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The Best Haircuts for Your Face Shape

Hairstyles are not one size fits all. The 'do that flatters that stylish PTA mom or your favorite celeb might not have the same "wow factor" on you. Before you book your next salon appointment, read on to find the most flattering cuts for your face shape.

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The best haircut for a round face is:

If you have a round face, like Charlize Theron, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Selena Gomez, your visage is as wide as it is long. “The best cuts for round face shapes are those that create corners where there aren’t any,” explains Lorean Cairns, Fox & Jane co-founder and creative director. You want to create the illusion of length. Keeping hair a touch long—past the chin or to the shoulders—is a great way to elongate the face. “Also adding sleek, angular layers around the face can help create the illusion of a more oval shape,” Cairns adds.

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The best haircut for an oval face is:

If your face is oval, the widths of your brow, cheekbones, and jaw are almost equal, which means you’ve basically won the genetic jackpot. Because there’s nothing to balance, you can experiment with many different cuts and lengths. Cairns suggests finding a cut that shows off your favorite features. Love your eyes? Opt for bangs. Want to show off your cheekbones? Ask your stylist to cut some face-framing layers. Don’t miss the hair-washing mistakes you didn’t realize you were making.

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The best haircut for a heart-shaped face is:

Reese Witherspoon is the quintessential heart-shaped face gal—with a wide brow and a narrow, pointier jaw. The greatest asset for this face shape is bangs, according to Lauren Thompson, stylist at Nunzio Saviano Salon. “A side-swept fringe or long, center-parted bangs are great because they both draw attention away from the chin, to create more balance,” she says. Don’t fall for the hairstyling mistakes that can age your face.

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The best haircut for a square face is:

If the length and width of your face is equal, like Salma Hayek and Cameron Diaz, you have a square face. “Folks with a square face have a heavy jaw line,” Cairns explains. So when it comes to cuts, you want something that will soften the features around the chin. Window draping bangs or a center part with lots of layers and movement really helps soften harsh lines and is super complimentary, according to Cairns. And if you decide to blow them straight, these hair hacks will keep your blowout fresh for days.

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The best haircut for an oblong face is:

Not to be confused with an oval face, oblong faces tend to be narrower and longer (think Liv Tyler). Thompson recommends avoiding long hairstyles (below the shoulder), as they can draw the eye down, making the face look even longer. A short hairstyle, such as a bob with texture and layers, is great because it brings the eye up and adds volume through the sides of the face, to create more width and balance.

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The best haircut for a diamond-shaped face is:

“Diamond face shapes, like Keira Knightley, are interesting, and you can do a lot of things in the way you cut and style,” says Cairns. She recommends a single length cut with bangs, which cut off pointed cheeks and bring out the eyes. When it comes to styling, a deep side part can draw attention away from the hairline. Here’s what your hairstylist is secretly thinking (but won’t say to your face).

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The best haircut for a high forehead:

“This is a common area that women want to minimize,” says Cairns. Bangs are terrific at helping to take the focus away from the forehead and bring the attention to the eyes and cheekbones. If you have thick hair, you can do a full bang, a la Zooey Deschanel or Heidi Klum. If your locks are finer, she recommends a curtain bang down the middle. Maximize any hairstyle by finding the best shampoo for your hair type.

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The best haircut for wide-set eyes:

If your eyes are far apart, Thompson suggests bangs, parted in the middle. This will help draw attention to the center of the face, making the eyes appear closer together. These are the hair myths we all need to stop believing.

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The best haircut for a prominent nose is:

If you have a strong feature, like a prominent nose, don’t go square or tight to the face with your cut. According to Cairns, curls and volume will soften your whole aesthetic. This is what your hair is desperately trying to tell you about your health.

Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest

Lindsay Cohn
Lindsay is an avid traveler and travel writer who has visited 46 countries across six continents. For Reader's Digest, she covers both domestic and international travel, and her byline also appears in Travel + Leisure, InsideHook, Hotels Above Par, Well + Good and PureWow. When she's not writing, you can find her hanging out with her son, doing yoga and adding to her ever-growing list of future adventures.