How to Decide Your Haircut: A Simple Guide for Every Face Shape and Lifestyle

Choosing a haircut isn’t just about what’s trending on Instagram. It’s about what actually works for your face, your hair texture, your daily routine, and even your job. A bad haircut can make you feel off for months. A good one? It can boost your confidence without a single product. So how do you pick one that sticks?

Start with your face shape

Your face shape is the foundation of every great haircut. Skip this step, and you risk picking a style that doesn’t flatter you - no matter how many celebrities rock it.

Look in the mirror. Pull your hair back. Trace the outline of your face with your finger. Here’s what to look for:

• Oval: Forehead slightly wider than jaw, cheeks the fullest part. Most haircuts work here. You’re the baseline.
• Round: Cheeks and jawline are about the same width. Length is key. Avoid blunt bangs or cuts that end at the chin - they make your face look wider.
• Square: Strong jaw, broad forehead. Soften the angles with layers, side-swept bangs, or longer styles that add curve.
• Heart: Wider forehead, narrow chin. Balance with volume at the jawline. Pixies with side-swept bangs or long layers work well.
• Long (oblong): Face is longer than it is wide. Add width with bangs, layers around the cheeks, or side-parted styles. Avoid super long, straight cuts - they exaggerate length.

Don’t overthink it. Take a photo of your bare face from the front and side. Print it out. Circle the shape. Now you’ve got a visual guide.

Consider your hair texture

Two people can have the same face shape, but one has thick, curly hair - the other, fine, straight hair. They need totally different cuts.

Ask yourself:

• Is your hair fine? Avoid heavy layers or blunt cuts that weigh it down. Short bobs, textured pixies, or soft layers add volume.
• Is it thick? You need structure. A blunt bob, a shag, or a layered mid-length cut helps control bulk. Don’t go too short unless you want to lose control of the volume.
• Is it curly or wavy? Never cut curly hair dry. It shrinks up to 50% when it dries. Ask your stylist to cut it wet but styled - so they see how it naturally falls. Avoid blunt ends; they look frizzy. Layers that follow your curl pattern are key.
• Is it straight? You can pull off sharp lines, blunt bobs, or long layers. But if it’s super fine, skip heavy bangs - they’ll flatten.

Pro tip: If your hair is curly, don’t copy a straight-haired influencer’s cut. You’ll end up with a frizzy mess. Look for people with your exact curl type - Type 2A, 3B, etc. - and see what works for them.

Think about your lifestyle

Do you have 5 minutes in the morning? Or do you enjoy spending 20 minutes styling your hair like a ritual?

Here’s the reality check:

• Busy parent? Athlete? Nurse on 12-hour shifts? Keep it short or shoulder-length. A pixie, bob, or lob (long bob) with minimal styling is your friend. Avoid anything that needs heat tools daily.
• Office job with a dress code? Avoid extreme colors or styles that look unprofessional. A clean, classic cut with subtle layers works. Think: textured bob, side-parted waves, or a soft fringe.
• Artistic job or freelance? Go wilder. As long as it’s well-maintained, bold cuts like asymmetrical bobs, undercut fades, or color pops are fair game.

Ask yourself: Will I still like this in 3 months? Will I hate washing it every day? Will I need to buy five new products to make it work? If the answer is yes to any of those, reconsider.

Test before you cut

There’s a reason salons offer virtual try-ons now. You can’t undo a haircut.

Try this:

1. Take a photo of yourself with your current hair.
2. Use a free app like YouCam Makeup, Hair Try-On by L’Oréal, or even TikTok’s filter library to simulate different cuts.
3. Hold a ruler up to your face. Measure from your ear to your jawline. If it’s less than 2 inches, a chin-length bob might suit you. If it’s more than 3 inches, longer styles will balance your proportions.
4. Wear a headband or clip a section of your hair up. See how it changes your face. Does it open up your eyes? Make your jaw look stronger?

Don’t trust your gut alone. Use tools. Take screenshots. Show them to your stylist.

Bring visuals to your stylist

Saying “I want something cute” won’t help. Stylists hear that every day.

Instead, bring:

• At least 3 photos - one of a cut you love, one you hate, and one that’s close to your hair type.
• Photos that match your face shape and texture. Don’t bring a photo of a celebrity with thick, curly hair if yours is fine and straight.
• Write down what you like: “I like the volume at the top,” or “I don’t want anything that needs blow-drying.”

Good stylists will tell you if a cut won’t work for your hair. Don’t be offended. They’ve seen it all. If they say, “That won’t hold on your texture,” listen.

Don’t ignore maintenance

Some cuts look amazing on day one - and fall apart after 3 weeks.

Ask yourself:

• How often do I want to go back? (Every 4 weeks? 8 weeks?)
• Do I need to use a specific product every day? (Mousse? Pomade? Curl cream?)
• Can I style it myself, or do I need a professional every time?

For example: A textured undercut looks sharp - but if your hair grows fast, you’ll need a trim every 3 weeks. A long shag? You can go 8 weeks between cuts if you use dry shampoo and a round brush.

Be honest about your willingness to maintain. A high-maintenance cut you can’t keep up with becomes a source of stress, not confidence.

What to avoid

Here are the top 3 mistakes people make:

1. Copying a celebrity cut without checking their hair type. Emma Stone’s blunt bob looks great on her thick hair - but on fine hair, it just looks flat.
2. Going too short too fast. If you’ve never had short hair, start with a lob. Then go shorter next time.
3. Ignoring your natural part. If your hair naturally parts on the left, don’t force a center part. It’ll look awkward and take weeks to train.

Also, avoid cuts that require heat tools daily unless you’re okay with potential damage. Heat = dryness = breakage. If you’re not willing to use heat protectants and deep conditioners weekly, skip the blowout styles.

When to wait

Some people rush into a big change after a breakup, a job loss, or a move. That’s fine - but don’t let emotion drive your scissors.

Wait a week. Take a walk. Look in the mirror again. Ask a trusted friend: “Does this look like me, or like the version of me I wish I was?”

Great haircuts don’t just change your look - they reflect who you are right now. Not who you want to be.

Final checklist

Before you sit in the chair, run through this:

• ✅ I know my face shape.
• ✅ I know my hair texture and how it behaves when wet/dry.
• ✅ I’ve considered how much time I’ll spend styling it daily.
• ✅ I’ve brought 3 clear photos - one I love, one I hate, one similar to my hair.
• ✅ I’ve asked my stylist what they’d change about my chosen cut for my hair type.
• ✅ I’ve thought about how often I can realistically get trims.

If you checked all six, you’re ready. And you’re way ahead of most people walking into a salon.