How to Choose the Right Veil for Your Face

Some say there are two types of brides: "hair brides" and "veil brides."

Hair brides prefer the focus to be on their wedding hairstyle, and are quite content to just tack a veil on behind an updo, and then remove it after the ceremony. The hair bride can't wait to whip off that veil and get down to a good time! On the other hand, a veil bride wants to keep her veil on throughout the wedding reception. Veil brides favor full veils, some with edging or ornamentation, and they usually go for long veils, with multiple layers and a blusher. For them, the hairstyle is secondary; it's necessary only as support to help pouf up their veil.

No matter which category you fall into, you'll want to choose a veil or wedding hairstyle that best highlights your face.

Face Facts

Not every bride has a noticeable face shape that needs balancing by her wedding hairstyle and veil. Those with markedly rounded or angular faces should pay attention to these pointers.

The eight basic face shapes are: Oval, Round, Oblong, Heart, Diamond, Square, Rectangle, and Triangle. The first four shapes are soft and curved, while the last four have more angles and corners. To determine your face shape, pull your hair away from your face and study the outer edge. Here's how to tell which category you fall into:

• If your face is OVAL, it is slightly longer than is it wide, with soft, curved edges.
• If your face is ROUND, there is equal distance all around, using the nose as a centerpoint. It will be as wide as it is long, with rounded edges.
• If your face is OBLONG, it will look like an elongated oval. Many oblongs are mistaken for ovals, but when placed next to a true oval you can see that an oblong has added length.
• If your face is HEART-SHAPED, it's wider at the eye, temple, and cheek area, with a narrow chin. The edges are soft and curved.
• If your face is a DIAMOND, it's widest at the cheeks, narrow at the chin and forehead, with sharper features.
• If your face is SQUARE, it's basically level at the forehead and down the sides. Your jaw is strong and square, and your chin may stick out a bit. If the distance from the top of your face to your chin matches the width, you have a square face.
• If your face is REGTANGULAR, it's similar to a square, but longer than it is wide.
• If your face is TRIANGULAR, it's similar to a heart shape, but the lines and edges are sharper and more angular.