Saturday, December 15, 2007

The Hairstyle to Best Suit your Face Shape

Hair stylesBeside fashionable clothes and accessories, a great hairstyle is really what tops women's style list. Hairstyles have always been extremely important in determining the trends of the season and many times even in defining a decade. It is very important to the overall look to get the perfect hairstyle and in the entertainment business, a hairstyle can literally make or break a Celebrity's image. Hairdressing has become a multi-billion dollar industry and the average bill in a hairsalon hits $100, and the costs keep on rising. Though there are hundreds of women's hairstyles out there, not all of them are meant for every face shape. Thinking of getting a sleek new Sienna Miller hairstyle? If your face is oblong like Sarah Jessica Parker's you might want to reconsider. In fact, if choosing wrong, could make the difference between a flattering new hairstyle and a hair disaster. A flattering hairstyle on a heart-shaped face may not flatter a woman with an oblong or square-shaped face. A perfect oval may be able to pull off many different hairstyles and lengths, but a soft-featured, round face looks most pleasing in longer hair.
Finding out what face shape you have can be confusing. The key to choosing a hairstyle (not only fashionable but also flattering), is in knowing the contours of your face and what complements it. Find out how to pick the best suiting women's hairstyles:
There are six different face shapes in general: the heart, diamond, round, oval, square and oblong. Some people, however, have a combination of shapes; for example, a person may have an oval forehead and central area (cheekbones), but a square jaw line. A good way to determine the face shape is to go to the mirror and (with all the hair pulled back), trace the image of the face with a lipstick.

Oval face shapeTo find out if the face shape is oval measure it. If it is one and a half times longer than it is wide, it's an oval face. Examples of women's hairstyles that would look good are: Paris Hilton's short bob or the slightly layered longer hair of Eva Longoria. Many consider the oval face shape ideal because almost any hair style and length will look flattering. The oval face is the most versatile face. You can pull off almost any look -- short, long, straight or wavy. No matter the length of the cut, it will look best with layers near the cheekbones, lips or chin -- basically whatever feature you want to highlight. Avoid short layers: they add height on top of the head which will make the face appear longer. If the hair is thick or curly, avoid a blunt cut. You'll look like a pyramid.

Celebrities who also have an Oval face shape: Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Aniston, Mariah Carey, jewel, Cindy Crawford, Heather Locklear, Sharon Stone, Uma Thurman, Julia Roberts, Courtney Cox Arquette, Elle MacPherson, Tyra Banks



Heart face shapeHeart shapes are marked by wider foreheads and a pointed chin. The pointy chin tends to be the focal point of the face. Draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones instead with side-swept bangs (like Reese Witherspoon), brow-grazing fringe, a strong part and hair which falls at or below the jaw line. Have short hair? Keep top layers soft and long. Long hair? Go for long layers that graze the cheekbones. A beautiful heart-shaped face, needs softness at the temples and fullness just below the ear level to suit heart shape the best. Avoid a center parting, as it tends to emphasize the pointed chin, instead part the hair on one side or wear it without a parting. If the hair is short, turn the ends inwards. The most flattering styles on a heart face shape include medium to short lengths and wispy bangs. Look for women's hairstyles like a chin length bob or a longer style with layers, avoid anything with a lot of height on top (Jennifer Love Hewitt's long hair). Think Nicole Richie's bob. Avoid short, blunt-cut bangs and harsh, choppy layers.

Celebrities who also have a Heart face shape: Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lopez, Rachel Bilson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashley Judd, Claudia Schiffer, Emmanuaell Beart, Juliette Binoche, Lisa Kudrow, Lucy Lawless, Naomi Campbell.

Square face shapePeople with square face shapes have a square hairline and strong jaw line. The face is as wide as it is long but with a definite square shape at the jaw. The main goal on a square face shape, is to play down the strong, angular jaw. Texture, in the form of curls or choppy ends, does it brilliantly.
You can also get away with short, spiky hairstyles and long, sleek styles with layers which start at the jaw-line and continue downward. Fringes and curls flicked forward help to soften ‘corners’ of the square face. Cut the hair short at the temples. Avoid symmetry, short crops or anything geometric. Make sure the hair has body, if necessary go in for a soft perm. Avoid one-length bobs (especially chin-length) and blunt-cut bangs. These hairstyles will make the face look even more square. Look for women's hairstyles that give softness by wisps or layers around the face. Off-centre parts are great as well. The layered, medium length of Sandra Bullocks hair is a great example. Curls also, soften the edges of the face.

Celebrities who also have a Square face shape: Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Angelina Jolie, Isabella Rosellini, Rosario Dawson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Holly Marie Combs, Sandra Bullock.

The diamond face shape is defined by wide cheek bones with the forehead being both narrower than the cheeks and of equal width to each other. Luckily, the diamond face shape lends itself to most women's hairstyles. The face shape is balanced and dramatic. Try a variety of styles. Almost every style works with a diamond face (as long as it is a true diamond). Go for shorter hairstyles, however if you are a dramatic diamond shape, leave weight in the back nape area like a heart shaped face. This style will achieve more balance between the dramatic cheekbones and the more delicate chin line. Do just about everything, but try not too wear to much hair on the face, thereby hiding your great features. Think the many hairstyles of Cameron Diaz.

Celebrities who also have a Diamond face shape: Katherine Hepburn, Linda Evangelista, Sophia Loren.




Oblong face shapeSarah Jessica Parker is a perfect example of an oblong face shape. These faces are longer than they are wide. Short to medium lengths hairstyles are best for an oblong face shape, especially ones with body on the sides to lend width. Bangs can also help shorten the appearance of the face. The perfect hairstyle for an oblong face shape is one that doesn't drag down the face, yet adds width. Women's hairstyles for an oblong face shape are Victoria Beckham's bob with lots of volume. Bangs swept over the forehead help make the face look more oval, and people with an oblong face shape should avoid too-short or too-long styles. Beautiful oblong faces can be made to look less long with fringes, soft half-fringes or a chin-length cut which is fuller at the bottom, add width. Anything but a long straight bob, which will make you appear even more long faced and pulls down the whole appearance. Stay away from extremely long or short cuts. These elongate the face. Long hair looks best with a few layers cut in, especially around the face. Consider a v-shaped hairstyle, where the length is mainly in the back, while the sides and front of the hair appear shorter.

Celebrities who also have an Oblong face shape: Ashlee Simpson, Giselle Bundchen, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kirstie Alley, Janet Jackson, Gabrielle Reece, Niki Taylor, Stephanie Seymour.

Round face shapeRound faces are wide across the cheekbone area and round at the chin.
The face is round if, when measured, it is as wide as it is long. The main goal is to create less volume around the face. You also want to minimize the appearance of roundness. Try cuts that fall just below the chin. Soft, graduated layers are a great bet because they make the face appear slimmer and tend to remove bulk and weight from the sides. Consider wispy and tapered ends. These de-emphasize the roundness of the face. Bangs are flattering, but keep them long or side-swept. Since you have a nice round face, make sure the hair is cut onto the cheeks to shade them and narrow down the sides. A shoulder length cut will help make the face look longer and slimmer. Avoid fringes and curls. A soft feathery look is the most flattering. Straight long hair gives a stunning effect! Hairstyles to avoid are bobs ending at the chin and anything wisping onto the face as both will only accentuate the roundness. Curly, short hair is also a no-no, it will only emphasize the face roundness. Instead opt for longer styles to give the appearance of a longer face. Good women's hairstyles for round faces are any styles giving height on the top, or layered longer styles like Kate Winslet's. Hair that falls to the shoulders is ideal as it helps to create a longer, less round look. "Feathered" and longer layers are also flattering.

Celebrities who also have a Round face shape: Fergie, Kate Bosworth, Oprah Winfrey, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ingrid Bergman, Roseanne Barr, Natalie Merchant, Drew Barrymore, Christina Ricci, Charlotte Church.

Occasionally, a famous person's signature hairstyle reaches the iconic level and the masses rush out to copy it. So what happens when everyone wants the cut of the moment regardless of their particular face shape? The hairdressers will give them and you the cut, but remember to ask for some tweaking according to your face shape. Overall when you opt for a haircut that compements your face shape you will not only look stylish and well put together, it might also help you look thinner and more confident... and it is faster than any diet!

Be fabulous,

Ella

Personal beauty, fashion trends, style, glamour like celebrities

http://www.beautybyella.com/

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5 comments:

Maus said...

Hi, great article! What shaped face would you say I have?

http://a998.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/88/l_11e37825b5b3b750047d9bf91915dddd.jpg

Thanks

beautybyella said...

Hi Maus,
the link doesn't work...try posting it again

:) Ella

beautybyella said...

Hi Maus...got it to work!...it's definitely a squared shape, since you have a small-straight forehead (if it was larger it would have looked more diamond).
Good luck

;) Ella

Unknown said...

i wanna know which hair style wil suit me nd what shape do i have??
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85627404@N06/

Unknown said...

I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good. Hairdresser St Kilda