Style to Suit Your Face Shape

The ring is on your finger, the venue is booked, the dress ordered and you now need to focus on Hair and Make Up!

But where do you start?

First things to consider is the style of your dress - this can really influence if you want your hair up or down. Is there detail to the back, front, one shoulder, high neck, low neck?

Next, work out your face shape - This will make such a difference when working out flattering styles to suit you. There are 6 prominent face shapes - Oval, Round, Square, Heart, Diamond and Oblong. Once you have determined your face shape (keep in mind, this is just a guide, and many people will have features that are common across two face shapes) look for images of inspiration that compliment that particular face shape as a starting point. This is so important - lots of brides come to us with an image of a style on a model with a completely different face shape and then feel disheartened when it doesn't look quite right on them. You need to work with what you have been blessed with, complimenting and emphasising your natural beauty!

OVAL - If you have an oval face shape you are very lucky! This is the most versatile in terms or hair styling, you are very symmetrical so you can pull off pretty much every style. You can go sleek, soft and curly, high updo, low nape updo, side updo, centre parting or side swept. The choices are endless.

ROUND - One golden rule to remember with a round face is that you are aiming to elongate so opt for fullness and height through the top of the head creating an illusion of length sliming down the face. Styles higher on the crown emphasise a slender neck and narrow the jawline. Generally you want to avoid a centre parting.

SQAURE - Waves and relaxed curly styles are really softening around a square face, wearable both up or down. Avoid centre partings as this will really emphasise the symmetry and angles of the face. Opt for a sweeping fringe to add a diagonal line to reduce the squareness. Soft waves pinned to one side or a soft romantic low side bun is really flattering for this face shape.

HEART - With a heart shaped face we would generally avoid adding too much height but equally avoid a slicked back look. It is good to add focus around the jawline to visually balance out. A low side bun works really well with the face proportions, use a side parting, sweeping fringe to cut down a broad forehead and add fullness to the nape of the neck balancing a narrow delicate jawline.

DIAMOND - A deep side parting can take attention away from the angles of the face and soft tousled curls really compliment it. Avoid too much volume to the sides of the face and not too much at the crown. Diamond faces can go for a very slick back look with all hair pulled back off the face behind the ears to really show off those gorgeous cheekbones!

OBLONG - A long face can work well with hair down, soft curls to create width works well to create balance. A sweeping side half up, half down looks lovely and romantic and you can afford to show off your ears to add extra width too. If you are looking for an updo create volume at the midsection of the crown or to one side. It is advisable to avoid a centre parting or much volume to the top of the head as the eye will be drawn to the longest part of the face giving the appearance of more length.

Once you have gathered your inspiration and attend the trial we can work to finding the perfect style for you, although these are general rules to help guide you, everyone is so different and that is what a trial is all about. You might want to try adding real hairpieces to increase length or volume to styles up or down, or a add a headpiece to compliment your style and dress, these are all available for trial at the GS Studio.

Enjoy x

An updo with lots of height to the crown elongates a round face