How to Determine Your Face Shape (With Styling Tips)

Finding your face shape isn’t as easy as tracing over a picture of your face. You’ll most likely get a shaky outline that leaves you with more questions than answers. It’s a lot easier to figure out your face shape if you have a better understanding of your features.

Specifically, you’ll need to identify the widest part of your face, your jawline shape, and the general length of your face. You can either measure your face with a soft measuring tape or eyeball it when looking at your reflection or a photo of your face. 

If you want to take measurements, start by pulling your hair back and out of your face. Keep in mind that you don’t need exact measurements. You’ll only need them to compare your main features.

• To find the length of your face, measure from the bottom of your chin up to the middle of your hairline.
• To find the width of your jaw, find the spot above your ears where your jawline starts. Then, measure from that point down to your chin’s center. Repeat for the other side or multiply that measurement by two.
• To find the width of your cheekbones, find where your hairline hits right above your cheekbone. Then, measure the distance from that point to the other side of your face.
• To find the width of your forehead, start at one side of your hairline where your forehead looks the widest. Then, measure the distance from that spot to the other side.

After you’ve taken your measurements, take note of the shape of your chin along with the rounded or defined areas of your face.

Knowing the qualities on your face can help you pick out styles or accessories that most flatter you. This includes everything from a pair of sunglasses to the shape of your eyebrows. Knowing the general shape of your face is also a great thing to learn before booking any beauty appointment. 

Below, we’ll walk you through the different face shapes and give you tips on hairstyles that look great with each. You can also check out our face shapes chart below to compare and contrast each one.

Heart-shaped face

Heart-shaped faces are longer than they are wide, have pointed chins, and feature foreheads and cheekbones wider than their chins. Heart face shapes also have curved hairlines. If you have a widow’s peak, your face looks especially like a heart.

Hairstyling tips

With this and every other face shape, your hairstyle should balance out your face’s prominent features. Layers are a great place to start with heart-shaped faces. Long and wavy layers accentuate your jawline and balance out the bottom of your face with the width of your forehead.

You can also de-emphasize your forehead by getting bangs. Long curtain and side-swept bangs are a couple of great choices that help lengthen your face. If you want bangs that cut across your forehead, try something choppy or wispy that lets your forehead peak through. 

Oval face shape

Oval-shaped faces are longer than they are wide, have tall foreheads, curved chins, and have cheekbones sitting at the widest part of the face. The foreheads on this face shape are slightly wider than the chin. 

Hairstyling tips

Many people say oval face shapes can pull off almost any style since they’re symmetrical. Most bangs also look great on oval-shaped faces. Face-framing layers do a great job at showing off this shape’s symmetry. 

Since your face is long, you want to steer clear of tall styles and any others that elongate your face. Long layers are one type of style that can make your face appear longer than it is.

Diamond face shape

Diamond-shaped faces have high cheekbones and pointed chins. They also have a narrow hairline, forehead, and chin. Cheekbones are the widest part of a diamond face shape. 

Hairstyling tips

Hairstyles with soft layers or bangs can de-emphasize the angles on your face, especially your jawline. Textured shags, voluminous curls, and long layers can soften up the defined features on your face. Lobs and bobs frame the face by adding width to the area around your chin.

Side-swept bangs cover up a part of your forehead and also help frame your face. A deep side part accentuates your killer cheekbones without overemphasizing your faces’ angles.

Avoid styles that elongate your face. Short cuts with height can overaccentuate your cheekbones and make your face appear longer than it is. Full and heavy bangs can overemphasize the width of your cheekbones and make your face appear small.

Square face shape

Square-shaped faces are about as long as they are wide. These faces have a defined jawline, don’t have many curves, and have a straight hairline. This face shape’s forehead, jaw, and cheekbones are also all about the same width. Round faces have similar traits, but they have more curves than square faces.

Hairstyling tips

Just like diamond-shaped faces, your hair should soften the sides and angles of your face. Fuller styles like textured shags or long layers can achieve that while giving your hair lots of movement. Soft side-swept bangs can also soften up the angles on your face.

Avoid cuts like blunt bangs and bobs that create straight lines. These looks overemphasize your jawline and make your face appear boxier. If you’re dying for fuller bangs, go for a textured fringe that doesn’t run completely straight across your forehead.

Round face

Round faces are curved on the sides, feature a round chin, and have cheekbones at the widest part of the face. These faces are about the same length and width all around. This face shape’s forehead is a little rounded at the hairline.

Hairstyling tips

Unlike square faces, you don’t want to overemphasize the sides of your face with voluminous styles. Instead, look for styles that add some structure and help elongate your face.

Long side-swept or curtain bangs can achieve this. You can even achieve length with a simple middle part. Looks that hit at your chin or lower are also flattering hairstyles for round faces. Lobs, bobs, and layers that frame your face are all flattering for this face shape.

Rectangle-shaped face

Rectangular faces are longer than they are wide. The cheekbones, forehead, and jawline measure about the same width across the face. They also have a tall forehead and a square jawline. Some call these face shapes oblong. 

Hairstyling tips

Full and voluminous hairstyles add your face’s width to balance it out with its length. Styles that include soft waves or face-framing layers, such as a Deva cut, add great volume in the right areas. Curtain bangs, A-shaped bangs, and other types of long bangs are great for de-emphasizing your face’s length while softening your jawline.

Avoid stick-straight hair and think twice before growing your hair out long. These looks emphasize your face’s length and can make your face look imbalanced. 

Triangle shape

Triangle faces have strong jawlines that are wider than the forehead. Some call this a pear-shaped face. If your face has a wide forehead with a slim and pointed jawline, you have an inverted triangle face shape.

Hairstyling tips

Shoulder-length haircuts with soft layers help draw the attention down and away from your strong jawline. If you prefer a shorter cut, opt for layers so you can keep the area above your jawline fuller. Wispy or textured bangs help balance out your face by adding more width to your forehead.

Curtain bangs and center-parted bangs can overemphasize the triangular shape of your face. Stick with bangs that loosely drape across your forehead. Hairstyles that flip out or have lots of volume around your chin can also overemphasize your jawline’s width.

Mix of face shapes

Did you go down the list and have trouble finding a match? Don’t worry. It’s normal to have a mix of face shapes. Your shape can also change as you get older. If you’re trying to figure out your face shape for your next haircut, you should instead focus on specific features of your face.

For example, knowing where your face is the widest can help you decide how short you should cut your hair. A great stylist and any other beauty Pro can also give recommendations if you’re not sure.

Learning how to describe your face shape and features is useful to know before diving into the endless world of beauty services. You’ll have more knowledge in your back pocket that can help you communicate what you want with your stylist or artist.

Your face shape shouldn’t completely dictate your beauty choices. Instead, you should use it as one way to guide your decision-making. Whether you’re looking for a new hairstylist or makeup artist, you can look through our community of beauty professionals to find someone who can walk you through the different styles, services, and looks that flatter your face.