Looking for Hairstyles for Round Faces? Here's All the Celeb Inspo You Need by SheKnows Beauty & St

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The first step to styling hair for your round face is making sure your face is actually round.

Going to a new hairstylist can strike fear into even the most hardened of hearts. Will they give you a hack job? Will they take off too much? Will they talk your ear off? There are so many questions that can make you super-nervous as you head to the salon — but we all know that as long as your stylist knows what kind of cut works with your face shape, everything is all good. Unfortunately, not all stylists know what's up when it comes to this arena, which is bad news bears if you have a round face.

Instead of leaving your fate in the hands of your new hair person (who is most likely fabulous), it's best to do a little research about what will work best for you before you even sit down in the chair. We've got some pro tips, featuring advice from hair expert Karen Shelton of HairBoutique.com.

First, is your face really round?

Before we even discuss some great styles for you, you need to know how to determine the shape of your face. To find your real face shape, measure it with a tape measure or ruler. Take (and write down) the following:

• Measure your face across the top of your cheekbones, then measure across your jaw line, between the widest points.
• Measure across your forehead at the widest point. Generally the widest point will be somewhere about halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline.
• Measure from the the widest point of your forehead to the bottom of your chin. (Remember that you are measuring your face — not your entire head — and mid-forehead to chin will usually do the trick.)

There are lots of other ways women have used to figure out this shape — from outlining the face on a mirror with lipstick to draping it with a towel and asking others to help figure out the structure.

You can try any of these tips or use the steps outlined above. Whatever your method, do remember that this is more about art than science! (And the fact that nobody really has a round-as-a-basketball head.)

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Round face dimensions

If you have a round face, it will be about as wide as it is long. This may vary a little where your face is not quite as wide as it is long, but it's usually pretty close.

You will have fullness at and below your cheekbones. People with round faces also tend to have wide hairlines, less-pronounced chins, and their necks often seem short.

Below are the most common face shapes besides round. Most people will fit into one of the major categories, which also include:

• Oval Face - Length equal to one and a half times width.
• Long - Longer than it is wide.
• Heart - Narrow at jawline, wide at forehead and cheekbones.
• Square - Forehead, jawline and cheekbones are almost equal in width.
• Diamond - Wide cheeks, narrow forehead and jaw line.

Hot hairstyles for round faces

There really is no one "perfect" hairstyle for a round-shaped face; many things factor into the total equation. For example, the length of your hair, its texture and weight, your age and lifestyle requirements all play a part in what is ultimately the best.

There are good general guidelines that you can follow, but the best solution is to find a style that works best for you and all your beauty needs.

If your face is round, the best hairstyles generally include:

1. Layered bangs rather than straight or heavy bangs.
2. Short styles which give height.
3. Styles that add length.
4. Styles that keep the sides of your hair short or close to the face.
5. Curls around the crown -- but never near the cheeks -- to create height. Keep the sides of your hair short with a curly style.
6. Longer to very long styles, with bangs and a graduated shag or layers so that the face and the neck are given a slenderizing shape.

Consider your facial features

• If you have a double chin, keep the hair around your face above chin level to draw the eyes upwards. The back may be grown a little longer -- a bob would be ideal.
• If you have a short neck, a short cropped style will make a shorter neck appear longer. Long hair worn up will give the same effect. Well-placed highlights will also slenderize the face. Highlights that are woven around the face in an "angel halo" effect will also help an overly round face appear thinner.
• Long hair can be worn just as easily as short or medium-length hair as long as you wear your hair "forward" onto your face to create a more "oval" appearance. Don't be afraid to wear your hair any length that you like!
• While you select your style, be sure to take into consideration the texture of your hair. If your hair is thick and coarse, you would do well with a style that benefits from the "bed head" look around the crown.
• If you have curly hair, you can use the curls by letting them add height at the crown. You can also wear your curly hair longer, with the bulk of your hair pulled back behind your ears, or with just a very few ringlets along your face to minimize the fullness.

Breaking the rules

Camryn Manheim is a classic example of someone letting her hair be the way she wants it to be and not following the strict rules for a round face. And remember Baby Spice? Her very round face is often coiffed in styles that would not normally be considered the "perfect" style for her face shape — but they still work!

One great way to find the best style for your face shape is to buy fashion, beauty and hair magazines and look through them for examples of hairstyles that you like and think would be flattering to your face shape and hair texture. Make a special hairstyle scrapbook of the styles you like best and then take the entire book to your stylist and ask them to advise you on some styles.

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What makes you comfortable is more important than what's trendy

One thing to keep in mind is to find a style that you enjoy. There is no point is selecting "the perfect style" if it is impossible to maintain, it feels unnatural, or you just don't like wearing it. One trend that is definitely emerging in the hair and beauty industry is individuality. If you see a style that you love and it doesn't fit the "rules," wear it anyhow — or modify the style slightly so that it works well for your face.

The bottom line is to have fun with your hair. If you love your look — whether it fits the rules or not — you will look better because you'll be happy with yourself!