The best glasses frame shape for you depends on your face shape. Wearing frames that compliment your natural features can make you look more attractive.
Round faces usually have some challenges when it comes to finding the perfect pair of eyeglasses. These faces tend to be wider than other face shapes, so frames that are too small will look out of place on their face.
However, some techniques to help guide you in the right direction when choosing your eyewear. This guide will help you determine the best glasses for round faces.
Do I Have a Round Face Shape?
It’s worth noting that determining your face shape is not an exact science. Few people have a perfectly “round,” “square,” or “oval” face shape. Most people have elements of different face types.
The best way to determine your face shape is to identify your most prominent facial features and match them to the closest face shape. These will usually be your jaw, cheekbones, and forehead.
The most distinct elements of round faces are:
- Soft curves and smooth lines
- Full cheeks
- Cheekbones are the widest part of the face
- Jaw and forehead that roughly have the same width
- Rounded chin with few angles
If you find yourself having trouble identifying these characteristics, try looking at photos of celebrities who share similar traits. You may also want to take a picture of yourself from the side, as this angle will show off your jawline better.
Where to Buy Glasses
Best Overall: Warby Parker
Fastest Delivery: EyeBuyDirect
Biggest Selection: GlassesUSA
Also Great: Liingo
Best on a Budget: Zenni Optical
Best Frame Shapes for Round Faces
People with round faces look great in bold, thick, full-rimmed frames with angular lines. These frames contrast and balance to your softer, rounder features.
Here are the best sunglasses and eyeglass frame shapes for round faces:
Rectangular and Square Frames
Rectangular frames help add angles that accentuate your features. Their shape and width work to lengthen your face, making it appear longer and thinner.
Like rectangular frames, square glasses add balance and angles to soft features. They also help your face appear longer and thinner.
Popular Rectangular/Square Frames
Cat-Eye Frames
Cat-eye glasses are a trendy pick among women with rounded, fuller cheeks. The upswept frames that flare out near the temple and provide a flattering “lifting” effect. This effect contours your face for a beautiful retro or vintage look.
Popular Cat-Eye Frames
Wayfarer Frames
Wayfarer frames are a classic choice for eyeglasses or sunglasses. The look has seen a considerable increase in popularity since Ray-Ban came on the scene and made them fashionable once again. Wayfarer-style frames work best for round faces when they have longer temples and a flat or minimally curved browline.
Popular Wayfarer Frames
Oversized Frames
Bigger frames tend to work best for round faces. Soft features provide a beautiful canvas for big, bold, and colorful frames that express your style and creativity.
Popular Oversized Frames
Aviators/Navigators
Aviators are one of the most popular styles of sunglasses. They're even becoming popular as prescription glasses. However, an aviator's teardrop shape isn’t suited for everyone with a round face. Instead, people with round faces may want to choose with frames with a more angular or square shape, often referred to as “navigators.”
Popular Aviators/Navigators
Geometric Frames
Geometric frames come in all shapes and sizes. Hexagon and other unique, angular shapes can offer a stylish look that balances against your features' soft roundness.
Popular Geometric Frames
Summary
The best frames for round faces include rectangular, square, cat-eye, wayfarer, oversized, aviators, and geometric frames.
Read More: Best Sunglasses for Round Faces
Frames to Avoid
Typically, people with round faces tend to opt for frames that provide contrast to their features. The following frame types have the opposite effect. That’s not to say that you can’t pull them off!
Here are the frames that people with round-shaped faces typically avoid:
Small Frames
While big frames add structure and length, small frames exaggerate the width of round faces. That doesn’t mean you have to get oversized frames, but small and rimless frames may not have the effect you’re looking for.
Circle and Oval Frames
Rather than providing contrast and balance, circular and oval frames can actually exaggerate the roundness of your features.
Remember, this is simply a set of guidelines meant to help you navigate the many choices you have. There are no hard rules when it comes to finding the right glasses for you. You should choose a pair of glasses that make you feel happy and comfortable.
How to Determine Your Face Shape
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to determine your face shape.
Measure Your Face
Measuring different areas of your face will help you accurately determine your face shape. Use a flexible measuring tape and measure your features flat.
You should measure the following:
- Face length. The top of your hairline to the lowest part of your chin.
- Forehead width. The widest part of your forehead, around halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline.
- Cheekbone width. The distance between your two upper cheeks.
- Jawline. The distance between the two edges of your jaw.
Analyze Your Facial Measurements and Features
After measuring your face, you can take those measurements and determine your face shape. Looking at your facial features will help, too.
- Round. Round faces have similar cheekbone width and face length measurements. They have rounded chins with softer angles.
- Heart. Heart-shaped faces have foreheads that are wider than most of their face. They may have a widow’s peak with a pointed chin.
- Square. Square faces have similar measurements (forehead, cheekbones, and jaw). They tend to have wide hairlines and strong jaws.
- Oval. Oval faces have small foreheads and wide cheekbones. They usually look more proportional than other face shapes.
- Diamond. Diamond faces have wide cheekbones with narrow foreheads and chins. They often have dramatic cheekbones.
- Oblong. Oblong (or rectangular) faces are longer than they are wide. Their faces are long with angular edges.
Use Technology to Determine Your Face Shape
Technology can also help you determine your face shape. Countless apps and websites allow you to input your measurements for a more accurate result.
You can try these apps and websites to determine your face shape.
Instagram and TikTok also have filters that help you determine your face shape.
How to Choose a Frame Color
Selecting a frame color is another important part of choosing your glasses. The right frame color will help your features stand out.
When choosing a frame color, you'll want to consider the following:
Skin Tone
People with neutral skin tones will look good with any frame color. Neutral colors such as white, gray, or black will suit any skin tone.
Warm skin tones have green or greenish-blue veins. You can try out warm-colored frames like red, yellow, or orange.
On the other hand, cool skin tones have blue or purple veins. You can try out cool-colored shades like blue, silver, and green.
Eye Color
The right frame color can bring out your eye color.
One way to choose a frame color is to look at a color wheel. Choose a complementary color for your eyes. For example, if you have green eyes, you may want to choose red frames.
Choosing frame colors in the same spectrum as your eye color will also work. For instance, brown eyes will look good with colors in the brown family. These include chestnut, coffee, taupe, and sepia.
Hair Color
You can also enhance your hair using different frame colors. Black frames generally suit any hair color.
Those with dark hair may want to choose metallic or dark hair colors. You'll suit colors like navy, dark green, and gunmetal.
If you have blonde hair, you might want to wear muted or pastel frames. These colors will make your hair appear more vibrant.
5 Best Places to Buy Glasses Online
Best Overall: Warby Parker
Also Great: Liingo Eyewear
Biggest Selection: GlassesUSA
Fastest Delivery: EyeBuyDirect
Best on a Budget: Zenni Optical
Round Face FAQs
What glasses look best on a round face?
Glasses styles that look best on a round face include square, rectangular, cat-eye, wayfarers, oversized, aviators, navigators, and geometric frames.
How do I choose glasses for my face?
Use a face shape guide like our types of glasses page or sunglasses styles page to choose glasses for your face.
Do round glasses suit round faces?
Round glasses exaggerate the roundness of your features. Some people prefer this look, while others like angular frames to provide balance and contrast.
Examples of Round Faces with Glasses
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