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COSMO'S
ULTIMATE HAIR
MAKEOVER
TOOL
Get personalized advice on how to get the perfect haircut (and keep it looking that way!) based on the shape of your face and the type of hair you have.
Just click the button below!
FIND OUT YOUR FACE SHAPE
IF YOU ALREADY KNOW YOUR FACE SHAPE
Step 1
Measure the Length of Your Face
Using a tape measure or a ruler, measure the
length of your face from where your hairline
starts to the bottom of your chin. (It's okay
to go over your nose.)
Step 2
Measure the Width of Your Face
Now it's time to find out how wide your face
is. Smile and measure from the outside apple
of one cheek to the other, going over the
bridge of your nose. Make sure you get the
outside edge of your cheek for the most
accurate results.
Step 3
Measure the Width of Your Forehead
Next up is your forehead. Measure from
where your temple begins on one side all the
way to the other, about an inch above your
eyebrows-or wherever the widest part of
your forehead is.
Step 4
Measure the Width of Your Chin
You're almost done! For the last step,
measure the widest part of your chin-from
right under your bottom lip towards your jaw
in both directions. Try to measure back
towards where your jawbone starts in an
imaginary straight line.
HELPFUL TIPS
- Use decimals - don't round off or use fractions.
- It's more fun if you get a friend to help you measure!
- If you're going solo, use a mirror and measure yourself a few times.
Choose Your Face Shape
near-perfect
proportions and
want to play
up your best
features.
face is
attached to
an elongated,
graceful neck.
prominent
cheekbones,
giving you
a sweet,
feminine look.
Most would agree that you won the face shape lottery with your near-perfect proportions. Since you can pull off practically every style out there, your biggest issue will be finding a hair cut that plays up your favorite facial feature (eyes, lips, cheekbones).
How to Get Your
Perfect Haircut
HAIRCUT TIP #1
Experiment with a new length.
Since your face shape allows you to pull off just about any style, make a bold move and chop off a few more inches than you normally would. The hottest length right now is the long bob (known as the "lob"). Ask your stylist for blunt ends that graze your collarbones in the front and are snipped slightly shorter in the back.
HAIRCUT TIP #2
Highlight your favorite feature.
Love your lips? Want to enhance your killer cheekbones? Tell your stylist which areas you want to draw attention to and with a few strategic snips, you'll have seductive face-framing layers that play up your best assets. Just keep the shorter pieces away from the top of your head, since that kind of volume can make your face appear longer.
HAIRCUT TIP #3
Play with bangs.
Like layers, bangs can bring out your best features and camouflage the ones you're not so wild about. Long, side-swept fringe is a no-brainer because they flatter just about every face shape. For a more dramatic effect try short, choppy "baby bangs" or blunt brow-length ones.
Adorable and cute: two words usually associated with people with wide cheeks and soft, non-angular features. On the flip side, a round face also makes you look more youthful (always a good thing). Your ideal hair style will minimize the fullness of your face.
How to Get Your
Perfect Haircut
HAIRCUT TIP #1
Keep it long and layered.
Shoulder-length or longer locks make a round face appear more oval-shaped, especially if you add a few long layers around your cheeks. If you want bangs, stick with the long, universally flattering angled kind.
HAIRCUT TIP #2
Break up your ends.
Blunt ends will only make your face appear rounder. Instead, ask your stylist to texturize your hair so that your ends aren't all one length. This will also get rid of any bulk from the sides that makes your face look rounder.
HAIRCUT TIP #3
Split your mane down the middle.
A middle or slightly off-center part is your best option. Your hair will cover the sides of your face, so it appears leaner, plus the focus will be on the center of your face, not the fullness of your cheeks.
Your strong, angular features-most notably well-defined cheekbones and a prominent chin-give you an authoritative, confident appearance, which can be very sexy. You need a style that will prevent your face from looking too boxy.
How to Get Your
Perfect Haircut
HAIRCUT TIP #1
Go for soft layers.
Graduated, face-framing layers will help offset your prominent jaw. Ask your stylist to cut your strands on an angle and at various lengths to create lots of natural movement and texture.
HAIRCUT TIP #2
Avoid blunt bobs.
An all-one-length bob will give your face a boxy appearance. If you want to go shorter, keep some longer layers that sweep across your forehead on an angle in the front.
HAIRCUT TIP #3
Play with your part.
You can work a center or side part, as long as you keep the hair around your face soft and layered. If you want bangs, try long fringe that you can wear split down the middle or swept to one side.
"Why the long face?" Ugh, like you haven't heard that one a million times. But, the good news is that a narrow face (about one-and-a-half times longer than it is wide) is usually attached to an elongated, graceful neck. The trick is to stick with hair styles that add some width, but not height.
How to Get Your
Perfect Haircut
HAIRCUT TIP #1
Add width, not length.
Long layers that hit at your nose, chin, and collarbone will create the illusion of a wider face. A rounder cut (like a piece-y bob) is a good option if you're willing to go short. And note to aspiring Rapunzels: hair that is too long (around chest-level) will only drag down your face.
HAIRCUT TIP #2
Try brow-skimming bangs.
Long, side-swept bangs will break up the length of your face. Ask your stylist to cut them on a downward angle from your nose to your ear, starting about 1 inch back from your hairline.
HAIRCUT TIP #3
Avoid a perfect center part.
Dividing your locks down the center will only make your face appear longer. Ask your stylist for a cut that's meant to be worn to the side or slightly off-center.
True to its name, a heart-shaped face gives you a sweet, feminine look. Your forehead is about the same width as (or just slightly narrower than) your cheekbones and your chin comes to a tapered point. The challenge is to balance out your facial structure by enhancing your eyes and killer cheekbones.
How to Get Your
Perfect Haircut
HAIRCUT TIP #1
Highlight your cheekbones.
Balance out your wide forehead and tapered chin while drawing attention to your cheekbones with long, soft face-framing layers.
HAIRCUT TIP #2
Try soft spirals.
The S-shape of loose curls around your face will give it the illusion of appearing more oval, but try to keep your hair shoulder-length or longer-a short cut, especially a blunt bob, will only make your chin appear more prominent.
HAIRCUT TIP #3
Use bangs to your advantage.
Slightly layered brow-length bangs that start about 1 inch back from your hairline will conceal your forehead and play up your eyes. Tell your stylist to add some texture to the ends so they're not perfectly straight across.
What Type of Hair Do You Have?
naturally straight, so
while you don't have
to worry about frizz,
you're prone to
flyaways and your
silky locks have a hard
time holding a curl.
can handle all kinds
of style, so even if
your hair dries
straight, you can
easily rock a wavy
look and vice versa.
hair can look
romantic, fun, and
flirty. And on a bad
day? Well, we don't
have to tell you
about the dreaded
frizz factor.
coarse and thick,
African-American
hair can be
extremely dry and
fragile, especially
if you use chemical
relaxers.
How to Keep Your
Style Looking Hot
STYLING TIP #1
Banish flatness.
No matter what kind of cut you have, plump up fine hair with volumizing products. Start in the shower with a body-boosting shampoo and lightweight conditioner (just apply it to your ends). Apply a mousse or a texturizing spray to your roots for lift before blow-drying hair away from the direction it naturally falls.
STYLING TIP #2
Create beach-y waves.
Here's a trick for creating long-lasting waves on naturally straight strands: sleep with your hair in two braids. Unravel them in the morning and wrap small sections around a 1-½ inch curling iron. Spritz on a flexible hold hair spray to prevent locks from falling flat.
How to Keep Your
Style Looking Hot
STYLING TIP #1
Rock flowy waves.
Enhance your hair's natural texture by adding lots of volume and movement on the lower part of your strands. Blow-dry the top portion of your hair, from your cheekbones up. Leave the bottom slightly damp, and coil it into a tight bun. Blast it with your blow-dryer until it's totally dry. Undo and you'll get soft, loose waves.
STYLING TIP #2
Add tons of shine.
Styling product overload plus regular heat-styling can leave your hair dull. Get rid of residue with a weekly clarifying shampoo and do a deep conditioning treatment twice a month. And when it comes to shine serums, less is more. Medium texture hair only needs a nickel-size amount of the stuff.
How to Keep Your
Style Looking Hot
STYLING TIP #1
Define your curls.
Curls can range from loose, S-shaped spirals to thick, tight coils. To make your ringlets look their best, use the right kind of curl definer. If you have fine curly hair, use a spray formula, which won't weigh down your strands. Medium to thick textured curls need the added control of a gel or smoothing cream.
STYLING TIP #2
Tips #2: Cut down on frizz
Because curly hair is naturally dry, it tends to the most temperamental tress type as well as the most weather dependent (hello humidity). To ward off frizz, use a moisturizing shampoo (let the suds soak in for an extra minute) followed by a conditioner. Post shower apply your curl definer of choice. It's best to let your locks air-dry but if you don't have time, use a diffuser attachment.
How to Keep Your
Style Looking Hot
STYLING TIP #1
Condition like crazy.
Natural and chemically relaxed locks need a ton of moisture. You can get away with washing your hair once a week and when you suds up, use a creamy shampoo and super-rich conditioner. Soften your hair even more with a lightweight leave-in conditioner followed by a smoothing cream. You should also do regular deep conditioning treatments to fight frizz and breakage.
STYLING TIP #2
Blow-dry, don't blowtorch
your hair.
Let your damp strands air-dry as much as possible to keep heat-induced damage and breakage to a minimum. Apply a thermal protective styling spray before blow-drying on the lowest heat setting. Aim the dryer nozzle downward for the smoothest results. If you want to use a flat iron or curling iron, first mist hair with the thermal protective styling spray.
More Great Beauty
Advice From Cosmo
Add Life to Fine Hair
Thin strands have a tendency to look flat and lifeless. To give them a boost, don’t just haphazardly mist hair spray all over. Instead spritz your fingers with a flexible hold volumizing formula like, TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray ($4.49), then massage the crown of your head, above the nape of your neck, and along your hairline.
Boost Shine for
Medium Hair
Whether you’re sporting loose waves or a sleek style, make sure that your hair has a healthy gleam. Hit the bottom few inches with a sheen-enhancing mist like Sally Hershberger Supreme Head Star Shine ($12.50), after blow-drying. This will add shine without weighing down your locks.
Smooth Coarse
Curly Hair
When your strands are dried out, they draw moisture from the air, creating major frizz. Combat the problem with a nourishing
shampoo like Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo ($2.99). The trick is
to lather and let the suds soak in for an extra minute. Follow up with a rich conditioner.
Protect African-
American Hair
Before you even pick up a blow-dryer, flat iron
or curling iron, use a thermal protective styling product like Dove Heat Activated Protect & Shine Mist ($3.95). It'll protect your naturally
dry hair from breakage and add shine.
Color-Saving Trick:
Fight Fading
Color fades faster on dry, damaged hair, so it's really important to keep strands hydrated. Slather on a mask like Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths 5-Minute Strengthening Mask ($3.99) twice a week.
Color-Saving Trick:
Upgrade Your Stylers
New versions of your go-to products (like mousse, gel, and smoothing cream) now come with built-in UV filters to protect your hue. Try
the Matrix Sleek Look Smoothing System ($17).
Color-Saving Trick:
Brighten Your Hue
Refresh dull, color-treated hair with an at-home gloss treatment like John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze Clear Shine ($9.99). The ammonia and peroxide free formula won't mess with
your hair color. Apply it once a week on dry, unwashed hair for 20 minutes, then rinse for
a major shine boost.