How to Give Hair Shape Around the Face

Blunt bangs are one way of giving the hair around your face some shape.

Faces come in different shapes with the basic shapes being heart, round, oval, square and oblong; the rules for styling hair vary according to face shape. The style that works for a heart-shaped face may not work for a square face. The rules apply to the hair that frames the face as well; in order to give the hair around your face the proper shape, you should consider the shape of your face itself. One way to give hair shape around the face is to cut bangs, or a fringe of hair, across the forehead. If your face is round, blunt bangs are not the best way to give your hair shape, since they can shorten your face and make it look wider.

Things You'll Need

• Mirror
• Comb
• Scissors
• Straightening iron
• Curling iron

Instructions

1. Determine the shape of your face. Stand in front of a mirror and use the tape measure to measure the width of your face across the cheekbones, across the jaw and across the forehead. Measure the length of your face from hairline to chin.

2. Write down all four measurements. Round and square faces are as wide as they are long. An oval face has a length that is 1 1/2 times its width. A heart-shaped face is widest at the cheekbones or forehead. An oblong face is longer than it is wide.

3. Add long layers that reach below the chin if you have a round face shape. Long layers give the hair shape without adding bulk, which can make round faces look rounder. Use a straightening iron to straighten out the layers and to minimize volume.

4. Cut wispy, side-swept bangs for an oval face. Oval-shaped faces are suited to most styles, so shaping the hair that frames this face is easy. The most versatile face-framing style is long, side-swept bangs, since they can be easily styled with the rest of the hair.

5. Shorten a long face with blunt bangs that cover the forehead. Avoid shaping the hair around a long face with straight layers, as this only lengthens the face. Blunt bangs are easy to cut yourself. Another option is a side part, since this adds width versus length to the face.

6. Cut short layers around a heart-shaped face to give hair an attractive shape. Allow the length of the layers to reach the cheekbones. Short layers and angular bangs will balance out the difference in size between forehead and chin.

7. Curl the face-framing hair in soft waves. This gives the hair around the face some form regardless of your face shape. Another alternative is using bobby pins or clips to hold the hair on the sides of the face, creating the illusion of shape.

References

• Thehairstyler.com: The Right Hairstyle for Your Face Shape