How to Choose the Right Braided Style for Your Face Shape

Ever fallen in love with a braided hairstyle online and then found that it does not look exactly like it in the real world? You are not alone. The most common mistake people make when they decide on a braided hairstyle is that they choose one without taking into account their face shape.

Although skill, hair texture, and braid size all factor into the final look, the shape of your face is a big factor in how a braided look will be. You can use the right braids to accentuate your best, balance your look, and make you feel more confident. However, the incorrect style can actually feature areas you do not want to highlight or minimize.

Why Face Shape Matters When Choosing Braids

A braided hairstyle is more than a means of protection. They outline your face and shape your face proportions.

Some styles give a lift; others provide width. Some of the styles of braids can actually reduce strong features, while others can accentuate cheekbones or jawlines. It is not about altering the shape of your face but about making sure your most beautiful features are harmonized and balanced with your haircut.

Hairstyles are often advised to be chosen to emphasize rather than detract from your natural proportions; this is the recommendation of hair professionals. A round face, for instance, will look elongated, whereas a square face will look best with styles that minimize the square lines.

How to Determine Your Face Shape

Stand in front of a mirror and try to pull your hair off your face as much as you can.

Look closely at:

• Forehead width

• Cheekbone width

• Jawline shape

• Overall face length

Most people are one of the following types:

• Oval

• Round

• Square

• Heart

• Diamond

• Oblong or Rectangle

Having the knowledge of your face shape will make it easier to find the perfect braided style.

Best Braided Styles for Oval Faces

Luckily, if you have an oval face, the options are limitless. The oval face tends to be the most versatile as it has a natural balance of proportions. This face shape is great for most braided styles.

Recommended Styles

• Knotless braids

• Box braids

• Fulani braids

• Goddess braids

• Lemonade braids

• Bob-length braids

• Tribal braids

Personal style should be emphasized, not corrected or adjusted, as oval faces already have a well-balanced face.

Best Braided Styles for Round Faces

Round faces have soft curves, plump cheeks, and are of equal width and length. The objective for choosing braids is to impart length and dimension.

Recommended Styles

• Long knotless braids

• Waist-length box braids

• High braided ponytails

• Long Fulani braids

Best Braided Styles for Square Faces

The side profile of square faces tends to have a strong jawline and equal width across the forehead and cheeks, and into the jaw. These angular shapes are softened up by using the ideal braided style.

Recommended Styles

• Goddess braids

• Curved cornrow designs

• Medium knotless braids

• Bohemian braids

• Loose braid styles

• Braids with soft curls at the ends

These styles bring motion and softness around the face and can help to balance out more dominant facial lines.

Best Braided Styles for Heart-Shaped Faces

Heart-shaped faces are generally broader at the forehead and thinner at the chin. The goal is to add fullness to the lower part of the face to create more facial balance.

Recommended Styles

• Chin-length braided bobs

• Shoulder-length knotless braids

• Side-swept braids

• Goddess braids featuring curls

• Boho braids

• Fuller with face-framing pieces

These are the styles that accentuate the downward focus and offer a more subdued effect between the forehead and chin.

Best Braided Styles for Diamond Faces

The faces of the diamond shape have a distinctively prominent cheekbone, a narrower forehead, and a narrower chin. The aim is to provide width where it is necessary and to accentuate the natural structure of the face.

Recommended Styles

• Side-parted knotless braids

• Layered braided looks

• Fulani braids

• Braided bobs

• Bohemian braids feature soft curls.

Such styles can be used to create a balance of the face and to emphasize the eye line and cheekbones.

Best Braided Styles for Oblong or Rectangle Faces

Oblong faces are longer than they are wide. Ideal braid style to add width and minimise surplus vertical length.

Recommended Styles

• Braided bobs

• Shoulder-length knotless braids

• Chunky box braids

• Crown braids

• Half-up braided styles

These looks add a fullness to the side of the face, but do not lengthen it.

Other Factors to Consider Besides Face Shape

Face shape is a good consideration, but should not be the only one.

Also consider:

• Hair Density: Some styles of braids are suitable for thicker hair, and others are suitable for finer hair.

• Desired Length: Longer braids will produce a different look than shorter braided hairstyles.

• Personal Style: The most effective braid is one that you feel good and certain about. Confidence never goes out of style; trends come and go.

The Value of a Professional Consultation

Occasionally, a face does not fit neatly into one of the categories. A large number of individuals possess a mix of features from a number of face shapes. This is where professional advice comes in handy.

An experienced braider will be able to determine your facial structure, hair type, habits, and tastes and advise you on the braid that will best complement both your natural beauty and your needs.

Find Your Perfect Braided Look

The proper braided hairstyle not only protects your hair but also accentuates many of your features, suits your facial shape, and makes you feel your best.

From knotless braids to Fulani braids to goddess braids to tribal braids or even a custom-made style, selecting a braid that is tailored to your face can mean the difference between a good and bad look. The Braiding Palace starts with getting to know the individual behind the hairstyle.