We think — or we’ve been told by a stern stylist — that long hair won’t work with our rectangular face, or that short hair will only emphasize the width of our round countenance. So we comply with the edict to keep our hair medium-length or we stick with a bob. But the truth is, a skilled, imaginative stylist can create a style for your hair, whatever its length, that will work with the shape of your face.
“What’s really important is how your hair frames your face,” says New York City-based stylist Burton Machen, who’s trimmed the tresses of Sheryl Crow, Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand. “It’s not length that makes a hairstyle, it’s the way the layers are cut and blended.” Hair that points toward the cheekbones will create the illusion of width on a narrow face, while layers that draw the eye to a focal point under the lips will make a round face appear more angular. Here are some guidelines of how layers work in different types of hair:
40+ Hair
Forget the timeworn adage that women over 40 should keep their hair above their shoulders. “Long hair can be beautiful on a woman in her 40s and even 50s,” Machen says, “as long as she softens it with a sideswept bang.”
Curly Hair
Garret Hamabata, a stylist at Gavert Atelier salon in Beverly Hills, CA, also encourages women not to feel restricted by their hair’s texture. “My curly-haired clients think they can’t have chin-length hair because they’ll end up looking like a poodle,” he says. “But it can work wonderfully if layers are cut in a more graduated way. Coarse hair, too, can work at any length; just keep the layers longer and softer. Short or choppy layers will look pouffy.”
Fine or Thin Hair
Women with hair that’s fine will need to make a choice between volume and length. “Thin hair needs to be layered to give it weight and movement,” Hamabata explains, “but the longer the hair is, the skinnier it becomes at the bottom.” To avoid looking like an upside-down artichoke, keep your thin hair somewhere between chin and shoulder length.
Tags: Aesthetics, Barbra Streisand, Beverly Hills, Burton Machen, California, Culture, Garret Hamabata, Hair, Hair care, Hair weave, Hairdressing, Hairstyles, Historical Christian hairstyles, Human Interest, Julia Roberts, Long hair, Musical theatre, New York City, Pouf, Sheryl Crow


2 Reader Comments:
shelley,
I was 69 today and I am a hair dresser,but it has been several years since I practiced..I have a resturat now. (really hard work) lol ..anyway so much about me..I love your article and wish you could do a make over on me lol ..also wish we had known some of your tips way-back-then.
Keep the good points coming..I will send this to my friends..
thank you so much!!!!!
Have a great Memorial Day
Myra
I dared to try a new style after a lot of years of having a modified shag and opted for a short bob after a consult with the owner of Salon J here in Honolulu. My friends said the new look took years off my face and made me look vibrant. Next step is to change my color which is a natural dishwater blond with way to much gray in it!