Have you ever noticed that some hairstyles just seem to fall flat? Or maybe you’ve seen a trending style and thought it would be perfect, but when you tried it, it just didn’t look quite right? It might be that those hairstyles weren’t suited for your face shape.
The fun thing about choosing a style is making it your own. We’re all unique, and your hairstyle choice can reflect something personal about you. One thing that’s different about all of us is our face shapes. While we don’t usually think about face shape, there actually are several different common shapes that your face could be. Since our hair often covers part of the face, many people don’t even know their face shape.
How do I determine my face shape?
This is where the well-trained student cosmetologists at Summit Salon Academy KC can help. Our students are trained in all aspects of style, and that includes using unique differences like face shape, skin tone, and other aspects to help you choose a style that will look your best.
Your Summit Salon Academy KC student cosmetologist will start by pulling back your hair (if it covers your face) and outlining your face. While cosmetologists can determine your face shape by sight, you may have heard about people drawing lines on a mirror to determine face shape. This can be an effective way to determine face shape, but it’s also important to verify with a professional cosmetologist (or one of our well-trained student cosmetologists at Summit Salon Academy KC) whether your assessment of your face shape is correct.
What are the different face shapes?
Faces come in many different standard shapes, like oval, square, triangular, round, and heart shaped. That doesn’t mean that someone’s face is perfectly square or perfectly round! Instead, it’s a general shape that distinguishes your features from others – and those features should definitely affect your choice in hairstyles.
So, what are the best styles for the different shapes?
Oval. Oval faces are round and slightly elongated to form an oval. This shape is fairly symmetrical, so lots of styles look good with an oval-shaped face. If you like short hair, go with a blunt bob for a trendy look. Layered styles are great if you like a mid-length to longer style. And if you want to add bangs, go with a side swipe for a great face-framing style.
Heart-shaped. A heart-shaped face is broader in the forehead area and tapers down to a narrower jaw. That makes for great bone structure for both hair and makeup styling, but some styles that accentuate the forehead might make the jaw appear too narrow. Long layers look great with this face shape, as do some fun, flipped up curls on the ends. If you’d rather use a short cut, pixie styles are a trendy look that can look great on a heart-shaped face.
Square. Features for square-shaped faces are strong from top to bottom, with the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline all prominent. The goal of your hairstyle for this face shape is to soften up those lines for a more balanced look. You can do this by parting your hair on the side, which will break up harsher lines and soften your look. If you’re looking for a short hairstyle, go with a layered bob for a great face-framing look.
Round. A round face is identified by more rounded cheekbones. The goal of your hairstyle for a round face shape is to add more structure and definition. Long hair styles work well when you start layers at your jawline to elongate the overall look for more balance. If short hair is more your style, choose a layered look or a curly style instead of a single-length bob for the best look.
Triangle. Triangle-shaped faces have a broader, more prominent jawline. That means you’ll want to accentuate the top half of your face for the best balance. A choppy pixie cut is a great choice for a short hairstyle, or try some long layers with texture around your eyes and cheekbones. Side-swept bangs also look great with this face shape.
Rectangular. Rectangular-shaped faces have prominent features like the square shape, but they’re elongated a bit. This is the perfect shape for a chin-length bob cut with some natural texture. Mid-length hairstyles with layers work well, but you might want to avoid very long hair because that will make the face look more elongated. Shags and curly styles work well for a great balanced look.
Let the well-trained student cosmetologists at Summit Salon Academy Kansas City help you choose the perfect hairstyle for your face shape! Make an appointment today and get a gorgeous new style you’ll love! All of our students are fully trained and supervised by licensed, professional cosmetologists to ensure the best hair are for you! You can find us at 815 West 23rd St S in Independence, MO or call us at (816) 252-4247 x301 to schedule your professional haircut and styling appointment. You can also find more information, book an appointment, and get reminders for your hair care services appointments right on your mobile device with our free mobile app. Download it today from iTunes and Google Play.