When choosing a new hairstyle you should consider which styles you like, which styles suit your lifestyle and hair type, but above all which style of hair cut will look the most flattering on you.

Hair can complement a person’s personality perfectly. A new hairstyle can go a long way in enhancing the best features of a person. Most women choose the latest hairstyle of celebrities but what is more important is the shape of your face. This is a deciding factor in choosing a hair style. Face shape is the single most important consideration in getting a flattering hairstyle for yourself.

Your face shape is the starting point to choosing a new hairstyle. Your hair type is the next consideration. Lastly, take volume into consideration. While choosing the right hair cut style is ultimately about your personal taste there are some basic rules you should follow. At the top of this list is considering what styles suit your face shape.

Oval face: The oval face is considered to be the ideal shape by hairdressers. People with an oval face shape can wear most hair cut styles and lengths with it still looking “right”. The oval face is mathematically 1.5 times as long as its width, with the forehead slightly wider than the jaw.

Avoid - Covering up your “perfect” features with heavy bangs, or too forward-directed styles.

In wearing your hairstyle on your face, you’ll lose your face shape behind the hair. It may appear to add weight to your face.

Round face: Round faces are characterised by a round chin. Because they lack the length of the oval face, the hair should be cut to create the illusion of length in the face. Creating height on top of the head, and minimising hair width by keeping it flat at the sides and around the ears achieve this.

Avoid - Chin length hair with a rounded line that mirrors face’s circular sha-pe. Center parts. Short-short crops, straight “chopped” bangs. Fullness at side of ears. A rounded haircut ending at the chin will certainly add weight to your face shape. Because the widest part of your face is at the cheeks and ears, you need to avoid having the fullness of the cut here, as it will make your face appear wider.

Rectangular face: Rectangular faces have a square chin and hairline, and are long and narrow. The ideal style of haircut is one, which creates width at the sides disguising the narrowness. A fringe can also shorten the face, and a style with a side part will help to reduce the square appearance.

Avoid - To much hair length, your face will look even longer! Too much height lengthens your face. Center parts. When your hair gets past your shoulders there is a good chance it is doing you more harm than good. The models with rectangular face shapes and long hair get by with it only because they have a “on call” hairdresser who is busy primping and teasing, setting and styling to add fullness to the hair. Since most of us don’t have this luxury, suggestion is keep it above shoulder length.

Heart face: Heart shaped faces are widest at the temples and narrowest at the jawline. Usually the chin is small and delicate. The hair cut style’s objective should be to create an oval by adding width at the jawline.

Avoid - Short full styles that emphasise upper face. Height at the crown. Severe, slicked back looks. If you are a dramatic heart shape, the short full styles with tapered necklines, which emphasise the upper face, will make you look top heavy. Too much height at the crown will give the appearance of a longer and narrower chin. Just remember if you have a dramatic heart shape face, you have great cheekbones to emphasise! Don’t miss the boat by getting a cut, which is to top heavy.

Diamond shape: Diamond shaped faces are widest at the cheekbones and narrow in the forehead and chin. Creating width at the forehead and minimising it at the cheekbones can achieve the illusion of an oval face.

Avoid - You can do just about everything, but try not too wear too much hair on your face, thereby hiding your great features.

Square face: Square faces have a square jawline and hairline at the forehead. They are ‘too short’, so a suitable hair cut style seeks to create height elongating the face. Hair should be layered around the face to soften the jawline. Jaw and brow nearly same width. Hair should wisp around face to reduce squareness.

Avoid - Long straight styles that accentuate square jawbone. “Linear” straight bangs or center parts. A straight bob ending at the jaw line is the wrong thing for your face shape. You can wear a layered bob and it should end above or below the jaw line. Make sure in styling that you achieve some roundness to the shape and some height at the crown or bangs, and you will be on the right track.