Someone reading my hairstyle posts suggested that I write an article to show how hairstyles should match with the face/head shapes. I thought that’s a great idea and here you are, my breakdown of different face shapes and what you should generally keep in mind. Just because a haircut looks good on your friend or on a celebrity doesn’t mean it will necessarily look as good on you!

The first step is to determine your face shape. While your hair stylist can help you determine face shape and create a hairstyle that compliments your shape and features, do look at yourself in the mirror and use the guidelines below to help you determine it on your own so you can have some ideas when talking to your hairstylist. The diagram below illustrates the 7 common shapes and most people will fall into one of the shapes (Tip: sometimes it helps to ask a friend to give you an objective assessment. You know how sometimes we can be blinded by our own judgement)

An Oval Face:

Slightly wider at the forehead, and features a rounded chins, lightly rounded jaw, no unusual characteristics (e.g. large mouth, nose or eyes), face shape resembles the shape of an egg.

The oval face is considered to be the ideal face shape, in that just about every style looks good on an oval face. That said, attention should be paid to other prominent features such as the nose and position of the eyes and ears. If you fall into the Oval category, consider yourself lucky as almost any style will look good on you.

Actors with oval face shapes include Jude Law and TOP from Big Bang.

A Round Face:

The round face is shorter than the oval, with forehead, cheek bones, and jaw all of similar width.

The key here is to provide balance. Stay away from full or round hairstyles as they will make the face appear more round. Keep the sides leaner and style the hair a bit higher at the top and front to provide balance. An off-center part or some waves at eye level will help minimize roundness. Very short styles that follow the curve of the head (such as a butch, burr, or a short crew cut) will emphasize roundness and should be avoided.

Examples of a male celebrities with a round faces are Elijah Wood and Kim Bum

A Square Face:

The square face has an angular squarish jawbone and chin, almost as wide as long, straight sides, jaw and cheekbones the same width.

Similar to the round face, keep the sides leaner and short to slenderize the face. , while the hair on top of the head should be reasonably full, possibly with short bangs that blend at the temples. A textured style with layers can look good on a square face. Keep the hair clean around the ears and make sure the style mirrors the square shape of the face - this will help make the square face shape pop.

Think of Andy Lau and David Beckham

 

A Long Face:

Characterized by face longer than it is wide, often rounded jawline, cheekbones and jaw the same width.

A style which is longer on the sides and short on top will make the face appear less long and provide better balance. Go with a cut that has some layers and is worn so the front hairline is disguised. A neatly groomed beard can help provide additional balance. Don’t allow the facial hair to become too long as this will lengthen the face. Glasses can also provide balance by dividing the face and drawing attention away from the length of the face.

Eminem and Godfrey Gao are celebrities with long face.

 

A Triangular Face:

A wide cheekbones and forehead, pointed chin.

To balance out a triangular face shape, choose a style that will narrow your forehead area and add the illusion of width to the chin. An offset part with bangs swept to the side and a beard can help accomplish this.

Rain and Ryan Gosling have good examples of triangular shaped faces.

 

 

A Diamond Face:

Cheekbones are widest part of the face, forehead and jawline are narrow, long pointed jawline.

For the diamond face shape, the goal is to minimize wider cheekbones and balance out a narrow chin and forehead. To do this, opt for a style with bangs to minimize the forehead. Longer shag hairstyles also work well for the diamond face.

Famous guys with diamond shaped faces include Dane Cook and Taecyeon from 2PM.

 

Heart-shaped Face:

The heart-shaped face is widest across the cheek bones and the eyes, with a broad forehead. The shape narrows at the jawline and comes to a pointed chin.

Most styles will look good on the heart-shaped face, though fullness on the sides of the head should be avoided, as that is the broadest point of the face.

Celebrities examples: Won Bin and Gong Yoo

While most people fall into one of the shape categories above, others will need a bit more tweaking. Here are a few simple guidelines:

  • If you’re wider at the bottom (pear shaped), wear hair fuller at the temples to provide balance to the thinnier top.
  • If you’re wider at the cheeks (diamond shape), go with leaner style — one that is more narrow at the cheeks — and add some fullness at the crown if needed.
  • If you have a pointed chin, bangs swept to the side just above the brow can take the focus off the chin. A neatly trimmed beard can also provide balance.

Of course, these are only guidelines. In addition to face shape, there are other factors such as your height, size and position of the ears and nose, and the size of the forehead for maintaining a great looking hairstyle. We will leave that for the next article. Ciao!