Face Flattering Hairstyles: Part 5 – The Oval Face Shape

Today we will discuss the most coveted face shape – the oval. Why is this face shape so desired? Perhaps because most people consider perfect symmetry to be pleasing and easy on the eyes. The oval face shape has almost perfect balance, with equal distance from the hairline to the eyebrows, and from the eyebrows to the chin. An oval face will be slightly narrower at the jaw line than at the temples, and then gracefully taper from the cheeks to the chin. Celebrities who share this face shape are Jennifer Aniston, Uma Thurman, Cameron Diaz, Charlize Theron, Mariah Carey, and Jessica Alba.

Because the oval face shape is considered to be so perfect, there are not many restricting guidelines when it comes to hairstyles. However, there are some ideas to consider before one sits in the hairstylist chair, looking for a change:

1) Oval faces look good in anything. The only aspect to be aware of is that an oval face can appear long if there is too much volume at the crown of the head. As well, if one has curly hair, it’s best to avoid blunt hairstyles as this will make the face appear pyramid-like.

Charlize is a classic oval face shape. Here she is showcasing a striking pixie cut. She is proof that oval face shapes can get away with almost any hairstyle, whether long or short. The key is to keep the hair from appearing too full at the crown, to avoid unwanted length.

2) Wear styles in such a way that draws attention to certain features on the face. For example, if one has an oval face and long hair, if the hair is worn half-up and half-down, the hairstyle will draw more attention to your face and smile. If one chooses to have side-swept bangs, attention is brought to the mouth area.

This hairstyle is a perfect example of what to wear with an oval face. The softly side-swept bangs draw attention to a beautiful mouth.

3) Avoid wearing hair on the face; it distracts from the natural beauty of an oval face. For example, if one wears heavy bangs across their forehead, the bangs will make the oval face shape appear squarer.

It’s an understatement to say that Jennifer Aniston has one of the most coveted heads of hair. Here, she shows how simplicity is best with an oval face shape. Because she doesn’t mask her face with hair, she is able to show off her beautiful features.

The liberty to do almost any hairstyle is clearly why the oval face shape is so highly envied. Most other face shapes try to imitate the look of an oval face shape by minimizing and maximizing certain features. The beauty of an oval face shape is to simply be.

Face Flattering Hairstyles: Part 4 – The Oblong Shaped Face

If you are a woman who has an oblong shaped face, consider yourself blessed. Because of its strong jaw, elongated forehead and broad cheekbones, the oblong shaped face is considered to be one of the most elegant and regal of all face shapes. Who else shares this face shape? Think of Meryl Streep, Liv Tyler, Angelina Jolie, Imam, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Kardashian.

As with any face shape, the oblong shape has general guidelines that serve to be most complementary:

1) One of the biggest challenges with an oblong face shape is trying to make the face look wider. An easy way to achieve width on an oblong face shape is to create bangs. Most bangs look beautiful on an oblong face shape, whether they be side-swept or blunt. Overall, bangs help to camouflage a large forehead.

 

Kim Kardashian shows us how to wear bangs with a long face. Here, her bangs skim just below her brows, masking her wide forehead and making her face seem shorter.

2) Avoid hairstyles that are too long. Long hair will only draw attention to a long face. If you really must have long hair, make sure it is layered with the shortest layer hitting your chin. This will add some width to a narrow look.

While Rachel Bilson does not have a long face, this photo is an example of exactly what not to do if you do have an oblong face shape. Not only is the hair far too long and lacking layers, but she has a centre part which emphasizes the middle of her face, drawing attention to the length. As well, her hair is worn sleek and straight, which emphasizes the length of her face.

Rather, here is an example of how long hair should be worn if you do have an oblong shaped face:

This is a perfect example of how long hair can be worn with an oblong face shape. Here, the bangs add more width, while the layers fall near her chin, masking her long face shape.

3) Refrain from wearing your hair super sleek and straight. As stated in the above picture, straight hair emphasizes the length of an oblong face. If possible, work with any natural wave or curl in the hair, which will add width to your face. If you do not have natural wavy or curly hair, you can easily attain body in your hair by winding your hair around a curling iron.

Jessica Lu’s long face is complemented with soft waves, adding more width.

4) Chin length bobs and cuts are ideal as they create the illusion of a wider face, as shown below:

Jennie Garth’s bob is a perfect length for her oblong face. As well, her waves add extra width.

5) When wearing your hair short, avoid styles with a lot of volume on the top, as this, too, will create unwanted height and length to be added to the face.

If you find yourself to have an oblong shaped face, do not be discouraged. Follow these guidelines and you will be well on your way to highlighting the most elegant, regal face shape.

Face Flattering Hairstyles: Part 3 – Heart Shaped Faces

How do you recognize a heart-shaped face? If you pull back your hair and notice that your face is wider at the temples and the hairline, with a delicately pointed chin, chances are, you have a heart-shaped face.

Immediately, the most iconic heart-shaped face I think of is Reese Witherspoon. But there are plenty of other stunning celebrities with heart-shaped facial features – Selena Gomez, Fergie, Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Keri Hilson, Katie Holmes and Ginnifer Goodwin.

How do these celebrities minimize their wider foreheads and finer jawline? A necessary rule of thumb is to draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones. To do this, here are some general guidelines to apply if you also have a heart-shaped face:

1) Benefit from the impact of side-swept bangs. Side-swept bangs provide a line of movement across a wider forehead that draws attention to the cheekbones and eyes. Here is a great example of how Reese Witherspoon pulls this off:

Keri Hilson also demonstrates beautifully how side-swept bangs are a great feature to a wide forehead and narrow chin:

Notice how the side-swept bangs emphasize Keri’s eyes, while minimizing her wide forehead. As well, her hair has added volume on the sides, making her chin appear wider.

2) Maximize the impact of a chin-length bob. A bob that is heavy at the chin helps to balance out the narrowness of the jawline. Take a look at how Katie Holmes pulls this off:

Notice how Katie’s chin length bob emphasizes and balances her great cheekbones and eyes.

3) Own the pixie cut! For those women who love to be daring with their locks, the pixie cut tastefully flatters a heart-shaped face. The piecey-ness of a pixie cut helps to emphasize the eyes and cheekbones. Ginnifer Goodwin’s pixie cut is a perfect example of this rule:

4) Avoid excessive volume at the crown of the head. Too much volume will make a heart-shaped face appear top heavy.

While Jennifer’s updo is stunning, it doesn’t suit her heart-shaped face. The volume on the crown of her head draws attention to her wide forehead, making her features appear top heavy.

Hopefully these guidelines give insight into appropriate hairstyles for heart-shaped faces. Stay tuned for more face shapes and hairstyles to come!

Face Flattering Hairstyle: Part 2 Round Faces

Yesterday we discussed the round face shape and how to accentuate and minimize more angular facial features. Today, we would like to expand our conversation to include the round face shape. Most women with a round face shape try to steer clear of hairstyles that make their faces appear more round than necessary. Therefore, many of these women choose longer cuts, hoping that their faces will appear longer, fearing, however, that their hair will lack shape and style. Fear not! A round face is a beautiful face and there are many different styles that complement! In fact, round faces women tend to age more gracefully than any other facial shape. This is because their faces tend to retain the fullness and softness of youth.

Like the square face shape, there are some general guidelines that flatter rounder faces:

1) Keep your layers longer, as this will help to elongate the face. Overall longer styles enhance round faces because longer hair elongates. Unfortunately, short layers add body to the hair, which will add unwanted fullness to the face.

2) Keep bangs long and sideswept, as this creates a moving angle across a round face.

 

Here, Emma Stone, a classic round faced woman, demonstrates how longer layers and side-swept bangs complement a rounder face.

3) Be careful with bobs if you have a round face. A cut that is all one length or falls at the jawline can make the face appear rounder. If you really love the bob style, however, it is best to keep the length 2 inches longer than the jawline, so that the face will appear longer.

Tori Spelling does a fabulous job of showing us how a bob can be worn by rounder faced women. The key is to keep her length below her chin, so as not to hug her jawline, adding unwanted roundness.

Here, Kristen Dunst shows us how a rounder faced woman can pull off a bob (provided its below the jaw line). As well, her longer hair is extremely flattering as it lengthens her face.

4) The key to short hair with round faces is to keep the hair straight so as not to expand the face with further volume on the sides.

Straight hair helps the face appear sleeker, while the side-swept bangs provide movements and angles. This is a great example of short hair for a round face, provided it is kept straight!

5) For those with a round face who are worried about sacrificing style by keeping their hair longer have to look no further than Adele. She proves beautifully that shoulder length hair is most flattering on round face shapes as the hair is neither too long, nor too short.

Hopefully this post has helped to dispel some of the fears that rounder faced women experience. Remember, style does not have to be compromised, and your face need not be hidden!

Face Flattering Hairstyles: Part 1 – The Square Face Shape

Finding that perfect cut for your face shape can be a frustrating endeavour. Everyone has been there at one time or another. You browse through the hairstyling magazines and you find the perfect cut – you know the one, the glossy, sun-kissed look that would make even Jennifer Aniston swoon – only to discover the results on your own face to be less than satisfactory. Since there are many different face shapes and millions of different hairstyles out there, we are going to tackle only one face shape a post. Today, let’s take the time to delve into the basics of hairstyling for those of you with square facial features. 

Those of us with square faces tend to have a stronger, more angular jawline. Who comes to mind when thinking of an angular jawline? How about Gwenyth Paltrow, Mandy Moore, Demi Moore, Megan Fox, and Keira Knightley? It’s an understatement that these women are all exceptionally beautiful with even greater haircuts! So let’s discuss how these women maximize and minimize the attributes of a square jawline!

Some key guidelines to follow are the following:

1) Keep your layers soft and textured. A great way to achieve this is put a bit of wave/curl in your hair. The softness of the waves takes away from the face feeling too stark or angular. If you already have natural movement to your hair, consider letting it conform to its natural state rather than straightening it. Or, if you have naturally straight hair, but a square face shape, it’s easy enough to get acquainted with hot rollers, flat-iron curls, or the curling iron and achieve looks that are both easy and manageable! Consider trying a look like Jessica Biel’s, below: 

Here, Jessica Biel shows us that waves add airy softness to her facial attributes. This look can easily be achieved with a flat-iron, or with the barrel of your curling iron.

2) Make sure you wear the right kind of bangs for your jawline. Long, swoopy side-bangs keep the facial features looking soft and feminine, while blunt bangs accentuate the “boxiness” of your face. If you are really set on straight across bangs, consider bangs that are slightly longer on the sides and just below your brow, such as this: 

Here, the bangs are longer on the sides and just below the brow. This causes a more rounded, balanced look to the face, taking away from the angular jawline.

It is key to avoid bangs that are too short and too blunt, making your face look boxy. As well, steer clear from blunt hair cuts, as this too makes your face appear that much more square, such as this:

While Christina Ricci is a very beautiful woman, this cut is not very flattering on her. The length of her hair hits right at her jawline, drawing attention to her angular features. As well, her bangs are too short and severe, making her face look more square than it really is.

Here is an example of beautiful, side-swept bangs that flatter those of us with square faces: 

This is a perfect example of how bangs should look on someone with a square face. As well, Olivia Wilde’s wavy hair adds softness to her angular features.

3) Avoid the “slicked back” look. This picture is a perfect example of what not to do if you are a woman with a square jawline:

Not unlike Christina Ricci, Gwenyth has iconic style and classic beauty. However, she, also, should avoid a stark, slicked-back ponytail as it draws attention to her square jawline, making her look a little harsh.

On the other hand, Gwenyth’s classic down ‘do, with soft layers is much more becoming:

Soft, face-framing layers are much more complementary to Gwenyth’s square face shape.

4) Avoid cutting your hair too short, such as a pixie cut. While the pixie cut is cute on women with petite facial features, it will make a square jawed woman look masculine and harsh.

A pixie cut can look harsh on a square-faced woman.

Hopefully these guidelines will help us square-faced women the next time when you find yourself in your hairstylists chair, wanting a change! Remember that your square face shape is not something to hide, but to accentuate and embellish with some easy key pointers.

Ombre

Let’s discuss one of the most popular hair trends to date: ombre. Not only has ombre taken the hair industry by storm, but also the fashion, make-up and food industry. You can buy skirts with ombre dyed fabrics, decorate cakes with ombre icing, and apply nail polish with an ombre effect.

Ocean Ombre Skirt

Ombre Petal Cake

Blue Ombre Nail Polish Technique

So, what about your hair? There’s something so relaxed and breezy feeling about ombre hair. It manages to look natural, sun-kissed, and beachy without sacrificing style. It can be both subtle and more dramatic, although trends this spring/summer are leaning more towards a demure, natural effect.

A more dramatic form of ombre: a beautiful brunette with deep burgundy ends.

Jessica Biel’s more natural, sun-kissed ombre.

Ombre. How will it inspire you?

Grotto Hair Studio Blogger Debut

Grotto Hair Studio would like to welcome you to our blog: Behind the Chair. We would like to use this blog as a spot to explore the world and industry of hair. Here, we would like to discuss upcoming trends, …