Pinky's tips: Finding the right hair style for your face shape

Are you constantly searching for the right haircut? Do you see pictures in the magazines and think… ‘I want a particular haircut’ but once you get the style it doesn’t translate well? 

That’s when you realize not all haircuts are suitable for your face or your lifestyle. 

A haircut is meant to be versatile and manageable while enhancing the client’s features and/or disguising undesirable features giving them the illusion of the perfect face shape. 

Poor judgment in head and face shapes can affect the choice of style dramatically, leaving the client with an unflattering look. 

One must always aim to achieve a style that gives the illusion of the perfect face. 

There are five different face shapes — round,
oblong, square, heart and oval all of which can affect the choice of style desired. 

An oval face shape is the most versatile face shape often referred to as the
‘perfect face’.

Round faces must avoid too much width or height and utilize styles that come on to the face.  

Oblong faces should avoid height and styles that come onto the face giving the illusion of a longer shape. However, the addition of a fringe can shorten the illusion of a long face. 

Square faces should always have softer styles that soften the jawline. 

Heart faces should avoid width at the temple area and add width near the jaw line but avoid the length of the cut being at the jaw line. 

A supreme haircut must also be able to slot into ones’ lifestyle. Women are mainly on the go, having to build careers and households and therefore they don’t have time for a tiring regime every morning prior to the start of the day. 

So when flicking through a magazine in search of inspiration for the right haircut, coupled with versatility, take into consideration your face shape, lifestyle and what will best suit you. 

Most aren’t aware of the small changes that can make a world of a difference. Look in the mirror and decide which face shape you are!