Thinking Of Getting A New Haircut? Check Your Face Shape First!

As much as we’d like for them to, haircuts don’t flatter everyone’s face shape the same way. And actually, the shape of your face is a key factor in determining whether a certain type of haircut will look good.

So what haircut should I get? Well, before you rush to the salon or barbershop and ask for a cut you’ve seen in the pages of a magazine or one that your friend has been sporting, you’ll want to take a look at your face shape first.

What is my face shape?

Figuring out your face shape is rather simple—and it’s something you can do in just a few minutes! There are a few different methods to do so, but the easiest is by using a photo of yourself to find out. First pull your hair back, out of the way of your face, then take a picture of yourself facing the camera straight on.

Once you have your photo, trace around the perimeter of your face to decide which face shape is most like yours.

What hairstyle suits me?

Now that you’ve figured out which face shape most closely resembles your own, the hardest part is over with. Using our simple guide, scroll down to find your face shape and check out the recommended cuts associated with each one.

Oval Face Shape

With an oval-shaped face, the entire length of your face measures out to be larger than the width of your face. If you happen to have an oval face shape, consider yourself lucky, because this is one that looks good with relatively any type of haircut.

For her: A bluntly cut bob or lob can do just the trick if you like to keep it short. When going for a long style, soft waves and curls with minimal layers work best.

For him: Leaving the hair slightly longer on top while keeping the sides and back short fits an oval face perfectly. To step it up a notch, you can even part your hair to one particular side.

Round Face Shape

If you have a round face, you’ll be working with a similar length-to-width ratio for the entire face. These types of faces aren’t particularly angular, so they greatly benefit from haircuts that add some definition.

For her: For the round face, a haircut with long, face-framing layers is the way to go. If you want to go short, try a messy pixie cut with choppy layers. But you’ll want to avoid blunt cuts and short layers, which can add more roundness to an already round face shape.

For him: To counteract the roundness, go with a cut that’s more square looking. A flat-top haircut, a pompadour, or even a style that features fringe in the front will help sharpen soft edges.

Diamond Face Shape

For faces that are diamond-shaped, you’ll notice that the cheekbones are the widest part, with a narrower forehead and jawline. People with diamond-shaped faces should aim to soften the angles surrounding the cheekbones and at the same time widen the top and bottom of the face.

For her: A mid to long layered haircut is the holy grail of women’s haircuts for the diamond face shape, but you can also try out a bob that grazes the chin. Pulling your hair back into a ponytail is also an option since it’ll make the forehead appear wider.

For him: Don’t go for a style that’s too short on the sides. Instead, select a cut that will add texture to the forehead area. A fringe or a deep side part will do wonders for men with a diamond-shaped face.

Square Face Shape

A square face will usually be categorized by a strong jawline in combination with wide cheekbones and a broad forehead. The symmetry of this type of face shape is a plus and allows it to work with many different hairstyles, especially ones that soften the squareness.

For her: Side-swept bangs are a must here, especially if you want to keep it short in the form of a bob. Likewise, for a long style, layers and side parts work well to soften an angular jaw.

For him: The square face is desirable for men’s cuts allowing you to show off the sharpness of your jawline. Neat and short styles are what works well. Buzz cuts, quiffs, and even French crops will all look great.

Triangle Face Shape

Is your jawline wider than your forehead area? If it is, you likely have a triangle-shaped face. Here, you’ll want to look into hairstyles that offset a strong jaw and put more focus onto your forehead or the top of your face.

For her: When it comes to women with a triangle face shape, straight bob cuts are something you’ll want to steer clear of. An alternative short haircut that works is a layered pixie cut, and for those who like it longer, get a layered look with short and wispy bangs.

For him: Time to amp up the volume. With a triangle face, the best men’s cuts are the ones with the most volume. Longer-length haircuts that are fuller along the sides can add dimension and depth to this face shape.

Rectangle Face Shape

You may have also heard it referred to as an oblong face shape—they’re one and the same. A rectangular or oblong face is much like a square face, except they’re longer than they are wide. The trick for anyone with a rectangle face is getting a softer jaw appearance without making the face appear longer.

For her: Add volume, but horizontally! Any voluptuous style from waves to curls to a great blowout will do the rectangle face shape justice. Avoid styles that are too long but say yes to a soft fringe or curtain bangs.

For him: Don’t cut the sides too short! Like with women, men with rectangular faces shouldn’t go for styles that’ll further elongate the face. Getting the ideal proportions is essential, so opt for a style that doesn’t take too much off the sides and also doesn’t leave too much on top.

Heart Face Shape

This one is the opposite of the triangle face shape. If you have a heart-shaped face, you’ll have a broad forehead and wide cheekbones with a narrow jaw. With this face shape, it’s all about balancing out the proportions to minimize the wideness of the forehead.

For her: Side parts are a good choice when working with a heart-shaped face whether you’re going for a textured pixie cut, a mid-length bob, or a longer cut. Waves and curls also tend to pair nicely with a heart face.

For him: Keep it long! Long and medium-length cuts are ideal for the man with a heart-shaped face. It’s also not a bad idea to draw some attention to a narrow chin area, by growing out your facial hair.

Okay, now you can rush to the salon or barbershop. But before that, you’ll need to schedule an appointment—which you can do on Booksy with just a few clicks. Download the Booksy app for iOS or Android to get started.