Hi, I'm Allison Garcia, and I've been a stylist for over 20 years. In that time, I've had countless clients sit in my chair at Foxtail Hair Salon, hold up a picture on their phone, and ask, "Can you make me look like this?"
Last month, my client Lauren came in with a photo of Jennifer Aniston. She said, "Allison, I want this exact haircut."
I looked at the photo, then at her. I said, "Lauren, Jennifer Aniston has an oval face and thick, straight hair. You have a round face and fine, wavy hair. If I give you that exact cut, it won't look the same."
She looked disappointed. She said, "So I can't have it?"
I said, "We can create a version that works for your face and hair. But it won't be a copy. It'll be better because it's designed for you."
It's completely understandable. You see a gorgeous haircut online, and you want it. The internet is flooded with guides telling you that if you have a round face, you need a lob, and if you have a square face, you need soft waves.
While there's some truth there, it's only about 10% of the story. Those charts don't know if your hair is fine or thick, if you live with Texas humidity, or how much time you have to get ready before your commute up Highway 288.
So, let's talk about how we find a style that's genuinely, authentically perfect for you.
First, Let's Figure Out Your Face Shape (The Right Way)
Most guides tell you to pull your hair back, stand in front of a mirror, and trace the outline of your face with lipstick. It's a decent starting point, but it often leaves people feeling more confused.
Lauren said to me, "I tried that lipstick thing. I have no idea what shape I am."
I said, "Lauren, very few people fit perfectly into one box. You might be a blend of two shapes. That's completely normal."
Here's a little secret from behind the chair: these rigid categories are just a starting point.
Here are the basic shapes we look for. Oval is when your face is slightly longer than it is wide, like an egg. Round is when your face is about as wide as it is long, with your widest point being at your cheeks. Square is about as wide as it is long, but with more angular features and a strong jawline. Heart is a wider forehead and cheekbones that narrow down to a smaller chin. Diamond is when your cheekbones are the widest part of your face.
Once you have a general idea, we can start talking about the details that really matter.
Why a Picture of a Celebrity Isn't Enough
Finding your dream haircut is about creating balance and proportion that works with your unique features. A stylist doesn't just look at the outline of your face. We analyze the whole picture.
Hair texture and density are everything
Lauren has fine hair. I said, "A long, layered cut designed to soften a jawline will fall completely flat on fine, straight hair. But on thick, wavy hair, it could create the perfect amount of movement and volume."
She said, "So my hair type matters as much as my face shape?"
I said, "Absolutely. We have to work with the fabric you have."
For some clients in Pearland who want more fullness to support a style, we often talk about options like our nearly invisible hand-tied hair extensions to add that missing volume right where you need it.
Your lifestyle matters
Lauren said to me, "I have three kids. I'm running between Shadow Creek High School and soccer practice. I don't have an hour for styling every morning."
I said, "Lauren, your haircut needs to fit into your life, not the other way around. We're going to design something that looks great air-dried or with five minutes of styling."
Are you a busy mom? Do you work at the Texas Medical Center and need a polished, professional look that holds up all day? These details matter.
A Stylist's Approach for Your Shape
Instead of thinking in rigid rules, think in terms of goals. What are we trying to achieve?
If your face is round
Our goal is to create length and angles to elongate your features. We want to draw the eye downward.
Lauren has a round face. I said, "Long layers, choppy pixie cuts, side-swept bangs, and asymmetrical bobs are fantastic. They create vertical lines and break up the roundness."
What to consider: Avoid chin-length bobs with rounded edges and heavy, straight-across bangs, as they can make your face appear wider.
I gave Lauren long layers with side-swept bangs. When I turned her around to the mirror, she said, "Allison, my face looks so much longer! This is amazing."
For my square-jawed clients
Here, the goal is softness. We want to balance strong, beautiful angles with texture and movement.
My client Sarah has a square jaw. She came in and said, "I feel like my face is too angular."
I said, "Sarah, wavy styles, soft curtain bangs, and cuts with layers that start around the chin create beautiful curves that complement your jawline."
I gave her soft curtain bangs and face-framing layers. She said, "It softens everything. I love it."
The versatility of an oval face
You've hit the genetic lottery! Most styles will work for you, so our goal is to highlight your best feature.
My client Jennifer has an oval face. She said, "What should I do? I feel like I can do anything."
I said, "You can! Love your cheekbones? A chin-length bob will show them off. Want to highlight your eyes? Go for some wispy bangs."
What to consider: The only thing to watch for is making sure the style doesn't drag your features down. Too much length with no layers can sometimes elongate the face too much.
Balancing a heart or diamond shape
For heart shapes, we want to add some volume around the lower half of the face to balance a wider forehead. For diamond shapes, we focus on softening the cheekbones.
My client Rachel has a heart-shaped face. She said, "My forehead is so big. I hate it."
I said, "Rachel, for heart shapes, shoulder-length cuts with layers or waves add fullness around the chin. We can also do curtain bangs to balance your forehead."
She got curtain bangs and shoulder-length layers. She said, "I can't believe the difference. My forehead doesn't look as big anymore."
Questions I Hear in My Chair
What if I'm in between two face shapes?
Welcome to the club! Most people are.
Lauren asked me this. She said, "Am I round or oval? I think I'm both."
I said, "You're probably a blend. This is exactly why a professional consultation is so important. We can create a custom cut that takes elements from both shapes."
Can I have bangs with a round face?
Absolutely! The key is the type of bangs.
Lauren asked me this. She said, "I've always wanted bangs but I thought I couldn't have them with my round face."
I said, "Soft, side-swept bangs or curtain bangs that open up the face are incredibly flattering. They create a diagonal line that breaks up the roundness."
Does my hair type matter more than my face shape?
They are equally important and work together. You can't consider one without the other.
A great stylist knows how to adapt a cut that's right for your face shape to work with the reality of your hair's texture and density.
Let's Find Your Perfect Style, Together
An online guide is a great place to start your research, but it can't replace the trained eye of a stylist who sees you, your hair, and your features in three dimensions.
Lauren sent me a text three weeks after her cut. The message said, "Allison, I'm getting so many compliments. Everyone says this is the best haircut I've ever had. Thank you for not just copying that photo."
That's what this is about.
If you're ready to stop guessing and find a haircut that feels like it was made just for you, I'd love to chat.
You can book a consultation with me or any of the talented stylists at Foxtail Hair Salon.
Come see us at 2111 North Main Street, Pearland, Texas 77581. Give us a call at (832) 295-3821 or book your appointment online.
Let's create something amazing.