Choosing a new pair of prescription glasses is a moment that is both exciting and delicate. It is the accessory you will wear every day, right in the center of your face. While it's common to hear that you should adapt your frame to your face shape, we far too often forget an equally crucial element: your haircut! Indeed, bangs, hair volume, or a pixie cut fundamentally modify the structure of your face. To avoid the "mask" effect or visual imbalance, dive into our comprehensive styling guide.
1. Round, square, oval: The golden rules of face morphology
Even before considering your haircut, it is essential to identify the dominant geometric shape of your face. The golden rule in optics is contrast: the shape of your glasses must balance and harmonize with the natural lines of your features.
- The round face: Characterized by soft lines, full cheekbones, and the absence of sharp angles. To structure this type of face and visually elongate it, opt for rectangular, square, or geometric (hexagonal) frames. Strict angles will break the childlike roundness to bring a touch of dynamism and maturity.
- The square or rectangular face: You have a strong jawline and a broad forehead. The goal here is to soften your features. Favor round, oval, or the famous "panto" shapes. Cat-eye (butterfly) glasses are also excellent allies because they draw the eyes upwards, thus softening the base of the face.
- The heart-shaped face (inverted triangle): The forehead is wide, and the chin narrows to a point. To rebalance the proportions, you must dress the lower part of the face and lighten the upper part. Thin metal frames, rimless models, or downward-pointing "aviator" shapes are perfect.
- The oval face: It is the holy grail of morphology! Your proportions are naturally balanced. Good news: absolutely all shapes of glasses suit you. This is the opportunity to dare to wear highly trendy, oversized, or atypically geometric frames.
2. The case of bangs: How to avoid the overload effect?
Bangs are an undeniable style asset, but they already occupy a large surface area of your face, reducing the visible space between your eyebrows and your eyes. Choosing glasses with bangs therefore requires a certain subtlety so as not to suffocate your gaze.
If you wear straight, thick bangs, your eye area is already heavily marked. Avoid at all costs very thick, black acetate frames, which would create a heavy visual barrier, similar to a "mask" effect. The goal is to air out your face. Turn to ultra-thin metal frames (like titanium or rose gold metal), or fall for the trend of transparent glasses. Crystal acetate will let the light through and will fade perfectly under your bangs.
If you sport curtain bangs, which are more fluid and swept to the sides, you have more freedom. "Cat-eye" (butterfly) frames look exceptional with this type of hairstyle: the ascending line of the frame naturally follows the movement of the curtain bangs, stretching your gaze towards the temples with absolute glamour.
3. Short hair and bobs: Enhancing your jawline
Short haircuts, from the bold "pixie cut" to the classic bob, completely expose the neck, nape, and ears. The face is laid bare, making your glasses the central and essential accessory of your look.
With a pixie cut, it's time to let your personality speak! Since the face is completely cleared, it can handle glasses with a strong character without looking overloaded. You can dare to wear oversized frames, very thick acetate, bright colors (red, emerald green), or contrasting tortoiseshell patterns. The glasses become the jewel of your face, bringing a powerful touch of femininity that counterbalances the androgynous side of short hair.
With a bob cut, which frames the face and often stops at jaw level, the panto shape (rounded but flattened on top) or slightly stretched models (butterfly) create a superb retro-chic harmony. Just be careful that the width of the frame does not exceed the width of your face, otherwise, it might create an unflattering overall widening effect.
4. Long hair, volume, and colorimetry: Balancing proportions
Long hair has its own dynamic. The choice of your glasses will mainly depend here on the natural volume of your hair and its color.
If you have long and very voluminous or curly hair, your glasses must have enough presence not to "disappear" into the mass of hair. Structured frames, with slightly thicker temples or in rich Havana tortoiseshell, will know how to assert themselves and stand out amidst this generous volume.
Conversely, long, straight, and fine hair pairs wonderfully well with delicate frames, with clean and minimalist lines. Glasses rimmed with a discreet metal wire will bring a poetic elegance without crushing your features.
Finally, a word on colorimetry. Your hair color influences the choice of the frame. Blondes will be enhanced by warm and soft tones (honey tortoiseshell, peach, powder pink) or golden metals. Brunettes can afford strong contrasts (black acetate, deep burgundy, navy blue, or silver metal). As for red hair, it pairs perfectly with classic tortoiseshell, deep emerald green, or the indispensable "rose gold" which brings out copper highlights.
5. Try-On, Boutiques, and Reimbursements: Visionet's support
Finding the perfect frame in theory is one thing, but being able to try it on peacefully is another. Our home try-on service allows you to receive several frames at home, to test them quietly in front of your mirror, with your everyday hairstyle. And for those who prefer human and physical guidance, our opticians gladly welcome you to our boutiques located in Derval and Blain (France). You will find the same level of expertise and styling advice there.
Because visual health must be accessible to all, we make it a point of honor to facilitate your administrative procedures in France. We apply Third-Party Payment (TP) in connection with your mutual insurance to save you from advancing fees. We also support beneficiaries of the CMU (now Complémentaire Santé Solidaire), and of course, offer the 100% Health deal, allowing you to access quality prescription glasses, fully reimbursed and with zero out-of-pocket costs.
★★★★★
"I recently cut my long hair into a very short bob with thick bangs. My old black glasses made me look severe. I followed the advice and switched to a transparent frame with slight golden reflections ordered from Visionet... The change is radical, my face is so much brighter!"
— Chloé M., verified customer.
The Advice of our Styling Opticians
Never forget that your eyebrows are the guiding line of your expressions. Regardless of your haircut or face shape, the upper part of your glasses frame must follow the natural curve of your eyebrows without ever completely hiding them or cutting them in half. A good frame-eyebrow alignment is the secret to a harmonious and expressive gaze.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which glasses to choose when you have thick bangs? +
It is imperative to air out the face to avoid a visual heaviness effect. Flee thick and dark frames. Opt instead for ultra-thin metal frames, soft pastel colors, or timeless transparent acetate that will catch the light under your bangs.
I have a very short pixie cut, can I wear oversized glasses? +
Yes, absolutely! It is even highly recommended. Since the boyish cut completely clears your face, it allows you to wear frames with a strong character, voluminous, colorful, or thick, which will feminize and dress your gaze in a spectacular way.
Last updated: — Editorial: Team Visionet.
