Face Shapes and Hairstyles

In keeping with the SheKnows TV Chat Pack episode about hairstyles and face shapes, I'm going to get into a little more depth about face shapes and hairstyles.

Here are 6 face shapes and the best hairstyles for them as well as which ones to avoid.


Round
If you have a round face, the goal is to create less volume around the face, thereby minimizing the roundness. Try cuts that fall just below the chin. Soft, graduated layers are ideal because they make the face look slimmer while they remove the bulk and weight from the sides. Wispy tapered ends and side swept bangs create a lovely illusion, and modify the roundness.
Avoid one length blunt cuts, volume thru the middle, and short curly hairstyles. They will all maximize a round look.
Celebs with round face shape include Christina Ricci, Kirsten Dunst and Drew Barrymore

Square
If you have a square shaped face you want to play down the strong angular jaw. Long layers starting at the jawline and working their way thru the length, creating movement are lovely on a square face , as are side swept bangs. Curls are fabulous too.
Avoid one length bobs, blunt cut bangs, and any blunt cuts that end at the jawline.

Celebs with square shaped faces includethe lovely Sandy B, Demi Moore and Kristin Scott Thomas.

Oval

Oval is the most versatile shape, and can pull off pretty much any look.

Avoid short layers with height at the crown as this will elongate the face too much. If the hair is curly avoid a blunt cut as this can give a pyramid look. Curly hair on an oval face is best when shoulder length or longer, to weigh it down. Avoid short curly hair if you have an oval face shape.

Celebs Jennifer Aniston, Cindy Crawford, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz

Heart

A heart shaped face is wider at the temple and narrower at the chin. Heart shaped faces look completely gorgeous with cuts that are chin length or longer, carry weight in the nape to balance out the narrow chin, they are lovely with chin length bobs, side parts, swept forward layers around the upper face, wispy bangs. Be sure to emphasize those beautiful cheekbones!

Avoid short full styles that emphasize the upper face, too much height at the crown, and severe slicked back looks. (unless you are Victoria Beckham, in which case by merely breathing you are close to perfection and nothing else matters).

Celebs include Posh, Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Emmanuelle Beart

Rectangle

Rectangular face shapes need to add width but not height or length. Brow skimming bangs, chin length bobs, curls and waves are all fabulous as they add the illusion of width and soften the angles of the face. Long layers with pieces hitting the nose, chin and collarbone are totally lovely. Keeping length in the back and slightly shorter sides creates a beautiful, soft frame to the face.

Avoid too much height at the crown or long straight looks as they will just lengthen the face too much.

Celebs include Gwyneth Paltrow, Janet Jackson and Gabrielle Reece

1. Diamond

This is perhaps the most exquisite face shape of them all. Virtually everything looks divine on a diamond shaped face. Sometimes a little extra weight at the nape can balance out  a chin that's very narrow, but in general, you're perfect anyway.

Just think Linda Evangelista. Perfect.