What Haircut is Best for Your Face Shape?

If you’re planning on a whole new cut, check out Groupon’s guide to pairing different face shapes with hairstyles.

Round (nearly equal in length and width with soft, curved edges): Balance is key to any great hairstyle, so those with round faces will benefit from layers that are long or asymmetrical; hard lines help even out a soft face shape. Hair that hits at the shoulders or collarbone provides a slimming effect. Those looking to go shorter should go very short, as volume on the sides can make faces look wider.

Square (nearly equal in length and width, but with sharp edges): Just as round faces need hard lines to cut the softness, square faces benefit from a little softening in the form of layers, waves, or razored or feathered ends. Square faces can pull off many different lengths but benefit from shorter face-framing pieces or long, piece-y bangs, both of which help to visually soften sharp angles. A part that is slightly off center can help blur harsh edges and extra length can help a square face look more oval.

Heart-shaped (wider on top, narrower toward the chin): Full or side-swept bangs help to draw focus to the eyes and away from a pronounced chin, as does a long bob that is all one-length. Waves or curls that hit right below the jaw line help fill in and balance the chin-area, but putting too much curl or frizz on top can make the brow appear wider.

Oval (a long face in which the brow, cheekbones, and jaw are of nearly equal widths): Long faces are the most versatile and can handle styles of varying length and texture. Bangs and cheek-length layers can both balance by adding width, as can waves, curls, or a deep off-center part.