How to Determine the Shape of Your Face (and Why You Need It)
If you’ve come across references to face shape, chances are it was when shopping for glasses or looking for haircuts – both accompanied by recommendations based on the person’s face shape. But what if the shape of your face isn’t obvious? What if it doesn’t fall into one specific category? Here’s what you need to know about how to shape your face and why it matters.
Why does face shape matter?
By and large, the shape of the face is rather inconsequential, but knowing yours can make it easier to make decisions about what will look best on or next to your face; things like hairstyles, makeup, glasses, hats, and other accessories. But keep in mind that you can have a combination of different face shapes, and that the shape you have when you are young can change over time.
How to determine the shape of the face
The concept of face shape can be a little confusing at first. Okay, maybe someone might have what is clearly a round face, but how exactly should a triangular face look like? And when it starts to get to hearts and diamonds, they may look more like Lucky Charms than human faces.
As Wendy Rose Gould explains in an article for Real Simple , the first step to determining the shape of a face is measuring it. It’s best to use a flexible measuring tape, but she says the measurement app on your phone can do the job as well. According to Gould, here’s how to take the measurements you need (just be sure to write them down as you go for the information):
- Face Length : Measure from the top of your hairline to the bottom of your chin.
- Forehead Width: The distance along the center of the forehead from the hairline to the hairline. Do not bend the measuring tape in a curve – keep it straight.
- Cheekbone Width: Find the highest point of your cheekbone, then measure from one cheekbone on your face to the other. Again, keep the measuring tape straight rather than bending it against your skin.
- Chinline Width : Hold the measuring tape just below your ear and lower it towards the center of your chin, then multiply by two. If this is the case, you can bend the tape so that it adheres to your skin.
Characteristics of each face shape
“Use a combination of measurements and visual cues to determine which of these face shapes most closely resembles yours,” tells Real Simple Dr. Robert Segal , board-certified plastic surgeon:
Triangle
- Main characteristics : high cheekbones and narrow jaw.
- Measurements : The width of the forehead and cheekbones will be larger, and the chin is narrow and tapering (rounded or stiffer).
Round
- Main characteristics : rounded hairline and chin.
- Dimensions : the width and length of the face are the same.
Square
- Main characteristics : the jawline and forehead are wider and more pronounced.
- Sizes : forehead, cheekbones and jawline of the same width; the dimensions are similar to a round face, but the overall structure of the face appears to be more angular with minimal curves
Diamond
- Main characteristics : more angular version of the oval face shape; the chin is also narrower and sharper, and the hairline is more angular; high and strong cheekbones
- Measurements : The distance between the cheekbones is slightly wider than the length of the forehead.
Oval
- Main characteristics : The forehead is a combination of square and round shapes; the jawline and chin are more rounded
- Measurements : Usually the width of the forehead is less than the width of the cheekbones, and the face is longer than its width.
Heart
- Main Feature : Hair Widow Peak.
- Measurements : the jawline and cheekbones are wider than the forehead; chin narrow with a strong end
Rectangle
- Key Features : Most commonly seen in older people, when the skin on the cheeks and jaws passes into the lower half of the face.
- Dimensions : face length is greater than width; forehead, cheekbones and jaw are also similar in width
Even if you don’t fit into one category, you should at least be able to narrow it down a bit to a few specific shapes – which should help the next time you’re looking for a new model or a couple of specs. …