If you’re thinking about how to part your hair, consider shaping up. Don’t worry, it’s not your fitness routine we’re talking about, it’s your face shape.
While Gen-Z and Millennials take to social media to argue the relevance of the side part versus the middle part, we want to keep the peace and say both can look just as good, as long as you’re framing your face correctly.
How did hair parts become so controversial anyway? For most people, the way you part your hair is as instinctive as your haircare routine. You’ve probably worn your hair part the same way for years, so when you change your hair part, people are likely to notice. However, if you’ve ever tried a new hair part and something simply looked off, you may have chosen the wrong style for your face shape.
Learning how to part your hair for your face shape can help accentuate your cheekbones, soften sharper angles and even elongate your face. Our hair can help frame our face shape based on texture and length but the way you part your hair also plays a key role in how flattering it is to your face.
How to determine the shape of your face:
If contouring with makeup isn’t your thing, choosing the right hair part for your face shape can yield a similarly impactful result. The best part? You aren’t going to need a bunch of new products to make any changes. If you’re unsure what your face shape is, grab some measuring tape and write down your measurements for the following:
Forehead width: Take the tape measure and hold it across your forehead, from hairline to hairline at your widest point.
Cheekbone width: Starting at your hairline above your cheekbone, measure the distance across your face to the same spot on the other side.
Jawline Width: Start underneath your ears at the base of your jaw and measure the distance along the edge of your jaw to the middle of your chin, you can continue across or take the first number and multiply by 2.
Face Length: Measure from the center of your hairline to the tip of your chin.
- If your cheekbones and face length have similar measurements and they are larger than your forehead and jawline, you have a round face shape.
- If all your measurements are fairly similar, you have a square face shape.
- If your face length is largest and all other measurements are similar in size, you have a long face shape.
- If your face length is largest, followed by cheekbones, forehead, and smallest is jawline, you have a diamond face shape. Depending on this order, you may have a heart face shape. Consider your facial features and this will help determine which category you fit in best.
The above measurements can help you get you started, but don’t forget to consider your other facial features like the shape of your jaw, chin and cheekbones. Sometimes you’ll find yourself between two face shapes, and that’s totally normal.
Grab your comb and get ready to take some notes, we are taking you to hair parts school 101. Here is how to part your hair according to your face shape.
Hair Parts for Round face: Middle part or deep side part
With a round face shape, you get the best of both worlds when it comes to the middle vs. side part battle. A middle part helps to create a lengthened and symmetrical look around your face. If you’re into bangs, or willing to give them a try, curtain bangs (parted at the centre and angled down, getting longer towards your jawline), keeps the focus to the middle of your face, again creating a longer more diamond shape look. For more tips on how to style curtain bangs, we’ve got you covered.
If you have a round face and want to know how to part your hair without going down the middle, opt for a deep side part. A deep side part creates the same illusion as a middle part.
The side part is a go-to look for actress Emma Stone. Whether she goes red, blonde, or brunette, the side part truly complements her round face shape. With the side part, hair can still be styled anyway you want whether that’s a power pony, or vintage, luscious waves.
Hair Parts for Long face: Middle part with layers or fringe
With a longer face, a middle part works very well when cut with bangs. Layers or fringe also help frame and shorten the face. The bangs (no matter the style) will allow you to part your hair as you prefer. If bangs aren’t your thing a middle part still works with the use of layers, or a shaggy or fringe to help round and soften angles. If you prefer a style that’s not super layered, try a side-swept or diagonal part that’s softer, adding a bit of volume at the part. This type of hair part for long faces creates a more rounder look, shortening the forehead and chin features.
If you have short hair and a long face, longer bangs styled to the side look fantastic, if you’re not into layers. On the other hand, if you’re not into bangs but like layers, remember the more, the better when it comes to a shorter haircut.
Hair Parts for Square face: Soft side part
Hair parts for square faces work similarly to parts for longer faces, you want to soften your angles and create a soft frame around your face. A soft side part works great for square faces to achieve a rounder look. Unlike for round-face girls, this is a true side part and doesn’t go too far on your preferred side. Fringe and lots of layers also suit square faces really well. Avoid blunt angles like sharp bangs, or sharp straight layers. A middle part should also be avoided if you don’t want to accentuate the jawline or angles.
Hair Parts for Diamond face: Side part
Diamond face shapes typically have high, defined cheekbones, chin and overall, more visible bone structure. With a defined bone structure, texture, waves and curls can help to frame the face and soften the diamond shape. Similar to the square face shape, a side part really complements this type of face shape. It’s also important to keep in mind that shorter hairstyles or medium length hair look best with the diamond shape face as very long hair may overshadow your face.
Victoria Beckham is not just a fashion icon, but a hair style icon when it comes to the diamond face shape. The former Spice Girl truly knows her angles and pairs her hairstyles well to define her bone structure.
The French bob hairstyle is the perfect short cut for a diamond face shape.
Hair Parts for Oval face: Any hair part!
If you have an oval face, you’ve essentially won the face shape lottery – it doesn’t matter how you part your hair, it will look good on you. If you have an oval face shape and you’ve worn your hair part the same way consistently, don’t be afraid to switch it up – trust us, it will look great. If you have curly hair and an oval face you can play with the volume of your curls and your hair part to help accentuate your face shape.
Using hair extensions helps to create natural-looking volume and will help to frame your face nicely no matter how you decide to part your hair. With an oval face, you can also pull off a variety of hairstyles, use this to your advantage to play with length and texture!
Both Shay Mitchell and Bella Hadid have oval face shapes and you can see in the variety of hair styles and hair parts they wear, that nothing ever looks out of place or off-side. We are not jealous, just in awe.
Hair Parts for Heart face shapes: Side part
With a heart shape face, side parts work to soften the cheekbones and the chin. With a heart-shaped face, the chin and cheekbones can be more pronounced. A harsh middle part may pronounce a pointed chin and bring attention to the center of the face. However, a softer middle part with bangs or added volume can help sharpen your features.
Soft bangs and a middle part also can work for heart shaped faces. Hair extensions offer natural volume and length that you can easily style with your side part and can help complement any style you’re trying to achieve to accentuate your heart face shape.
and most importantly…
How you part your hair should make you feel comfortable
Our go-to hair part definitely offers comfort and familiarity. Your hair may also naturally part a certain way and you may have to finesse it a bit to change directions – that’s ok. Sometimes switching up how you part your hair can give you a whole new look with just a little effort. Don’t let your go-to hair part restrict your hairstyle possibilities.
If you need more help trying out new hair parts that suits your face shape, ask your stylist at your next appointment, or simply experiment at home. The above pointers are a great reference if you’re looking to figure out how to best part your hair for your face shape, but ultimately, when it comes down to it, hair parts really come down to personal preference.
What’s your go-to hair part? And are you willing to try something new?
Written by: Rosalyn Solomon