Do you ever feel like doing something drastic with your hair but don’t feel like you have the confidence to do something new? Deciding to change your hairstyle can be scary, and most of us don’t really know where to start. So much of our identity is tied up in the way we wear our hair and, whether you’re thinking about cutting your hair or changing your beautiful wig, you may worry about getting it wrong or losing a part of who you are by trying something different.
However, the good news is that making a change to your hair can completely revolutionize the way you look, helping you to feel younger, fresher and better than ever before. If you’re brave and bold enough to make a change then you will reap the rewards. If you’re thinking of changing your hairstyle then here are some top tips to help you get it right:
Know Your Face Shape
There is nothing to stop you from having whatever hair style you want, but if you want to choose a hairstyle that will flatter you perfectly and really turn heads, you should consider whether the style you’ve chosen will suit your face shape.
Here are some of the most common face shapes, and the hairstyles that will suit them best:
-If you have a square face shape (where your forehead is the same width as your jawline and you have a prominent jaw line) then you should stay away from hair styles that end at your jaw line, as these will only draw attention to your prominent jaw. You could try softening the angles of your face with a gentle fringe, and layers will also help to inject gentle angles into your face.
-If you have an oval face shape (where your forehead is slightly wider than the chin, and the length of your face is approximately one and a half times its width) then you’re truly blessed, as you have the most versatile face shape of all. You can wear almost any hairstyle, although the best advice is to choose an extreme cut. It doesn’t matter whether your hair is long or short, but mid-length hair may take away from the symmetry of your face.
-If you have a round face shape (characterised by prominent, rounded cheeks and a face that is of almost equal width and length) then you should look for a hair style that elongates your face and has layers to add definition. Rounding bobs should be avoided, as should anything that has too much uniformity around your face. Avoid thick or blunt fringes, as they will only make your face look rounder.
Think About Your Hair’s Texture
Once you know your face shape and which cuts will flatter it best, you need to think about how the texture of your hair will influence the style that will suit you best. If you have coarse and curly hair then you’re never going to be able to achieve beachy waves, for example. The same rule applies to adding volume and texture to fine flat hair; it’s unlikely you’ll ever tease your natural hair into Beyoncé curls!
If you want to explore a hair cut that isn’t possible using your hair’s natural texture then why not consider wearing a wig? This is also one of the easiest ways to change your hair without causing long term damage to it, by perming it or chemically straightening it for example. Wig wearing is also a great way to experiment with new hair styles, colours and lengths without making a permanent commitment to it. This is a great option for the particularly unsure and indecisive.
Think About Your Lifestyle
You might love the idea of beachy waves, but do you really have the time to commit to spending at least 30 minutes teasing your hair into tousled curls every morning? It’s important to be realistic about your lifestyle and the time you have to commit to styling your hair before you make a decision about a new, high maintenance cut. If you like spending hours preening your hair each day then the skies the limit when it comes to choosing a new style, but if you want a throw and go style you can put together in seconds on the way to the gym each morning then you need something simple and low maintenance.
You should also think about how often you’re prepared to visit your hair stylist. A crop or choppy bob is great if you want a low maintenance style, for example, but only if you’re prepared to go the hairdressers every 6-8 weeks. If you don’t have the money or the time for regular trips to the hairdressers though, growing your hair to a longer length is the easiest way to avoid spending too long in the salon chair. Make sure you discuss how much time you will have to dedicate to your hair with your stylist, so that you can work together to create a style that will not only look good on the day that you leave the salon, but on every day after that as well.
Change Your Hair Without Cutting It
Want to change your hair style but not ready to take the plunge and cut your hair? There are plenty of ways that you can completely change the appearance of your hair without making any permanent changes at all. Why not try mixing things up and changing your parting? Changing the direction of your parting will completely reinvent your look, and may well even be more flattering for you face shape. If you have a central parting then move it to the side, and if it already sits to the side then move it back to the centre. Moving your parting will also help to add volume and dimension at the roots where your parting used to sit, helping to frame your face in a whole new way.
If you don’t usually wear your hair parted, you could also try pulling it back with a hair band. This will be a particularly dramatic change for those of you who usually wear your hair with a bold, full fringe. Unveiling your forehead for the first time by pulling back that fringe will completely reinvent the way you look, making your face look longer, younger, and fresher. This is a particularly good look during the summer months, allowing you to catch an even tan by opening up your whole face.
Have Fun with Colour
Finally, if you like the style of your hair but still feel ready for a change, why not have fun with colour and use dye to add new texture and dimension to your look. Experimenting with colour can be as bold or as subtle as you like: opt for an all over colour or simply inject a few subtle highlights to make your hair look fuller and thicker. If you want to add colour to your hair but don’t like the idea of damaging it with bleach or other nutrient stripping colourants then why not think about adding coloured extensions to your hair instead? Ombre hair extensions are a great modern option, and bang on trend right now. Simply match the root colour to the colour of your own hair, and then be as bright and as bold as you want! Blonde and red shades are popular options for women of all ages, but if you’re looking for something a little more vibrant and eye catching then pastel shades of pink, blue and purple are also fun, face flattering, and incredibly on-trend right now.
Think about your skin tone and the colours that will suit it best: if you’re pale for example then red tones will compliment your skin tone whilst blonde shades may wash you out. Meanwhile if you have olive skin then pastel shades will leave you looking pallid and drawn whilst brunette and dark red shades will leave your skin looking richer and more vibrant than ever.