How to Determine Your Face Shape In 3 Simple Steps

Emma Mackey, Bella Hadid, and Tessa Thompson

Getty Images / Byrdie

We all contain multitudes, and no one can be easily placed into a heart-, square-, or oval-shaped box. That said, finding a new hairstyle or signature makeup look in a sea of options can be tricky, and going into the process with some guidance can make the task significantly less daunting.

When it comes to beauty, one of the easiest North Stars you can identify is your face shape. Similar to skin tone or eye color when considering makeup looks, finding celebrities who share your face shape can provide a little shortcut to figuring out which haircuts or contouring techniques might work best for you. Read on to learn how to find your face shape, along with insights on picking out a hairstyle for it, straight from pro hairstylists Nate Rosenkranz and Kylee Heath.

Meet the Expert

  • Nate Rosenkranz is a New York-based Bio Ionic hair industry expert and celebrity stylist to Julia Stiles, Brody Jenner, Meghann Fahy, Laura Carmichael, and more.
  • Kylee Heath is a professional hairstylist and member of the R+Co Collective.

How to Figure Out Your Face Shape

The best way to measure your face shape is to compare the length of your face to its width. To do so, follow the steps below.

  1. Use a ruler to measure from the center of your hairline to the bottom of your chin. This will be the length.
  2. Then, measure the width (right to left).
  3. You can also measure your jaw by noting the width of your face at its widest point, and your cheekbones by measuring across each cheek.

From here, you should have an idea of the shape. If you aren't keen on measuring your actual face, try using a selfie to trace your face shape using the steps outlined above.

Now that you're armed with your measurements, read on for the most common face shapes—and the best hairstyles for them.

How to Find Your Face Shape Chart

Getty Images / Byrdie

01 of 06

Heart

Close up of Reese Witherspoon, hand pushing hair behind her ear

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

If your chin is pointed and your forehead is the widest part of your face, you have a heart-shaped face. Some people may have a widow's peak at their hairline, but you can still have a heart-shaped face without one—picture an upside-down triangle instead. This face shape looks great with bangs and mid-length to long hair (i.e. longer than shoulder-length).

Celebs with your face shape: Reese Witherspoon, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sydney Sweeney, Stephanie Hsu

Chloe Grace Moretz

 Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

Close up of Sydney Sweeney on the red carpet, her hair pulled back slick

Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

A close up of the actor Stephanie Hsu

Araya Doheny/Getty Images

Your best hairstyles: When considering what works best with a heart-shaped face, Rosenkranz recommends "hairstyles that create width through the jawline with fullness and width through the nape to balance the shape of the face." This includes side-swept bangs, brow-grazing fringes, pixie cuts, long layers, and "wearing hair forward around the face." Also, try to "avoid styles that accentuate the width of the forehead or cheekbones," he adds.

02 of 06

Square

Close up of actor Emma Mackey at a BAFTA's pre-party

Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty Images

If you have a square face, the sides of your face are straight, and your jawline is slightly angled with a very minimal curve. Your face is nearly as wide as it is long. In other words, if you were to measure from the edge of your temple to the top of where your jawline starts, you'd find that it would be approximately the same as the distance from your left jaw to your right jaw. You also have a sharp, angular bone structure, including a sharp jawline.

Celebrities with your face shape: Emma Mackey, Angelina Jolie, Megan Thee Stallion, Margot Robbie

Angelina Jolie medium-waves
Mike Coppola / Getty Images
Close up of Megan Thee Stallion on the red carpet at the Oscars

Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images

Close up of actor Margot Robbie at the 2023 Met Gala

Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Your best hairstyles: If your face shape falls into the square category, "Hairstyles that are fuller at the sides and that soften the corners are best," according to Rosenkranz. Think textured shags, long layers, and side-swept bangs. As for what styles to steer clear of, Rosenkranz advises avoiding "Enhancing the jawline further with blunt lines. Strong fringe is not recommended either."

Byrdie Tip

Curls and texture will flatter a square face shape. Part the hair on the side to add height to your overall look. 

03 of 06

Round

Selena Gomez on the red carpet, viewed in close up

Momodu Mansaray/WireImage/Getty Images

A round face is like a square-shaped face, but with softer angles—the sides of your face curve slightly outward instead of going straight. Your chin is rounded, and your cheekbones are the widest part of your face.

Celebs with your face shape: Selena Gomez, Gemma Chan, Kiersey Clemons, Madison Bailey

Your best hairstyles: Chin-length and long bobs, soft, face-framing layers, and long bangs suit a round face. "A hairstyle with a strong angular front and adding height will help to elongate the face," says Rosenkranz. On the other hand, "Avoid over softening this already round shape and avoid creating more width on sides. This will accentuate the shape further." He adds, "It's best to leave your hair down and avoid tucking it behind your ears." 

04 of 06

Diamond

Close up of Jennifer Lopez on the red carpet in 2023

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

If someone drew lines connecting the center of your hairline to your cheekbones and down to your chin, it would create a diamond shape—hence, the name. Diamond faces have pointed chins and high cheekbones. The main difference between a diamond-shaped face and a heart-shaped face is the hairline—if you have a diamond-shaped face, your hairline will be narrower.

Celebs with your face shape: Jennifer Lopez, Ashley Graham, Charli D'Amelio, Zoe Kravitz

Your best hairstyles: "A soft fringe and length will help soften the angles of the diamond shape, but avoid styles that draw the eye to or accentuate the jawline," says Rosenkranz. If you're looking to flatter your diamond-shaped face, try long layers, textured shags, and side-swept bangs.

Or, go the updo route, rocking a ponytail. "I love a ponytail," says Heath. "To cover the ponytail holder, I [like to] tie a small ribbon into a little bow at the base of the ponytail."

05 of 06

Oval

Close up of Beyonce, viewed from the shoulders up, her hair center-parted in subtle crimps

@beyonce

People with oval faces have foreheads that are only a bit wider than their curved chin—picture an egg placed upside down. If you have a tall forehead, your cheekbones are the widest part of your face, and your face is longer than it is wide, chances are you've got an oval face.

Celebs with your face shape: Beyonce, Jisoo, Tessa Thompson, Kim Kardashian

Your best hairstyles: The great thing about having an oval face is that this shape can work with almost any style, from an angular bob to long, beachy waves. Rosenkranz recommends choosing "styles that will enhance your key features" and steering clear of "too much height on top since that can make this shape feel oblong."

06 of 06

Rectangular/Oblong

Close up of Bella Hadid at the Cannes Film Festival, hair slicked back

Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)

Rectangular faces are sometimes called oblong, and they're similar to a square-shaped face but longer than they are wide. Your forehead, cheeks, and jawline are approximately the same width and your chin has a very slight curve.

Celebs with your face shape: Bella Hadid, Joan Smalls, Alexa Chung, Riley Keough

Your best hairstyles: For those with rectangular faces, "Creating fullness through the sides and keeping volume from the ears up is key," according to Rosenkranz. Soft waves, long, face-framing layers, and chin-length bobs are your best bets, whereas "flat, straight hair with no movement and volume with no width should be avoided." He also notes that "shorter hairstyles can make this shape feel masculine."

Heath concurs, saying she loves "curly hair with bangs" on a rectangular face shape. "It's such a fresh and cute look," she says.

Byrdie Tip

Break up a rectangular face shape with a diagonal part, which lends itself to more voluminous hairstyles that add width (and overall balance) to oblong faces.

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