You may have noticed this before: you see a haircut on someone else, and it looks great, and then you try to get the same haircut, and it doesn’t seem to work. It’s not the barber. It’s not the haircut. It’s your face shape.
People tend to choose hairstyles based on trends or images. But your face shape determines how you wear a haircut. Do it right, and your features stand out. If not, even a flattering cut won’t look right.
Your haircut shouldn’t be a shot in the dark; it should be a balancing act to make your features look proportionate and defined.
Here’s how it works. You’ll know what works for you and what to avoid, and how best to communicate with your stylist.
When you get a haircut, you get a facial makeover. It might sharpen your jaw or elongate your face, or it might bring balance to your features.
It’s all about balance. If you have a round face, you need to add height. If your face is long, you need to add width. If your face is square, you can either sharpen it or reduce its squareness.
Even subtle tricks, such as increasing volume or decreasing volume on the sides, can alter the overall appearance of your face.
And here’s why. Research on facial aesthetics reveals that symmetrical faces are rated as attractive. And that’s what hairstyles do — they change your proportions not your face.
If you don’t know what to do, this is a safe choice. This style has volume on top, which can help balance out rounded faces and add general interest. The curls keep it from looking too “overstyled”.
The side part helps with asymmetry to provide definition. It’s one of the best styles if you think your face is too round or undefined. It’s also a fairly low-maintenance style.
This look is a crowd-pleaser. The close-cropped sides and volume on top create contrast, which elevates your appearance. It can work on most faces, but particularly on round and oval faces.
The pompadour is a more targeted look. It lifts and directs, helping elongate round faces. It does need some styling, but it looks neat and tidy.
The undercut is adaptable. The short sides and longer top mean you have flexibility on volume. It’s a good option if you want a modern look that can complement your facial features.
If you want longer hair, go for layers. It gives it dimension and keeps it from being dull. This is particularly beneficial if you have a longer face shape, as it adds volume.
Some styles don’t work not because they’re bad, but also because they don’t suit your face shape.
They remove all structure. It can make a round or flat face look bigger or even flatter.
Heavy, straight bangs can encase your face and make it look squatter or fatter than it is.
With no long or short, there’s no contrast. And without shape, there isn’t much of a hairstyle.
The Hairporium AI Stylist considers your face shape, hair type and lifestyle to recommend the right style for you. Free, no account needed.
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Good haircuts don’t maintain their shape. You have to work with it.
If you want to maintain volume, you need to dry your hair. Even if you use a blow-dryer, it alters the shape and stops the hair from flattening out. Air drying flattens the shape.
Products help, but we use too much. Thick products flatten and stiffen hair. Lighter products soften the shape a bit. Less product, more of the right one.
People sometimes forget directions. Sweeping your hair to one side or tucking it up in the front will alter the shape of your face, but not the cut itself.
The best way to combat this is to ask your barber to demonstrate how they style your hair before you leave. This will save you weeks of experimentation.
All haircuts look good for a period of time. They change shape as they grow out.
The shorter the style, the more maintenance it requires. Your hair gets lopsided as the sides grow out. If you haven’t been to the barber for a while, odds are the style won’t look as good on your face anymore.
Longer hairstyles are less prone to problems, but still require maintenance. If you let them get too long, they can become floppy and weigh down your face, particularly the sides.
There are really simple things you can do each day. Make sure to dry it thoroughly, apply a little product, and keep rearranging it. This makes it look natural rather than bedraggled.
And as time goes on, you will also get to know your hair — how it sits, what it likes, and what it doesn’t. This is when styling becomes easier.
Cutting your hair is only half the job. It will look right if you handle it properly.
If your hair is supposed to be full, dry it right. Even blow-drying for five minutes will give your hair more lift and prevent it from going floppy. Drying it naturally often makes the shape go soft and removes the structure your haircut is meant to provide.
Use products carefully. We tend to use too much product and make it heavier. The right product, used sparingly (a light one for more movement or a stronger one for more hold), helps hold the shape without stiffening.
Be careful how you style it; how you push your hair back, to the side, or forward can alter your facial shape. Making slight changes can change the effect.
When you have your haircut, ask your stylist how to style it. Then you’re not left guessing when you get home.
You need to maintain your haircut. Your haircut grows out, and that’s when it may stop complementing your face as it did before.
Styles such as fades and undercuts need to be clipped to keep the sides fresh. If you let the sides grow out, the entire style loses definition. Regular maintenance is important.
And longer hair is less work, but it still requires effort. If they get too long, they can get heavy and lose their structure.
It doesn’t take long to maintain your hair. Keeping a regular routine, drying your hair, using minimal product, and setting it in place helps keep everything looking sharp.
You’ll soon get to know your hair. And once you get to know your hair, styling it will be a breeze.
The Hairporium AI Stylist analyses your face shape, hair type, lifestyle and goals to recommend the right hairstyle for you. Free, no account needed.
Start your free hair consultation →
