Q. I want to cut my hair short but I am worried about the right cut for my face. Do you have a suggestion for how to be sure I don’t mess up and get a cut that’s totally wrong?



A. Your question seems to be about choosing a hair cut that will fit your face type. The first step is determining your face shape. The best advice I have found on how to really get this right was in Hairdo magazine. They suggest you look at your face in a mirror with you hair behind your ears or pinned back then trace your face on the mirror with a lipstick. Look at the traced shape and match it to one of the basic face shapes; oval, oblong, square, heart shaped, pear shaped or round. No one’s face is a perfect match so choose the shape that best fits your face. With your face shape in mind you can follow my suggestions for cuts. The balanced oval face works with any cut or style and is the face shape that can handle super short hair cuts. If you lay a perfect circle over your lipstick drawn face and you have space at the top and bottom of the circle then you have an oblong face. It will look best with styles that have full layers at the sides and you should avoid styles that have a high crown. A square face is wider than it is long and looks great with styles that extend below the chin. A heart shaped face is similar to a square face but with a wider forehead and more narrow chin. Like the square face, styles that extend below the chin are best. This face looks great with some volume at the sides. The below the chin flip is a perfect style for this face. The pear shaped face is a reverse of the heart shape with the wide portion at the bottom of the face. Wear a style that will open up the face, showing your forehead. A short style that spikes upward is perfect. The round face should avoid the current popular look of heavy bangs or fringe as it’s called in the industry. If you want this popular look and have a round face, opt for softer wispy bangs. Try to go for a style that covers your ear line. Curls and full layers look good on round faces. It’s the start of a new year and a great time to make some changes. Everyone is starting new exercise plans and diets but one of the quickest ways to give yourself a new look and a lift in spirit is to change your hair. In one short salon visit you can remake yourself. Happy New Year.