What Are the 7 Face Shapes? A Complete Guide to Finding Yours

Everyone has one of seven face shapes: oval, round, square, heart, diamond, oblong or pear. Knowing yours helps you pick hairstyles, glasses and makeup that actually flatter your features instead of working against them.

The difference between a good haircut and a great one often comes down to face shape. Same goes for sunglasses, contouring and even beard styles. Once you know your shape, every style choice gets easier.

How Do You Figure Out Your Face Shape?

You need a mirror, a flexible measuring tape and about two minutes. Here's the method:

Step 1: Measure your forehead. Place the tape across the widest part, from one temple to the other.

Step 2: Measure your cheekbones. Find the sharpest point of each cheekbone, just below the outer corner of your eyes. Measure across.

Step 3: Measure your jawline. Start at the tip of your chin and measure along your jaw to below your ear. Double that number for the full jawline width.

Step 4: Measure your face length. Go from the center of your hairline straight down to the tip of your chin.

Now compare your four numbers:

No face fits perfectly into one category. Most people are a blend. Go with whichever shape matches yours most closely.

What Does an Oval Face Look Like?

An oval face is longer than it is wide, with the cheekbones as the widest point. The forehead is slightly wider than the jaw, and the chin rounds gently. Think of an upside-down egg shape.

This is the most common face shape and the one stylists call the most versatile. The balanced proportions mean almost any hairstyle, glasses frame or makeup technique works.

Celebrities with oval faces: Beyonce, Jessica Alba, Charlize Theron, George Clooney, Megan Fox, Katy Perry.

Best hairstyles: Pretty much anything. Long layers, pixie cuts, bobs, shags, blunt cuts. The proportions are already balanced, so you don't need a haircut to correct anything. If you want to add interest, try curtain bangs or textured layers around the cheekbones.

What to avoid: Very long, one-length hair with no layers. It can drag the face down and hide your bone structure.

Best glasses: Most frame shapes work. Wider frames that match or exceed cheekbone width look especially good.

For a deep dive into styling this shape, check out our full guide on hairstyles for oval faces.

What Does a Round Face Look Like?

A round face is almost as wide as it is long. The cheekbones are the widest point, but there's not much difference between forehead, cheekbone and jaw width. The jawline is soft and curved, with full cheeks.

Round faces look youthful. The softness reads as friendly and approachable. That baby-faced quality sticks around longer than with angular shapes, which is a real advantage as you age.

Celebrities with round faces: Selena Gomez, Chrissy Teigen, Ginnifer Goodwin, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone.

Best hairstyles: Anything that adds height or angles. Long layers that start below the chin create the illusion of length. Side parts and side-swept bangs add diagonal lines that slim the face. A lob with face-framing layers is one of the most flattering cuts for this shape.

What to avoid: Chin-length bobs that hit at the widest point of your face. Blunt bangs that cut straight across. Both emphasize width rather than creating length.

Best glasses: Angular or rectangular frames add structure. Cat-eye shapes work well too. Avoid small round frames that echo your face shape.

Want more detail? Read our complete guide to hairstyles for round faces. You can also find out more about whether round faces are attractive.

What Does a Square Face Look Like?

A square face has a strong, angular jawline with the forehead, cheekbones and jaw all roughly the same width. The hairline is usually straight across. The overall look is broad and powerful.

This shape is striking. The defined angles and strong jaw create a confident, bold appearance. On men, it's often considered the most classically masculine shape.

Celebrities with square faces: Angelina Jolie, Margot Robbie, Keira Knightley, Brad Pitt, Henry Cavill, Olivia Wilde.

Best hairstyles: Soft waves and side-swept bangs balance the strong angles. Layered cuts add movement and take the focus off the jawline. A textured lob or long layers with a side part are top choices. For men, a textured crop or medium-length hair swept to the side works well.

What to avoid: Blunt, straight-across cuts and severe bobs that mirror the angular jawline. They double down on the sharpness instead of balancing it. Slicked-back styles with no softness can look harsh.

Best glasses: Round or oval frames soften the angles. Aviators are a great match. Avoid boxy rectangular frames that compete with your jawline.

Find out more about whether square faces are attractive and which styles play up their best features.

What Does a Heart Face Look Like?

A heart-shaped face is widest at the forehead, with high cheekbones that taper down to a narrow, pointed chin. Some heart shapes have a widow's peak at the hairline, which adds to the tapered look.

This shape is often called the most feminine. The wide forehead and cheekbones draw attention to the eyes, while the narrow chin adds definition. In many Asian beauty standards, this V-shape taper is considered the ideal.

Celebrities with heart faces: Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kourtney Kardashian, Halle Berry.

Best hairstyles: Side-swept bangs that cover part of the forehead even things out. Chin-length bobs add width at the jawline where you need it most. Curtain bangs frame the face softly without hiding the cheekbones. Medium-length layers that hit at or below the chin are a safe bet.

What to avoid: Styles that add volume at the forehead or temples. Slicked-back looks that put the wide forehead on full display. Very short pixie cuts can emphasize the chin-to-forehead contrast.

Best glasses: Bottom-heavy frames or frames that are wider at the bottom balance the narrow chin. Cat-eye frames work if they don't add width at the temples.

For specific cut and bang recommendations, see our guide on hairstyles for heart-shaped faces.

What Does a Diamond Face Look Like?

A diamond face has cheekbones as the clear widest point, with both the forehead and jaw narrowing from there. The chin is narrow and sometimes pointed. It's one of the rarer face shapes, and it's defined by those high, wide cheekbones.

Diamond faces are angular and striking. The cheekbones create natural shadows that give the face a sculpted quality, even without makeup or contouring.

Celebrities with diamond faces: Zendaya, Vanessa Hudgens, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson, Ashley Greene.

Best hairstyles: Side-swept bangs or curtain bangs widen the appearance of the forehead. Chin-length bobs or lobs add fullness around the jaw. Tucking hair behind one ear shows off the cheekbones while keeping the look relaxed. Long layers with volume at the ends balance the narrow jaw.

What to avoid: Styles that add width at the cheekbones, like heavy side volume. Very short crops that leave the cheekbones exposed without any framing. Slicked-back styles that sharpen the narrow forehead.

Best glasses: Oval or cat-eye frames that are wider than the cheekbones. Rimless or semi-rimless glasses that don't compete with the cheekbone line.

What Does an Oblong Face Look Like?

An oblong face (sometimes called rectangular) is noticeably longer than it is wide. The forehead, cheekbones and jaw are roughly the same width, similar to a square face, but the extra length changes everything. The chin can be flat or slightly rounded.

This shape often looks elegant and lean. The length creates a natural canvas for dramatic hairstyles and bold glasses.

Celebrities with oblong faces: Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver, Alexa Chung.

Best hairstyles: Anything that adds width and avoids adding height. Side-swept bangs or full bangs break up the forehead length. Waves and curls at the sides add width. Shoulder-length cuts work well because they don't add visual length the way long hair does.

What to avoid: Very long, straight hair that drags the face down. High pompadours or top knots that add height. Center parts with flat, straight hair that create more vertical lines.

Best glasses: Wide, oversized frames that add horizontal balance. Round or square shapes both work as long as they're wide enough. Avoid narrow, small frames that get lost on the face.

For styling tips specific to longer face shapes, see our guide on hairstyles for rectangle faces.

What Does a Pear Face Look Like?

A pear face (also called triangle) is widest at the jawline, with a narrower forehead. The cheekbones sit between the two. It's the opposite of a heart shape. The jaw is prominent and the forehead is relatively small.

This is one of the less common shapes. The strong jaw gives the face a grounded, sturdy look.

Celebrities with pear faces: Kelly Osbourne, Minnie Driver, Eli Manning.

Best hairstyles: Volume at the top balances the wider jaw. Side-swept bangs or full bangs add width to the forehead. Layered cuts with volume at the crown draw the eye upward. A textured pixie with height on top is a strong choice.

What to avoid: Styles that add width at the jaw, like chin-length bobs with volume at the bottom. Very flat, straight styles on top that emphasize the narrow forehead.

Best glasses: Frames that are wider at the top, like cat-eye or D-frame styles. Semi-rimless frames where the top bar adds visual width at the forehead. Avoid bottom-heavy frames that add more weight to the jaw.

Which Face Shape Is Most Attractive?

There's no single winner. Research shows oval and heart shapes tend to score highest in studies, but the differences are smaller than you'd expect. Symmetry, skin quality and how well your features are balanced matter more than the specific shape.

Every face shape has models, actors and public figures who are considered beautiful. Angelina Jolie's square jaw is just as striking as Beyonce's oval proportions or Reese Witherspoon's heart-shaped face. Beauty isn't about fitting one mold.

What actually makes a face more attractive? Getting the right hairstyle, wearing glasses that complement your proportions, and taking care of your skin. These things are within your control and have a bigger impact than bone structure.

For a full breakdown of the science behind this question, read our article on which face shape is most attractive.

How Do Face Shapes Compare Side by Side?

Here's a quick reference for all seven shapes in one place:

Does Your Face Shape Change Over Time?

Yes. Your face shape shifts as you age due to fat loss, bone changes and gravity. Here's what tends to happen:

In your 20s and 30s: Your face shape is at its most defined. Fat pads sit high on the cheeks and the jawline is firm.

In your 40s and 50s: Fat pads start to drop. Round faces may actually look better as the baby fat thins and reveals more bone structure. Square faces may soften at the jaw.

Over 60: The face generally narrows and lengthens. Oval faces tend to hold up best because their balanced structure doesn't depend on sharp angles that soften over time.

Weight changes also affect your face shape. Gaining weight can round out angular features. Losing weight can reveal a jawline or cheekbone structure you didn't know you had.

The face shape you have at 25 might not be the one you have at 45. That's normal, and it means the "best" hairstyle for your face will change too.

What If You're Between Two Face Shapes?

Most people don't fit neatly into one category. Maybe your face is mostly oval but with a stronger jaw, putting you somewhere between oval and square. Or your cheekbones are wide but your face is also long, making you a diamond-oblong blend.

That's fine. Use the closest match as your starting point. If you're between two shapes, look at the hairstyle recommendations for both and find the overlap. Styles that show up on both lists will almost certainly work for you.

You can also use our face shape detector to get a more precise reading. Or simply try on different styles and trust your mirror. The "rules" are guidelines, not laws.