Determin your face shape and get the style thats right for you

Did you know that there are 6 basic face shapes?

Determining your face shape will help you decide what new hairstyle to try out,

how to groom your eyebrows, even when buying a new pair of glasses. In a few

simple steps, you'll be able to determine your unique face shape and what

styles are best suited for you.

Determining your face shape

First you want to stand in front of a mirror in a

well-lit room. Pull your hair back in a ponytail or wear a headband. You really

need to see your entire face to properly evaluate its shape. You may also want

to have a tape measure handy for precise measurements and a pen and paper to

jot down your responses.

Now look closely at your face and ask yourself a few

questions. Using your hairline and jaw line as a reference, what is the general

shape of your face: wide, average or narrow?

Next, picture an imaginary line going across the

widest point of your forehead. Imagine a line going across your jaw line. Is

your forehead wider than your jaw or vice versa? Are they the same width? To

get an accurate reading, use the tape measure. At this point, you will also

want to note if your cheekbones are a prominent feature of your face. Are your

cheekbones the widest part of your face?

You also need to measure the length of your face and

compare it to the width. Using your tape measure, measure from the middle of

your hairline to the point of your chin.

Look at your chin. What is the general shape: round,

square or pointy?

Once you've done these preliminary steps, you're

ready to evaluate your results. Here are the six face shapes and their unique

characteristics:

Face shapes

Oval – Your forehead is slightly wider than your

chin. The length of your face is roughly one and a half times the width.

Round – The length and width of your face are about

the same. Your cheeks are prominent.

Oblong – Similar to the oval shape, but longer and

less wide. The chin is also on the pointy side.

Square – Your forehead and jaw line are the same

width. Your jaw is the most prominent feature of your face.

Heart – Your forehead and cheekbones are wider than

your jaw line. You also have a pointy chin.

Diamond – The cheekbones are your most prominent

feature with your forehead and jaw line on the narrow side.

For advice on the best styles for your face shape call Essence Hair and Beauty Torquay on 01803 227925