Finding the Perfect Natural Hairstyle That Matches Your Face Shape

Ready for a new natural hairstyle but unsure about which would be the most flattering for you?

There’s an easy way to figure this out, and it all begins with identifying your face shape. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to pick out a natural hairstyle that perfectly complements your facial features, giving you a look that you can truly be proud of. Keep reading as HerStyler talks you through this!

Identifying Your Face Shape

Sometimes, a person’s face shape is very obvious. However, more often than not, it can be a little ambiguous. Sure, you could hazard a guess but get your face shape wrong and you could end up opting for a natural hairstyle that doesn’t do much to flatter your face. 

The best way to accurately determine your face shape is by using a tape measure. There are four measurements that you’ll need to take:

• The width of your face, running the tape measure over the top of your cheekbones
• Your jawline width, measuring from the widest point on each side
• The width of your forehead, running your tape measure roughly halfway between your hairline and your brows
• The length of your face, from your hairline down to your chin

Now that you have these measurements, you’ll be able to work out which of the following categories your face falls into:

• Oval – The length of your face is about 1.5 times the width
• Round – The width and length of your face are similar, with the hairline and jawline being rounded
• Oblong – A face that’s long, rather than wide
• Heart – Wide at the cheekbones and forehead but narrow at the chin
• Square – The width and length of your face are similar, with your hairline and jawline featuring a strong, square shape
• Diamond – Narrow at the forehead and chin but wide at the center of the face, usually around the cheekbones

Now that you know your face shape, let’s move on to choosing the perfect natural hairstyle for you!

Oval-Shaped Face

If your face shape is oval, consider yourself lucky. Many would agree that this is considered to be the most perfect face shape! It features a good balance between width and height, enabling it to pull off a huge array of hairstyles.

Other face shapes often opt for hairstyles that will make their faces look oval. Since you already have that, you have the freedom to experiment with just about any style that catches your eye!

With that said, certain styles will still be more flattering than others. Since your facial features are likely to be evenly proportioned, look for a natural hairstyle that will show this off. Updos are always a great choice due to how they pull the hair away from the face, allowing your facial features to shine!

Side-swept bangs are also popular among those with oval-shaped faces. Go for a wispy cut, as this will blend in with your natural curls. If your hair tends to veer toward the frizzy side, invest in a small flat iron to help you manage your fringe. The HerStyler Blushing Marble Styler, for example, features 1” floating plates, making it so easy to manipulate this tool around shorter strands. The fact these plates are made from ceramic is ideal for natural hair. They’ll style your locks without leaving them looking dry or damaged.

Round-Shaped Face

Since round-shaped faces don’t have any prominent angles or corners, it’s often considered to be the most youthful face shape. In some ways, this is great. However, going with a natural hairstyle that adds volume to the sides of your face will only make your face look even rounder and, therefore, unbalanced.

The best way to overcome this while enhancing the angles of your facial features is to seek out hairstyles that elongate the look of your face. A hairstyle that adds height, such as a tall updo, will do this instantly. Try pulling your hair into a high pony and then seeing how much narrower your face looks.

If you prefer to leave your hair loose, a long and sweeping hairstyle won’t fail you. Layers are a great way to frame a round face but make sure that they begin below the chin. As mentioned, you don’t want to add too much width to the sides of your face. Pairing this with a middle part can also help, giving your face a more elongated finish. 

If your hair often looks frizzy and puffy in a way that makes your face look wider, try applying a hair serum before you style your mane. A product like the HerStyler Marula Hair Nourishing Serum will leave your hair looking much sleeker. It will feel much more manageable and easier to style while also looking healthier.

Oblong-Shaped Face

While people with round-shaped faces tend to find themselves looking for ways to elongate their faces, those with oblong-shaped faces usually do the opposite. They seek out hairstyles that will leave their faces looking a little rounder.

One of the easiest ways to give your face some extra width is with a blowout. Focus on adding volume to the sides of your face and you’ll immediately add balance. Brushing your hair away from your face while you’re blow drying it will also help to frame your facial features while opening up your face.

Curls are also fantastic for providing a widening effect. Ideally, you want the widest part of your waves to sit at cheekbone level. This will help to counter the elongation of your face. Since curls tend to be the norm with natural hair, you won’t need to start from scratch. Instead, use a flat iron to enhance the curls around the sides of your face. While other hair curling tools will work too, a flat iron will give you wider and flatter curls, which is exactly what you need. 

Of course, go with a flat iron that isn’t going to damage your hair, such as the HerStyler Colorful Seasons 8 Purple. With infrared technology, this flat iron will gently yet effectively heat up your strands, without causing them to look dry or frizzy once you’re done. Its rounded edge lends itself perfectly to curling, enabling you to get the job done with ease.

Heart-Shaped Face

If you have a heart-shaped face, then not only should your natural hairstyle of choice be one that highlights your amazing cheekbones, but it should also help to balance out your face shape by adding width to your narrow jawline.

How can you do this? A short bob is always a good way to go. This will draw attention to the lower half of your face. It will pull the eye away from the wider top half. Both blunt bobs and layered bobs work well, so long as the emphasis is placed on the area around your jawline. 

Bangs also work beautifully on heart-shaped faces. This will mask the widest part of your face, helping to even out your face shape. While all bang styles will work well for you, curtain bangs are particularly popular. They have a softness to them that other bang styles lack and they’re also relatively easy to pull off with natural hair. 

If you struggle to get your bangs to lie flat against your face, try prepping them with a hair serum. Look for a lightweight formula that won’t weigh your hair down too much, just like the HerStyler VitaOil Biotin Hair Serum. With a blend of biotin, vitamin E, and aloe vera, it will give your hair a much smoother and glossier finish.

Square-Shaped Face

People with square-shaped faces usually have a beautifully strong jawline that photographs well. It’s quite an angular face shape, which is why many choose to go with a natural hairstyle that will soften those sharp lines and make those angles less harsh, without hiding the strength of the jawline. 

Soft and wispy bangs do this well, especially when cut in a side-swept way. This will add some diagonal angles to your face, detracting from its squareness.

Long hairstyles that draw the eye downward can also be advantageous. Waves and curls are particularly softening, making this face shape ideal if your hair is naturally curly! If you would like to emphasize your waves, a curling wand is a must-have tool. Just like when choosing any heated styling tool for natural hair, go with one that will minimize the appearance of heat damage. The HerStyler Grande Curls Pink would be a great choice since this curling wand has been designed with negative ion technology. 

Diamond-Shaped Face

In order to complement a diamond-shaped face, you need a natural hairstyle that will accentuate your gorgeous cheekbones while giving them some balance. This means avoiding hairstyles that add height to your face, such as severe ponytails. 

Instead, consider a long and layered cut, with your layers falling above and below your cheekbones. A chin-length bob will also work well, especially if you’re looking for a low-maintenance hairstyle. 

A butterfly cut is another option worth considering. It begins with short layers that frame the face, which then fall away into longer layers that run through the rest of the hair. Not only is it particularly trendy at the moment, but a butterfly cut is also incredibly versatile. Ask your hairstylist to cut it in a way that balances out your diamond-shaped face, with wispy layers that fall to your chin. It’s a great natural hairstyle for those seeking a touch of glamor, although your hair does need to be relatively healthy to pull this one off. This makes good hair care products a must, especially when it comes to a conditioner. Look for one that will leave your locks looking shiny and glossy, just like the HerStyler Sleek Hair Conditioner. 

Summary

While you may be tempted to go with the same natural hairstyle that your favorite celebrity is rocking, you’ll likely only end up disappointed with the results if you don’t have the same face shape. The best hairstyle for you will be one that takes your individual face shape into account so that it can give your face the balance that it needs.

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