So many people want to know what their face shape is. 

Unfortunately, face shapes are not easy to define as most people's faces don't fit exactly into any specific shape.

The easiest way of figuring out your face shape is to pull all your hair off your face, and sitting in front of a mirror, get someone else to draw an outline of your face with a whiteboard marker.  You can then see a fairly good representation of your face shape.

The idea with finding flattering haircuts is to make your face appear Oval - so lengthen a shorter face, broaden  or shorten a longer narrow face, balance an unbalanced face. 

In short, put the volume where you are narrowest. Shorten a longer face with a fringe/bangs.  Lengthen a shorter face with height at the crown, length and no or a side swept fringe.  

The 'standard' face shapes are:

Oval -  length is 1.5 x  width, and curves gently at forehead and chin.  Think Kate Moss, Charlize Theron For ideas on hairstyles for Oval faces

Round - length is less than 1.5 x width (more 1:1) and curves at forehead and chin.  Think Kirsten Dunst, Christina Ricci Ideas for hairstyles for your round face

Square - length is less than 1.5 x width and has a square jaw and hairline.  Think Paris Hilton, Sandra Bullock, Demi Moore, Calista Flockhart Ideas for hairstyles for your square face.

Oblong - length is more than 1.5 x width, curved hairline and chin.  Think Sarah Jessica Parker, Chloe Sevigny, Ideas for hairstyles for your oblong face

Diamond - length is around 1.5 x width, hairline is pointed as is chin (softer version of this is Hexagon).  Widest part of the face is cheekbones. Think Salma Blair, Liz Hurley Ideas for hairstyles for your diamond face

Triangle/Teardrop - length and width more similar, but widest part of the face is the jawbone with a tapered hairline.  Think Jennifer Anniston Ideas for hairstyles for your Triangle face

Heart/Inverted Triangle - broadest part of the face is the forehead with a narrow, pointed chin. Think Scarlett Johansen, Reece Witherspoon, Jessica Love-Hewitt, Kylie Minogue Ideas for hairstyles for your heart face

You may find that you fit two categories - square forehead, round chin - then you're a half/half face shape.

Written by:

Imogen Lamport With a lifelong fascination of the how and why Imogen Lamport, an Image Consultant shares the science and the art of style.