Get the Look
The beauty experts at Motions know all about what makes a hairstyle work for you - or not. The most important factors: hair type and facial shape. Most of us know if our hair is soft and fine or thick and coarse. But when it comes to identifying our facial shape, it's not always easy or obvious. Here's a quick way to find out.
Look in the mirror and pull or slick all your hair straight back. Trace the outline of your face on the mirror with lipstick (or similar washable product). Is the shape round or elongated, wider on top or wider on the bottom? Step back and compare what you see to the following face-shape descriptions.
Now, check out the cuts that are right for you and what to avoid. Bangs, layers, volume, weight, length and even haircolor can all be used to accentuate your cheekbones and eyes, create a pleasing balance or even minimize imperfections. Be sure to discuss all these elements with your professional stylist.
Oblong Faces
Square Faces
Heart-Shaped Faces
Pear-Shaped Faces
Round Faces
Oval Faces
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An OBLONG FACE looks like an elongated oval. If this is your face shape, your chin might appear long or slightly out of proportion with your forehead or your face might look thin. The illusion of width fixes this. Look for a chin-to-shoulder length cut with fullness at the sides.
Best Bets: Chin-length cuts and bobs create the illusion of more width, so they look great on women who have oblong faces. If your chin is pointed, bobs that are on the short side draw the eye upward, minimizing it. However, both extremely long and extremely short cuts will emphasize an elongated face. If you prefer shorter hair, opt for wedges or cuts with full, blunt-cut bangs. For longer looks, break up the length with layers, placed at eye or cheekbone level. A chin-to-shoulder length cut with fullness at the sides is ideal. Natural curl and wave are your allies because they both can be used to create the illusion of width.
Musts to Avoid: Styles with lots of volume on top; they'll elongate your face even further. Also skip center parts and long, straight styles with no bangs. |
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The SQUARE FACE is wider than it is long and often features a broad forehead and a prominent, squared jaw line. With this facial shape, the idea is to create a slimming effect through the illusion of more length and less width.
Best Bets: Try a cut that's longer than chin length. Also, opt for styles that are full, not flat, on top. Face-framing layers always soften the features of this strong facial shape, and cuts that feature angled sides are ideal. For hair past shoulder-length, add soft layers. For shorter hair, try a graduated bob, add height at the crown and keep the shape on the soft, rounded side. Sides that move inward cover some width and create an elongating effect, too, so if you wear your hair curly, use layers to minimize volume at the side. If you love updos, let a few curls or wisps fall onto your face.
Musts to Avoid: Straight, flat bangs and bobs that fall right to the jaw line. |
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The HEART-SHAPED FACE is a variation of the square face in that it is wider at the forehead, rather than the jaw line. The jaw is a bit narrow and the chin can be small or even pointed. The goals: To diminish your forehead's width and enhance your jaw line.
Best Bets: If this describes your face, opt for shoulder-length cuts with layers near the jaw line, or a shorter flip, which adds width right at the jaw. Wear your hair about shoulder length and add fullness from the chin down with soft layers. If you like short hair, draw attention to eyes and cheekbones by keeping top layers soft and long. Parting your hair on the side and combing it across on a slant also works well to draw attention away from the chin. Use curls to add width at the sides or try bangs to conceal a too-wide forehead.
Musts to Avoid: Lots of height or width on top, which emphasizes diminishing jaw lines. |
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The PEAR-SHAPED FACE is wide at the jaw line and chin. It's the opposite of the heart-shaped face. The pear-shaped face is also characterized by forehead that looks narrow, compared to the chin. The goal here should be to narrow your chin and create the illusion of forehead width.
Best Bet: If your face has a slight pear shape, expose your narrow forehead by wearing hair back, off your face, or by growing out your bangs and wearing them wispy or jagged. This draws the eye up, away from the jaw line. Other options are bi-level cuts that are fuller on top, or mushroom and cap-style cuts that put all the attention on top. These shouldn't be so short that they make the lower part of your face more prominent. Longer, shaggy styles soften and narrow your chin, as well. If you like a short, natural look, pull a few curly tendrils down on your forehead.
Musts to Avoid: A jaw-length blunt cut will be the least flattering. |
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The ROUND FACE. If your cheeks are round and wide or your chin is round, you've probably got a rounded facial shape. Because the proportions of this face are too wide, longer hair or any cut that creates the illusion of length slenderizes your face.
Best Bets: Hair that's below chin length and features long layers that remove bulk and weight from the sides are best. Styles that cover your ears and move onto your cheekbones conceal width, as do curls and side wisps. Height at the crown also creates a slimming effect. Side bangs work best because full, blunt ones emphasize width. If you like long hair, have the sides layered or feathered on an angle. Basically, look for styles that draw the eye upward and elongate. Volume and detail can be added when you style your hair; layers always make this easier.
Musts to Avoid: One-length cuts, strong horizontal lines, side volume and super-short hair. |
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The OVAL FACE is considered a classic ideal because it works with most any hair cut or length. That's because it's proportional and balanced: it's 1.5 times as long as it is wide and features a forehead that's a tad wider than the jaw line - not to be confused with your chin. This also means your forehead accounts for about one-third of your face, the center accounts for a third and the area below your nose accounts for about one-third. Your chin is neither square nor pointed, but curves gently, like the end of an egg.
Best Bets: If this describes your face, you can wear super-short crops, very long hair or anything in-between.
Musts to Avoid: If your face is both oval and petite, avoid styles with super volume or ones with too much hair on your face. Either will overwhelm your features.
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