Round and cherubic, square and characterful, long and feminine… face shapes come in all sorts, each with its own charms and its own strengths to play up — and, of course, its own lineup of made-to-measure hairstyles. Want a cut that really works with your features? Each face shape suits certain styles that seem, as if by magic, to balance and flatter it with barely three strokes of the comb. Here are a few tips for choosing your haircut by face shape — nothing set in stone: after that, it's over to you to dress your face however you like!

Round faces

Round and full of cheek, your face is soft and lovely; the trick is to avoid the "all-round" look by picking a style that counterbalances it. Long or mid-length hair (reaching the middle of the neck) is the ideal, elongating the face. Curls look great on this shape, too: they frame the face with volume and movement, softening the roundness. If you fancy a more structured cut, go for a long layered style, for instance.

And if long really isn't for you, choose a short cut with plenty of volume — a tousled look, a bouncy blow-dry…

Avoid: flat roots and lengths that cling to the face — that's what plays up the childlike effect.

Hairstyle guide to suit your face shape

A pretty round face softened by gorgeous wavy lengths — a combination good enough to eat!

Young woman with a round face and long, voluminous wavy hair lifted at the roots

Square faces

A fairly "square" forehead and pronounced jawline make your face, by its shape, "harder" than a round one, which tends to read as softer. So the ideal is to bring in waves and gentle movement to break up that too-square effect.

Again, steer clear of anything too flat: go for a bit of length, below the chin or lower, and play with movement. Soft waves or a blow-dry styled for movement and texture — that distance is what breaks the "square" effect. A tapered side fringe adds a lovely softness.

Woman with a square face, soft waves below the jaw and a tapered side fringe

Avoid: a bob on a square face!

Broad forehead and square jaw: a cropped brush cut or very long hair with a centre parting can work — but this kind of face looks best with pretty waves (and therefore volume), or with a fringe.

Long faces

A fairly narrow, elongated face, with a fine chin and a high forehead: yours is feminine and made for fringes.

The best for you is a cut that's neither too short nor too long — a mid-length, for example. Add volume at the sides to balance things out, and forget the pin-straight layered cut, which is too structured: go for something softer, less classic. A fringe dresses the forehead, a few strands frame the face, and a touch of blusher on the tops of the cheekbones — and you're all set!

Woman with a long face, mid-length hair with a fringe and volume at the sides

Avoid: very long, straight hair with a centre parting, which stretches the line even further, and very short cuts, which leave the whole length of the face on show.

A pretty elongated face, with a high forehead and a fine, pointed chin: the watchwords for this shape — long, and a touch triangular — are fringe, length and volume!

Oval faces

A rounded face tempered by a lovely fine chin, a fairly discreet jawline and a forehead that's neither small nor large: oval faces can get away with almost anything! Your classic shape leaves you a wide choice of cuts: very long to short, via curls, layers… take your pick.

A boyish crop, long waves, sleek layers, a structured bob, a fringe… all of these will frame your face harmoniously!

Avoid: cuts that feel unfeminine, like very short hair, which would undo the softness and femininity of the face.

Hairstyle guide to suit your face shape

A lovely oval is the shape that allows every whim: a neat sleek mid-length, long waves, a bob, a fringe… it all suits it!

Heart-shaped faces (wide at the top, tapering to a point)

A fine chin and a fairly broad forehead pull in opposite directions: the aim is to rebalance the curves of your face, softening the forehead and making the most of the lower half.

A fringe, for instance, can dress your face to perfection, reducing the width of the forehead — or, if you'd rather skip the fringe, a few strands swept across the face with a sweeping bob, wavy lengths or a feminine short cut.

Avoid, if your forehead is very broad: hair scraped back, like a bun, which would emphasise the mismatch between the top and bottom of the face.

Broad forehead and pointed chin: dress this heart-shaped face with a fringe just above the brow, and sleek lengths in a pretty baby blonde!

Want personalised advice on a cut that fits you perfectly? Put your trust in a stylist who works to your face shape — they'll help you choose your new look, taking in every parameter: your face, your style, your attitude — you, basically!

To try a fringe before committing, there's nothing like a simulation: sweep a strand across your forehead or use a clip-in fringe, then look at the result head-on and at three-quarter angles. Check that it doesn't cut your face in two and that it softens the area you're targeting — a broad forehead, a high hairline. If you're unsure, start with a tapered fringe, which is easier to live with day to day.

Budget

On price, as a rough guide you're looking at around £20 to £45 for a cut alone at a local salon, £35 to £70 with a blow-dry, and more like £50 to £100 at a face-shape specialist or a well-known salon. Prices vary with the city, the salon's reputation and the skill involved — a layered cut or a bespoke fringe isn't billed like a quick snip. For a first face-shape consultation, allow for a preliminary appointment: it's sometimes charged separately, sometimes included. And if money's tight, remember that a good local hairdresser does just as fine a job as a trendy address — the key is finding someone who genuinely listens to your face shape.