Pointy Chin & Wide Forehead

Girl with a pointy chin and a wide forehead
Photo: Vitchanan Photography/Shutterstock
Q: I have a heart-shaped face, but unfortunately, at my school we are not allowed to let our hair down or have bangs, etc. Bangs need to be pinned back and some girls slick them back. How can I pull my hair back but take the attention away from my pointy chin and make my wide forehead appear narrower?
 
A: It sounds to me like you need to speak with someone in authority who can advise you on the precise guidelines that must be followed for styling the hair as a female. With such severe restrictions as "no bangs" and "hair must be pulled back or worn up" the conformity of the look will be unflattering on some girls more than on others.
 
If the hair is simply meant to be kept out of the face so that it doesn't obscure the ability of teachers to look into the students' eyes, then there may be some room to play. However, if the restrictions are so specific that even shorter bangs (those that don't fall below the eyebrows) must be slicked or pinned back, then there may be nothing for it but to follow the school's rules.
 
These restrictions seem truly stringent and can possibly preclude any possibility of circumvention. However, there are a few points I would consider before resigning yourself to a completely severe, slicked-back style:
 
• Lower the Focal Point: Avoid making the hair too tight and too high. High ponytails or top-knots draw the eye upward, widening the upper third of your face and leaving the pointed chin completely exposed below. Position your ponytail or bun lower down near the nape of the neck to anchor the visual weight toward the bottom of your head.
 
• Play with the Parting: If you are permitted to choose your part, try a deep side or slightly off-center part rather than a strict center part. A side part breaks up the horizontal line of the forehead, creating an asymmetrical sweep that visually narrows a broad hairline.
 
• Soften the Scalp Line: Avoid slicking every hair so tightly against the scalp that the shape of the face is completely exposed. There is a considerable difference between hair that is neatly controlled and hair that has been plastered flat. If regulations allow, leave slight, natural volume at the sides or brush the front sections back diagonally rather than straight back.
 
• Use Strategic Accessories: If small clips or headbands are allowed, a simple headband placed slightly behind the hairline can break up the forehead's appearance, drawing attention across the head rather than straight down to the chin.
 
These restrictions do seem unusually stringent, and unfortunately there may be no perfect solution if the school leaves no room for variation. Still, I would investigate the exact wording of the regulations before giving up. Sometimes the most flattering solution is simply a hairstyle that technically follows the rules without interpreting them any more severely than necessary.
 
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