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Types of Face Shapes: How to Know Yours

Written by an Expert Aesthetic Content Writer Lisa.
Reviewed by Expert Medical Director Dr. Raj Thethi
Published on: June 11, 2025
Face

Different types of face shapes

When it comes to beauty, grooming, and personal style, your face shape plays a bigger role than you might think. Whether you’re choosing a haircut, contouring with makeup, or picking out the perfect pair of glasses, knowing your face shape can help you highlight your best features and create a balanced appearance.

This guide breaks down the most common face shapes for both men and women, how to identify them, & what styles suit each one best. Read on to learn everything you need to know about face shapes.

What is a Face Shape?

A face shape is the outline and structure of your face, based on the width of your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline, along with the length from forehead to chin. While each face is unique, most fall into common categories like oval, round, square, heart, diamond, oblong, or triangle.

Knowing your face shape helps you make better choices in hairstyles, makeup, beard styles, & even in accessories like glasses. It allows you to highlight your best features and create a balance look.

Why Face Shape Matters?

Your face shape plays an important role in how certain styles look on you. From haircuts & makeup to glasses and beards, choosing what suits your face shape can enhance your features and bring better balance to your overall appearance.

Knowing your face shape makes it easier to choose styles that truly suit you. It takes the guesswork out of things like picking a new haircut or trying a makeup trend. When you understand your features, you can focus on what brings out your best look and feels right for your personal style.

7 Common Types of Face Shapes

Here’s a simple breakdown of the most common face shapes and the key features that define each one.

1. Oval Face Shape

An oval face is longer than it is wide, with a slightly wider forehead than chin and rounded borders around the jaw. This shape is considered the most balanced and versatile for both men and women.

For women, most hairstyles complement an oval face, whether it’s sleek straight hair or voluminous waves. Makeup can focus on highlighting the cheekbones.

For men, almost any haircut works, from fades to medium-length layers. A beard can add definition but isn’t necessary since the natural shape is already balanced.

2. Round Face Shape

A round face has equal width and length, with full cheeks and a soft jawline. There are no sharp angles, which gives a youthful and softer appearance.

For women, the goal is often to elongate the face. Long layers, side parts, and high ponytails can create the illusion of length. Contouring along the jawline and cheeks helps add dimension.

For men, angular haircuts like undercuts or pompadours can add definition. A beard that’s fuller on the chin than the sides helps create a more structured jawline.

3. Square Face Shape

Square faces have strong, straight lines. The forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are all nearly the same width, and the jaw is sharp and clearly defined.

For women, softening the strong angles is important. Waves, curls, and side-swept bangs help add roundness and balance. Highlighting the centre of the face draws attention away from the edges.

For men, this face shape is naturally masculine and works well with clean fades, crew cuts, and undercuts. A rounded or short boxed beard helps soften the jaw without losing structure.

4. Heart-Shaped Face

Heart-shaped faces are wider at the forehead and taper down to a narrow, sometimes pointed chin. They often have prominent cheekbones and a widow’s peak.

For women, styles that add volume around the chin, like curls or long bobs, balance out the forehead. You can do soft contouring along the temples to help tone down the width at the top of the face.

For men, keeping the sides shorter and adding volume at the top works well. A beard or stubble can help add volume to the lower half of the face, balancing its shape.

5. Diamond Face Shape

A diamond face is widest at the cheekbones with a narrow forehead and jawline. The chin is typically pointed. This shape is less common but striking.

For women, hairstyles that tuck behind the ears show off the cheekbones beautifully. Medium or long layered cuts that soften the cheeks are ideal. Focus makeup on brightening the forehead and chin.

For men, this shape benefits from medium to longer hair on top and slightly fuller sides to reduce the appearance of a narrow forehead. A shaped beard can create a more squared jawline.

6. Oblong (Rectangular) Face Shape

An oblong or rectangular face is longer than wide and has straight sides. The jawline is often rounded, and the overall look is long and narrow.

Women should avoid adding extra height. Choose waves, volume on the sides, or even bangs to make the face appear shorter. Blush applied across the cheeks instead of up and down adds width.

For men, medium-length styles that are kept wider on the sides can make the face appear more balanced. Avoid high-volume styles like pompadours. A fuller beard can reduce the appearance of length.

7. Triangle Face Shape

A triangle face has a jawline that is wider than the forehead. The lower part of the face appears larger than the top, giving it a distinctive shape.

For women, it’s important to balance the face by drawing attention upward. Hairstyles with volume at the crown or bangs work well. Highlighting the upper half of the face helps shift focus from the jaw.

For men, hairstyles that add fullness to the top of the head while keeping the sides shorter work well. A tapered beard or stubble can minimise the emphasis on the jawline.

How to Determine Your Face Shape?

Figuring out your face shape means looking at the overall structure and features of your face. Most faces fall into one of a few common categories, like oval, round, square, oblong, diamond, or heart-shaped. To find out which one you have, you’ll need to pay attention to a few key measurements:

  • Face Length: Start by measuring from the top of your forehead (where your hairline begins) down to the bottom of your chin. This gives you the full length of your face.
  • Forehead Width: Measure across the widest part of your forehead, from one side of your hairline to the other. Keep the tape straight across, not curved.
  • Cheekbone Width: Find the highest points of your cheekbones (usually just below your eyes) and measure straight across your face from one to the other. Make sure the tape stays flat against your skin.
  • Jawline Width: Start from just below one ear and measure along the edge of your jaw to the middle of your chin. Then double that number to get your full jawline width.

Once you have these measurements, you’ll get a clearer idea of your face’s proportions. That makes it much easier to figure out which shape your face most closely matches.

Final Thoughts

Every face shape is beautiful in its own way. The key is to understand your features and learn how to enhance them. Whether you’re trying a new haircut, adjusting your beard, or experimenting with makeup, knowing your face shape can make all the difference. Don’t be afraid to explore and find what makes you feel your best.

If you’re unsure about your face shape, take a few clear, front-facing photos or stand in front of a mirror with your hair pulled back. You can even trace the outline of your face to see which category it most closely matches.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can you tell what your face shape is?

You can figure out your face shape by looking at your features in the mirror or taking measurements of your forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and face length. Paying attention to the widest parts of your face and the shape of your jaw will help you see which category your face fits into best.

2. Can your sleeping position affect your face shape?

Yes, sleeping on the same side every night over many years can cause small changes in your face. It may lead to slight volume loss on that side due to reduced collagen and elasticity in the skin over time.

3. Does your face shape change as you get older?

It can. As we age, we naturally lose fat, collagen, and elasticity in the face. This can cause features to appear less full and slightly shift downward, which might make your face shape look a little different than it did when you were younger.

4. What are the 7 main face shapes?

The most common face shapes are round, square, triangle, rectangle (or oblong), oval, diamond, and heart. Each has its own unique proportions and structure.

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About Dr. Raj Thethi - Medical Reviewer

Dr. Raj Thethi

Yorkshire Skin Centre in Leeds is a CQC-registered medical clinic. It is led by Dr Raj Thethi who completed his core surgical training in hospitals around West Yorkshire before branching into aesthetics. Dr Raj Thethi is a Northern Territory Regional Expert for an international dermal filler company called Teoxane. He also sits on their National UK Faculty.

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