The 7 Most Common Types of Face Shapes: How to Identify Yours and Choose the Best Hair & Makeup

When shopping for clothes, we instinctively choose pieces that flatter our bodies. So why don't we apply the same principles to our beauty routines?

While following the latest beauty trends can be fun, tailoring your makeup and hairstyling to your unique face shape can elevate your look to a whole new level.

Understanding your face shape is a game-changer. It helps you pinpoint the perfect spots for contour, blush, and even lashes. It's also crucial for selecting hairstyles that enhance your natural features and reflect your personal style.

Knowing your face shape allows you to choose haircuts, parting styles, and lengths that bring out your best attributes and create a harmonious balance.

So, how do you figure out your face shape? The simplest way is to stand in front of a mirror, examine your features, and compare them to images of different face shapes online.

Consider whether your face has more rounded or angular features and note where the widest part of your face is. These observations can help you better understand your facial structure.

For a more precise method, you can try an online face shape calculator, though these aren't always accurate. For a detailed and accurate assessment, you'll need a few basic tools and a bit of time.

Gather Your Tools: You'll need a flexible measuring tape, a mirror, and a pencil and paper to note your measurements.

Get Your Hair Out of the Way: If you have long hair, tie it back or use clips to keep it off your face, ensuring you have a clear view of your entire face.

Measure Key Areas: Take the following measurements of your face:

Forehead:

Measure across your forehead at its widest point, usually from the peak of one eyebrow arch to the peak of the other.

Cheekbones:

Measure across your cheekbones, starting and ending at the most prominent points below the outer corners of your eyes.

Jawline:

Measure from the tip of your chin to the point below your ear where your jaw angles upward, then multiply that number by two to get the full jawline length.

Face Length:

Measure from the center of your hairline to the tip of your chin.

Analyse Your Measurements: Compare these measurements to determine your face shape category.

By understanding your face shape, you can make more informed decisions about your makeup and hair, ensuring you always look your best. Whether it's the perfect placement of contour or the ideal haircut, knowing your face shape is the key to enhancing your natural beauty.

Types of Face Shapes

1. Round

Round faces are characterised by nearly equal width and length, giving them a shorter, more balanced look. With soft, curved contours and fuller cheeks, the widest part of the face is typically the cheeks. Celebrities like Selena Gomez and Emma Stone showcase this youthful and gentle facial structure beautifully.

Makeup Tips for Round Faces

Blush: When applying blush, placement is crucial for round faces. Instead of focusing on the apples of your cheeks, apply blush slightly higher and sweep it towards your temples. This technique creates a lifting effect and adds definition.

Contour: Contouring is essential for adding depth to round faces, but it should be done subtly. Use an angled, fluffy brush to apply contour powder under your cheekbones and blend upwards towards your temples. A fluffier brush helps diffuse the lines, avoiding harsh edges.

Highlight: To balance out a round face, strategically apply highlighter to the centre of your face. Focus on areas like under the eyes, the centre of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, and the centre of the chin. This technique brings light to the middle of your face, enhancing its natural shape.

Lashes: For an elongated look, opt for long, fluttery lashes. Apply medium lashes to the centre of your eyes and longer lashes to the outer corners. This method creates the illusion of a longer face and adds a touch of glamour.

Hairstyles for Round Faces

Long Layers: Soft, face-framing layers are perfect for elongating a round face and adding dimension. They create a sense of length, balancing the roundness for a more defined appearance.

Side-Swept Bangs: Adding side-swept bangs can effectively balance a round face. They introduce angles and draw attention to your eyes, making your face appear longer and more structured.

High Ponytail: Contrary to popular belief, pulled-back hairstyles can flatter round faces. A high ponytail is a fantastic option, as it adds height at the crown, elongates the face, and highlights your cheekbones and jawline.

2. Square

Instagram/ @oliviawilde

Square faces are defined by nearly equal width and length, highlighted by a prominent, angular jawline. Though the measurements may be similar to round faces, square faces have a more chiselled and symmetrical structure. Actresses like Olivia Wilde and Angelina Jolie exemplify the strength and balance of this face shape.

Makeup Tips for Square Faces

Blush: To soften the defined features of a square face, strategically apply blush. Focus on the apples of your cheeks and sweep it across the bridge of your nose. This technique draws attention inward and creates a more balanced facial appearance.

Contour: The key to contouring a square face is to soften the angles. Apply contour along the sides of your forehead, the jawline, and under your cheekbones. This approach helps to create a more oval and harmonious look.

Highlight: Apply it to the centre of your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, on the tops of your cheekbones, and on your chin. This will create a glowing effect and balance out the angularity.

Lashes: To make your eyes stand out on a square face, use curled lashes. This technique widens the eyes and draws attention to them. Apply two medium lashes to the outer corners of your eyes and one short lash closer to the centre for a captivating look.

Hairstyles for Square Faces

Soft Waves: Soft waves are perfect for adding movement and a touch of femininity to a square face. They help to soften the jawline and create a more balanced appearance.

Layered Bob: A layered bob is a stunning choice for square face shapes. It diminishes the sharpness of the jawline and introduces movement, enhancing your overall look.

Side Part: A side part can be a game-changer for square faces. It disrupts the symmetry, drawing attention away from the width of the forehead and jawline. This style brings focus to the centre of your face, creating a more balanced and flattering appearance.

3. Oval

Instagram/ @beyonce

Oval faces are characterised by nearly equal measurements across the forehead, cheekbones, and chin, with slightly wider cheeks and a longer overall shape. Combining the best of both square and round face shapes, oval faces boast balanced proportions with gentle, softly rounded jawlines. Celebrities like Jessica Alba and Beyoncé perfectly exemplify this versatile face shape.

Makeup Tips for Oval Faces

Blush: For a natural, lifted look, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it slightly upward toward your temples.

Contour: To balance the length of an oval face, apply contour across the top of your forehead, blending it into the hairline. This technique will help to "shorten" the forehead slightly and create a harmonious look.

Highlight: Accentuate your slightly wider cheeks with highlighter. Apply it to the tops of your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and on your brow bones to enhance your features with a subtle glow.

Lashes: Oval faces are versatile and can pull off nearly any lash style. Emphasise the outer corners of your eyes with long lashes, and use medium lashes in the centre to blend seamlessly for a balanced look.

Hairstyles for Oval Faces

Sleek High Bun or Pony: A sleek high bun is the epitome of chic for oval faces. It highlights your balanced proportions, elongates your neck, and gives you an elegant, sophisticated appearance.

Long and Straight: Loose, long, straight hair is a timeless choice for oval faces. It enhances your face’s natural symmetry and offers an effortlessly stylish look.

Beachy Waves: Adding volume and texture, beachy waves complement the natural symmetry of an oval face without overwhelming it, creating a relaxed and fashionable vibe.

4. Diamond

Instagram/ @badgalriri

Diamond-shaped faces are characterised by their length and distinctive narrow forehead and jawline, with the cheekbones being the standout feature. Think of this face shape as an angular version of an oval face. Celebrities like Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez perfectly exemplify the striking and balanced look of diamond face shapes.

Makeup Tips for Diamond Faces

Blush: Aim high with your blush! For diamond faces, apply blush to the tops of your cheekbones and blend it upwards toward your temples to enhance your natural bone structure.

Contour: Subtle contouring is key for diamond faces. Focus on softening the angles and highlighting the cheekbones while reducing the width at the temples and jawline. Apply contour to the sides of your forehead to slim down the temples, define the hollows of your cheeks just below the cheekbones, and lightly contour along the jawline to soften its angles.

Highlight: To accentuate your cheekbones, apply highlighter to the tops of them. Additionally, highlight the centre of your forehead, the bridge of your nose, brow bones, and chin to bring light to the centre of your face, creating a balanced and harmonious look.

Lashes: Like oval faces, diamond faces can pull off many lash styles. To make your eyes pop, emphasise the outer corners with longer lashes and blend with medium lashes towards the centre for a cohesive look.

Hairstyles for Diamond Faces

Layered Lob: A layered lob adds volume around the face, balancing the sharp angles of a diamond shape. This style draws attention to your eyes and cheekbones, enhancing their natural beauty.

Side-Swept Pixie: A side-swept pixie cut with longer layers on one side is perfect for softening the angularity of diamond faces. This edgy yet elegant style adds a touch of sophistication.

Deep Side Part: A deep side part is ideal for diamond faces, creating asymmetry and drawing attention away from the width of the cheekbones. This style directs focus to your eyes and lips, beautifully balancing the face.

5. Heart

Instagram/ @reesewitherspoon

Heart-shaped faces are known for their wider foreheads and cheekbones, tapering down to a narrow, pointed chin. Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson are iconic examples of this face shape, often accentuated by prominent cheekbones.

Makeup Tips for Heart Faces

Blush: Emphasise your renowned cheekbones by applying blush to the apples of your cheeks and blending it upwards toward your temples. This technique highlights your cheekbones and adds a natural flush.

Contour: Contouring the forehead is crucial for heart-shaped faces. Focus on the temples and perimeter of your forehead, cheekbones, and under the chin to create a more rounded and balanced appearance.

Highlight: To soften the angles and create a more rounded look, apply highlighter to the forehead, bridge of the nose, and chin. This adds dimension and brings light to the centre of your face.

Lashes: Heart-shaped faces benefit from long, fluttery lashes, similar to round faces. These lashes enhance your eyes and complement your face shape beautifully.

Hairstyles for Heart Faces

Wispy Fringe: A wispy fringe softens the forehead and draws attention to your eyes, creating a playful and flirty look perfect for heart-shaped faces.

Layered Shaggy Cut: To balance a pointed chin, opt for a layered shag. This cut adds volume and texture around the jawline, enhancing and complementing your natural face shape.

Half-Up Half-Down: For versatility, try a half-up half-down style with loose waves or curls. This look softens the face and adds volume to the lower half, accentuating your cheekbones and eyes.

6. Oblong

Instagram/ @sarahjessicaparker

Oblong faces are longer than they are wide, with a rounded forehead and jawline. They are the cousins of oval faces, featuring straight sides and a gently rounded jawline. Celebrities like Cher and Sarah Jessica Parker perfectly illustrate this face shape.

Makeup Tips for Oblong Faces

Blush: To create the illusion of width, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it outwards horizontally. This technique helps shorten the appearance of your face and creates a more balanced look.

Contour: Use contour along your hairline and the bottom of your chin to shorten the appearance of your face and create a more proportional look.

Highlight: For a balanced appearance, highlight the centre of your forehead, bridge of your nose, and under your eyes, blending outward towards the temples. This technique rounds out your features and enhances overall symmetry.

Lashes: Oblong faces can experiment with various lash styles, much like oval faces. Have fun trying different looks to see what suits you best.

Hairstyles for Oblong Faces

Blunt Bangs: Blunt bangs are great for adding width at the forehead and creating the illusion of a shorter face. They balance the elongated proportions of an oblong face beautifully.

Textured Layers: To add width and balance, opt for textured layers. This style introduces volume and movement, softening the angular features of an oblong face.

Side-Swept Updo: For a formal look, choose a side-swept updo. This hairstyle adds width to the sides and balances the length of your face, drawing attention to your eyes and cheekbones.

7. Triangle

Instagram/ @jenniferaniston

Triangle faces have a narrow forehead that widens at the cheeks and jawline, forming a triangular appearance. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Kelly Osbourne showcase this unique face shape.

Makeup Tips for Triangle Faces

Blush: Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it slightly upwards to lift your face. This technique helps balance the broader jawline with the narrower forehead.

Contour: When contouring a triangle face, be careful. Apply contour along the jawline to soften its width and lightly contour the hollows of your cheeks for definition. Avoid heavy contouring on the forehead.

Highlight: To draw attention upward, apply highlighter to the centre of your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, and on the tops of your cheekbones.

Lashes: For a balanced look, opt for fluttery outer lashes that open up your eyes and create harmony between the top and bottom of your face.

Hairstyles for Triangle Faces

Layered Shag: A choppy layered shag creates volume at the top, balancing the narrow forehead with the wider jawline.

Side-Swept Bangs: Side-swept bangs add width to the forehead and soften the jawline, creating a harmonious look.

Chin-Length Bob with Volume: For shorter hairstyles, a voluminous chin-length bob enhances the upper face and balances the overall appearance.