Types of Face Shapes: The Six Common Face Shapes

Hairstylists and opticians usually group faces into six shapes based on the width of the forehead, cheekbones and jaw and the length of the face. The names describe proportion only. No shape is better than another, and many faces sit between two.

• Oval

  An oval face is longer than it is wide, with the cheekbones as the widest point and a softly curved jaw.

  Rule: Face length between 1.25 and 1.45 times the cheekbone width, with a jaw under 90% of the cheekbone width.

• Round

  A round face is about as long as it is wide, with full cheeks and a softly curved jaw and chin.

  Rule: Face length no more than 1.25 times the cheekbone width, with a soft jaw (under 90% of the cheekbone width).

• Square

  A square face has a wide, angular jaw that is close to the width of the forehead and cheekbones.

  Rule: Jaw at least 90% of the cheekbone width, with a face length under 1.45 times the cheekbone width.

• Heart

  A heart-shaped face has a wide forehead and cheekbones that taper to a narrower jaw and chin.

  Rule: Forehead at least 95% of the cheekbone width, with a jaw at 80% or less of the cheekbone width.

  Also called: inverted triangle.

• Diamond

  A diamond face has high, wide cheekbones with a narrower forehead and jaw.

  Rule: Cheekbones clearly the widest point, with both forehead and jaw at 85% or less of the cheekbone width.

• Oblong

  An oblong face is noticeably longer than it is wide, with a forehead, cheekbones and jaw of similar width.

  Rule: Face length at least 1.45 times the cheekbone width, and not a heart or diamond shape.

  Also called: long, rectangle.