You and your hairstyle: making the match

Have you ever had a great hair cut that just didn’t work for you? Maybe the style wasn’t the best for your face shape or your hair texture. It happens. A style that looks good with curly, thick hair won’t look the same with straight, thin hair.

When choosing a hairstyle, think about your own features. Choose one that maximizes your best features and helps minimize the others. Besides the size of your nose, your eyes, or your cheekbones, for example, it’s also important to choose a style that complements the shape of your face.

 Shape matters

· Layers, especially layers that hit at the cheekbones and the chin, work well with long faces. Or, long wavy hair that adds a little width to the sides of a longer face work well, too.

· If you have an oval face, most styles will work well for you. Just be careful about too much height at the top of your head, which can make your face look very long, and avoid blunt cuts that create a pyramid effect if your hair is thick and curly.

· For anyone with a heart-shaped face, look for styles that draw attention to eyes and cheekbones.

· The general rule for round faces is to choose styles that elongate your face rather than make it appear rounder. Long hair elongates, for example. Be careful about short, curly styles, which emphasize the round shape.

· Textured styles work very well with square faces. Think curls or choppy ends to play down angular jawlines.

Bangs or not?

What about bangs — should they be part of your style equation? Again, consider your features and the look you’re after. If you think your forehead is too large, bangs may help camouflage it. They can also help soften a look or make a style look ultra sleek with blunt, straight lines.

Bottom line — consult your stylist

Look at pictures, find what you like, and work with your stylist to create the look you’re after. Talk about how a particular cut and styling techniques can complement your features and make the most impact with your natural beauty.