Hairstyles to Avoid for Each Face Shape: Common Hair Mistakes and Expert Advice

Your hairstyle plays a crucial role in defining your overall appearance. The right haircut can highlight your best features, create balance, and enhance your natural beauty. However, choosing the wrong hairstyle for your face shape can have the opposite effect. A style that looks great on someone else may not necessarily complement your unique features, leading to an unbalanced or distorted look. That’s why understanding which hairstyles to avoid for each face shape is just as important as knowing the ones that suit you best.

Have you ever walked out of a salon feeling like something is off, even though the cut looked perfect on the model you showed your stylist? This is a common struggle for many, and it often happens because the chosen style doesn’t align with the natural structure of the face. Do you feel like your face looks rounder than it actually is? Or perhaps your jawline appears too sharp with certain cuts? The wrong hairstyle can exaggerate flaws rather than enhance strengths. Let’s break down the biggest hair mistakes people make and how to avoid them.

Understanding Face Shapes and Their Styling Challenges

Before diving into specific mistakes, it’s important to identify your face shape. The six common face shapes are:

• Oval: Well-balanced proportions with a slightly narrower chin.
• Round: Equal width and length with soft edges.
• Square: Strong jawline with a broad forehead.
• Heart: Wide forehead tapering into a narrow jawline.
• Diamond: Prominent cheekbones with a narrower forehead and jaw.
• Long (Rectangular): Length is significantly greater than width, often with a pronounced chin or forehead.

Each of these face shapes has styles that enhance their natural structure—and those that work against it. Here’s what to avoid for each one.

Hairstyles to Avoid for Each Face Shape

1. Oval Face Shape – Avoid Over-Elongating Styles

Common Mistake: Many people assume an oval face can pull off any hairstyle, but this isn’t entirely true. Extremely long, pin-straight hair or high-top buns can elongate the face too much.
Why It Doesn’t Work: These styles take away from the natural balance of an oval face, making it appear longer than it is.
Expert Tip: Opt for soft waves, layers, or medium-length cuts to maintain harmony.

2. Round Face Shape – Avoid Volume at the Sides

Common Mistake: Blunt bobs, straight-across bangs, and short, one-length cuts can make a round face appear even wider.
Why It Doesn’t Work: These styles emphasize the widest part of the face, eliminating the illusion of length.
Expert Tip: Go for layered cuts, side-swept bangs, and hairstyles that create vertical movement to elongate the face.

3. Square Face Shape – Avoid Harsh, Angular Cuts

Common Mistake: Blunt cuts, boxy bobs, and center-parted sleek hair exaggerate the sharp angles of a square face.
Why It Doesn’t Work: These styles emphasize the strong jawline instead of softening it.
Expert Tip: Choose soft layers, side parts, and wavy textures to create a more balanced, feminine look.

4. Heart Face Shape – Avoid Too Much Volume at the Crown

Common Mistake: Short pixie cuts, slicked-back styles, and voluminous top-heavy hairstyles widen the forehead and make the chin look even narrower.
Why It Doesn’t Work: These styles throw off facial balance, making the lower part of the face appear even smaller.
Expert Tip: Opt for chin-length bobs, side-swept bangs, or soft waves that add width near the jawline.

5. Diamond Face Shape – Avoid Extreme Short Cuts

Common Mistake: Ultra-short pixies and slicked-back styles put too much focus on the sharp cheekbones and narrow forehead.
Why It Doesn’t Work: Instead of balancing the features, these styles make the face appear even more angular.
Expert Tip: Go for shoulder-length hair, layered waves, or deep side parts to create a softer look.

6. Long (Rectangular) Face Shape – Avoid Super Long, Straight Styles

Common Mistake: Keeping hair extra long without layers and adding volume at the top makes the face look even longer.
Why It Doesn’t Work: It creates an unbalanced effect, stretching the face further.
Expert Tip: Shoulder-length cuts, curtain bangs, and waves add width and create the illusion of a shorter face.

How the Wrong Hairstyle Can Distort Your Features

• Makes the Face Look Wider or Longer: A wrong cut can exaggerate proportions, making the face appear too round or elongated.
• Emphasizes Unflattering Angles: Certain styles highlight sharp jawlines or widen foreheads unnecessarily.
• Reduces Facial Symmetry: Haircuts that don’t complement the natural balance of a face shape can make features look uneven.
• Creates a Dated Look: Some styles can age a person or make them appear less polished if not chosen carefully.

Expert Tips for Choosing Flattering Styles

• Consult a Professional: A skilled hairstylist can recommend a cut that suits your face shape, hair texture, and lifestyle.
• Use Face Shape Analysis Tools: Apps and online guides can help determine the best styles for you.
• Consider Hair Texture: Thin, thick, curly, or straight hair affects how a cut will look on you.
• Try Before You Cut: Use virtual hairstyle apps or wigs to experiment with new styles before making a commitment.

Conclusion

Choosing the wrong hairstyle can do more than just make you feel unsatisfied with your look—it can distort your features and throw off facial symmetry. Many people make the mistake of following trends or copying celebrity hairstyles without considering how they’ll work with their own face shape. The key is to focus on balance and harmony.

Instead of choosing styles that overpower your features, opt for ones that enhance your natural structure. Whether it’s adding layers, adjusting length, or selecting the right bangs, small tweaks can make a big difference. With the right knowledge, you can avoid common hair mistakes and always look your best.

FAQs

Q1: How do I find out my face shape?
A: Measure your forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and face length. Compare proportions to determine whether your face is oval, round, square, heart, diamond, or long.

Q2: Can I wear any hairstyle if I love it, even if it’s not ideal for my face shape?
A: Absolutely! Confidence is key. However, small adjustments can make a style more flattering for your features.

Q3: Do bangs work for all face shapes?
A: It depends on the type of bangs. Side-swept bangs suit most face shapes, while blunt bangs can emphasize roundness or widen a forehead.

Q4: What’s the best haircut for thinning hair?
A: Layered cuts, soft waves, and volumizing styles work best to create the illusion of fuller hair.

Q5: How often should I change my hairstyle?
A: It depends on personal preference, but a new style every 1-2 years keeps your look fresh and updated.