Find the Best Haircut for Your Face Shape
Whether your face is oval, round, or square, use these pro pointers to find your most flattering style.
Salma Hayek
Photo Credit: Jim Spellman/Wire Image
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Tip: To determine your true shape, pull your hair off your forehead with one hand, look into a mirror and trace the outline of your face on the glass with lipstick.
If Your Face Is Square
"For square shapes, it's all about softening the edges," says Charles Worthington of Charles Worthington Salons in London and New York City. He recommends avoiding "sharp" cuts, like angled bobs or styles with blunt-cut bangs, which can emphasize an already-broad forehead and chin.
Your best cut: Long or short? It's up to you. "Pretty much any length will work, as long as you add shorter pieces to frame the face," says Kat, a stylist for Bumble and Bumble in New York City. To accomplish this, ask your stylist for a cut that incorporates graduated layers, razored ends or long, piece-y bangs to soften the strong lines of your jaw. If your hair is naturally curly, play up your waves à la Salma Hayek (above). The loose ringlets help to balance out your face's boxiness.
Parting words: Your best bet is to experiment with your part to find its most flattering location. A center part looks great paired with angle-softening curls. Or, try one that's slightly off-center to blur the bold edges of a square face.
