Finding the Best Hairstyle for Your Face Shape

Your face shape means everything when picking a hairstyle. The shape of your face influences the way haircuts fall and there are certain cuts that flatter each face shape. If you’ve been asking yourself “What is the best haircut for my face shape?” we’re here to help you figure it out. Keep reading for the best styles for every face shape.

Face shape is broken down into three parts. The forehead and cheekbone width, the jawline and the face length. To identify your face shape, look at the widest part of your face: if it’s your forehead, you probably have an oval face. If it’s your cheekbones, your face shape is likely round. Next, look at the width of your jawline. If it comes to a point, you have a heart shaped face. A straight jawline means you have a square. Finally, check the length of your face. Oval faces are longer, where round ones are typically on the shorter side.

1. Diamond Face Shape: Diamond face shapes have a narrow forehead and a small chin. Your cheekbones will be the widest part of your face and sit high. 
2. Oval Face Shape: An oval face is longer than it is wide. You'll also have a round jawline and chin. Your forehead will be the widest part of your face, while your other features are round and soft.
3. Square Face Shape: With a square face shape, your forehead, cheekbones and jaw will be the same width, but your jaw will have sharp angles. Square face shapes have minimal curves.
4. Round Face Shape: Round face shapes are symmetrical. Your cheekbones aren't prominent. Your face is circular in appearance, without major angles or edges.
5. Heart Face Shape: A heart-shaped face has a larger, wider forehead. Your face gets more angled towards the chin. You have a slender jawline and your cheekbones and forehead are the widest parts of your face.

courtesy of Davines Hair Art Director Tom Connell

Shoulder-length layers are great for anyone that doesn’t want to let go of their long hair. Face framing layers accentuate cheekbones and balance a narrow forehead. If you’ve got a diamond-shaped face give this hair look a go.

A blunt chop draws attention away from the sharp feature of a diamond face shape. Add a side-swept bang or a deep side part — this is the perfect hairstyle if layers aren’t your thing.

Short hair looks amazing on a diamond face shape. A chin-length bob is the perfect hairstyle to soften the jawline, and it is flattering on an angular face. If your face is diamond-shaped, try a classic chin length bob.

courtesy of Davines Hair Art Director Tom Connell

If you have an oval face, you have a great face for a pixie. So if this super-short style is appealing to you, go for it! An oval face gives you the height and facial features that make this cut so flattering.

A blunt bob will never go out of style, and it suits any texture. The softness of the jawline and chin allows this cut to hug it an oval face, giving your strands a flattering swinging effect. For low-maintenance styling, stick to one-length and air dry with a leave-in hair milk.

Fringe in the form of curtain bangs look chic against an oval face, since a covered forehead and wider bang width adds balance up top. Use a large round brush to blow out your fringe until smooth and to get the ends to flick out.

Long layered, textured cuts on a square-shaped face give the appearance of length without weighing hair down. Start with a clarifying shampoo and follow with a hydrating conditioner. Finish by scrunching your strands with a sea salt spray for an easy wash and go style.

Chin-length layers work really well against a square face. Side-swept bangs will soften the jaw and longer lengths right below the collarbone allow for so many versatile hairstyles.

If you have a square face, the most flattering hairstyles soften any hard angles. If bangs are your jam, wispy fringe are the ones for you. Ask your stylist for a wispy, side-swept fringe that grazes your eyebrows.

Just like with long faces, if you have a round face the pixie cut also checks all the right boxes. Piecey fringe? Yep. Height at the back to elongate the face? Check. If you’re considering a pixie and have a round shaped-face, this is your cut. Style with a medium hold paste.

A layered bob works to complement the features of a round face. Symmetrical layers draw attention to the jawline, elongating the face — layers that hit just at or below the cheekbones work like contouring.

A side-swept bang is the perfect fringe for a round face shape. Asymmetry brings sharpness and contour to rounder faces. Consider a strong angular fringe swept to one side, drawing the eye down and slimming your face. 

Minimal layers give hair dimension against a round face, while textured ends that fall on the shoulders, draw attention to jawline. A middle part also helps elongate a face that’s round. A choppy cut like this looks great on relaxed or natural hair.

A textured lob with height in the crown elongates a round face, while a side part helps to complement your shape. For this look, tease hair only slightly and use a product that will enhance dimension. Finish with hairspray to lock in the look.

If you have a heart-shaped face, flatter your features with long waves or curly long cuts. These hairstyles add fullness around the jawline making them ideal so grab your curly hair products and rock those waves.

A deep side part breaks up a pointy chin line if you have a heart-shaped face. Soften your cheekbones with side-parted styles that brush softly against your face.

While there are several haircuts that look good on different face shapes, if you’re wondering what hairstyles suit all face shapes, there’s only one. That’s the bob. It’s easily customized to any length and texture, making it flattering on all shapes. No matter what your face shape, there are more than a few hairstyles to make you look and feel your best.

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor

Photos by @goldandglowco / header image courtesy of Davines Hair Art Director Tom Connell