Scissors, tears and bangs

Avoid post-haircut meltdowns by understanding your face shape

KARACHI:

Haircuts and I? A rocky history, to say the least. If there's a spectrum of traumatic life events, early salon visits would make the cut. Most ended with me in a foul mood - or, if we're going way back, tears.

I'm well aware hair dramas are champagne problems compared to global crises or economic crashes. But a botched haircut is no fun in its own right. Especially when you have paper-thin hair that refuses to cooperate with any style. Add to that my mother's love for short bobs and bangs, and the result? Desi Dora the Explorer.

As I grew older, armed with reference photos, I'd walk into the salon ready for a cut that, inevitably, took a wrong turn. The Sabrina Carpenter bangs I envisioned would end up as limp, sad strands clinging to my forehead. And that Hania Aamir bob was always usually more "please grow out fast" than Parisian. It got to the point where, desperate and defiant, I'd grab the kitchen scissors, convinced I could "fix" it myself. (Spoiler alert: I couldn't, though I gave it many, many tries.) These days, I stick to what works—for my face, for my hair, and, most importantly, to avoid any more scissor-wielding attempts at home.

Let's talk shapes

To avoid any possible post-haircut meltdowns of your own, it might be time to figure out what your face shape is and choose a hairstyle that actually suits it. Oval-faced folks, you're in luck. Your face shape is the Swiss Army knife of hairstyles—it works with almost anything. If you're like Jennifer Lawrence or Kim Kardashian with a slightly longer-than-wide face and a jawline that's all smooth curves, you can get away with all kinds of looks. But that doesn't mean every cut is a guaranteed win.

For a shorter style, InStyle Magazine recommends a blunt bob that skims the shoulders. It'll give you just the right amount of edge without looking like you went overboard with the clippers. Want to keep your locks long? Go for a side-swept bang or a soft middle part, which both add enough flair to avoid "shapeless mop" territory. And while you're free to experiment, do skip any heavy, forehead-smothering bangs—they'll shrink your face faster than a funhouse mirror.

If you have a heart-shaped face, you're rocking a wide forehead, prominent cheekbones, and a chin that, let's be honest, is the scene-stealer. Picture Tyra Banks and Reese Witherspoon, who both pull off those dramatic cheekbones like a pro. For you, it's all about balance: you can either highlight your jawline or soften your top half.

To play up your heart shape, a high top knot or slicked-back ponytail will do the trick. If that feels too bold, go for a shoulder-grazing lob that widens your jawline slightly—bonus points if it's tousled. Long hair fans can try loose waves that break around the collarbone to draw attention away from a wider forehead. And if you're blessed with a widow's peak, lean into it by parting your hair slightly off-centre. Middle parts can be a bit of a face-fight otherwise—like your hair and forehead aren't getting along.

Squares and rounds

Square-shaped faces are all about structure. Think of Olivia Wilde or Gwyneth Paltrow, whose jawlines could probably cut through glass. With equal width from forehead to jaw, your strong angles are practically begging for styles that either amplify or soften them.

To bring out your face shape, a blunt bob or chic blunt bangs work wonders, turning those angles into a statement. If that feels too severe, try some wispy, side-swept bangs to create diagonal lines and dial down the sharpness. Soft waves or longer layers that start a few inches from the ends will also work magic by adding some flow. And while bold bangs can be tempting, steer clear of the ultra-thick ones unless you're actively trying to frame your face in parentheses.

Round faces are all about softness and youthful vibes, with equal width and length and no major angles. Selena Gomez and Kirsten Dunst both fall into this category, giving off that perpetual "just stumbled out of a fairy tale" look. The goal here is to bring in a few angles and length to avoid looking overly round and cherubic.

One way to do this is with a lob or deep side part, which elongates the face while adding structure. If you're feeling adventurous, a pixie cut with volume at the crown will keep your face from looking too round while adding some grown-up edge. And a quick hack: leave one side of your hair untucked, creating a subtle asymmetry that tricks the eye into seeing a longer face. Avoid heavy bangs or overly fluffy curls, though—they'll only round out your features, which is, you know, kind of the opposite of what you're going for.

Waves work for volume

If you have a long face, consider it an extended oval. Your mission is to create width, not length, which means volume is your best friend. Look to Sarah Jessica Parker, who spent years showing off how brilliant curls can look on long faces.

Loose waves or flat-iron curls that start near the root will add fullness and create the illusion of width. You're essentially looking to build volume at the sides to give your face some balance, so give yourself permission to get fluffy. And if you're all about the sleek and straight look, keep it mid-length—anything longer risks giving you "hanging curtains" vibes.

So next time you're in the salon, maybe hold back on that reference photo and ask your stylist what might work best for your face shape. And if, despite your best efforts, you still end up leaving the salon feeling less like a goddess and more like a garden gnome, remember this: step away from the scissors, and maybe sleep on it. In a week or so, you might just love it—or at least accept it as "character-building."