Choosing your hair style

Finding the Right Hair Style for Your Face Shape

The Oval face is considered to be the ideal shape by hairdressers. People with an oval face shape can wear most styles and lengths with it still looking "right". The oval face is mathematically 1.5 times as long as its width, with the forehead slightly wider than the jaw.

Round faces are characterised by a round chin. Because they lack the length of the oval face, the aim of a hair style should be to create the illusion of length in the face. This is achieved by creating height on top of the head, and minimising hair width -- keeping it flat at the sides and around the ears.

Rectangular faces have a square chin and hairline, and are long and narrow. The aim of a hair style should be to create width at the sides to disguise the narrowness. A fringe can also shorten the face, and a side part will help to disguise the squareness.

Pear shaped faces have a narrow forehead and is widest at the jawline, with a round chin. The objective of a hair style should be to give the illusion of an oval face by creating width at the forehead and temples.

Heart shaped faces are widest at the temples and narrowest at the jawline. Usually they have a small delicate chin. The objective of the haircut is to create an oval by creating width at the jawline.

Diamond shaped faces are widest at the cheekbones and narrow in the forehead and chin. By creating width at the forehead and minimising width at the cheekbones, the illusion of an oval face can be achieved.

Square faces have a square jawline and the hairline at the forehead also tends to be square-shaped. They are 'too short', so a hair style should seek to create height to elongate the face. Hair should be layered around the face to soften the jawline. Hair should wisp around face to reduce squareness

Considerations of your hair type and your style preferences are important when choosing a hair style. However, without doubt the most crucial determining factor in deciding whether or not a haircut will suit you is your face shape.

Determining your face shape is not as easy as it seems as many of us have incorrect preconceived notions about our face shapes. To guide you in determining your face shape use the Stellure face shape wizard . Then you need to consider which style will be most flattering for you.

To make this job easier use the Stellure Hair Styler. Have a play with the free trial , or better yet become a member and literally visualize a new you with a 3D model of your own face.

Reproduced with permission from http://www.stellure.com