Face shape can be a tricky thing to figure out, but it’s a key part of finding a flattering hairstyle. Check out our guide to the four major face shapes and learn which looks are best for you!
Determining your unique facial shape allows for more intentional makeup application, highlighting your best features.
Every face is unique, but most fall under one of these four basic shapes: heart, round, square, and oval. The best way to figure out your own shape is by pulling back your hair and tracing the outline of your face using eyeliner or a dry-erase marker on your mirror, then looking for different shapes’ identifying factors. Here are some beginner’s guidelines for determining your own face shape.
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The 6 Common Face Shapes
There are six main face shapes that people tend to have: diamond, heart, oval, rectangle, round and square. Identifying which face shape you have can assist you in applying makeup correctly for your features, selecting flattering haircuts, and even choosing sunglasses that complement your face. Getting to know your facial shape is an important first step in enhancing your natural beauty.
1. Heart
Heart-shape faces are widest at the forehead and cheek bones and gently taper down to an angular or pointed chin. It’s not a must, but most heart-shape faces include a widow’s peak.
The heart face shape gets its name from having a dainty, narrow chin similar to the pointed bottom of an actual heart symbol. Those with a heart face shape tend to have a pointed hairline at the forehead as well. The widest area of this face shape is the cheekbones.
Heart-Shape Celeb Faces: Taylor Swift, Reese Witherspoon, Kourtney Kardashian, Scarlett Johansson, Selena Gomez, and Emma Stone
Hair Tips: Layered cuts with lots of volume and a side part are ideal for this face shape.
Makeup Tips: The apples of your cheeks are the highlight of your face, and using a pink cream blush will give you a dewy, naturally flushed look. Red lipstick is also the perfect complement to this classic, feminine face shape.
Discover the secrets to accentuating your heart-shaped face! Visit our blog page ‘How to Identify a Heart-Shaped Face’ for expert tips on makeup, hairstyles, and fashion that flatter your unique features. Click now to embrace your beauty!
2. Round
The major defining characteristic of a round-shape face is if the length and width of your face are the same or extremely close. A round hairline and jaw line with no major angles are also indicators.
Round faces are short in length and have delicate, soft facial features along with a wide hairline across the forehead. For those with a round face shape, the cheekbones mark the widest part of the face, while the forehead and jawline areas are typically about the same width.
Round Celeb Faces: Ginnifer Goodwin, Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, and Sarah Hyland
Hair Tips: Skip the volume. Big hair can make a round face look wider than it is long. A face-framing cut with a deep side part will help slim your super-symmetrical face.
Makeup Tips: Contouring is great for adding angles and definition to round faces. Apply blush underneath your cheekbones to elongate the face—adding blush to the apples of your cheeks will only make your face look more round.
3. Square
The first identifier of a square-shape face is a strong, angular jaw line. A typical square face has very little narrowing from the forehead to the cheekbone, and cheekbone to chin.
The square face shape has a wide hairline across the forehead and a prominent, well-defined jawline. In a square face, the forehead area, cheekbones, and jawline are all approximately the same width. The square face shape tends to be as long in vertical length as it is wide.
Square Celeb Faces: Sandra Bullock, Lucy Liu, Olivia Wilde, Kylie Jenner, Heidi Klum
Hair Tips: Soft, romantic curls. Long layers, and hairstyles that are longer in the front.
Makeup Tips: Harsh makeup lines stand out more on an angled face, so keep your blush application soft and light, and be sure to blend your foundation and bronzer seamlessly. Applying a highlighter to the forehead is another great tip – it draws the eyes upward and balances the face.
4. Oval
An oval face is one that is longer than it is wide, with no major angles at the hairline or jaw line.
An oval face shape features balanced proportions vertically. Oval faces are longer in length than they are wide across. Typically, people with oval faces have a rounded jawline and chin area. The widest section of an oval face tends to be the forehead.
Oval Celeb Faces: Beyonce, Jessica Alba, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Iggy Azalea
Hair Tips: Oval faces are the most versatile when it comes to hair styling. Most lengths, cuts, and parts work well. Lucky you!
Makeup Tips: On a longer, oval-shape face, it’s important to highlight the eyes with subtly arched eyebrows. Eyebrows with an extreme arch can look witchy; straight, narrow eyebrows make your face look disproportionate. A dark smoky eye is another great way to add dimension to an oval face.
5. Diamond
The diamond face shape is a type of heart facial shape. It is defined by having a pointed chin, high cheekbones, and usually a narrow forehead. The diamond shape is a variant of the heart shape that has an especially sharp, angular jawline.
Oval Celeb Faces: Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Vanessa Hudgens, and Tyra Banks.
Hair Tips: Slightly angled, blunt bob cuts, long hair with subtle waves, and a wavy lob with a side-swept ‘do are flattering for diamond face shapes.
Makeup Tips: Use warm blush colors like peach and apricot to define your cheekbones and make them stand out. Apply two different shades of foundation, with a darker, warmer color for the outside of the cheekbones to minimize the width of your cheeks. Strategically place highlighter on the forehead to create the illusion of a wider face.
6. Rectangle
The rectangular face shape is a version of the square face shape. Rectangular faces are oblong, meaning they are longer in length than they are wide across. In a rectangular face, the forehead area, cheeks, and jawline tend to be approximately the same width.
Oval Celeb Faces: Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, and Angelina Jolie.
Hair Tips: Layered cuts are a fantastic choice for rectangle faces because they can add softness and create the illusion of width and balance. The layers can strategically frame the face and add movement, effectively breaking up the length of the face.
Makeup Tips: Apply blush just above the apples of your cheeks in circular motions to give them fullness. This can help soften the features of a rectangle face shape. Steer away from contouring around the jaw area, but do highlight the high points of your cheekbones and your forehead to soften the features of a rectangle face shape.
Why is it Important to Know Your Face Shape?
Knowing your face shape can allow you to play with dimension:
Determining your facial shape allows you to creatively enhance your features in flattering ways:
- You can properly contour and sculpt your face. As makeup artist Sir John explains, “When sculpting, you need to consider the unique contours of each face – like fullness, bone structure, etc. Simply tracing lines doesn’t work. But gently shading around the edges and towards the center complements all face shapes.”
- You’ll know which of your features to highlight. If you have a round face, for example, applying blush high on your cheekbones can beautifully emphasize your bone structure.
- You’ll know which features work best subtly. If your strong jawline dominates your face, contouring can soften those edges for better balance.
- You can select the most flattering haircuts. Your chosen hairstyle strongly impacts your look. Knowing your shape helps determine cuts that frame you perfectly. A quick online search or chat with a stylist matches styles to your shape.
How to Determine Your Face Shape in 3 Simple Steps
To easily identify your face shape, simply pull your hair away from your face. This will enable you to fully see the natural proportions of your facial features.
1. Find the widest part of your face
Stand facing a mirror and visually determine which feature is the widest part of your visage. You could also precisely measure with a soft tape measure. A broad forehead indicates an oval shape. High, prominent cheekbones mean either a round or heart design – continue reading to further differentiate. If equal widths abound, then a square form is likely.
2. Determine the shape of your jaw
The form of your jaw provides more clues about your overall facial shape. A shorter, rounded jaw signals a circular face. A narrow, pointy one indicates a heart look. Strong, angular lines point to a square shape.
3. Compare the length and width of your face
Still uncertain of your shape? Grab a tape measure and quantify it. First, measure from the middle of your hairline straight down to your chin tip – that’s your length. Then span fully side-to-side to gauge width.
Several clues emerge:
- Longer than wide suggests an oval
- Wider than long means round or heart forms
- Twice as long as wide indicates a rectangle
- Equal dimensions point to diamond or square shapes
Figuring Out Your Fab Face Shape
So there ya have it, ladies! Arm yourself with these tips and identifying factors for the four main face shapes – heart, oval, round and square.
Trace your gorgeous mug, check for telltale signs likepointed chins or super symmetrical dimensions. Find celeb doppelgängers like TSwift or JLaw to compare.
Once you know your shape, you can start playing up your best assets! Go bombshell curls for square faces, play with arches and smoky eyes for ovals. Everyone has a signature style.
And hey, don’t stress it either! At the end of the day, every face shape is beautiful in its own way. It’s all about making what mama gave you sparkle the brightest! ✨
So figure out if you’re a heart, round, oval or square stunner…then work what ya got! Flip that hair, rock what flatters, and shine on!
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.