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Module 3 of 5

Seven reads for the line of your face.

Face shape is a separate reading from body shape, they don't have to match. You can have an oval face with a rectangle body, or a heart face with an hourglass body.

Quick tip: don't overthink it. Squint your eyes in the mirror and look at the general outline of your face, that's your shape.

Oval

Widest: Cheekbones, with gentle taper at forehead and jaw
  • Face length is slightly greater than face width
  • Overall proportions tend to look balanced and even
  • The face does not appear especially long, short, wide, or narrow
  • Cheekbones are usually the widest point, but only subtly
  • Cheek area often has a soft, gently rounded look
  • Chin is usually not very sharp, strong, or prominent
  • Overall shape has a soft, harmonious appearance

Your balanced oval face looks great with most necklines.

Hair

Most cuts and lengths work — your proportions are already balanced.

Jewelry

Earrings: any style, hoop, stud, drop, chandelier, geometric.

Necklaces: any length, choker, pendant, statement, chain.

Style references: Jessica Alba, Beyoncé, Bella Hadid

Round

Widest: Cheeks — width and length read nearly equal
  • Wider than browbone and jawline
  • Fullness to the face
  • Outline of the face is curved and rounded
  • Nearly as wide as it is long, but doesn't have to be a perfect circle

Choose elongating necklines with vertical lines or angles to add length to your soft features. Avoid high necklines that hide the neck.

Hair

Lengthening cuts with vertical movement and a little crown volume slim the face.

Jewelry

Earrings: angular, long, drop, dangle, geometric, vertical.

Necklaces: long, pendant, v-shape, angular, lariat, opera length.

Style references: Selena Gomez, Mila Kunis, Chrissy Teigen

Square

Widest: Forehead, cheekbones, and jaw — all similar widths
  • Brow bone, cheekbones, and jawline are generally similar in width
  • Face width is more noticeable compared with face length
  • Overall shape tends to look shorter and wider rather than long or narrow
  • The sides of the face may appear fairly even from forehead to jaw
  • This is a common face shape

Opt for curved, rounded necklines that soften your strong jawline and add feminine curves.

Hair

Soft texture, waves, and rounded cuts ease the angular jaw.

Jewelry

Earrings: curved, hoop, round, circular, soft, teardrop.

Necklaces: curved, scoop, soft pendant, rounded, oval, organic shapes.

Style references: Olivia Wilde, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock

Heart

Widest: Forehead, tapering to a narrower (sometimes pointed) chin
  • Forehead and cheekbones are usually wider than the jawline
  • Face shape gradually narrows toward the chin
  • Chin often has a smaller, pointed, or V-like shape
  • A widow's peak is common, but not required
  • Without a widow's peak, this shape may be described as an inverted triangle

Choose necklines that draw attention downward to balance your wider forehead and delicate chin.

Hair

Volume or weight around the chin and jaw balances a wider forehead.

Jewelry

Earrings: drop, chandelier, wider at bottom, triangle, teardrop, graduated.

Necklaces: scoop, v-neck, heart, pendant, matinee.

Style references: Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Naomi Campbell

Oblong

Widest: Fairly uniform width — length is the strongest read
  • Brow bone, cheekbones, and jawline are generally similar in width
  • Face length is clearly greater than face width
  • Overall shape often appears long, slim, or softly rectangular
  • Chin can sometimes look narrower
  • Forehead may appear taller or more prominent

Choose horizontal necklines that add width and create the illusion of a shorter, more balanced face.

Hair

Width at the sides — waves, curls, or shoulder-length layers — shortens the face visually.

Jewelry

Earrings: wide, circular, hoop, button, cluster, horizontal.

Necklaces: choker, short, layered, bib, collar, wide pendant.

Style references: Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, Gisele Bündchen

Diamond

Widest: Cheekbones — narrower forehead and jaw
  • Cheekbones or the cheek area are usually the widest part of the face
  • Brow bone and jawline tend to be narrower than the cheeks
  • Jawline often appears narrow, tapered, or slightly pointed
  • Forehead may also narrow toward the hairline
  • Sometimes the main clue is simply noticeable width through the cheek area

Choose necklines that add width at the forehead and jawline to balance your prominent cheekbones. Avoid deep or plunging v-necks as they can narrow your chin more.

Hair

Layered cuts and a little weight near the nape balance prominent cheekbones.

Jewelry

Earrings: curved, soft, small, stud, delicate.

Necklaces: scoop, curved, soft pendant, delicate.

Style references: Halle Berry, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Lopez

Triangle

Widest: Jawline — taper up to a narrower forehead
  • Jawline is usually the widest part of the face
  • Brow bone and cheekbones tend to be narrower than the jaw
  • The face shape is visually opposite of a heart-shaped face
  • Forehead may look narrower toward the top
  • Jaw can appear strong, broad, or prominent

Choose necklines that broaden your shoulders to balance a wider jawline. Try to align the width of your jaw to the opening of your neck/shoulder.

Hair

Crown volume and length that starts below the jaw balance a stronger jawline.

Jewelry

Earrings: wider at top, stud, button, cluster, chandelier.

Necklaces: scoop, v-neck, pendant, delicate, long chain.

Style references: Minnie Driver, Kelly Osbourne, Renée Zellweger

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Frequently asked

How do I find my face shape?

Compare the width of your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw against your face length: equal widths with soft edges read round, a long face reads oblong, a wide forehead tapering to a narrow chin reads heart, and so on across the seven shapes.

Why does face shape matter?

Your face shape guides flattering necklines, collars, glasses, earrings, and hairstyles — the things that frame your face. Sign up to StyleMeMama to get your face shape and styling tips free.