This week’s blog topic came straight from you guys. If you didn’t know, you can always send me beauty, hair, or styling questions through my Instagram and I’ll answer them here on the blog. One of my clients asked what part line and bang style is most complimentary for different face shapes and honestly this is one confusing topic for a LOT of people because it’s one of the simplest changes you can make that completely shifts how your face looks.

I’m Meg Ann Lee, hairstylist, makeup artist, and co-owner of Moss Salon in Eau Claire.

Before I get into the breakdowns I want to say something first. These are guidelines, not rules. If you have a round face and you love your middle part, KEEP YOUR MIDDLE PART. The goal here isn’t to tell you what to do. It’s to give you information so that if you’ve been feeling like something is off or you want to switch things up, you know where to start. Your hair should make you feel like the best version of yourself and sometimes that means following the “rules” and sometimes it means completely ignoring them. Both are valid.

How to Figure Out Your Face Shape

Pull your hair back. Look in a mirror straight on. Notice where your face is widest. Is it your forehead, your cheeks, or your jaw? Is your face longer than it is wide or about equal? You don’t have to measure anything, it can be an estimate.

Round faces are widest at the cheeks with soft angles. Oval faces are slightly longer than wide with balanced proportions. Square faces have a strong jaw that’s about the same width as the forehead. Heart shaped faces are wider at the forehead and narrower at the chin. Diamond faces are widest at the cheekbones with a narrow forehead and chin. Long faces are noticeably longer than they are wide. Now that you know what you’re working with, let’s talk about what to do with it.

The Side Part

A side part creates asymmetry which is why it’s so universally flattering. It draws the eye diagonally instead of straight down the center. This is best with Round, Heart, and Square shaped faces.  A side part breaks up the symmetry and makes the face look longer. Go deeper for more impact. The side part draws attention away from the widest point at the forehead and balances the proportions.

The Middle Part

A middle part creates symmetry. It frames both sides of the face equally and highlights balance. This is best with Oval, Diamond, and square faces.  If You have an oval shape you’re already proportional so a center part just shows that off. This is the face shape that can do pretty much anything but a middle part really lets it shine. A middle part with some length around the face softens wider cheekbones and balances the top and bottom half of a heart shaped or diamond shaped face. If you have a more square facial shape and you want to lean INTO your angles instead of softening them, a middle part highlights that jaw and bone structure.

Bangs

Bangs change the game because they alter the visible proportions of your face by covering or framing the forehead. Ever heard anyone say “ bangs or botox”? its an option that softens our face as we age.

Curtain bangs work for almost everyone. They frame the face without fully covering the forehead. Great if you’re nervous about committing because they grow out nicely.

Side swept bangs are ideal for round faces. The diagonal line adds length and draws attention to the cheekbones instead of the fullness of the cheeks.

Wispy bangs soften square faces. They break up that straight horizontal line across the forehead without making the face look heavy.

Full blunt bangs look amazing on oval faces. Balanced proportions can handle a strong frame without throwing anything off.

Longer faces benefit from bangs the MOST. Bangs visually shorten the face by covering forehead space. Thicker and fuller makes the biggest impact here.

The Real Answer to This Beauty Question

Try it. Switch your part for a week. Clip your hair into faux bangs and see how it feels. The best way to know what works for you isn’t reading a blog post. It’s looking in the mirror, trusting and loving  what you see! I can give you the guidelines but you’re the one who knows what makes you feel like yourself <3