We see them everywhere; on TV, on magazine covers as we wait in lines at the grocery store, and sometimes, on occasion, a friend or stranger. Just seeing a great hairstyle and falling in love with it is just the beginning of creating a new you. Before you sit in your stylist’s chair and expect miracles from him or her, let’s discuss what to keep in mind before those scissors touch a single strand.
First, consider your lifestyle. Do you work inside an office all day? You can afford to spend more time on your appearance if you want, as there should be nothing working against your hair like wind or rain. Or are you out in the elements? Maybe you’re heading to the gym after work and need a style that dries on its own and still looks presentable? A precision cut or permanent wave can follow this type, as both would dry stylish on their own. Longer hair, of course, must be caught in the wind to protect its health and beauty.
Second, how much time do you really have to spend in the morning to create your fabulous look every day? Not how much time you’d like to spend or think you will, but the harsh reality of how many actual minutes you have left on the clock ticking before you actually need to go to work or school. An everyday look should fit into your routine.
If you just need a few quick curls, plugging in the old curling iron every morning will become second nature and you’ll have it ready for a couple of quick applications. Do you shower in the morning and prefer to have a cut that you can dry or iron and leave in place? Your style will demand more trips to the salon for trims, as any style that has that precision cut to keep it low-maintenance will need to keep the style “in shape.” And this doesn’t necessarily mean a short haircut, as medium length styles can have blunt lines or textured ends to speed up the styling process by having them straight or perhaps with a little “twist”.
Do you have a little more time to dedicate to your work? Perhaps you would like a bit more body or curl. Big, loose curls are all the rage right now, from 3-5 giant upright curls that are left to fall freely throughout the day to the more time-consuming S-waves. If you prefer the latter on a regular basis, you should consider a styling wrap perm to set these defined patterns and greatly reduce styling time. This will be less damaging to your hair in the long run, since you won’t be applying direct heat from appliances every day.
So now you have an idea of time and atmosphere. The next step is the most difficult. The shapes of your head and face, as well as the structure of your neck are very important things to consider in determining how well you can pull off that cute look you just saw. Unless you are lucky enough to have a perfect oval face, a well-defined jawline, an elegant neck of average length, all of which are well balanced and allow you to wear short, medium or long styles of any type, you have to face the facts that you probably can’t wear any hairstyle you fall in love with.
Remove all hair from your face, tie it up or put on a headband. Do you see? An oval, a square shape? Heart? is it oblong? Or diamond shaped?
Square, heart, and oblong shapes often have “high fronts.” These call for a part near the center that allows the hair to fall along the temples and cover most of the forehead. Although the best remedy for this situation is bangs, or as they are called abroad, fringe. The bangs cover or break areas that we would prefer to hide.
Diamond and heart shaped faces have very narrow chins and styles that hit around the jawline are best to help “fill in” this weak area. Or a longer style could be worn with layers in this area which can be textured with curls which would also serve the same purpose. However, the square and oblong shapes have thick, wide jaws and it is best to divert attention from this area. These face shapes should not have a hairstyle that further enlarges this area. Hair should be flat (straight) to the sides of the chin or at least much longer or shorter to draw attention up or down the chin or jaw line. Remember that this can also apply to anyone with a double chin or thick throat.
These same rules apply to the upper part of the face. A short forehead, which has a hairline that reaches close to the eyebrows, also needs to be camouflaged. Bangs are an option here. Diamond, square and oblong shapes do not want hairstyles that are combed back to expose these flaws. It is best to let the hair fall over the forehead in some way to disguise your less than perfect hairline.
A diamond or oblong face should be very careful to avoid hairstyles with volume at the nose and at eye level, as these styles will only make your face shape appear wider here. The neck length can appear shorter or longer depending on your needs, depending on your style and its length. This physical feature is often overlooked.
Now to talk about her hair color. Yes, it is something you really need to consider as it can make or break any hairstyle. You can have the best haircut in the world for you, however, if the color is not right, it ruins the whole look. For those of you who already dye your hair or are considering it, know these important factors. Black and very dark shades are not only for the young at heart, they are only for the younger looking and younger crowd. These unforgiving colors will only harden the features of anyone who has encountered fine lines and wrinkles. Very light porcelain skin should stay away from very light shades, as this usually washes them out.
Determine if you are a person of warm or cool color. Yes, it’s something else to think about, however, it’s good to know not only for hair color, but also for makeup color and clothing colors. While some people are lucky enough to wear either, some only look good in one or the other.
Do you look good in pinks, blues or purples? This makes you a “cool person of color.” Do they only look good in warm colors? So normally you select reds, oranges or yellows. Green is a neutral tone and some colors move away from their usual temperature. For example, red can be cool if it has purple undertones, such as a burgundy, and yet can be quite warm if it has a more orange undertone.
Why is all this important?
Well, if you are a person of cool color, unfortunately you cannot wear true reds or an auburn hair color. Have you ever seen a redhead in purple clothes? This is an extreme example, but I think you get the picture. Similarly, if you only look good in warm colors, anything purple, blue, or having a bluish undertone would be out of the question.
Yes, there IS a lot to consider when it comes to beauty and fashion. However, once you look at all the determining factors and find what really works best for you, you’ll learn how to really identify a great haircut or style that would be perfect for you instantly. And shopping for clothes and makeup will be much easier and more fun!
Save yourself the heartbreak of crying yourself to sleep knowing that your hair will take forever to grow out due to poor styling. Find a stylist who really listens and has this knowledge and then some. ALWAYS take photos with you when you want to make a change of hairstyle. Not only will you know you’re both on the same page about your appearance, but you’ll reap the rewards of all your hard work and knowledge. And feeling better about yourself can only lead to more confidence and a better outlook on life in general.
