All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
EVEN at my lowest-ever weight, there was one thing that never seemed to disappear - my chipmunk cheeks which make my already large face look even bigger.
But as shedding the pounds (or even following make-up tutorials for that snatched look) clearly doesn't work, I decided to go down a different avenue - playing around with my blonde locks.
Just like fashion has its tips and tricks to make you appear thinner - and it's not just by wearing all black - so does the hair game.
The way your tresses frame your face can add subtle - yet effective - definition and make your face look more narrow, without even hitting the gym or giving up your favourite treat.
With a number of events coming up, I spent the last few days styling my bleached bob as advised by A-List Stylist and Key Opinion Leader at , Jason Collier, and other tutorials I stumbled across online.
Jason, who's worked on the manes of Victoria Beckham, Sienna Miller and Eva Longoria, shares how you can style your hair to slim your face shape: ''“When it comes to slimming a rounder face with hair, it's all about strategic styling. Instead of lifting the hair away from the face—which can sometimes emphasize roundness—think about contouring with your hair, just as you would with make-up.
''Styling at specific angles can work wonders to add facial definition. It's all about using your hair as a tool to enhance and flatter your natural face shape.
''For instance, if you're dealing with a fringe, don’t sweep it straight up or back. Instead, angle it to flick around the eyebrows. This technique helps to cut off the roundness and adds a more flattering, slimming shape.
''If you've got waves, style your hair so that the waves start below the cheekbones to define your chin.
''Make sure to twist the wave inward or flick it away from the face as this will add a subtle contour to your cheekbones, giving a more sculpted look.''
Darker roots can also play a big part in hair contouring, the beauty whizz revealed.
''They create depth and shadow, which helps to visually refine the face’s shape.
''The contrast between dark roots and lighter ends adds dimension that works similarly to make-up contouring and highlighting.o - can you really achieve model-like cheekbones just by a few simple hairdos? Here's how it went on...
Once made famous by Kate Moss, the scraped-back look was everywhere in the early Noughties and has recently made a huge comeback on catwalk and the red carpet.
Amongst those sporting the sleek look is Sarah Jessica Parker, J-Lo, supermodel Bella Hadid and of course - the Kardashian/Jenner clan.
Love Islanders, too, have often been spotted with the glam hairdo, with mum-of-one Molly Mae-Hague even sharing How To videos on TikTok.
"The snatched bun is a great one," (who counts Barbie Ferreira and Megan Fox as clients .
"Not only does it get your hair off the back of your neck in the summer, but you can use such a variety of products," such as a conditioning treatment instead of a gel, which the whizz said can give much-needed TLC for over-processed tresses.
The high street range is perfect for styling your hair for a slimmer appearance.
The Bstyled Wave & Salt Spray (£6.99, ) is ideal for adding texture that flicks in just the right places, whilst the Bstyled Root Boost Spray (£6.99, ) adds volume without the bulk, maintaining a sleek silhouette. If you want to keep everything smooth and in place, the Bstyled Blow Dry Balm (£6.99, ) is a go-to, ensuring your style lasts while keeping frizz at bay.”
How I Styled the Bun on My Shoulder-length Bob
As instructed by the hundreds of tutorials on social media, I first made sure I have a middle parting - as this is said to be the most flattering for rounder faces like mine.
Once done, I grabbed my brother's styling wax (sorry!) and applied a generous amount of the £4 Sainsbury's bargain throughout my locks.
For some extra love and nourishment, I also went in with the viral , which is currently going for £7.99 at Boots.
To give my face the ultimate sculpting effect, I followed Jason's advice and tried to pull my hair as high as possible - according to him, although this may be painful, this is exactly how many of our favourite celebs achieve that lifted look.
I finished the process with braiding my short ponytail into a plait, wrapping it around into a bun and securing it together with another hairtie.
To get rid of any baby hairs and flyways, I used a hairspray and went over with a bristle hair brush - this will ensure a smoother, Hollywood-style finish.
Now that I've tried the best hairstyles for slimming a round face, it's time to see what the experts say about the biggest Don'ts for those with fuller cheeks.
According to the team at , you shouldn't opt for blunt bangs, as this will only exaggerate the fullness of your cheeks.
In fact, it's best to steer clear from anything too blunt, such as a chin-length bob. While it may be trendy, a blunt bob has the same effect as blunt bangs and will add extra pounds to your face.
Going out and want to try something new with the curling wand? Tight curls are a big no-no for round faces as they make your face look wider. Instead, as demonstrated by Jason, loose curls are more flattering.
Hair goes my verdict: Relatively easy and super quick (this took me under five minutes), I can see why the sleek-back bun has become a major hit amongst beauty buffs and A-listers alike.
However, I feel like my face is a tad bit too round to pull it off properly - and even resembled the moon in the snaps.
But if you do want to give it a go, it's also essential to know that the scraped-back look comes at a cost, experts said.
Arran Isherwood, senior trichological specialist at , warned: "Gaining popularity in the summer of 2022 thanks to Hailey Bieber sporting the look, it would be hard to imagine that this sleek style could cause damage to the hair.
"However, tight, slicked-back buns that pull on your roots can cause traction alopecia - a form of hair loss caused by repeated hair pulling.
"With the amount of tugging that happens when you put your hair up like this, it's no surprise that it can cause breakage or even bald patches."
The Molly Mae-loved bun may have not worked for me and my already receding hairline - but is there a way I could still rock the on-trend clean hairdo without looking like a circle?
According to the London-based guru, who's worked with Laura Whitmore, there is a simple fix - to add a few wavy strands of hair that will hit your cheekbones.
Once again, I made sure the middle parting was perfect which was followed by sectioning two chunky face-framing sections and keeping them out of the way with a pin.
The remaining steps for the bun are exactly the same - but this time, it's the front bits that make all the difference.
In his salon based in Angel, North London, Jason told me to use a curling wand - a flat iron works too - and only curl the tresses that fall below the cheekbones.
The direction you're going in can also make or break the face-slimming effect - going slightly outwards will be more flattering than inwards which only adds more volume.
Hair goes my verdict: Subtly hiding my full cheeks and wider jawline, this version of scraped-back bun is sure to become one of my favourites.
Although the wavy strands proved to be a little annoying on the boat where it was windy, I loved how effortlessly glam and feminine it looked - especially paired with my red lippy and earrings.
Naturally pin-straight, I've been experimenting with adding a little oomph to my tresses in the shape of curls for as long as I can remember.
But despite how long I sit in front of the mirror with my curling wand, the end result is always the same - locks so bouncy and fluffy I could very well belong in an '80s sitcom.
But according to Jason, who's been in the industry for years, there's a reason for it - I should be going for soft beachy waves (think Chrissy Teigen, Ellie Goulding and Zendaya).
Sat in the pro's chair, I watched Jason perform magic, grabbing larger chunks of hair and gliding the flat iron in different directions starting from the mid-section of my hair.
One final touch, he added, was tucking some of the tresses behind my ears - this adds a little bit more character and funk.
Hair goes my verdict: ''So, this is what I was supposed to do all this time?'' I remember asking Jason in total shock at what Boho waves vs. my usual ringlets could do to my face.
Not only I looked like a totally different person with a new image and more up to date with the latest trends - but way more confident strolling down the street like the ultimate Boho babe.
