Does This 'Do Make Me Look Fat? Face-Slimming Hair Tips

by Deborah Dunham (Subscribe to Deborah Dunham's posts)
Posted Mar 30th 2010 at 8:00AM

America Ferrera's long layers flatter her round face shape. Photo: Getty Images

Just like the wrong cut of jean can be unflattering to your derriere, the wrong hair cut can make your face look larger than it really is.

Looking thinner is possible with the right hair cut and style, according to hair stylist Patrick Wellington, founder of Wellington Hair Spa in New York. "We know that square or round faces have a tendency to look fuller and oval shaped faces look thinner, so the key is to work within your facial shape," he tells StyleList.

It's also important to find a stylist who knows how to work with that shape. "If you don't have the right style for your face, it can definitely make you look heavier," Wellington adds. "A good hairstylist should be able to gauge and recommend a suitable look."

Just keep these slimming tricks of the trade in mind:

1. Shoot for a length that falls somewhere between the chin and the shoulder.
2. Steer clear of styles that are too wide.
3. Add some soft fringes or layers around the face to hide part of the cheeks.
4. Use a side part to de-emphasize the round shape of your face.
5. Add some height to the top of your hair to give the illusion of a more oval-shaped silhouette.
6. Avoid blunt-cut bangs.
7. Add contrast with highlights and color -- this will create shading which has a slimming effect.

Wellington also says that brunette to black hair is slimming and short pixie cuts on oval (not round) faces are slimming. "Asymmetrical bobs elongate the neck and make you look slimmer, and long hair with volume and body will also give the allusion of a slimmer face," he adds.

Need more proof? Think about Nikki Blonsky, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Raven Symone and America Ferrara. They not only prove that rounder, fuller faces look fabulous with the right hairstyle, they just look downright fabulous, period.

Want to know what else can make you look thinner? Read about these wardrobe tricks!

Read All Comments

Filed under: Cuts & Style, Hair, Celebrity Hair
Tags: fat faces, FatFaces, hair, hairstyles that make me look fat, hairstyles to make my face slimmer, HairstylesThatMakeMeLookFat, HairstylesToMakeMyFaceSlimmer, Patrick Wellington, PatrickWellington, round faces, RoundFaces, wide faces, WideFaces

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READER COMMENTS

(47)Add A Comment

Melissa, 3-30-2010, 4:36PM

Apparently, your mind isn't working well either - the people on this blog may be buying into this, but its obvious you didn't invest in an education.

jean, 3-30-2010, 3:06PM

Why is everyone supposed to look as though they have an oval face? Who decided that? What's wrong with a round face? Some of these fashion rules are really ridiculous.

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kat, 3-30-2010, 4:51PM

Yes we are supposed to have oval faces- all of us woman on the whole planet- so we MUST do what we can to appease the men in America- maybe I should tie a strap around my face to re shape it!!! Imagine when they decide WE should all have square faces- what are we to do then???LOL

debbie, 3-30-2010, 3:10PM

Jean, the idea is that a face that looks oval looks slimmer than a face that looks round, thats all.the length brings the eye up as opposed to out with a round look. when the eye goes up and down the illusion is slimmer. when the eye goes left to right the look is heavier.
I was disappointed that there werent styles to help with my square jaw. evidently thats not an issue.

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CAROL, 3-30-2010, 5:29PM

Yes Debbie, we know what the article said and meant so you don't need to educate us all. But I would like to say that tip #3 is not for me. I can't STAND my hair touching my face. It does occasionally of course but I push it aside. So all of these tips are
not for everyone.

tiny tina, 3-30-2010, 4:58PM

Hey tammi and la-ia,are you going to be laughing as you age and your butt gets wide as a barn. Obviously your not there yet, but it happens to everyone. So keep making all your jacka... comments.

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Lee Lee, 3-30-2010, 3:42PM

Hello? The advice says keep the length between the chin and the shoulders for a round face, but the picture shows a long cut... wow, does anyone proofread this crap?

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big girl, 3-30-2010, 3:48PM

hey tammi & la-ia ,yall need to stop talking sh*t about others, you dont know the person just dont talk about them.just because someone has a different body shape you dont need to call people fat, its like telling someone who is skinny an anorexic.debbie a style for and square jaw is to have the ends of your hair curve in towards your face.

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Nik, 3-30-2010, 3:53PM

Obviously, my comment was for la-ia but I'm sure she wouldn't understand it.

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Maria, 3-30-2010, 4:08PM

You're right, she/he would never understand it. You can't "aks" an idiot to understand anything! LOL!

menina, 3-30-2010, 6:12PM

I agree with 100% nik, plus this is just to help those you have questions, help and care. if its not something that you are interested in, just leave and move on. "if it ain`t for you, just leave dat alone" just in case if la ia doesn`t understand the proper written english, and stop make a full of your self la ia...

Shelley, 3-30-2010, 4:08PM

Boy, someone needs to go back to school and learn how to speak properly! I would imagine you as a smoking, drinking, loud mouth, who can eat what she wants and not gain weight. Just the kind of person that I want to be one day .....Please! We are all different and all are meant to be different. That is how God made us. We need to lift our sisters up (and brothers) and do that through our actions and especially our words. What if you, God forbid, had a horrendous accident and had a scarred up appearance? Hopefully those around you would be accepting and there to help, not hurt and beat down with their words.

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rinaaaaaaaa, 3-30-2010, 4:46PM

haha lmao

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xpmark12, 3-30-2010, 4:49PM

Now don't get me wrong, a girl's face can get too full.But for the most part I like a girl with a slightly full face like Sally Field,Rachel Ray or Marie Osmond.But, on the other hand I like almost any type of face so long as it comes across as cute or beautiful to me.Don't get me wrong, they won't all find me attractive or want to date me, it's just that I have to have what I like or why bother.

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Mchert2, 3-30-2010, 4:55PM

My hair is blonde and semi-short. What do you if I have a long, oval face, high forehead, BABY FINE hair and are very petite?????????

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Julie, 3-30-2010, 5:19PM

I have the same face as you as does my sister..I am not petite but she is...try a longer than chin length cut with a bang of some sort. I wear my hair short with bangs and my sisters is shoulder length with a side swept bang. NEVER part it in the middle. It will give an illusion of a longer face.
Also try hair boosters for a little fullness or even some extensions. Sister did that for fullness. I have more hair but still fine.
If your hair is short (like mine) try someting fuller on the sides or around your face.
Remember its all about illusions.
One time I even went to a salon (and I think they have websites you can do it on) and you can upload a picture and add different hairstyles. Kinda fun! GOOD LUCK!

And for you ignorant people...man, i'm almost embarrassed FOR YOU! LOL

t, 3-30-2010, 5:10PM

i made fun when i was young and now i too am fat....what goes around comes around

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debbie, 3-30-2010, 5:08PM

thanks, big girl, I will try your advice. Had my hair in layers in the past and it drove me nuts in the summer as it would get in my face and I couldnt put it back when its windy. also, I live in a dry climate and the hairdo is fine there, but in humid areas of the country it fans out and I look like like roseann roseannadanna. thanks again for your suggestion, anythings gotta be better than this straight, shapeless hairdo I have now.

Why do so many of these blogs turn into weight discussions?Everyones so darn vocal about the extra lard on people. let it go!!MYOB...talk about off topic......

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Gracie, 3-30-2010, 5:23PM

Hey la la perhaps you should worry more about learning to speak the English language rather than sharing your insecurities by picking on other people, and no I'm not a big person I'm 5'2" and 105 lbs.

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