Face Shapes and Hair Styles

Majority of women are slave to fashion magazines and follow trends which are dictated by celebrities, but the reality is the trendiest hairstyle or colour doesn't suite everyone.

Any stylist will tell you that the most flattering style for you is determined by the shape of your face, the texture of your hair, your age and lifestyle.

A flattering hairstyle speaks volumes about your character, it balances your body and frames your face and complements your whole style. If it makes you look good then it makes you feel good inside.

A good hairstyle is an investment in you, so when choosing a new hairstyle, don't just look for the latest looks from Paris and Milan catwalks but give some thought to all the other elements, which together will give you the most flattering head of hair.

So what suits what shape?

Oval face woman

Lucky woman - this is one of the few shapes that can carry off almost any style. The chin and the forehead are both in proportion, so both short and long hair looks good. However avoid severe long hair as it tends to make the face look long and narrow.

Women with a round face should avoid a neat jaw length bob with a fringe or a severely tied back knot, as this will only emphasis the roundness of the face. The idea is to give an illusion of a longer narrower face. You can achieve this by having long layers and fullness on top. If you have long hair try parting it to the side instead of the middle. If you want to sweep it back then make sure you tease out lots of tendrils to soften the look.

A square face needs softening to take away the harsh edges, so avoid straight blunt styles which will only emphasis the squareness of the jawline. Instead go for a style which sits 2.5-4 cm below the chin with a diagonal fringe.

With a heart-shaped face the forehead often looks wide and the chin pointy, so the idea is to balance the two. This can be done by either short pixie style haircut or to pile the hair on top or the back of your head. A V shaped fringe which the celebs favour so much will also soften the wide forehead...