on. The sides are soft and wispy and curve into a round shape. Variations of this hairstyle will work in any other texture.
The Wrong Short Hairstyle
This short hairstyle is all wrong for diamond face shapes. The height created on top (particularly in a middle pointed way) only emphasizes a diamond shape. The short bangs also only add to the illusion of height. What is needed is width rather than height. This hairstyle shows what not to have!
The Right Medium Hairstyle
This is a very nice cut which adds hair in all the right places and compliments diamond face shapes. The bangs help make the face and chin area appear less long while the wispy hair to the shoulders creates a squarer shape, again creating width not length. This hairstyle will work on all textures and will look great with layers as they will make the appearance of the style even softer.