How to Choose a Hairstyle

Co-authored by Ashley Adams

Last Updated: August 11, 2020 References

With so many great hairstyles out there to choose from, sometimes it can feel hard to pick just one. When choosing a hairstyle, you may want to consider the shape of your face or other pronounced features when deciding how to wear your hair on a daily basis. Or you may be looking for the perfect style to wear with a certain outfit on a special occasion instead. Either way, choosing a hairstyle can be a lot of fun when you consider what would look best on your unique self!

Method 1 of 3:

Selecting a Style for Your Face Shape

1
Go with layers, an asymmetrical cut, or a defined pixie on a woman’s round face. Women with round faces will want to have layers with longer hair or make a bold statement with shorter hair. Hair past your shoulders or a bob should have rich layers to add definition to your face.^{[1]
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- For shorter hair, try an asymmetrical bob or a defined pixie. Either cut will add angles and shape to your soft features.
2
Wear the sides and back short to create chiseled features on a man’s round face. Men with round faces can create the illusion of chiseled features by wearing their hair longer on top and very short, even shaved, on the sides and back. Try a side part or messy fringes on the longer top section of your hair to complete the look.^{[2]
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- A thin, well-groomed beard that goes close to your Adam’s apple looks good on a round face if you like facial hair.
3
Try blunt bangs or a center part on women’s heart-shaped faces. Heart-shaped faces are wider at the top around the cheekbones and come to a point down toward the chin. Bangs that are cut straight across your forehead work well on heart-shaped faces by framing the wider part of your face.^{[3]
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- If you’re not a fan of bangs but have a heart-shaped face, try a center part to show it off. A side part tends to create an illusion of elongating your face, which is great for round faces but unnecessary for heart-shapes.
- This face shape can wear most all lengths and types of layers well.
4
Get lots of layers, waves, or a diamond cut for a woman’s square-shaped face. Women with square-shaped faces have a wider jawline and more angular features than other face shape types. Softer hairstyles work better than angular or boxy styles on this face shape.^{[4]
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- Lots of length is great on a square-shaped face, especially if you add layers and/or waves to the ends.
- A diamond cut is longer in the back and shorter up front, and is worn best with wavy hair on square-faces.
- If you wear bangs, go with side-swept ones as opposed to straight-across to keep your style softer.
5
Wear your sideburns short and style your hair upward for a man’s square face. Men with square faces can add a little length to their face by wearing an upward style like a pompadour. Another way to add some length is by keeping your sideburns above the ears.^{[5]
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- If you like facial hair, a longer beard also works well on a square face.
- If you'd prefer to keep longer hair, a bun may also be a good option. This keeps the sides looking short, and the bun can be as high and as long as you would like.
6
Keep volume at the top for a men’s and women’s triangular-shaped faces. Men with triangle-shaped faces have narrower temples and cheekbones and wider jawlines. Keeping your hair longer and textured at the top can help your face look more proportioned.^{[6]
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- If your hair has some curl to it, grow it out on top and wear it in a messy pompadour.
- If you like wearing facial hair, a thicker beard or goatee that’s well-groomed can disguise the angles of your jawline.
- Women with triangular faces can wear a layered bob with bangs well. Fringe in the front helps create the illusion of a wider forehead.
7
Experiment with different styles if your face is oval-shaped. Oval-shaped faces are known for being the most well-proportioned, and can basically rock any style. Browse hair magazines and pictures on the internet to find your favorite style, and take it to your hairdresser at your next cut.^{[7]
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Method 2 of 3:

Complementing Your Features

1
Flatter a large forehead with bangs. If you have a large forehead and want to try concealing it a bit, bangs are your best bet. Choose thick, straight across bangs if your face is heart- or oval-shaped.^{[8]
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- Round- and square-shaped faces look best with side-swept bangs.
2
Draw attention away from your nose with a side-part. If you don’t like your nose for any reason, you can draw attention to your eyes instead with a deep side-part. Side-parts also create an illusion of length for your face, and they tend to draw attention toward your forehead and chin and away from your face’s center.^{[9]
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3
Wear a pixie cut if you have small features. Small eyes, noses, and mouths may get drowned out in long, layered tresses. If your facial features are on the smaller side, consider wearing your hair short. Pixie cuts and chin-length bobs draw lots of attention to your features and help them to look more proportioned.^{[10]
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- Men with small features should try keeping their hair clipped short and avoiding too much facial hair, or their features may be overpowered by lots of hair.
4
Conceal a long neck with long locks. If your neck is on the longer side and you’d like to hide it a little, simply grow your hair long. Wear it straight or in waves to draw attention away from the length of your neck.^{[11]
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- If you currently have shorter hair, it can take a few months to grow longer tresses. To add some extra length while you grow your hair, use clip-in extensions. You could even consider getting wigs to try some different styles.
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Method 3 of 3:

Choosing a Style for a Special Occasion

1
Wear a loose, wavy updo with a lacy dress. Lacy dresses are the most romantic and call for a romantic hairstyle to match. Consider an updo with loose waves and add flowers or barrettes to complete the look. If your hair is naturally straight, use rollers or a curling iron to add waves before you sweep it up and twist it a few times in the back.^{[12]
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- Secure your updo with bobby pins and decorative barrettes to complete the look.
2
Try a high, messy, fishtail braid with a halter dress. Halter dresses look great with a style that complements their long, strappy appearance. Add some volumizer to your hair and pull it up into a high ponytail. Make a loose fishtail braid and secure it with an elastic hairband.^{[13]
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- If you don’t have the length or volume of hair to pull off this look, try adding some clip-on extensions before pulling your hair up.
3
Wear side-swept waves with a mermaid dress. Mermaid dresses are very elegant; wear an equally elegant hairstyle with yours to complete your look. Get loose waves by braiding your hair into one large, loose braid and sleeping in it overnight. Then simply add styling serum before your event and comb all of your hair off to one side.^{[14]
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- Add some hairspray to finish off your waves and complete this elegant style.
4
Try a ballerina bun with a one-shouldered dress. One-shouldered dresses have a bold and dramatic appearance, so let them get the attention they deserve by keeping your hair up and out of the way. Simply pull your hair up into a high ponytail and wrap the tail around the center all the way to the ends. Secure the bun with bobby pins all around.^{[15]
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- Consider using extensions or a sock bun to achieve this look if your hair isn’t very long or is very thin.
- To make the look more sleek and modern, smooth some gel or mousse into your hair to tame frizz and flyaways. Then, pull your hair back in your ponytail and proceed with the bun.
5
Curl and pin shorter hair to one side for a vintage look. If you have a bob that’s chin- or shoulder-length, create a 1920s style by curling with large rollers or a curling iron and setting the curls with hairspray. Comb all of your curls over to one side, and pin them in place with bobby pins.^{[16]
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6
Add flower or rhinestone barrettes to any length hair. Any length hair can be dressed up with one or several barrettes. Place them throughout an updo on longer hair, or style shorter hair with curls or twists before placing your barrettes throughout.^{[17]
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- Choose barrettes that match your dress or your jewelry for the best look.
7
Slick back your hair or make a pompadour for a classic look. Guys can instantly make their hair more formal by combing it back with pomade. To create a pompadour, slick back the sides of your damp hair with pomade. Take a round brush, and starting at the back of your head, roll the brush backwards while pushing your hair upward and forward and blasting it with hot air from your blow-dryer.^{[18]
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- Continue the rolled brushing all the way over the top to your forehead until the top of your hair is tall and rounded. Run more pomade through it, and set the style with some high-hold hairspray.
- For optimal results, use a nozzle attachment on your blow dryer. This helps focus the air on the specific sections of hair you are working with.
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Question

Do certain hair colors look better on different styles?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

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Light colors show off layers and texture, while dark colors produce a more solid silhouette; keep this in mind when selecting your cut. If your hair is heavy, thick and dark, you may want to add some highlights and layers, as both will reduce visual density.

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What haircut is best for my face shape as a guy?

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The right haircut for your face can really make a big difference. If you have more of a rounded face, wear the sides and back short to create chiseled features. Try a side part or messy fringes on the longer top section of your hair to complete the look. Square-shaped faces, are best complemented with short sideburns and an upward hairstyle. A style like a pompadour can add a little length to your face. A triangular-shaped face, where you have narrower temples and wider jawlines are best served by keeping your hair longer and textured at the top, which can help your face look more proportioned.

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What is the most attractive hairstyle on a girl?

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The best hairstyles are the ones that accentuate a girl's facial features. You want a hairstyle that complements your look. For instance, if you have a large forehead and want to try concealing it a bit, bangs are your best bet. Choose thick, straight across bangs if your face is heart- or oval-shaped. But if you have a round or square-shaped face, side-swept bangs are a better option because they'll add dimension to your appearance. If you want to draw attention away from your nose, use a deep side-part to bring more attention to your eyes instead. If you have small features, like small eyes, a small nose, or a small mouth, pixie cuts and chin-length bobs draw lots of attention to your features and help them to look more proportioned. It's all about finding a style that suits your own natural features. But that doesn't always mean your face. For instance, if you have a long neck that you'd like to hide a little, simply grow your hair long. Wear it straight or in waves to draw attention away from the length of your neck.

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How do I know which hairstyle suits me?

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One of the best ways is to choose a style that suits the shape of your face. If you have a rounded face, go with layers, an asymmetrical cut, or a defined pixie, which will add angles and shape to your features. For a heart-shaped face, which are wider at the top and come to a point down toward the chin, blunt bangs or a center part can create the illusion of a more elongated and proportional face. Use lots of layers, waves, or a diamond cut for a square-shaped face. A diamond cut is longer in the back and shorter up front, and is worn best with wavy hair on square-faces. These styles will soften your angular or boxy facial features. If you wear bangs, go with side-swept ones as opposed to straight-across to keep your style softer.

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Question

I've got a nice, long neck, and I wish to highlight it through a long high-low bob haircut. Will this work if I have thick and wavy hair?

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Only if you always straighten it and use smoothing products. Wavy, thick hair is not great with geometrical cuts, since the straight lines of the haircut get lost.

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Question

Is a high ponytail good for a round face?

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I have a round face and I think I look good with a high ponytail. Bangs make the look even cuter.

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Question

If I have a round face and medium-thick hair, what cut should I get?

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I have thick hair and a round face, and I have layered hair that falls just over my shoulders. I get loads of compliments about it, so you could try that.

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Question

How do I curl my hair for school?

Community Answer

Try doing it the night before or put it in a ponytail and then use a curling wand to get curls. If you put it in a ponytail, it is easier.

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Question

What if I don't like the result of my hair cut?

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If you don't like the style, wait for it to grow out. You will get used to it. If it is so bad that you can't bear it, then go back to the hairdresser and ask for some sort of fix. If you can't afford that, try hair accessories to draw attention away from the cut.

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What if I get a fringe and don't like it? Will it look awkward growing out?

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It may look awkward at first. This article has some great suggestions for how to grow them out gracefully if you decide to take the plunge: how to style bangs while growing them out.

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