Hairstyles that Flatter Round Faces
How to Part and Style Your Hair to Suit Your Face Shape
Sep 22, 2009
There’s nothing wrong with a round face shape – or any other face shape, for that matter!- but wearing certain hairstyles is useful to prevent the face looking pudgy. Women with round faces are in good company with the likes of Mandy Moore, Kirsten Dunst and Kate Winslet – all celebrities who have found flattering hairstyles that suit their face shape.
Haircuts that Suit Women with Round Faces
The aim with a round face is to add height (length) rather than width. Bangs, parts and updos can all add height to the top of the head; hairstyles that fall below the chin add length at the bottom. For this reason celebrities with round faces often favour longer hairstyles, often with face-framing bangs or layers that end an inch or two below the chin.
In contrast, blunt bobs that end at the chin tend to make round faces look rounder. Katie Holmes’ recent inverted bob circumvented this problem, as the longer ends at the front fell below her chin line.
Bangs and Parts that Suit Round Faces
Bangs or the equivalent hair above the forehead – what the Victorians called “front hair” - can dramatically alter the appearance of a face. Centre parts are not recommended for women with round faces, as they tend to make the face look heavier and wider. A side or diagonal part is an alternative, as are long side-swept bangs, which create a diagonal line that offsets the roundness of the face.
For women who don’t like parts, wearing a lace braid set a few inches back from the forehead is a great and trendy way to soften and add volume to the front hair.
Adding Height to Hairdos for Round Faces
Once upon a time the pompadour or beehive was the perfect way for women to flatter round faces and draw attention to their eyes. Today either style looks a little unusual, but the concept of height at the crown can still be achieved. For loose hairstyles, some women use a volumising spray to create lift at the roots. Others use a sleek headband to puff the front hair forward just a little at the hairline. In general, it is best not to sleek hair straight back – severe ponytails or updos that require hair to be scraped back from the face tend to emphasise the roundness and create an unflattering “moon face” look.
The exception to this rule is if the hairstyle has height behind the sleeked portion. For example, if a woman sleeks her hair back and then makes a loose, curly bun on the top of her head, the eye is drawn up to the bun and does not perceive the hairdo as stark or severe. Updos that peek over the top of the head from the crown are thus good choices for women with round faces.
Hair Texture for Women with Round Faces
Hair around round faces should be neither too big nor too flat. Huge curls may add extra width to the face, while flat hair may not provide enough body and texture to distract from the roundness of the face. Long, loose waves are a popular choice for women with round faces.
Rules are Made to be Broken
Despite these rules, there will always be someone who looks fantastic in a short, thick-cut bob with a round face! A hairstyle which makes you happy is more important than one which alters your face shape. If the above rules don’t work for you, confidently wear the styles you like.
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