Updated on  February 20, 2024
4 min read

Determining Your Face Shape

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Face shapes are determined by bone structure and fat distribution. Face shape diagrams were developed in 1930 for hairdressing and makeup. Now, they are also used for choosing glasses and sunglasses.

The six common face shapes are:

  • Round
  • Square
  • Heart
  • Oval
  • Rectangular/Oblong
  • Diamond

6 Most Common Face Shapes

Round Face Shape

A face’s fullness and soft features characterize a round face shape.

Round Face Shape - Vision Center

Characteristics of round-shaped faces:

  • Widest part: cheekbones
  • No sharp angles or edges
  • Rounded chin
  • A slight curve in the sides of your face

Celebrities with round faces: Jennifer Lawrence, Queen Latifah, Emma Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Aziz Ansari, Elijah Wood

Ginnifer Goodwin roundface

The best frame shapes for round faces are:

  • Rectangular frames
  • Square frames
  • Cat-Eye frames
  • Wayfarer frames
  • Oversized frames
  • Aviators/navigators
  • Geometric frames

Read Best Glasses for Round Faces

Read Best Sunglasses for Round Faces

Square Face Shape

Unlike round face shapes, square face shapes are sharper and appear wider.

Square Face Shape - Vision Center

Characteristics of square-shaped faces:

  • Approximately the same width and length
  • Forehead, cheekbones, and jaw are all basically the same width
  • Sharp angles in your jaw
  • The sides of your face are straight
  • Angular features

Celebrities with square faces: Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, Salma Hayek, David Bowie, Justin Timberlake, Will Smith

Angelina Jolie Square Shape Face

The best frame shapes for square faces are:

  • Round or oval frames
  • Browline frames
  • Cat-eye frames
  • Aviators

Read Best Glasses for Square Faces

Read Best Sunglasses for Square Faces

Heart Face Shape

Heart-shaped faces are similar to square-shaped ones, but they’re longer than they’re wide.

Heart Face Shape - Vision Center

Characteristics of heart-shaped faces:

  • Widest part: forehead
  • Pointed chin
  • Cheekbones are about the same width as your hairline
  • Your face gets more angular towards the chin, finishing with a point

Celebrities with heart-shaped faces: Reese Witherspoon, Chloë Grace Moretz, Kourtney Kardashian, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Jude Law, Ryan Reynolds

Reese Witherspoon Heart Shaped Face

The best frame shapes for heart-shaped faces are:

  • Oval and circular frames
  • Rectangular frames
  • Rimless and semi-rimless frames
  • Wayfarers
  • Cat-Eye frames
  • Aviators

Read Best Glasses for Heart Shaped Faces

Read Best Sunglasses for Heart Shaped Faces

Oval Face Shape

This face shape usually looks the most proportional out of the others.

Oval Face Shape - Vision Center

Characteristics of oval-shaped faces:

  • Widest part: cheekbones
  • Your face is longer than it is wide
  • Your jawline is soft and curved

Celebrities with oval faces: Eva Longoria, Beyonce, Jessica Alba, Adam Levine, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Statham

Beyonce Oval Face Shape

The best frame shapes for oval faces are:

  • Square frames
  • Rectangle frames
  • Aviator frames
  • Cat-eye frames
  • Round frames

Read Best Glasses for Oval Faces

Read Best Sunglasses for Oval Faces

Oblong/Rectangular Face Shape

You can identify an oblong/rectangle face shape by length since it usually looks like the longest face shape.

Oblong Face Shape - Vision Center

Characteristics of oblong/rectangular face shapes:

  • Similar to a square-shaped face, but your face is longer than it is wide
  • Your jawline, cheekbones, and forehead are all about the same width
  • Slightly curved chin

Celebrities with oblong faces: Liv Tyler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ashlee Simpson, Ben Affleck, Chris Pine, Cameron Dallas

Sarah Jessica Parker Oblong Face Shape

The best frame shapes for oblong faces are:

  • Square frames
  • Rectangle frames
  • Wayfarer frames

Read Best Glasses for Oblong/Rectangular Faces

Read Best Sunglasses for Oblong/Rectangular Faces

Diamond Face Shape

A diamond face shape might be the rarest of all face shapes. 

Diamond Face Shape - Vision Center

Characteristics of diamond-shaped faces:

  • High cheekbones
  • Pointed chin
  • Similar to heart-shaped faces, but the main difference is the hairline
  • Diamond-shaped faces have narrower hairlines than heart-shaped faces

Celebrities with diamond-shaped faces: Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Robert Pattinson, Johnny Depp, Christian Bale

Halle Berry Diamond Face Shape

The best frame shapes for diamond-shaped faces are:

  • Oval frames
  • Round frames
  • Geometric frames
  • Rimless frames

Read Best Glasses for Diamond Shaped Faces

Read Best Sunglasses for Diamond Shaped Faces

How to Measure Your Face Shape

People’s faces have different compositions of fat and bone structure. Because of this, your face can have features of a combination of more than one face shape. The best thing to do is identify your most prominent features.

Identify Your Face Length and Width

Look in the mirror or take a selfie, and pay attention to your face length and width. Your face length is measured from the center of your hairline to the tip of your chin.

Your face width is measured from the left to right side of your face. This measurement should be taken twice—one for your cheekbones and the other for your jawline.

  • Long faces fall under oblong/rectangular, oval, and diamond shapes
  • Wide faces fall under heart, square, and round shapes

Analyze Your Facial Features

Some people have sharp features, while others have rounder and softer ones. Determining what you have can further specify your face shape.

  • Long faces with soft lines fall under oval shapes
  • Long faces with slightly curved chins fall under oblong/rectangular shapes
  • Wide faces with soft lines fall under round shapes
  • Rounded foreheads and pointed chins fall under heart shapes
  • Wide faces with angular jawlines, cheekbones, and foreheads fall under square shapes
  • Narrow foreheads, sharp jawlines, and pointed chins fall under diamond shapes

Additional Tips to Determine Your Face Shape

One way to determine your face shape is by using a face shape finder like Omni Calculator. You’ll input your facial measurements, and the calculator will determine your face shape.

There are also face shape apps, including:

Comparing your face to celebrities with similar face shapes can also help.

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Updated on  February 20, 2024
The information provided on VisionCenter.org should not be used in place of actual information provided by a doctor or a specialist.