Looking a little long in
the face? Even subtle tweaks like changing the angle of your part can
amp up the sex appeal. David Babaii, whose celebrity clients include
Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler, shares his best style tips.
1. SHOULDER-LENGTH WAVES
"The length of this simple, tousled look suits Jessica Alba's shape very well," says Babaii. Her waves add volume and draw out her cheekbones—which makes an oval face look slightly more rounded, rather than further lengthening it. To make waves work on fine hair, add volume with Pantene Triple Action Volume Mousse at the roots.
"The length of this simple, tousled look suits Jessica Alba's shape very well," says Babaii. Her waves add volume and draw out her cheekbones—which makes an oval face look slightly more rounded, rather than further lengthening it. To make waves work on fine hair, add volume with Pantene Triple Action Volume Mousse at the roots.
2. CURVED BANGS
"Bangs on an oval face are a great choice, because they change the face shape by shortening its length," says Babaii. "These aren't blunt—instead, they curve on the sides, adding a frame around the eyes." For sleekness like Liv Tyler's, Babaii suggests blow-drying hair and adding a pea-size amount of smoothing serum, such as It&ly Hair Fashion Purity Design Pure Water Drops.
"Bangs on an oval face are a great choice, because they change the face shape by shortening its length," says Babaii. "These aren't blunt—instead, they curve on the sides, adding a frame around the eyes." For sleekness like Liv Tyler's, Babaii suggests blow-drying hair and adding a pea-size amount of smoothing serum, such as It&ly Hair Fashion Purity Design Pure Water Drops.
3. LONG, LAYERED CURLS
"She's got more hair than God," says Babaii of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. "The layers help frame her oval face and control the volume. All-one-length hair would weigh her down."
"She's got more hair than God," says Babaii of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. "The layers help frame her oval face and control the volume. All-one-length hair would weigh her down."
4. BOHO WAVES
"This is the classic Kate Hudson look," says Babaii. "Each side has fullness and the top is a little bit lifted, which balances [an oval face shape]. A bone-straight style would accentuate her longer face frame." To get Hudson's roughed-up texture, mist your hair with a beach spray, like Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, loosely curl with a large-barrel curling iron, and run your hands through it.
"This is the classic Kate Hudson look," says Babaii. "Each side has fullness and the top is a little bit lifted, which balances [an oval face shape]. A bone-straight style would accentuate her longer face frame." To get Hudson's roughed-up texture, mist your hair with a beach spray, like Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, loosely curl with a large-barrel curling iron, and run your hands through it.
5. SHAGGY BOB
"The layers on this A-line bob give the ends a choppy look," says Babaii. Jagged ends make hair look thicker around the jawline, filling in the space where your face looks its thinnest. Use a curling iron to get Emily Blunt's piecey look. Thick, wavy textures might have trouble pulling this off without a light hair spray to set the style. Try David Babaii for WildAid Light Hold Hairspray or Suave Professionals Touchable Finish Hairspray Lightweight Hold.
"The layers on this A-line bob give the ends a choppy look," says Babaii. Jagged ends make hair look thicker around the jawline, filling in the space where your face looks its thinnest. Use a curling iron to get Emily Blunt's piecey look. Thick, wavy textures might have trouble pulling this off without a light hair spray to set the style. Try David Babaii for WildAid Light Hold Hairspray or Suave Professionals Touchable Finish Hairspray Lightweight Hold.
6. GROWN-OUT PIXIE
"This cut complements her face because it's not too squared off on top," says Babaii. "The length, especially near the temples, balances her face shape from the chin to the forehead." For a soft pixie like Emma Watson's, use a pea-size amount of Redken Rewind 06 Pliable Styling Paste and run your hands through your hair to control flyaways.
"This cut complements her face because it's not too squared off on top," says Babaii. "The length, especially near the temples, balances her face shape from the chin to the forehead." For a soft pixie like Emma Watson's, use a pea-size amount of Redken Rewind 06 Pliable Styling Paste and run your hands through your hair to control flyaways.
7. STRAIGHT WITH LIFT
"This works because it's not flat to the head. Sometimes a poker-straight look goes flat on top, which has an elongating effect," says Babaii. But the real key to Beyoncé's sleek style is a healthy shine. Run a ceramic flatiron, like the T3 SinglePass Professional Straightening and Styling Iron, over each section, and apply a hydrating serum like Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream.
"This works because it's not flat to the head. Sometimes a poker-straight look goes flat on top, which has an elongating effect," says Babaii. But the real key to Beyoncé's sleek style is a healthy shine. Run a ceramic flatiron, like the T3 SinglePass Professional Straightening and Styling Iron, over each section, and apply a hydrating serum like Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream.
8. EASYGOING SIDE-SWEEP
"I love the way her hair sweeps over her face a little haphazardly," says Babaii. "Longer faces can be dragged down by hair, so a side-swept style with some asymmetry makes her look softer and less linear." To get Julianne Moore's texture, you don't need a lot of product—just blow it out and scrunch as you go to add some wave, part, and go.
"I love the way her hair sweeps over her face a little haphazardly," says Babaii. "Longer faces can be dragged down by hair, so a side-swept style with some asymmetry makes her look softer and less linear." To get Julianne Moore's texture, you don't need a lot of product—just blow it out and scrunch as you go to add some wave, part, and go.
9. THE CURTAIN EFFECT
Like a gorgeous window dressing, Mila Kunis's cut creates a flattering frame for her face. "I like how the pieces fall on the left side, slightly in front of her cheek and brow—it changes the focus of the face," says Babaii. For shine that lasts, use a silicone-based serum, like Redken Shine Brilliance Glass 01 Smoothing Serum.
Like a gorgeous window dressing, Mila Kunis's cut creates a flattering frame for her face. "I like how the pieces fall on the left side, slightly in front of her cheek and brow—it changes the focus of the face," says Babaii. For shine that lasts, use a silicone-based serum, like Redken Shine Brilliance Glass 01 Smoothing Serum.
10. POLISHED TEXTURE
"This is one of my favorite styles [for oval face shapes] because it's softening," says Babaii about Elizabeth Olsen's style. "I love how they're like third-day waves that she just brushed out, and they look great." Add texture by spritzing a thickening spray to your roots before you blow-dry and wrapping random sections of hair around a large-barrel curling iron.
"This is one of my favorite styles [for oval face shapes] because it's softening," says Babaii about Elizabeth Olsen's style. "I love how they're like third-day waves that she just brushed out, and they look great." Add texture by spritzing a thickening spray to your roots before you blow-dry and wrapping random sections of hair around a large-barrel curling iron.
