Love the "bob" on Posh, but get the feeling that it looks a little downmarket on you? Thinking of getting bangs, but not sure you can pull off the new forehead fringe?

Getting the latest celebrity hairstyle can be tempting, but it may not make you look like a star if it's all wrong for the shape of your face. And unfortunately, a majority of stylists out there won't try to talk you out of a style that doesn't flatter your face. Or worse, a lot of 'em just don't know any better. So what's a hairstyle maven to do? Follow these pointers and you'll know which style is a 'do and which ones deserve the shaft.

How to measure your face

You may read the descriptions below and still feel confused about the true shape of your face. But there are two ways to know for sure:

Outline your face:

1. Pull all of your hair back into a ponytail or headband so all you see is your face.
2. Stand close to a mirror and trace the outline of your face with a bar of soap or lipstick on the mirror.
3. The outline you traced should reflect the correct shape of your face.

The scientific method using a tape measure:

1. Measure the length across your cheekbones.
2. Measure the widest points across your jawline.
3. Measure the widest points across your forehead.
4. Measure the tip of your hairline down to the bottom of your chin.
5. Write down all of your measurements and look for matching results in the descriptions below.

Oval-shaped

A perfectly balanced face because your chin and forehead are proportioned evenly. Your jawline is slightly narrower than your temples, and you're gently rounded at the hairline.

Cuts that flatter you: Lucky biatch! You can rock almost all hairstyle - long, short or medium - because your face is so well balanced. But you look best when your hair is styled off of your face. If your hair is curly, you'll look chic with a shorter style.

Think twice about: Covering up the shape of your perfectly proportioned face behind a lot of hair. That means try to avoid heavy bangs, or lots of face-framing fringe because it could add too much weight to your face.

Oblong / Rectangular-shaped

A long, slender face, and there is very little difference in width between the top, middle or bottom of your face, but it is more rounded than the square face.

Cuts that flatter you: Go for styles that add width and fullness to the sides of your face and around your eyes, cheekbones and ears to balance out the length of your face - parting your hair on the side will also help with balance. Get soft, wispy bangs to shorten your face. Try layers to soften the straight lines in your face.

Think twice about: Really long hair or any style that adds too much height at the crown, because that will make your face look even longer. Avoid parting your hair in the center as well; it will bring attention to the middle of your face and make it appear longer.

Round-shaped

A rounded hairline and chin with a full face that has very few angles. Your cheekbones are clearly wider than your browbone and jawline. The widest point is at your cheeks and ears.

Cuts that flatter you: Try styles that add fullness and height at the crown to create the illusion of length in your face. These styles will draw the eyes upward and give the impression of a narrower face. Wispy fringe, layers cut to frame your face, and side parts will make your face appear longer. Brushing hair away from your forehead will also create this illusion.

Think twice about: Chin-length styles with rounded edges will make your face look even more rounded because it will accentuate the widest part of your face - your cheekbones. Slick back styles without any hair covering your face, and bangs cut straight across your forehead will add weight to your face and could make your face appear even fuller.

Square-shaped

 A broad, straight hairline and a strong, square jawline. Your face is about as wide as it is long, and this symmetry can create the appearance of a short face.

Cuts that flatter you: Choose a style that elongates your face, and softens your angular jawbone. Layers and wispy fringe that frame your cheekbones are most flattering because they add balance and create the right amount of asymmetry between your hairline and jawline. Side parts, wispy bangs, and waves at the temple will also soften an angular bone structure. Adding height at the crown will create illusion of length.

Think twice about: Long, straight styles, center parts, angle-cut bobs, and blunt-cut bangs will accentuate square jawlines and foreheads.
 

Heart-shaped

A wide hairline and small chin. The widest point is at your temples, and the narrowest is your chin, which can narrow to a point.

Cuts that flatter you: Go for  hairstyles that minimize the width at your forehead, and increase the width of the lower part of the face. Short or medium length shags with choppy layers at the ends, and inverted bobs that are cut fuller at or below the chin will help make your face appear more oval-shaped by adding width at the jawbone. Side-swept bangs will also help distract the eye from your chin by creating more balance between your cheekbones and chin.

Think twice about: Short, full styles that emphasize your forehead. Too much height at the crown will give the appearance of a longer face and draw attention to a narrow chin. Avoid slicked-back looks for it will only draw more attention to the shape of your face.

Triangle-shaped

A narrow hairline and wide chin - the opposite of a heart shaped face. The widest point is at your jawbone, and the narrowest is your forehead.

Cuts that flatter you: Go for styles that create fullness at the temples and taper at the jawline. Short cuts like the wedge, which is really an inverted triangle, tapered at the neck and most of the fullness ends at the cheekbones, will balance out the jaw and chin. Shag cuts, layers around the top half of your head, and adding a small amount of height at the crown will help balance out the width around your chin. Part your hair on the side to detract eyes away from a prominent jawline.

Think twice about: Cuts that flip out at the ends, and long hair that is full at your chin because they emphasize the width at the jawline. 

Diamond-shaped

A narrow hairline and jawline, with wider cheekbones - a cross between a heart shaped face and an oval.

Cuts that flatter you: You have a well-balanced face, and like oval-shaped faces, you can get away with almost any hairstyle. If your cheekbones are dramatically wider than your forehead and chin, you should go for hairstyles that create more balance.
Try a full, rounded or graduated bob which falls at the chin.
If you are a true diamond then most of the hairstyles look good on your face. You can wear shorter styles; however, if you are a dramatic diamond shape you need to leave weight in the back nape area like a heart shaped face. This will achieve more balance between your dramatic cheekbones and more delicate chin line.

Think twice about: Completely exposing your forehead, and styles where there is no hair on your neck ,if your cheekbones are dramatically wider than your forehead and chin, should be avoided. Also stay away from face-framing cuts because they will hide your great features.
 

Now, it's time for your celebrity style makeover.

Put all this shape-flattering knowledge to good use and hop on over to InStyle's Hollywood Hair Makeover to see how you'd look coiffed like your favorite celeb doppelganger.

Just upload your photo, or use a model with the same face shape as yours. Try on any celebrity hairstyle, change your hair color - you can even give yourself highlights, lowlights, bangs, curls, waves, an updo - the options are endless.

And when you find your most flattering style, print the results and bring it in to your stylist to get the real thing. Enjoy.