How to Part Your Hair Based on Your Face Shape
While the relevance of side parts versus middle parts has recently come into debate on social media, we decided to share our thoughts on the matter. Both hair parts can look good just as long as you’re framing your face correctly.
The way you part your hair is as instinctive as your hair care routine. Most of us have worn our hair part the same way for YEARS, so when you change your hair part, people are likely to notice. If you have ever tried a new hair part and something just didn’t look right, that’s probably because you’ve chosen the wrong style for your face shape.
Learning how to part your hair for your face shape can help bring out certain features on your face like your cheekbones or jawline. Your hair can help frame your face shape based on the texture and length, but the way you part your hair also plays a key role in it all.
How to Determine You Face Shape
Choosing the right hair part for your face shape can yield a similarly impactful result as contouring your face. The best part is you won’t need a bunch of expensive new products to get the look you’re going for. If you’re unsure what your face shape is, grab a measuring tape and record your measurements for the following:
- Forehead Width: Use the tape measure to measure across your forehead from hairline to hairline at your widest point.
- Cheekbone Width: Start at your hairline above your cheekbone and measure the distance across your face to the same spot on the other side.
- Jawline Width: Start underneath your ears at the base of your jaw and measure the distance along the edge of your jaw to the middle of your chin and multiply by 2; or take the measuring tape all the way to the other side of your jawline to right under the other ear.
- Face Length: Measure from the center of your hair line to the tip of your chin.
If your cheekbones and face length have similar measurements and they’re larger than your forehead and jawline, you have a round face shape.
If all your measurements are fairly similar, you have a square face shape.
If your face length is the largest and all the other measurements are similar in size, you have a long face shape.
If your face length is largest, followed by cheekbones, forehead, and your smallest measurement is your jawline, you have a diamond face shape. Depending on this order, you may have a heart face shape. Consider your facial features to help determine which category you fit best in.
Along with the measurements you just took, you need to also consider your other facial features such as the shape of your jaw, chin, and cheekbones. Sometimes you might find yourself between two face shapes, and that’s okay.
Now is time to grab your brush/comb and get ready to learn how to part your hair according to your face shape!
Parting Your Hair with a Round Shaped Face: Middle Part or Deep Side Part
If you have a round face shape, you get to have the best of both worlds. A middle part helps to create a lengthened and symmetrical look around your face, where a deeper side part creates the same illusion but definitely has more styling options. If you’re into bangs or want to give them a try, curtain bangs would look good on a round face. It keeps the focus in the middle of your face and creates a longer, more diamond shape look.
Parting Your Hair with a Long-Shaped Face: Middle Part with Layers or Fringe
If you have a longer face, a middle part works well when cut with bangs. Layers or fringe also helps to frame and shorten the face and bangs, no matter what style, will allow you to part your hair as you prefer to. If bangs just aren’t your thing, no worries. A middle part still works with some layers or a shaggy/fringe to help round and soften angles. If you don’t like a super layered look, try a side-swept or diagonal part that’s softer, but still adding a bit of volume to the part. This will create a rounder look for long faces, shortening the forehead and chin features.
If you have short hair and a long face, longer bangs styled to the side looks great especially if you’re not into layers. On the other hand, if you’re not into bangs but like to have layers, remember the more, the better when it comes to a shorter haircut.
Parting Your Hair with a Square Shaped Face: Soft Side Part
Similarly to longer faces, for parting your hair when you have a square face, the goal is to soften your angles and create a soft frame around your face. A soft side part looks great for square faces to achieve a rounder look. Fringe and layers also suit square faces really well but avoid blunt angles like sharp, straight layers or straight across bangs. A middle part also isn’t recommended for people with a square face because you want to emphasize the jawline or angles.
Parting Your Hair with a Diamond Shaped Face: Side Part
People with a diamond face shape typically have high, defined cheekbones, chin, and overall a more visible bone structure. Texture, waves, and curls help frame the face and soften the diamond shape if you have a more defined bone structure. Similar to a square face shape, a side part complements a diamond face shape as well. Shorter and middle length hairstyles are more the way to go with a diamond face shape because very long hair might overshadow your face.
Parting Your Hair with an Oval Shaped Face: Any Hair Part!
For people with an oval face shape, you’re luckier than the rest of us. No matter what way you part your hair, it will look good. If you have an oval face shape and you’ve never changed up your part, try it! Trust us, it will look good. If you have curly hair with an oval face shape, you can play with the volume of your curls and part your hair to highlight your face shape.
Parting Your Hair with a Heart Shaped Face: Side Part
With a heart shaped face, side parts work best to soften the cheekbones and chin. When you have a heart-shaped face, the cheekbones and chin tend to be more noticeable. A middle part is going to emphasize a pointed chin and bring attention to the center of the face. However, a softer middle part with some bangs or added volume can help sharpen your face features.
Part Your Hair Where You Feel Comfortable
Your go-to hair part definitely gives you comfort and familiarity, and some people’s hair naturally parts a certain way. But sometimes switching up how you part your hair can give you a whole new look! Don’t let your go-to hair restrict your hairs possibilities.
If you need more help trying to decide what hair part to try out, ask your stylist at your next appointment. The above pointers are a good reference, but when it comes down to it, hair parts really come down to your personal preference.
Have any questions about haircare or our services? Feel free to give us a call at (610) 489-2049.
