Hairstyles for a triangle face

The rule

A triangle face broadens from a narrow forehead to a wide jaw. Hair balances it by doing two things: adding volume and width at the crown and temples, and keeping weight, blunt ends and heavy layers away from the level of the jaw.

The rule is height on top, width at the temples, nothing heavy at the jaw.

Volume on top

If there is one adjustment for a triangle face, it is lift at the crown. A root lift, short layers through the top, a blow-dry that pushes the hair up and back, or simply a cut that is not flattened at the crown all add height where the face is small.

Width at the temples matters as much. Layers that begin around the eyes and cheekbones fill in a narrow forehead and the hollows at the temples.

Long hair

Long hair suits a triangle face when the layers start high, around the cheekbone, and the ends are not blunt. Long layers with a side part, waves that begin at the cheek, or a long cut with a soft fringe keep the interest at the upper face.

Long, straight, one-length hair with a centre part pulls the eye straight down to the jaw and frames it. If you wear it straight, add a side part and a few face-framing layers that end above the jaw.

Medium length

A collarbone-length cut works if the layers end above the jaw or well below it, never at it. A lob that ends at the collarbone with layers starting at the cheekbone is a good version. A lob that ends at the jaw is the one to avoid.

Short hair

Short cuts suit a triangle face well because they leave nothing at the jaw and put all the volume on top. A pixie with height at the crown and soft length at the temples, a short crop with a textured front, or a short layered bob that ends above the jaw all work.

Keep the sides from being cropped tight against the head at ear level; a little softness there widens the upper face.

Bangs and fringes

Fringes fill in the small upper third of a triangle face.

• Soft side-swept fringe: widens the forehead by breaking its edge and adds a diagonal.
• Curtain fringe: parts in the centre and sweeps out toward the temples, adding width exactly where it is needed.
• Wispy full fringe that sits above the brow: fills the forehead without hiding it.

A very heavy blunt fringe cut low can shrink an already small forehead, so keep a full fringe light and let it sit high.

Men's hairstyles for a triangle face

For men the aim is height and width on top, with the sides short but not shaved to the skin. A quiff, a pompadour, a textured crop with volume, or a side part with length on top all suit a triangle face.

Keep the sides tapered rather than faded to skin at jaw level; a high skin fade exposes the width of the jaw with nothing above it to balance. Slicked-back styles work if they keep height at the front.

Styles to avoid: flat cuts with no height, bowl shapes, and any cut that adds weight at the ears and jaw. The men's page for a triangle face covers cuts, fades and beards together.

Hair texture

Waves and curls add volume, which suits a triangle face when the volume sits high; keep them layered so the bulk is at the crown and cheekbones rather than gathered at the jaw. Fine straight hair needs a root lift or layers to hold height on top.

What to avoid on a triangle face

• Blunt cuts that end at the chin or jaw.
• Flat crowns with no height.
• Heavy layers or weight gathered at the jawline.
• Tight sides or high skin fades that leave the jaw exposed.
• Long, flat, centre-parted hair without layers.

Check your proportions

The face shape test reports the forehead-to-cheekbone and jaw-to-cheekbone ratios. The bigger the gap between the two, the narrower the forehead relative to the jaw, and the more volume on top and width at the temples will do for the balance of the face.