Round face shape: measurements and style guide
A round face is about as long as it is wide, with full cheeks and a softly curved jaw and chin.
How to spot the round face shape
- Face length and cheekbone width are almost the same
- The cheeks are full and the widest point is at or just below the cheekbones
- The jaw and chin are rounded without sharp angles
Calculator rule: Face length no more than 1.25 times the cheekbone width, with a soft jaw (under 90% of the cheekbone width). The four measurements are taken as described on the calculator page.
How to style it
Styling a round face is about adding length and angles. Height on top, side-swept lines and frames with definition draw the eye up and down, creating a slightly longer, more angular outline. Avoid styles that add width at the cheeks.
What works
- Layers and volume at the crown that add height
- Long, side-swept fringes and diagonal lines that break up the roundness
- Angular or rectangular frames that add contrast to the soft outline
- Long, dangling earrings and a defined beard that lengthen the face
Balance out
- Chin-length bobs and blunt cuts that stop at the widest part of the face
- Round frames and circular earrings that repeat the shape of the face
- Full, thick fringes across the forehead that shorten the face
- Heavy volume at the sides of the head
Style guides for the round face shape
- Best Hairstyles for roundAdd height and length with layers and side-swept lines, and avoid volume at the cheeks.
- Best Glasses for roundAngular frames add definition and contrast to a soft face, and wider frames make it look longer.
- Best Earrings for roundLong, narrow earrings add a vertical line that lengthens the face.
- Best Beard Styles for roundA beard that is longer at the chin than the sides adds length and definition to a round face.
Common questions
Should I avoid short hair if I have a round face?
Not at all. Short cuts with height at the crown and shorter sides can lengthen a round face. It is blunt cuts at chin length and volume at the sides that make it look wider.
Are round glasses always a bad idea?
They tend to repeat the roundness of the face. If you like them, choose a slightly angular or oval-ish style, or a frame that is wider than the face, and check how they look in person.