Analyzing a client’s profile before a haircut is a prime opportunity to assess how a new style could enhance or diminish features.
“By skipping this step during a consultation, we miss out on that chance to craft a haircut that frames the face, jawline, neckline, and even ears,” says salon educator Molly Getz, a Sam Villa ambassador, Redken artist, and stylist at Soto Salon Spa in Perrysburg, OH.
For instance, volume in the crown may look balanced from a front view, but could create issues from the side if the volume area is competing with the face shape.
“Many people see themselves in photos at different angles and don’t like how their features appear from different views besides straight-on," Getz says. "That’s because we can’t easily view our own profile."
What to Identify From a Profile Analysis
Shape. Are the face, chin, and neck in profile concave, convex, or straight? In other terms, is the line that connects the forehead, nose, and chin rounded in, rounded out, or all in line with each other?
Jawline. How pronounced is it?
Hairline. What is the shape and how densely does the hair fall around the face and ears?
Tips for a Solid Profile Analysis
Getz starts by asking clients if there is anything about their profile they see in photos that they love or don't love. She then looks for ways to balance, enhance, or diminish the look of those features.
For example, if a client has a convex face shape and doesn't love their nose as a focal point, the stylist can create visual balance by cutting a fringe to add fullness to the forehead from the profile view.
Another example is if someone has a shallow jawline, or jawline that doesn’t stand out from their neckline.
Creating a visual “point” like an A-line bob, which dips slightly longer in the front and just below their jaw, will create a visual of their ideal jawline shape.
“Think of cutting hair as placing lines, angles, and shapes onto someone," Getz says. "Sharp angles will either enhance an existing sharp feature or diminish a soft feature. Soft angles will do the opposite."
Taking color into consideration, "vertical lines give the illusion of length, while horizontal lines give width and weight," she says.