Contouring with reckless abandon isn't the only thing that can make your face look more sculpted. (Which is excellent news considering we're all about the highlight now anyway.) Makeup aside, the right haircut can also transform your face shape for the better. When snipped correctly, your hair can swing and frame your face in a way that makes rounder faces look narrower and adds subtle definition.
"When getting a haircut, the number one rule someone with a round face should take into account is to stay away from blunt lines," hairstylist Tyler Colton tells us. "Hard lines tend to look very young and make your face appear rounder than it is." With that in mind, we asked him and hairstylist Amy Bradbury of Kennaland BK to share the top three haircuts that sculpt and slim your face. If you're looking to make your face look slimmer, bring one of these photos to your stylist.
Lob: "For the record, I love round faces," Bradbury clarifies. "But a long bob, below the jaw, is the absolute best hairstyle if you want to make your face look thinner." Colton agrees, saying, "A lob is an ideal cut because it frames your face." Colton suggests opting for a lob at least three inches below the chin.
"It can extend down to your collarbone, and make sure to ask your hairstylist to add some shattered layers to help define your face," he says. To add separation and definition to your lob after styling. If you want to go shorter than a lob but don't want to veer into "cutesy" territory, Colton says to avoid chin-length bobs and cuts above the chin with straight lines. Bradbury also warns against round bob cuts with straight edges, saying you should stick to more-angular cuts if you want to slim your face.
Long layers: If you prefer your hair on the longer side, opt for long "shaggy layers," according to Bradbury. "A long, layered cut is one ideal hairstyle to create the illusion of a thin face," Colton says. "Long layers help create a soft shape and will help elongate a round face."
One thing to keep in mind when styling, Colton warns, is to maintain volume in the lower sections of your hair, to help balance your face. Too much volume on the sides of your face will only make your face look rounder. Depending on your natural hair texture, you can either let your hair air-dry or opt to style it into soft, beachy waves à la Cara Delevingne. Or, add slight waves to your hair with a straightener.
Side bangs: Lastly, you can always go the It-Brit route and opt for shaggy sideswept bangs. "They're a great style for women trying to elongate their face," Colton says. "Either a lob or long hair can be worn with long, sideswept bangs." If you're taking the plunge and getting bangs, Colton says they should be cut no shorter than halfway down your nose and should have "shattered" ends.
"I recommend bangs if you're trying to draw attention to your eyes," Bradbury says. "Sideswept bangs are ideal for downplaying the roundness of your face." If you're styling your bangs into a deep side part, warm up flexible styling pomade and pat your palm lightly at your part to keep your bangs in place without weighing them down.
Then, run the leftover product through your strands for added shine. In the end, it's less about your face shape and more about finding a haircut that suits you. "Make sure your stylist takes the texture of your hair, your styling routine, and your personal style into consideration before making any cut decisions," Bradbury says. "At the end of your day, your haircut should make you feel confident."
The writer is an Editorial Director from: Seattle, WA for www.byrdie.com
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