Have you ever wondered why some styles look amazing on your friends but don't quite work for you? The secret often lies in understanding face shapes. This isn't just about satisfying curiosity — it's about learning how to choose the most flattering hairstyles, jewelry, and glasses for your unique features.
Understanding your face shape is like having a personal styling guide. Once you know what works best for your proportions, shopping for accessories and choosing hairstyles becomes much easier and more successful. For those who want to delve deeper, we also recommend our guides for close-set eyes and wide-set eyes. But now, let's explore each face shape and its characteristics:
Oval Face Shape
Jessica Alba. Instagram/@Jessicaalba
This shape features balanced proportions, with the face length about one and a half times the width and gently curved sides. Celebrities like Beyoncé and Jessica Alba showcase this versatile shape.
Recommendations:
- Jewelry: Most styles work well, with long, dangling earrings being particularly flattering
- Glasses: Suits nearly all frame shapes - experiment freely
- Hairstyles: Works with most lengths and styles; side parts add extra sophistication
Round Face Shape
Selena Gomez. Instagram/@selenagomez
This shape features similar width and length measurements with soft angles and full cheeks. Think Selena Gomez and Chrissy Teigen for perfect examples.
Recommendations:
- Jewelry: Long pieces that create vertical lines work best
- Glasses: Angular frames add definition and contrast beautifully
- Hairstyles: Styles that fall below the chin and create length
Square Face Shape
Olivia Wilde. Instagram/@oliviawilde
Distinguished by a strong jawline and equally wide forehead, like Angelina Jolie and Olivia Wilde. The corners show minimal curves, creating clean, striking lines.
Recommendations:
- Jewelry: Soft, curved shapes balance your natural angles
- Glasses: Round or oval frames complement your features
- Hairstyles: Soft layers and waves add gentle movement
Heart Face Shape
Reese Witherspoon. Instagram/@reesewitherspoon
Wider at the forehead and temples, tapering to a narrower chin. Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington are perfect examples of this shape. Important note: having a widow's peak (that V-shaped hairline) doesn't automatically mean you have a heart-shaped face, and not all heart shapes have a widow's peak - focus on your overall face proportions instead.
Recommendations:
- Jewelry: Pieces that add width at the jaw area; shorter necklaces and teardrop earrings
- Glasses: Frames wider at the bottom create balance
- Hairstyles: Side-swept bangs and chin-length cuts that add volume at the jaw
Diamond Face Shape
Vanessa Hudgens. Instagram/@
Characterized by prominent cheekbones with narrower forehead and jawline. Jennifer Lopez and Vanessa Hudgens demonstrate how striking this shape can be.
Recommendations:
- Jewelry: Wide hoops that complement cheekbones; shorter necklaces
- Glasses: Upswept frames that enhance your natural angles
- Hairstyles: Cuts that hit at or below the jawline; soft volume at forehead
Oblong Face Shape
Sandra Oh. Instagram/@iamsandraohinsta
Similar to oval but more elongated and with straighter sides / less curve at the corners. Sarah Jessica Parker and Liv Tyler show how this elegant proportion can work with various styles.
Recommendations:
- Jewelry: Horizontal elements like chokers and wide earrings break up length nicely
- Glasses: Wide frames with decorative temples add interest
- Hairstyles: Waves and layers create flattering width
Pear Face Shape
Minnie Driver. Instagram/@driverminnie
Features a narrower forehead that gradually widens to a stronger jawline. Kelly Osbourne and Minnie Driver represent this distinctive shape beautifully.
Recommendations:
- Jewelry: Statement earrings that create width at the temples; avoid chunky chokers
- Glasses: Frames with emphasis on the upper portion, like aviators or subtle cat-eyes
- Hairstyles: Volume at the crown and temples creates balanced proportions
How to Determine Your Face Shape
Stand in front of a mirror with your hair pulled back completely. Look at:
- Your jawline: Is it angular or soft?
- The widest part of your face: Is it your forehead, cheeks, or jaw?
- Your forehead width compared to your jawline
- Overall face length versus width
Taking photos from different angles can help you analyze more objectively.
About Mixed Face Shapes
Here's something important to remember: most people don't fit perfectly into one category. You might see aspects of two different face shapes in your features - that's completely normal! For example, you might have the length of a rectangle but some roundness in your jaw, or diamond-like cheekbones with a heart-shaped forehead.
Making These Guidelines Work for You
Instead of trying to fit perfectly into one category:
- Focus on your most prominent features
- Use recommendations from the shape that matches your dominant characteristics
- Feel free to borrow tips from your secondary face shape
- Trust what you see in the mirror - if something looks great, wear it with confidence
Key Things to Remember
- These guidelines are meant to help, not restrict you
- Your face shape might change subtly as you age or if your weight fluctuates
- What matters most is how you feel in your chosen styles
- Use these tips as a starting point for discovering what works best for you
Understanding your face shape helps you make more confident style choices, but it's just one tool in your beauty toolkit. Use these guidelines to enhance your natural features while staying true to your personal style. After all, the best look is one that makes you feel confident and comfortable!
