Last Edited: 7 Jul, 2025
Author: Cristina Holm

Which hairstyle best suits your face shape?

 Here’s how to find out your face shape plus some inspiration for your next hair cut.

  As an image stylist, my core focus is helping you find the right styles of clothes for your body shape and share your best colours which complement your skin tone.

This also includes make-up (which is why I’m also a professionally trained make-up artist) AND your hair style as well as colour recommendations.

Your hair frames your face.  So, the right styles can make a massive difference to your look and to how you feel.

As does choosing the right colour (if you ever dye your hair) which is to make sure it complements your skin tone.

Choose right, and you will see a healthy, natural glow just like choosing the right palette for your clothes, make-up and jewellery.

I promise your confidence will never be higher than when you get all this right!

Best way to find out your face shape

Now grab your lip or eye liner and stand in front of a mirror.  Pull your hair back.  Then using your liner draw a line around your face in your reflection.  Then step back.

This will give you a clear idea of what shape your face is.

There are seven face shapes

In this blog I share the headlines (boom boom… pun intended) to guide you.  I share what’s best and what to avoid for each of the seven different face shapes.

Remember not all hair stylists suggest you to change your style.  After all, you’re paying right?  So they do what you ask.

It’s the same with hair colouring.  So do your own research and don’t be afraid to discuss with your hairdresser.

It’s why some hair styles suit you better than your friends.  If you look closely, it’s because you each have a different face shape.

Oval Face

Balanced proportions, slightly narrower jaw than forehead.

This is the easiest shape to style as almost anything works.

Best Hairstyles:

Long waves or curls

Blunt bobs

Layered cuts

Side-swept fringes (aka bangs)

Avoid:

Heavy fringes that cover the face too much — as it hides your natural symmetry.

Round Face

Equal width and height, soft angles, full cheeks.

Best Hairstyles:

Long layers that elongate the face

Side partings

High ponytails or top knots

Pixie cuts with volume at top

Avoid:

Chin-length bobs or full curls that add width to cheeks.

“”Your hair is your crown. Wear it like a queen.”

Square Face

Strong jawline, broad forehead, angular.

Best Hairstyles:

Side-swept fringes

Soft, layered styles

Long wavy or curly hair

Shoulder-length cuts with texture

Avoid:

Blunt fringes or sharp, one-length bobs that emphasize your jaw angles.

“Good hair days make me feel like I can rule the world.”

Heart Face

Wide forehead, narrow chin.

Best Hairstyles:

Chin-length bobs

Side partings

Wavy layers starting below the ears

Curtain fringes

Avoid:

Styles that add too much volume to the top.

Long (Oblong) Face

Longer than wide, often with a high forehead.

Best Hairstyles:

Long layers with volume at the sides

Curtain or blunt fringes

Curls or waves that add width

Shoulder-length cuts

Avoid:

Extra long straight hair as it elongates the face further.

Diamond Face

Narrow forehead and jawline, wide cheekbones.

Best Hairstyles:

Side-swept fringes

Chin-length bobs

Tousled waves

Deep side partings

Avoid:

Flat styles that highlight narrow forehead or chin.

Triangular Face Shape

Your jawline is wider than your cheekbones and forehead with a narrow upper face and a broader, prominent lower face.

Best Hairstyles:

Layered Cuts with Volume at the Crown

Side-Swept Fringes

Pixie Cut with Volume

Chin-Length Bobs with Side Parting

Curls or Waves focused on upper half

Half-up styles

Avoid:

Long, heavy hair that sits around the jawline.

Cristina Holm

Cristina Holm is one of the UK’s leading personal stylists.  She is based and operates from her studio in Warfield, Berkshire (U.K.)  Cristina serves clients locally and internationally.

Cristina is also the founder of My Secret Stylist, the U.K.’s ‘best kept’ secret for clothes shopping for your shape.  For only £35.99 per year, you find and ‘see in seconds’ clothes which complement your body shape.  Across all the popular brands, all in one place.  For more info, please click here:  www.mysecretstylist.co.uk