One of the biggest mistakes I see men make with their hair is choosing the wrong hairstyle for their face shape. Men tend to follow hair trends that are made popular by celebrities that fashion the latest hairstyle – David Beckham for example, who is always experimenting with new haircuts. However, just because Beckham has made the side sweep popular, doesn’t mean that it’ll suit your face shape.
Not only does choosing the right hairstyle strengthen your best facial features and minimize non pleasing ones, but it also enhances your overall appearance. There are several things that you need to know before you get a new haircut. The most important thing that you need to know about haircut suitability is knowing your face shape. There are seven basic face shapes; oval, diamond, round, square, rectangle, oblong, and triangle. As a general rule, your aim is to achieve an oval shape by choosing a hairstyle that balances your face shape – an oval face shape is the most perfect and pleasing to the human eye. So in short, wide faces need lengthening while long faces need widening.
Oval Face
An Oval face is considered to be the perfect face shape. Unfortunately, this face shape is relatively rare. Slightly wider at the forehead in comparison to the cheekbones or chin, the oval face shape is well proportioned.
If you have an oval face shape, any style of any length can be worn that suits your personality and lifestyle. This face shape is best when left completely uncovered by hair, so avoiding heavy bangs is the one and only rule for choosing a hairstyle. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles, as you’re one of very few men that are lucky enough to be able to do this.
Diamond Face
A diamond face is wider at the cheekbones than at the forehead or chin. Hairstyles should be chosen that increase the width of the forehead and chin while narrowing the cheekbones. Hairstyles that cover your forehead will make your face seem wider. Avoid any haircut that emphasizes the ears as it’ll make your face look wider than it is and may give the impression that your ears stick out more from the side of your head than they actually do. Fullness just below the back of the ears and in the back of the head will give weight to the chin and lower jaw area.
Round Face
A round face is considered the rarest of them all. It is wider at the cheekbones but has a curved, chin and brow. It differs from an oval face in that all the lines and angles are smoothed out. It’s almost as wide as it is long. Your aim is to slim your face and make a longer look. Style your hair so that it creates the illusion of angles. To do this, part your hair from about two inches either side from the center with bangs at an angle to reduce the roundness of your forehead. Keep your hair full on top and around eye level, but cut your hair shorter at the ears.
Square Face
A square face is made apparent by the jaw line and the hairline on the forehead forming a square. It is about as wide at the cheeks as it is long, with an angular jaw and a square forehead. Facial features are often sharp with an almost chiselled appearance. Your goal is to make your face seem a little longer and less angular – somewhat soften the edges. Layered haircuts are best. Keep your part one and a half inches to either side of the center, as a part too far to the side emphasizes squareness. Hair should be full on top which will add height. Cover the corners of your angular forehead with bands that wave outward at both temples. Keep bangs off the forehead and avoid styles that need a center parting.
Rectangular Face
A rectangular face is longer than it is wide, with a square jaw and an angular forehead. Your aim is to soften the hairline by adding fullness to the sides and shortening it slightly. Cover your forehead with some off center bangs to shorten your face and lessen your angular forehead. A layered cut adds width and helps form roundness at the sides of your face.
Oblong Face
An oblong face is similar to an oval face except that it is stretched out longer. Most hairstyles will suit this face shape, but it is a good idea to choose a style that adds fullness to the sides of the face, and keep it longer around the ears. A medium length layered cut provides fullness especially if you blow-dry your hair.
Triangular Face
A triangular face has a narrow forehead and a wide jaw line. Your goal is to narrow your brow area and widen the chin. Hairstyles that suit this face shape are rare. Hairstyles that add width at your forehead and temples and volume on top usually look best.
Conclusion
Some men have a combination of face shapes that have the characteristics of two or more different standard shapes. Although rare, if this is you then choose a hairstyle on which characteristics are most noticeable in the face and which shape the face closely resembles.
Look in the mirror and pull your hair back from your face. Examine the outline, then choose one of the face shapes above that closely fits yours. You probably won’t fit an exact face shape, however being able generalize each face shape will provide you with the guidelines that’ll help you choose the right haircut.
If you want to enhance your appearance, I highly recommend that you read The Handsome Factor by Mark Belmont. He’s eBook is packed full of useful grooming, style and fashion tips that’ll not only transform the way you look, but boost your confidence and improve your life!
