Deciding how to part hair can be a tricky riddle to solve and often involves quite a bit of trial and error — and a regretful hairstyle or two along the way (usually involving bangs). After all, the perfect hair part provides balance to your features and frames your face in the most flattering way possible.
No two faces are alike to an exact degree but we generally fall into a few categories of shapes, from oval to round to heart-shaped. We all have our own unique facial features to embrace and highlight, it’s just a matter of figuring out how. It’s not exactly science, but it helps to talk to your hairstylist and check out how other women part their hair with a similar face shape to yours.
Click through the gallery above and take inspiration from these famous faces to determine the best way to part hair for your face shape.
[ Next: 21 Easy Ways to Switch Up Your Part ]
How to Part Your Hair for your Face Shape
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Oval Face Shape
We'll start off with the easiest face shape of all: oval. If your face is longer than it is wide and you have a rounded chin with cheekbones as the widest part of your face, like Beyoncé, you have an oval face. Not only is this face shape receptive to every and all styles of sunglasses, it also gives you complete liberty with your hair part. So if variety is your thing, you have our permission to play around with your hair part and try them all.
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Oval Face Shape
Jessica Alba
Image: Getty
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Oval Face Shape
Michelle Obama
Image: Getty
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Oblong Face Shape
If your face is quite a bit longer than it is wide with your forehead, cheeks and jaw all roughly the same width, a la Alexa Chung, then you have an oblong face. A middle part with layers will suit you best as it will create the illusion of roundness and balance your proportions. Bangs will also be your friend as they will visually shorten your face length.
Image: Getty
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Oblong Face Shape
Liv Tyler
Image: Getty
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Oblong Face Shape
Sarah Jessica Parker
Image: Getty
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Square Face Shape
If you have a square jawline like Lucy Liu, then you have a square face shape. (That was easy!) The aim here is to soften up your face, which can be done with a sideswept part and long, wispy bangs. If you cut your bangs too short and blunt, they will simply create a more boxy shape to your face.
Image: Getty
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Square Face Shape
Demi Lovato
Image: Getty
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Square Face Shape
Jessica Simpson
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Heart-Shaped Face
Heart-shaped faces have a wide forehead that narrows down to a small, pointy jawline (think Jennifer Love Hewitt). This is a unique face shape, so if you have one, embrace it! A deep-set side part will break up your chin line and add angles to your roundish face. If you decide to opt for bangs, make sure they're not too long and heavy or too thin and wispy.
Image: Getty
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Heart-Shaped Face
Rihanna
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Heart-Shaped Face
Christina Ricci
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Round Face Shape
This is another fairly straightforward shape. If your face is about as long as it is wide with your cheeks prominently the widest point of your face, like Ginnifer Goodwin, you have a round face. This shape is killer for short hairstyles, so if you're feeling confident and bold, a pixie cut may be right for you. Otherwise, a middle part or deep side part will elongate and slim out your face.
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Round Face Shape
Chrissy Teigen
Image: Getty
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Round Face Shape
Kirsten Dunst
Image: Getty
