Curves define a heart shape, which begins broadly at the forehead and cheeks, and then rounds down into a pointed chin. With attention concentrated at the top, it’s best to balance proportions by capturing and moving the viewer’s eye further down the face. Since bangs automatically draw you into the eyes and center of the face, they’re the perfect accessory to your sweetheart curves.

“Bangs work especially well on heart shaped faces, and there are so many different kinds of bangs to choose from, depending on what kind of mood and character you’re after,” says Guido, YouBeauty Hair Advisor. Don’t forget to take into account how much or how little you want to style your bangs every day, as bangs are usually one section of hair that needs a daily refresher to look its best, even if you skip a wash and pull the rest of your hair back into a ponytail or impromptu bun.

Getty ImagesAudrey Tautou
Audrey Tautou

If you have straight or wavy hair
Any cut that hits at or below the chin and flows out fuller at the bottom will allow hair to flow down in a way that complements the natural top width of your face shape. Opt for concave layers, which add movement while allowing thickness to remain at the bottom by maintaining an end perimeter line that is even and blunt. Stay away from layers that are short and top-heavy, which will add bulk to a face shape that is already full in that area.

You can have a lot of fun with wispy bangs that hit at the area between eye and eyebrow, which brings a super feminine feel and sense of lightness to the face. Cutting the bangs so that the tips differ ever-so-slightly as you work your way across the forehead not only looks sexy and a little mysterious, but adds movement and brings attention directly to the eyes.

Getty ImagesReese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon

If you have curly hair
The natural fullness of your curls provides the perfect counterbalance to the width at the top of your head, especially if your curls end in a blunt perimeter line. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with layers—you’ll just need to opt for concave layers that build movement into the hair without interrupting the bottom fullness that a straight edge preserves. If your curls are especially thick and you’re worried that a blunt edge will make the body of your hair look too puffy, you can texturize the ends with a point-cutting shears technique that separates each curl for more movement and definition. 

Bangs add a different texture to the face, though if they’re the traditional kind that rest on the forehead, you’ll have to consider that they may require a quick, daily styling to look their best, given the propensity for your hair to curl. If going this route, sheer bangs cut with lighter texturizing scissors can spotlight your eyes beautifully. If you don’t want to fuss with styling bangs, a longer side-swept style often makes curls fall gently into place with little to no help from you. Aim for a length that hits safely below the cheekbone, so you don’t stack more width to the top of your face.

Getty ImagesHalle Berry
Halle Berry

If you have highly textured hair
A common complaint from highly textured hair types is that strands of any length hit the widest part of the face—the cheeks—and then flare out into an unflattering, triangle shape that lacks movement and style. To make the sides of your hair fall more sleekly, cutting triangular layers into the crown will shift volume upwards, and allow the hair to hang straighter. This kind of layer cuts straight across strands held up taut and straight from the crown, and then cuts pieces held out straight from the sides in a downward angle. The top crown layers perform the double-tasking duty of preventing the top level from falling flat.

If you love short hair, a chin-length bob will emphasize eyes and full cheeks by creating fullness around the chin. If you’re daring and want to flaunt your bone structure, a pixie cut will highlight cheekbones and eyes by allowing the natural contours of the heart shaped face to take center stage.