Hairstyles for Your Face Shape

Choosing a hairstyle can be a fun and often scary process. With so many styles to choose, how do you know which one is right for you? The shape of your face is a great indicator as to what style will suit you the most.

Look to your Hollywood inspirations for styles that suit you, but remember to follow the stars who have the same face shape as you and you will be set to having gorgeous, Hollywood hair that looks like it was made for you.

There are five basic face shapes. These are: square, round, oval, heart and long face shapes. This article will help you identify which shapes A-list celebs have and give you some guidance on what you should go for and also what you should avoid.

THE SQUARE FACE

If your face is shaped like Jennifer Aniston, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson or Hillary Swank, you've got a square face. A square face is generally categorized by a strong, defined jaw, much like your celebrity look-alike.

When choosing a hairstyle to suit your square face, you should aim for one that will take the emphasis away from your jaw. A great way to do this is to opt for hairstyles that have texture and layers. Choppy and uneven ends that frame your face are great options for this face shape. So are side-swept bangs. Curls in varying positions also look great on this face shape.

Avoid hairstyles that end on your jawline as these will define your jaw. Remember "the Rachel" hairstyle worn by Jennifer Aniston in Friends? This one is a great option for shorter hair and works wonders for square faces.

THE ROUND FACE

Celebrities with a round face include Cameron Diaz, Kate Bosworth, Kate Hudson and Katherine Zeta Jones.

When choosing a hairstyle to suit your round face, aim to keep the face balanced. You want to keep the face clean and free from fringes and very choppy, blunt bangs. Try to keep the volume of the hair surrounding your face as minimal as possible, as you don't want to accentuate your roundness.

A great hairstyle for a round face is to have long bangs, swept to the side that cover the forehead.

THE OVAL FACE

When it comes to oval faces, famous faces that come to mind include Cindy Crawford, Hayden Panettiere, Jessica Alba and Gwyneth Paltrow.

This face shape is probably the easiest to style because it will suit most hairstyles. Depending on your individual tastes, you can have long or short hair options. Try to avoid styles that add too much height to your head, as these will make your face seem out of proportion.

Play with sexy bobs, long and loose curls and choppy bangs as these styles look fabulous on you.

THE HEART-SHAPED FACE

The distinct feature that defines this face shape is the cute, pointy chin much like celebrities such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Reese Witherspoon, Victoria Beckham and Natalie Portman. All these celebs have what is known as a heart-shaped face, because when you look at it, the point chin resembles a heart.

With this type of face shape you want to draw attention away from your chin in the center, therefore avoid straight cut fringes, which will define your chin. You can play with many options, including side-swept bangs and try them out in different positions. These will finish off your look nicely and take the emphasis off your chin.

Play with soft, wispy layers that start just under your cheekbone, or if you have long hair, longer layers are very flattering for this face shape.

THE LONG FACE

If your face is long like Anne Hathaway, Penelope Cruz, Lindsay Lohan and Liv Tyler you should try to avoid plain Jane hairstyles. Instead of parting your hair in the middle, opt for side partings and avoid straight cut styles as these will make your face look longer.

Create fullness at the top and then have sexy layers, at varying lengths to finish this look off. Romantic, loose curls look great with this face shape.