What are the 7 face shapes

So you wanna figure out your face shape? Honestly, it's kinda the starting point for everything—hairstyles that actually work, makeup that doesn't fight your bone structure, even picking glasses that don't make you look weird. Every face is different, yeah, but most of 'em fall into seven basic shapes. Knowing yours? That's how you spotlight what's great and balance out the rest. The seven are: Oval, Round, Square, Rectangle (also called Oblong), Heart, Diamond, and Triangle (Pear).

How do I determine my face shape?

Figuring out your face shape? You can totally do it at home, no big deal. Grab a mirror and a flexible measuring tape—or just a piece of string and a ruler. Pull your hair back so you can actually see your whole hairline and jawline.

1. Measure your forehead: Measure across the widest part of your forehead, usually halfway between your eyebrows and hairline.
2. Measure your cheekbones: Measure across your face from the outer corner of one eye to the outer corner of the other, going right over the bridge of your nose.
3. Measure your jawline: Measure from the tip of your chin to the angle of your jaw below your ear. Then multiply that number by two.
4. Measure your face length: Measure from the center of your hairline to the tip of your chin.

Now, compare those four numbers. The biggest measurement usually tells you your main shape.

Which face shape is considered the most versatile?

Most stylists will tell you the oval face shape is the MVP. It's just naturally balanced and proportional, so you can pull off pretty much any hairstyle—short pixie cuts, long layers, whatever part you like. The proportions mean hardly anything looks bad on it. That's why celebs and their stylists often use the oval shape as the gold standard for face-framing tricks.

What hairstyles suit a square face shape?

With a square face, you're trying to soften that strong, angular jawline. Hairstyles that add height on top and have soft, wispy layers around the face? They work like crazy. Long, soft waves starting below the chin help stretch the face out and take attention off the jaw. Stay away from blunt cuts that end right at the jawline—they'll just make the squareness worse. A side-swept bang is a solid move to break up the symmetry too.

How can I tell if I have a heart or diamond face shape?

This one trips people up all the time. Both shapes have a narrow, pointed chin. The trick is looking at the hairline and how wide the forehead is. A heart-shaped face has a wide forehead and a broad hairline, often with a widow's peak. The forehead is the widest part. A diamond face, though? Narrow forehead and narrow chin, with the cheekbones being the widest part. If your cheekbones are what stands out most and your forehead is on the narrow side, you're probably diamond.

Expert Checklist for Face Shape Analysis

• Ignore temporary volume: Don't include hair volume or puffiness in your measurements.
• Look at the overall silhouette: Your face shape is about its outer edge, not just one feature.
• Consider your hairline: A widow's peak strongly suggests a heart shape, while a straight hairline is common in square and rectangle shapes.
• Check the chin: Is it rounded (oval, round), square (square, rectangle), or pointed (heart, diamond)?
• Use a dry-erase marker: Trace your face's outline on a mirror. Step back and look at the geometric shape you drew.

Frequently Asked Questions