Face shape question! +pictures

Hey all. I'm planning on getting a new haircut fairly soon. It would have blunt bangs and longer wisps framing the face and an angled bob in the back (think Keira Knightley's cut http://www.kissandmakeup.tv/keira%20knightley.jpg in the front but with slightly longer and thicker side tendrils, and Victoria Beckham's cut http://homesanctuary.typepad.c.....left_s.jpg in the back), but I want to make sure this is the right cut for my face shape so I don't look funny.

I took measurements of my face. If pictures are necessary that's fine, I just don't have any off hand right now, so I'd have to post them later. The width of my face from one cheek to the other is 4", and the length from forehead to chin is 8."

I though maybe I was oval, but the rule for that apparently is that the length = 1 and 1/2 times the width, so I'm two inches off in that dimension, but my face really isn't round. My forehead and jawline are about equal, and I have a sort of pointed chin (it's not "pointy" per se, but it's definitely much narrower than my jaw!)

I'm a bit worried that I might have a round face, and apparently blunt bangs and side bits framing your face are exactly what round faces ought to avoid...so I figured I'd consult the knowledgable ladies at YLF!

Any thoughts, or do you think a picture would be more helpful?

EDIT:

Here's a picture!

Covered: http://i527.photobucket.com/al.....eshape.jpg
Uncovered: http://i527.photobucket.com/al.....020317.jpg

P.S. my left eye isn't normally that puffy! The lighting was bad

17 years ago

ImogenL

(website)

Active Member

It sounds like you have a squarer face, rather than round. Another test is that you should have 3 noses, so from bridge of nose to base of nose, measure this first with your fingers, then same measurement from bridge of nose to top of forehead, and then base of nose to chin - if any segements are longer or shorter then this also affects the appearance of the face.

Given that Victoria Beckham has a square face, you would be pretty safe to go with her cuts. But I'd avoid the blunt fringe as this will shorten and widen your face, go for a fringe that is more side swept so this doesn't happen.

A pic would certainly help, but this is what I'd say given your descriptions.

Oneirix

Thanks Imogen! I'm pretty sure I don't have a square face though... I posted a picture for reference.

I did the nose thing. I have a short nose bridge, so both the length from bridge to forehead and base of nose to chin is longer than my nose. The left over length from both measurements is equal though.

I really don't want side swept bangs because I've had them for so long...I wanted to try something edgier.

Thanks for the feedback!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Oneirix! I’m afraid I can't deduce a thing from the picture. You are all covered up!

Darn! I thought that covering it up would make it easier since I covered up along my face line. Okay, I'll post the original.

You actually appear to have a pretty oval face from your pics - so have the blunter bangs if you want them. Your length looks around 1.5x the width (maybe slightly shorter, but not much).

Good luck with it

shiny

Veteran

Oneirix, I'll be "blunt" (pun intended). I'm afraid the bangs will make you look younger. I don't know your age, but you look quite young to begin with. I placed my hand across your photo -right where bangs would land - and it made you look like you were a little kid.... cute, but too cutesy.

The bangs COULD work, if you have some totally funky specs. That would edge it up, I think.

The Beckham cut in the back: that's what I have. It's called a graduated bob, and it's a cut invented by Vidal Sassoon. Tip: find a hairdresser that is trained in the Sassoon method. It's a fabulous, easy to maintain hairstyle, that you can even funk up with hair product if you're feeling funky... but I have learned the hard way through experience that it takes skill, and not any hairdresser can do it correctly.

I do think this (graduated bob) is a GREAT cut for you. Your hair seems like similar texture as mine - I have thin AND fine hair. Taking off length makes my hair look much fuller and thicker than it is. And the graduated part in the back, adds inches at the crown for height. (Which I need - I'm only 5'0)

As for the front part... I would go slow on the bang idea. Have you ever had bangs like this before? If you haven't, one concern is cowlicks and waviness you didn't know you had, until you go short. I cannot wear bangs unless I dedicated myself to flat ironing them every single morning. They would never lie flat.

And bangs take forever to grow out... my DD is in the midst of growing hers out right now.... if you decide you don't like them, you'll end up spending months with barrettes and hairbands.

So I would go one step at a time, get the bob in the back but keep length in the front - long sideswept bangs first. Live with that awhile before going with the blunter bangs.

Disclaimer: I'm not any expert on hair styles and what works best with what sort of face!

shell

im not a hair expert either, so i can't make a total call as to whether the described style would work for you. you could try going to an online makeover site, like http://www.taaz.com, where you can upload your photo and try different hairstyles.

Ana

I agree with Shiny's advice. I think going slowly is a good plan. Maybe if you really want bangs, get some wispy side swept bangs that are a bit longer. If you don't like them, it doesn't take as long to grow them out. If you decide bangs are for you, then you can make a more drastic change.

Edit: I'm thinking about cutting my hair, too and just tried that taaz thing Shell posted about. It is awesome! I'm going to post some options and see what people think. They might not have the exact hairstyle you have in mind, but maybe you could put some photos together and post them here as well. I think it would be really helpful and you'd get more definite opinions. Plus, you'd have something to print out and take to your stylist.

Thanks Shiny! I actually had the Victoria Beckham cut twice. This is what it looks like when it's grown out on me! It's an amazing style, I have to agree. Thanks for all the information on it! Although my hair is neither thin nor fine. It's actually quite thick and can be somewhat coarse if I don't use the right shampoo.

As far as the bangs go, Keira Knightley's cut is not a perfect representation for what I want; for example that's not where I want my bangs to lay. I've seen this cut on someone else and it's really very edgy and not cutesy in the least. I understand the concern and I'll definitely be talking to my stylist about it, but differing lengths in the bangs can make it a totally different look (Heidi Klum's bangs vs. Keira Knightley's, for example).

I'm willing to flat iron my bangs, and I've had side bangs before so I know where the kinks are at. My previous "style" before the Beckham cut was side bangs, so I know what they look like. They're cute, but I'm bored of them now.

Re: edgy glasses, I fluctuate between contacts and a pretty sweet pair of specs, so yeah, I could do that.

Thanks for your in-depth and honest response! I really appreciate it!

Hey Shell and Ana! Thanks for the website! I'll go check that out; normally I'm wary of those because the angles or proportions are wrong and it ends up just looking awful, but I'm always willing to give "makeover" sites a try.

Re: getting sidebangs, I've already had them for a year or so and they DO look fantastic, but I want something edgier and with more interest.

Thanks for the advice! I'm curious to hear what Angie has to say too...

EDIT: I just did the taaz thing. That editor is AMAZING!!! Thank you SO much shell for that site!

I don't think bangs look little kid-ish on me, which is pleasing.

I think I'm going to go through with the cut. I'll post pictures when it's done and see what you all think!

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