| Make Friends With Your Hair: Best Celebrity Cuts For Your Face Shape |
| Karen Marie Shelton |
| Revised Date: 10/5/2006 - Original Publication Date: 12/10/2002 |
Introduction  Since 1994 the fabulous trio of beautiful female Friends, Rachel, Monica and Phoebe have offered their loyal fans ongoing hair styling examples and inspiration as they made TV and fashion history.
(Pictured from left to right - Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay). Photo from 1994-1995 - courtesy of NBC - all rights reserved).  Throughout the course of the show all three of these lovely ladies have entertained us with their onscreen antics and constantly changing locks.
(Pictured from left to right - Monica. Phoebe & Rachel) Photo from 11/98 - courtesy of NBC - all rights reserved). Although rumor has it that contractual requirements keep the threesome from altering their manes too drastically, they still manage to change their strands in a variety of subtle but noticeable ways.  Many stylists hold the belief that there are four basic face shapes: oval, round, square and heart. Other hair experts include the triangle, pear and diamond shape which are modifications of the primary shapes.
(Photo 1999 courtesy of NBC - all rights reserved).
Although it may seem simple to pick from one of the four options, identifying your own face shape can often be challenging. This is because the majority of people, even celebrities, do not have classic shapes.
 It is common for face shapes to take on the characteristics of more than one type.
Hence you might find a square shaped face that is long, a heart shape that is slightly rounded or an oval shape that becomes round or even square with added poundage.
(Photo 2000 - courtesy of NBC - all rights reserved). One thing is certain. Most stylists do not limit styling options based on facial definition. In today’s world anything goes.
 Is there a basic rule of thumb for the primary shapes? Although stylists differ based on their own opinion, most agree that round shapes need minimizing, heart and long face shapes need width, while square faces generally benefit from softening.
(Photo 2001 - courtesy of NBC - all rights reserved).
Ultimately the goal of any style should be to flatter you regardless of the shape of your face. An optimal starting point for finding a great style for your facial shape is to watch what the celebrities do.
Not only do they have some of the most talented
stylists such as (the now deceased) John Sahag, Chris McMillan and John Barrett to make their hair beautiful, the camera doesn’t hide any major flaws. Jennifer Aniston Pitt  During the second season of Friends Jennifer launched “The Rachel” which took the hair world by storm. Not since Farrah’s blonde wings did the public react with such fervor over a hairstyle.
It was both a blessing and a curse to the former Mrs. Brad Pitt who eventually grew out the look to lose all the public frenzy about her hair.
(Photo of Jennifer Aniston from 10/99 - courtesy NBC - all rights reserved). Jennifer has a prominent chin prompting many to deem this Friend as having a heart shaped face. If you look closer you might surmise that Jennifer’s face is not a classic heart but also appears slightly rounded.  Famous for her natural waves and curls, Jennifer has run the gamut from her short bob-like straightened Rachel to her very long natural wavy locks that she wore for her spectacular wedding to the luscious Mr. Pitt.
After her nuptials Jen went much shorter (shown above) with a shaggy bob that she promptly grew longer.
(Photo from 2000 - courtesy NBC - all rights reserved).  For the current 2002-2003 season of Friends Jennifer (shown to the side) is sporting a soft, sleek wavy style that is parted in the middle.
(Photo courtesy NBC - all rights reserved).
Jennifer’s longer layers originate at her chin which helps to weigh down her natural waves yet get movement and definition.
Jen’s current sophisticated style also counters her prominent chin with the extra volume that flicks outwards right below her chin. Heart Shape Style Suggestions The hot "Rachel" hairstyle was a classic bob designed to give Jennifer more fullness and de-emphasize her chin. Hair length is important when trying to flatter a heart shape. The narrow angles of the face can be countered with the extra volume of a layered or choppy bob, which optionally flicks outwards at chin level.  The use of different light and dark hues have been brilliantly utilized in many of Jennifer's style (shown to the side) to minimize sharp focal points and give the illusion of body and movement near her chin.
(Photo from Halloween 2001 episode - courtesy of NBC - all rights reserved).
Super short or severe bobs that accentuate a prominent heart shaped face should be avoided when possible.
The ideal hair length should fall somewhere between the shoulders and the bottom of your ear lobe. Styles that are too long can also be unflattering since they may tend to push the chin out making it seem overly prominent. Courteney Cox Arquette  A classic beauty, Courteney has a very angular facial shape that appears to be mostly square. While Jennifer was taking the world by storm with her Rachel, Courteney as Monica Geller was sporting a short classic Bob.
As her career expanded into the world of the Scream movies she became more adventurous with her locks.
Who could ever forget the teeny tiny baby bangs that she wore in Scream 3?
(Photo of Courteney Cox - 11/98 - courtesy of NBC - all rights reserved).
For the current season of Friends Courteney is wearing her deep chocolate tresses slightly below shoulder length with shaggy, shattered warm auburn kissed layers that start slightly below the cheekbones.  Although she has let her hair grow much longer over the past few years her stylists add depth and softness to her medium textured hair with angled layers that curve in towards her face. A hint of highlights are always present.
Courteney’s current style is worn without bangs and appears thick, lush and full of movement. Her current soft-layered look seems to be just right for her type hair and her facial shape.
(Photo from 2002 - courtesy NBC - all rights reserved). Square Shape Style Suggestions  The choppy layers with irregularly razored pieces that Courteney is wearing for the current season of Friends is a perfect example of how to softly disconnect sharp square or angular face shapes.
Square shaped faces generally look stunning with a classic asymmetrical cut that would instantly soften angles.
(Photo of Monica and Chandler in 2002 - courtesy NBC - all rights reserved). Longer styles that defocus harsh lines are preferable to short or angled styles. Even better are styles that fall into soft curls or waves that nestle right at the shoulders. Add some flattering longer pieces that break up a square face shape and give the illusion of a more rounded chin. Use warmer hair color shades of blonde and gold like Courteney to compliment a strong jawline. Color is a wonderful tool for drawing attention away from any sharp angles and directing focus to beautiful eyes or lips. When in doubt always go lighter than darker. Lisa Kudrow  Lovely blonde Lisa has a long face with a slightly prominent chin.
The best style for Lisa is layered side-swept bangs that help soften her high forehead. Bangs cuts at different lengths offer a myriad of styling options.
(Photo of Lisa Kudrow - 10/99 - courtesy of NBC - all rights reserved). Lisa started life as Phoebe with a very long center parted hippie-girl look befitting her quirky character. While the look was a perfect compliment to her on-screen personality, the style accentuated Lisa’s long face.  Like her other Friends, Lisa as Phoebe has evolved into a much more sophisticated and flattering hairstyle for the current season.
Looking stunning in her new shoulder-length softly layered style, Lisa’s high forehead is camouflaged with longish side-swept bangs. Her shoulder dusting length adds volume and softly rounds out her face.
(Photo from November 2001 episode - courtesy NBC - all rights reserved). The Phoebe character is the most adventurous of the three female Friends often appearing in chic hair twists, sizzling updos and a wide range of the latest hair accessories and jewels.
Long bangs and layers give her many styling options from her famous "pineapple" messy updo to the various clips she appears to love. Long Shape Style Suggestions  There is some debate about whether long faces can wear a Bob. For some a Bob can work quite well and for others it is the kiss of death. Don't commit to a Bob until you are sure it works for your own face shape.
(Photo from 2001 - courtesy of NBC - all rights reserved).
A softly cut wavy or curly longish bob can work for some with a thin face and prominent chin like Lisa.
An off-center part is also an option for adding instant width to a narrow face. The key is to avoid volume at the crown but add it near the sides of your face.
 For those wishing for shorter hair, a wavy or curly bob with an off-center part adds width to a narrow face. (Avoid blunt cuts that fall above the chin. Short blunt cuts can magnify the long length of your face.
Although bangs can work wonders for thin faces, avoid short choppy or face lengthening bangs.
(Photo of Joey & Phoebe in 2002 - courtesy NBC - all rights reserved). Bangs can actually be utilized by any type of face shape as an instant remedy. Having bangs can give a new look without a major change. Other Facial Shape Suggestions Some general rules of thumb include the fact that disconnected layers work for heart shapes or prominent chins and off-center parts can fix a variety of challenges from slimming broad faces and providing defocus. Face-framing pieces that fall below the jaw line can also create movement and flow as well as adding needed fullness or softness. Oval Face Shapes Oval faces generally look good in most lengths or hairstyles. The key to finding a great style for oval shapes is to focus on your best features from skin condition and tone to eyes and lips. Hair color should be carefully considered and used as a light contrasting tool only. A true round shape is considered rare. Although many people consider their faces to be round, in reality they are often mistaken. Many times hormonal fluctuations, lack of sleep or the wrong haircut will give the mistaken illusion of roundness. Round Face Shapes Round faces have more challenges but generally look good in longer, wispy face-framing layers or in a sleek style with softly fringed side sweeping bangs and worn in a straight shoulder or longer length. When in doubt, go longer instead of shorter. While a little volume is a good thing to add length, avoid any style that adds major width or excessive height. When appropriate, wear your hair swept off your face to break up the roundness and open up your cheekbones and eyes. Bright bold irregularly placed highlights can be utilized to minimize round cheeks or double chins while giving more facial definition. Pear Face Shapes Pear shaped faces are considered rare along with the diamond and triangular shapes. Pear shaped faces traditionally have a narrow forehead and wide chin that can be balanced with styles that add width to the chin area and minimize the forehead. Styles that can be brushed off the face are often a good choice. Avoid adding curls or waves that will widen the jaw or chin line. Summary For other shapes it is important to remember to minimize wide or full areas and widen thin or long areas. Ask your stylist to deploy color and cuts that work for your own challenges. Whether you have a rounded heart shaped face like Jennifer, a square face like Courteney or a thin long face like Lisa, there are many ways you can enhance your look through a great style.
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