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Hair and What Makes It Work For You

Have you ever seen someone who just had his or her whole look together and wondered why it worked so well? There are many elements that go into putting it all together such as shape, color, texture and proportion. These are essential elements not only in selecting one’s wardrobe but also in choosing the right hairstyle. I have spent the last 15 years studying face shapes and how they relate to hair. Here are some of my observations.

In order for a hairstyle to suit someone, it has to proportionately relate to their unique face shape. Whether you are trying to achieve a current trend, drama or a classic shape, balance and proportion are the keys to success.

The classic oval face shape is the most desirable because it emphasizes length and prominence of cheekbones. It is possible to achieve the illusion of an oval face shape but first we must understand its characteristics.

The average face is seven to seven and a half inches long. In order for it to be the classic oval it must be two thirds longer than it is wide. The prominence of the cheekbones has an impact on the degree of the oval as well. I usually rank them as slightly prominent, average prominence and strong angular. Take a look in the mirror with your hair pulled back to determine where you fit.

Another key is to determine the placement of volume in your hairstyle. For anything other than a dramatic look the hair should create a balanced shape. In other words, it should have height and width relative to your face size. The appropriate amount of height equals one third more than the length of your face. Where it is placed is usually determined more by current fashion. For instance, the recent trend has seen flatter fronts with more height in the crown. The width of the style should equal roughly one half the width of your face at the widest point, which is the bridge of the nose to the cheekbone for most. If these proportions are balanced then the length of hair is not as much of a factor.

To wear bangs or not is a common question and it again comes back to facial proportions. For instance, if your face is three to three and half inches loner than wide you may consider bangs. Where they are placed and their length is extremely important. The temple area just above the cheekbone is the narrowest point of the top half of face. If the bang or fringe intersects that area it diminishes the impact on the oval and you lose the strength of the cheekbones. The most powerful impact is when the bang angles slightly to intersect with the cheekbone at the widest point. This can be a challenge because bangs grow out quickly, however it is better to have them longer and have them trimmed between regular visits to maintain that perfect length. With the right face, bangs may be used regardless of length and width. Halle Berry is a prime example of this.

These are a few things that go into creating that dynamic style that makes people turn around and look again. I hope you find this helpful. Everyone thinks they have the worst hair in the world and it is my job to prove them wrong.

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