TO DETERMINE YOUR FACIAL SHAPE:

1. Pull hair back and secure with pins or a headband so hair is completely off the face.

2. Stand 12" from a mirror and look straight into it -- or have someone take a picture of you facing straight into the camera with your hairline showing.

3. Outline your face with a marker on the mirror with tracing paper, or on the photo.

4. Now look at your face shape in the mirror or photo drawing. Choose the shape that most closely resembles your own. If your face is a combination of shapes, choose styles based on the following criteria, which most flatter your particular shape.

REMEMBER... your hairstyle is a frame for your face. Your best/worst features should be enhanced/minimized by your hairstyle. Because the OVAL face is the ideal, your most flattering hairstyle will be as close as possible to creating the illusion of an OVAL shape.

OVAL FACE ---- Oval is considered by many to be the ideal and most versatile face shape, since nearly every style looks becoming on this facial shape. Hair pulled back or worn in an updo shows off the oval face the most. In long styles, a great classic look is a center or side part with hair touching shoulders. The short-layered looks with curls and a close extended nape focus on this oval.

FASHION TIP: Wide-open necklines or close-necked collars emphasize the oval face.

ROUND FACE ---- This shape is round at the cheeks and a has a circular form. There is more of the face near the ears and gradually less curving upward and downward. The goal: to slim your face. Hair below the chin line should be worn with a face-lengthening center part; for hair above chin line, wear an off-center part to interrupt the roundness. Height at the crown and a bare forehead lengthen and slim the face. It's best to avoid short and sleeked-back hairstyles. In short-angled styles, you are best seen with hair brushed away from the face, building extra crown height to narrow the roundness of your features. Though bangs shorten the face, you can wear curly, tousled bangs or a soft wispy fringe . Always avoid full, straight-falling bangs. Wear longer styles closer to the face to give length.

FASHION TIP: Avoid rounded, scoop necklines. Use vertical clothing lines and v-neck lines to add angles to the roundness.

SQUARE FACE ---- This face is characterized by an angular jaw and square brow, with jaw and brow being nearly the same width. The goal: soften the sharp angle of jawline and minimize squared-off brow. Hairstyles which emphasize the cheekbones mid-line of the face are most flattering. Bangs and waves at the temple also soften the square. Wear your best styles with hair swinging forward onto the face to reduce the angles. Hair length is best about 1-1/2" below the chin, or extending to shoulder length to reduce and soften the squareness of your jaw. Hair worn on the forehead is always perfect for you, as long as it is wispy or fringed. Never wear straight bangs. Hair turned under at the bottom also will narrow the width of the jaw. Styles in loose curls and waves add extra dimension to the square face.

MAKEUP TIP: Makeup that emphasizes the cheekbones softens the square. Darken the outer corner of the jaw to soften the lines and make them recede.

PEAR-SHAPED FACE ---- This shape has a wide chin and a narrow forehead. The goal: narrow the chin and widen the forehead. Wear your hair wide and full at the top of the head and temples, brushed away from the face and up toward the ear to widen forehead; from the ear, angle hair forward toward the chin to soften and narrow a strong jaw. Styles which are wide and full at the chin will emphasize the width of the jawline, and should be avoided. The wedge styles, which are brushed away from the face and give width at the forehead are perfect for this facial shape.

CLOTHING TIP: Avoid ruffled necklines, which add fullness to the lower face. Closed-neck collars and necklines are best.

MAKEUP TIP: Highlight the forehead and temples to add width to the upper half of your face.

HEART SHAPED FACE ---- This is a triangular-shaped face. This face is narrow at the jaw line, wider at the eye line, cheek bones and even more at the brow line. The goal: diminish forehead width and create a wider, fuller jaw effect. Soft bangs flatter this shape, whether curly or smoother. Or wear a side part with soft three-quarter bangs swept over one side to balance your forehead width. The styles should be fuller at the jaw line. Upswept at the sides and off the forehead further emphasize your feminine appeal . A medium length to mid-neck is your best look. Fullness at the bottom, with hair directed forward onto the cheeks gives you the appearance of a wide chin. The soft layered bob styles are ideal. Or if you prefer, curls or loose waves, shaped from the ears down, add width and fullness to your chin.

CLOTHING TIP: Use V-neck and "Sweetheart" neck lines to repeat and emphasize the heart shape.

MAKEUP TIP: Highlight the temples if you are not wearing bangs to broaden the forehead.

OBLONG FACE ---- This shape is long and thin, often with a chin that tends to look pointed. There is very little difference in width between the top, middle or bottom of your face but it is more rounded than the square face. Hairstyles should add width and fullness to the sides of the face and around the eyes, cheekbones and ears. This shape benefits from a low side part, with a sweep of hair brushed across the forehead and secured with a comb. The look of volume with an asymmetric flow of hair to one side widens your face and reduces length. Straight-falling bangs or bangs blended with the sides of your hair, shorten the overall face length. Your best hair length reaches to the middle of the neck. Favor volume with curly or wavy styles that are very becoming, giving you the illusion of balanced width. Wide curly bob styles are ideal for this shape.

CLOTHING TIP: Avoid long V-necked and vertical lines at the neckline. Use high necklines to shorten the length of the face.

MAKEUP TIP: To shorten the face a bit, use darker foundation, powder or blusher to darken the chin.