When it comes to hair styling, how you curl and wave your hair can manipulate the appearance of your face shape much easier than others. Although some women instinctively style the hair with the awareness of their face shape, a bold truth is, most do not put pay much attention to it. Styling hair, can create balance and harmonise facial structures and features. A professional stylist will help you understand this, just like fashion stylists find complimentary clothes for your body shape. There are women that we hear say sometimes say “curls just don’t suit me” but in most cases it’s really a matter of finding the right curl for the face shape, the right tool and the right method. So challenge accepted! We have created a quick and easy guide that you can follow.

The first thing you need to do is find your face shape, the four most common are: square, oval, round and heart.

Square

The square face shape has the characteristics of a similar width and length. To identify this, pay attention to the space between the forehead, upper cheek bones and jaw line, then the forehead to the chin. These are all quite even. This won't make a perfect square, but the facial features will be quite hard edged, angular and even across and long, like a square.

The idea here is to soften the edges of the face by adding slight roundness. It’s not recommended to over exaggerate curls or waves that add width between the forehead and bottom of the ears.

Recommendation:

As hair naturally drapes down and forward, the best way to compliment this face shape is by creating larger loose waves that start below the jawline and chin area. For this, we suggest using our 32mm barrel on our Flair 3 Piece Curl Wand or create larger curls with our Flair LUX Straighteners and remember to start your style below the jawline. Don’t forget that using a wide tooth comb to rake out fresh curls while they are warm, can make them a look a little loose and free.

Round/Circle

A round shape is more like a circle with the width being around the middle. So the nose is a good reference, and unlike a square, a circle shaped face narrows to the chin slightly. It has an evenness to the rounded shape, like a circle does. Similar to an oval shape but has more width.

Recommendation:

We recommend medium size waves or curls, however round can be tricky. The idea is to create curls that protrude outward in a squarish way. So starting around the eye line outward but maintaining the width of the curl past the chin. Medium waves or curls with a little spring to help them bounce up to maintain the shape (longer hair might need a tighter curl).

Try the Flair 25mm Curler Tong for lift, or a tighter type of curls using our Flair LUX Straighteners. Starting the curl just above the mid lengths of the hair but not at the root.

We also recommend sweeping the hair to one side which will transfer the weight and help create a sharper angle and reduce the overall roundness of the face shape.

Oval

When it comes to face shapes, the Oval is known as the privileged shape because it can be complimented by most styles. The widest point is the middle that narrows steeply and evenly round the chin and forehead, which are also approximately the same width. 

Recommendation:

If you have an oval shaped face you can choose from a wide range of styles! We love pulled back hair styles on this shape that expose the perimeters and accentuating the beautifully even curved lines work well.

The roundness of soft, big, loose waves are classic and flattering. Use Flair’s Hair Dryer with a large ceramic brush to achieve this look, or our 32mm large barrel curler from the Flair 3 Piece Curl Wand. Clip the waves from the dryer or from the curler in large soft rolls using your hand (let the hair cool before handling or use large rollers). Once the rolls of hair have cooled down, use the cool shot function on the dryer and on a low speed. Blow cool air before releasing the rolls as this will help them set and last.

Finish by brushing or use a very wide tooth comb to rake through gently, then pull one side back (can pin) and bring the other forward.

Heart

Although the heart shape is not very common, it is easily distinguished. From the forehead to the cheek or jaw is the width curving down to a smaller defined chin.

Recommendation:

This is an easy balance as the face starts to narrow down to the chin, this is the reference point to create some width and neutralise the overall shape. The heart shape creates a gap between the jaw and cheek, so hair that waves out will be most flattering.

We recommend loose waves and flicks starting around the jaw and out at the chin area and below. You can achieve this using our Flair LUX Straighteners. Use a combination of loose curls and bending flicks that begin from lower mid lengths to the ends. Using Flair’s Hair Dryer and a large ceramic brush can also do the trick.

Face shapes and complimenting styles can make all the difference, but don’t forget so can using professional tools!

Find Flair's full range of hair care and styling here.