Ask any stylist how to ensure you’ll be happy with your haircut, and they’ll all tell you the same thing: come in with a clear idea of what you want. It sounds simple, but at a time when our social media feeds are flooded with trendy haircuts to choose from (Bobs! Bangs! Butterfly cuts! And those are just the ones that start a B!), coming up with a response can feel anything but. If you’re feeling confused – and potentially tempted to try one of those buzzy, but impossible-to-style mushroom cuts – here’s how to make your decision easy: opt for the best haircut for your face shape.
Broadly speaking, faces can be categorized into seven basic shapes – oval, round, square, diamond, heart-shaped, oblong, and pear – which are determined by your bone structure, how your facial fat is distributed, and the way you move your muscles when you smile, frown, etc. While any haircut can look great on anyone, certain haircuts compliment certain face shapes better than others.
“It’s important to consider your face shape when choosing a haircut because you want it to accentuate your best features,” Jacelyn Bautista, a stylist at NYC The Team Hair Salon, tells POPSUGAR. “It’s also a way to balance out your features.”
That said, while working with your face shape can certainly help determine which haircut will be the most flattering, it isn’t the only way to compliment your features – or leave you with a style that makes you feel like the best and most beautiful version of yourself.
“I am from the school of thought that it doesn’t always have to be a thing,” says celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh. “As a general rule, face shapes and haircuts can help frame the face, but sometimes those rules are broken because of the client’s individuality and personal style. . . I believe it’s possible for anyone to wear anything.”
If you’re interested in learning how to find out your face shape – and, most importantly, the best haircuts for different face shapes – you’ll find answers ahead. That way, next time you find yourself in the salon being asked, “So what are we doing today?” you’ll be armed and ready with an answer.
Getty / Jon Kopaloff
The Best Haircuts for an Oval Face Shape
Oval faces are longer than they are wide and tend to have a soft chin and jawline as well as a narrow forehead. Because oval faces tend to be symmetrical, they’ve got an entire menu of cuts to choose from – you really can’t go wrong here. If you’re looking to make your face look slightly rounder, though, Josh recommends opting for a heavy bang, which will counteract some of the length of your face.
Getty / John Shearer
The Best Haircuts for a Round Face Shape
According to Bautista, most people think they have round faces, but that isn’t necessarily the case. True “rounds” are as wide as they are long, have full cheeks (which also tend to be the widest point on their faces), and lack any sharp angles around the jawline. According to Josh, the best haircuts to compliment round faces involve longer lengths and layers. “I suggest no pieces shorter than below the jaw; face framing a completely round face can potentially make you lose an inch or two of the width of the face,” he says. Opt for wispy front pieces that fall below your chin to really show off those statement-making cheekbones.
Getty / Neilson Barnard
The Best Haircuts for a Heart Face Shape
Heart-shaped faces start off wide at the forehead and get progressively narrower before tapering off into a pointed chin. If this sounds like you, Bautista says you can’t go wrong experimenting with bangs. “Fringe will help minimize the forehead,” she says. Additionally, “Lobs are really cute as well for a heart-shaped face,” she adds, as these jaw-skimming lengths will create balance between the softness of the cheeks and the angles of the jawline.
Getty / Monica Schipper
The Best Haircuts for a Square Face Shape
Square faces are, well, square – meaning that the forehead, jawline, and cheeks are all basically the same size. What sets this shape apart from its rounder counterpart is the fact that the jaw tends to appear more angular and the sides of the face lie slightly flat (no full cheeks here). For square faces, Josh recommends avoiding any geometric haircuts and harsh angles, as they’ll make the natural contours of your face appear more severe. Instead, opt for soft layers and keep in mind that adding any length below your chin can help elongate your face. Curtain bangs work great here, too, as they frame the face and help create balance.
Getty / Frazer Harrison
The Best Haircuts for a Pear Face Shape
With a wide jawline that levels up into a narrow forehead, pear-shaped faces are essentially triangles with rounded edges. “The best haircut for these faces include collarbone-length hair with subtle, face-framing pieces that start below the jaw and soft layering throughout the hair,” says Bautista, explaining that this type of cut will create balance and movement. For inspo, you can’t go wrong stealing one of Jennifer Aniston‘s (a fellow pear-faced girlie!) iconic haircuts.
Getty / V E Anderson
The Best Haircuts for a Diamond Face Shape
Symmetry is the key word for diamond-shaped faces, which are characterized by a narrow (and maybe even pointed) forehead and jawline with fuller cheeks in between. To complement a diamond face, you’ll want to try a cut that enhances the width at the forehead and chin. Josh recommends doing this with side-swept bangs and layers, which will “soften existing angular shapes,” he says. Or, if you’re looking for something on the shorter side, opt for a haircut that sits right at your chin, like a blunt bob.
Getty / Jon Kopaloff
The Best Haircuts for an Oblong Face Shape
Also often referred to as “rectangular” or “elongated,” oblong faces are longer than they are wide and may be slightly more angular than their oval cousins. “The best haircut for an oblong-shaped face is a chin-length bob,” says Bautista. “It’s a super versatile haircut that you could wear sleek with a middle part, or that you can add waves and texture to.” If you’re not quite ready to go in for a big chop, she adds that a mid-length, layered cut with curtain bangs is another A+ option.
