Style Types: Your Best Hair (2024)

Great post. I am a Romantic with curly hair that I prefer to wear short. Any ideas for short haired Romantics? It seems like it's a major faux pas to be a romantic and not have long hair. Thanks.

It's true that, all things being equal, your Romantic-ness is going to be most reflected in longer hair. But if you are set on wearing it short, I'd focus on making everything else about it as Romantic as you can: wear it curly, make sure it looks a bit styled (instead of wash-and-wear), keep it soft and touchable (not stiff) and go for a side part.
:-)

Great idea for a post! I love the accompanying pictures for each type. I have a question....You’ve talked about wearing the colors and lines already present in us to look the most beautiful. Does that apply to hair, as well? What would you do, for instance, if you were purely a Classic in face and body but had wild, crazy, curly hair? Would you keep your hair authentic and assume you must be a Classic with another style type, or would you try to bring your hair under control so it matched the lines in your face and body?

This is such a great question, and one I've wrestled with for a few years. I'm now convinced that the answer is to make one's hair match one's style identity. Now, I do think that this mostly involves the right cut, and shouldn't entail expensive or time-consuming procedures. A Dramatic with lush, full curls, for example, can do Dramatic hair with a little gel or a buzz cut.

Even though I have one of those oval, balanced faces that beauty articles constantly say can pull off all kinds of hairstyles, this article goes a long way to help me understand why so many of these look terrible on me.

Thanks for the list. I would love suggestions for long and short hair for every type since there seems to be always one recommended length and if you do not like it, it's more or less your own problem.
Any Dramatic Classic out there who wants to wear really (open!) long hair? I am really comfy with many updos, but always when I try to wear open it looks simply wrong. Sides back can work with the right amount of hair, but again everything is away from my face and looks like an updo from the front.

I am soft classic but I feel the same way. I like long hair, but it needs to be off my face. I curl it, and part it down the middle, then I wear it off my face with hair combs. This creates a sweep on the sides of my face, and the hair falls behind my ears so it still looks long from the front, but doesn't cover my face. Sometimes I will do a deep side part and pull one side back like Veronica Lake. Sometimes I have curtain bangs that reach my cheekbones, so there is still a little hair in front of my face when I pull the rest back, but it looks polished.

Hi,
My style profile is Natural, Gamine Ingénue. I have naturally tight curly hair that I style in buns everyday. Does this style fit with my style type? I don't want to have to manipulate my hair too much.
Thanks for the advice

Thank you for the help!
I like my hair long, so I won't cut it. Instead I will learn how to style my hair well, and then I can wear it loose.

Dear Rachel, I have a question for you that I hope you will find intriguing ;-).
Background: I haven't done a proper style analysis but I definitely have a strong element of ingenue, and some classic.
Question: why do I look good in all hats from the most manly caps to the most Ascot sun hats? (Not all wooly hats if they are too tight to the head)
I would be fascinated to hear your thoughts.
Fiona

I'm thinking that if a Romantic Classic has straight, stiff hair, the best choice would be a short, layered cut, to provide as much body as possible.

Soft Summer Dramatic Classic... I can't think of a perfect example right now, but you know who I think is close? Carmen Electra.

Thank you so much, Rachel! I really admire your work and dedication, the whole blog is such a treasure chest.

Oh, thank you so much. :-))

I think that cut would look exactly right on a Dramatic Gamine. On a Gamine or Classic Gamine, I think it would not be the best look. But it's such a *fun* cut -- if it makes you happy, follow that feeling. ? That's the point of all of this, I think.

Very interesting! Long flowing hair has always been an essential part of my identity, and I now believe I have a strong Ethereal element in my id... (Probably an Ethereal-Romantic-Ingenue). But the question is, women over 45 or so are not "supposed" to have long flowing hair, many even call it "aging", so what is an Ethereal woman to do when she gets older? Especially the Ethereal-Romantic... Just ignore the nay-sayers and keep the long flowing hair? ;)

I'm loving all these posts about hair. As someone with a difficult face shape to deal in matter of haircuts (a rounded square), something a little bigger like a Gamine, actually a Classic-Gamine-Natural, I've never seen anyone quite with this kind of face and I have a hard time deciding on which haircut works best. I can't wear straight bangs whatsoever but I find a little bit shaggy, layered hair with straight bangs and the rest left naturally curled, along with some volume at the top works. Or baby bangs, as long as they are not too short. Everyday I wake up with a different hairstyle, so pff lol. Can't seem to work out to wear it short, very short is out of discussion but middle lenght to long seems to be a go-to. Anyone got the same problem with this type of hair and face? :\

I know this comment is from a long time ago but I feel your pain as a NCG when it comes to hair. I don't think short hair would suit me either. I've had shaggy shoulder length NG-style hair and that wasn't great. Long seems to be too much hair. Now I have a blunt lob but that's not right either. It kinda feels like I'm always wearing a wig :D Like my hair is saying something different to my face. The search continues...

I too am a NCG, and find long face framing layers work well. Nothing like a true shag, just a very simple cut that works equally well pulled back in a ponytail or updo (to bring out the classic or gamine) but leaving some face framing side bangs, or down to bring out the natural. Trust me it took years to find my hairstyle, and supercuts is not the place to go for it.

I know this post is from a while ago (😉), but I thought I'd chime in just in case it helps anyone. I'm a DNG (80% NG), and I face the same problem. In fact, my hair journey has been very similar to yours, Ella. However, looking back through pictures of me has been very helpful in identifying what I think is my best cut, and that is a long pixie. It has to be long to balance out my somewhat-larger-than-straight-gamine facial features, but when I have this cut, I actually look cute and, dare I say, pretty. Too short or too long and I look much more mannish and/or older. Hope this is helpful to someone!

Thanks for this post! I've always had trouble with styling my hair, however I always knew short or bobbed curly hair suited me (I'm a Soft Gamine). Could you make a post like this for makeup? You have several articles for makeup on the Seasons, and I think it would be helpful to see the same for the types.

Plus it will give readers a general idea of what makeup looks suit them i.e. contouring for Dramatics, no makeup look for Naturals, etc. Then, they can pair it with their Season to create a signature makeup look.

Would love a blog post about Bangs. I think it'd be so helpful
I'm an ED and I don't see myself without bangs. Can bangs be ED? Maybe they are for every style ID depending of the way they're cut?

Marta, I've always thought bangs only work for Gamines and Ingenues (and those with strong G or I in their blend), so would love some input on this as well. I do know they're not very good for me, though I have quite a lot of Ingenue (I now believe I'm probably RID with E), I just look better without bangs, though have often tried them.

The type of bangs that flatter a face has also to do with proportions. Basically you need to compare your forehead + hair height thing that you are able to when you are looking at the mirror with the rest of the face.
Here's a vid. explaining better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSHJZyrmZSQ
It's also why, as a gamine I have less bang option than others. Side part and standard asymmetric pixies are amazing, straight-across bangs are awful.

*see (forgot a word)

Hi Melina! I also think bangs are for G or I because of the youthfullness. I'm an ED, 50% each essence. But, I don't look like the ideal ED. I've got a pretty rounded face without strong angles. My third essence is Gamine, then, Romantic.
The thing is I look so much better with bangs than without them. They're side part bangs with one side of them a little bit on the side swept bangs and the other part being less full, but this difference is super subtle. I cut my bangs this way because it makes my chin looks more pointy and makes my cheeks stand out whereas if I do the normal side part bangs my face looks super rounded and it's not flattering. I've been applying Rachel suggestions listed above since last year and I've never looked so good with my hairstyle than now. I've applied the E-D hair recommendations as well as the D-G and E-G. The winged effect near my face is key to achieve my bangs to look good, other way they make my face looks super super rounded and ridiculous as if I would be pretending to be young and funny when I'm not.
Maybe I'm an EDG, and G is also a strong essence for me but every time I've done the calculator (many times) the result is the same: 50%E and 50%D. I don't know why but G seems to be also determinant for my appearance.
Anyways, I've been told to look like Bella Hadid and I think she is an EDG (Less E than me I think). Thanks for your comment!

Hi Ralu! The video is super interesting, but I don't know how to apply what Aly says...
I've got a small hair area. I've noticed that, as I have more weight in the bottom of my face, I try to give more volume on the top of my hair to make my hair area bigger so that my face looks more balanced. What makes me sad is that if I don't straighten my bangs and make some volume on the top of my head I look awful. I'd love to find a hairstyle I could wear everywhere and not be so dependent on a hair straightener. I hope Aly makes another video where she explains what hairstyles are the best for every type of hair area. How have you wondered what types of bangs do suit you the best? What is your style ID? :)

What is the difference between wash and wear hair, and styled hair but not stiff? To me these seem one in the same and I can’t imagine... thanks!

Hi Rachel! How do you recommend people add their own style into their style ID? I really like more edgier, goth style clothing. I love the idea of the romantic-ingenue-dramatic style type. The "demure vamp." But I'm pretty sure I'm a romantic-ingenue-gamine with my most prominent type being ingenue. How can I incorporate my preferences without throwing off my overall balance since my preferences tend to be more yang (ie black lipstick, leather jackets, etc.)

Ruth Negga!

Megan, I think the blog owner has Devon Aoki listed as EDI (and she’s on EDI Pinterest board a few times). Also, very long mermaid hair works especially well for E (tinyurl.com/y2ddy9a9), so I’m not sure that’s enough criteria for Priyanka. And I agree Kat Graham is not REG- I think she’s one of those people who dresses very well for her actual ID so that she is able to add in R without it necessarily looking bad (but not her best either). She looks amazing when she is simply dressed for her ID and doesn’t go through the extra hassle of trying to pile Romantic atop of it all. I hope this message doesn’t come across as rude(!) I’d just hate for Mary to wind up more confused considering REG is a more challenging ID to pinpoint as is

Like, today I first wore a dusty pink paperbag waist short with a light pink v-neck t-shirt and a light peach thin silk scarf in my hair and then I wore a turquoize v-neck t-shirt with a mint midi pencil skirt with my very minimalist simple champagne gold sandals and light gold earrings in the shape of a small flower with a white pearl and felt really 'me' in both of these, somewhat similar, looks.

I think Prianka has Dramatic, Natural, Romantic and Ingenue.
Aishywarya Rai has Romantic , Ethereal and some masculine essence. I don't know which one.

What does 'striking winged effect' mean? How does it look like?
Danielle, I hope you didn't give up and there will be more ED on your board. How about print patterns, shoes, underwear and bags?

Oasis, there are actually shoes, bags and even one set of underwear on the ED board. What I I would like to find is some everyday clothing for Ethereal Naturals but that's not easy. I will look for prints too. (:

Danielle, maybe check out the new Knox Rose line at Target? I think they have a lot of EN (occasionally with some Ingenue). I imagine Anthropology, Philanthropy, and maybe Free People has some EN items too. Altar’d State feels more ENI/CNI/RNI to me but you might be able to find something there as well!

Danielle, yes, I can see :) 2 purses (great examples) but only for evening. That's way I've written to you not to give up:)
Does ED prints always and only have S-shape?
The woman with long silver hair on your ED board has striking eyelids. Can you define ED face features? Is there anything on face that defines person as ED? I know her hair are the reason that you put this on board, but are her eyelids also ED? I think Carmen dell Oreffice can be ED. What do you think? Is she only D? I saw you create boards with celebrities of specific type - I'm waiting for such board with ED celebrities. Lisa Bonnet has eyelids alike.
Good to have you here, Danielle.

I wish people wouldn't encourage those commenters known to be very rude from their previous comments here - Danielle and Nancy as the biggest offenders. One or two non-rude comments won't change the fact, and I for one have no time for such people. (Unless someone else has been using their identity to make rude comments, but I don't think so.)

KM, I wish you would stop writing these untrue, unnecessary and irrelevant comments. I for one can determine who is rude or not and I think that goes for most commenters here too.
Clearly, this site is neglected by its owner, otherwise trolling should not be allowed.
It is rude to accuse others of being rude when they are not.
I don't know if you all remember JN's unjust attack of Katja here long time ago , but I do. I think her name was JN or maybe JC. The attack was vicious and very unpleasant to experience. Katja must have thought so too because she hasn't written anything since then. Katja never said a bad word, on the contrary she was a big asset to this blog. (Unlike the real owner of this blog).
Danielle has never been rude. In fact, she has been very helpful. She has given you good advice and I think her pinterest boards are better than Rachel's. They describe the style categories better.

Gabrielle, I like Danielle's board too. You can get inspiration from Rachels boards, but when it comes to figuring out your style-ID I think Danielle's boards are more helpful. There are a lot of clothes from the catwalk and evening wear on Rachel's board, Danielle has more ordinary clothes for ordinary people on her boards.

AlyArt on YouTube is RGI and so is Brigitte Bardot, I think.

Thank you, Oasis! It's nice to know that I'm appreciated.
A Dramatic face has straight, sleek lines. The eyes are narrow and closely set with heavy brows. The lips are thin and straight. The skin is taut and the facial bones are sharpe. The face is elongated and sharply chisled.
An Ethereal face is also elongated, but it is gently sculped. The forehead is high and the hairline is rounded. The face is delicate and has no sharpe angles. The eyes are often hooded with narrow brows. The nose is long and narrow. The lips are fleshy and feminine.
If you are an Ethereal Dramatic with no other essence your face is probably elongated. The lines of your face are probably long and you are definitely unusual looking. But apart from that the features can vary from one ED to another depending on the division of the two elements. Some ED's have more Dramatic features and some have more Ethereal features.
As half Dramatic and half Ethereal you can choose either Dramatic prints such as geometrics, stripes,zigzags etc, or Ethereal prints such as abstract celestial prints, ombre, etc.
If you are half Dramatic and half Ethereal you should be able to pull off an all Dramatic outfit and an all Ethereal outfit.
If you can't find a dress with both elements included you can choose a dress with just one of them and go either all Dramatic or all Ethereal. If your dress is Dramatic, your jewelry, shoes and bag can be Ethereal.
Carmen dell Oreffice is Dramatic for sure. She might have Ethereal as well. In some old pictures of her I could detect a youtful essence ( Gamine or Ingenue). Maybe Gamine?
My advice to you is: don't focus so much on celebrities. Many of them have done plastic surgery and they all wear a lot of makeup so it's hard to type them correctly.
Finding a celebrity who looks like you won't necessarily make it any easier to find your own style-ID.

Women within the same style-ID can look very different from each other depending on every woman's unique division of essences.
If you want to find your style-ID you should not focus so much on details. You should look at the whole picture. The best way is to take a photo of yourself and compare it to different outfits on the style boards, for instance. The lines of the outfit have to harmonize with the natural lines of your face. If you don't have the eye for these things or can't be objective about yourself you can ask a friend to help you.

Danielle, it's more clear to me now! Thanks for explaining!

I think looking at celebrities that are typed with a lot of certainty is incredibly helpful. Its hard to be objective about yourself but its easy with strangers. You can start to familiarize yourself with lines, curves and particular features that are common with certain IDs. Two people of the same ID may not look the same, but you sure can learn a lot from being observant and noticing patterns.

I think that would look very nice!

a very cool and easy hairstyle to do at home

Gabriella, called Katja and KM! It is rude to accuse others of being rude when they are not. First you attack someone because you hear about bad advice you' ve given and now you are lying that you didn't say a bad word.You must have some issues if you are coming back here and writing such nonsence. I feel sorry for you. You lost credibility. You cannot describe telling to agressive Katja that "maybe she is not a bad person" as"vicious attack". It's good that Katja (you) have gone. It is proove she was here only because of the arrogance and pride.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Where's pure Classic?

I'm a bit confused here, as for any Gamine blends, it basically only gives "short" as options, but many, I'd even say most, G blends do not suit short hair, as most women do not... (Also, thinking of any celebs I know that are typed G blends.) Especially of the other essences in one's blend are feminine. So it would be nice to have some suggestions that are not short, please!

I've sometimes seen "sporty" included in keywords for Gamine, so ponytails or similar athletic styles might be good alternates to short hair? "Playful" or "witty" accessories also seem to be suggested frequently. If all else fails, you can always lean on whatever non-Gamine essence(s) you have for hairstyles and either reserve Gamine for other aspects of your look (e.g., hair or makeup) or incorporate small Gamine elements into your hairstyle, such as bangs (youthful and creates a shortening, horizontal line across the face) or tousle or a side part or other asymmetric element (all suggesting movement).