How to Determine Your Face Shape, If That's Something You Care About

Hot take: Determining your face shape is a waste of your time. I mean sure, knowing whether your face closely resembles a heart or an oval is a fun fact to have on hand, but as far as guiding the way you contour your face or get your hair cut, it isn't necessary or even that reliable. To prove my point, I spent like the first half of my life thinking I had a round face, followed by a time that I thought I had an oval face, and then years thinking I had a square-shaped face. It's really only a matter a time before I start convincing myself I'm shaped like a rectangle, and you know why? Because faces are always changing, and rarely does someone fit exactly into one category. Okay, rant over. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

 

With all that said, I know you clicked on this page because you're dying to know your closest face shape match, so who am I to stop you?! So if you would like to know your face shape, keep reading for Chinese face reading expert and author of The Wisdom of Your Face Jean Haner's expert insight. Below, she breaks down the process of determining the shape of your face into a few simple steps.

 

How to Determine Your Face Shape Step #1: Measure

Before you start, tie your hair back, and pull your hair off your forehead so you can see your entire face. For the most accurate measurements, Haner recommends whipping out a flexible measuring tape and taking yourself back to third grade geometry, though a rough estimation would also do just fine. If you have a photo of yourself looking directly into the camera, even better. Then, measure the four key distances of your face, listed below.

 

Forehead Width: Measure the distance across your forehead at the widest point, from hairline to hairline.

Cheekbone Width: From your hairline above your cheekbone, measure the distance across your face to the same spot on the other side.

Jawline Width: Start at the base of your jaw (underneath your ears). Measure the distance along the edge of your jaw until you reach the middle of your chin. Continue to measure the other side or simply multiply that number by two.

Face Length: Begin measuring at the middle of your hairline and bring it all the way down until it reaches the tip of your chin.

 

How to Determine Your Face Shape Step #2: Consider Your Facial Features

Aside from just measuring, there are a few characteristics tied to specific face shapes. For instance, a rounded jawline is typically tied to a rounder face shape, while a pointed chin is closely associated with a heart-shaped face. Take note of the angles and contours of your face to see whether they're soft or sharp or pronounced or not. Now that you've gathered your measurements and a list of characteristics, sort through the six common face shapes listed below, eliminating the types with descriptions that don't align with your own facial findings.

 

How to Determine Your Face Shape Step #3: Find Your Match

With steps one and two in mind, ask yourself the below questions. If you answer "yes" to the first question, move to the next. If you answer "no" to any of the questions, skip to the next face shape.

 

 

Round Face Shape

 

Selena Gomez

 

Forehead: Is your forehead rounded at the hairline?

Cheekbone: Is the width of your face essentially the same as the length?

Jawline: Is your jawline rounded with very subtle angles?

Face: Is the length of your face essentially the same size as the width?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you have a round-shaped face! Try a hairstyle for round face shapes if that's what you're into.

 

Square Face Shape

 

Demi Lovato

 

Forehead: Does your hairline follow a straight line? Is your forehead essentially the same width as your jaw?

Cheekbone: Are there minimal curves to your cheekbones? Do the sides of your face follow a straight line from your jaw to your forehead? Is the width of your cheekbones about the same as the width of your forehead and jaw?

Jawline: Do you have a strong, squared jawline? Do the sides of your face follow a straight line from your jaw to your forehead?

Face: Is your face about as long as it is wide?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you have a square-shaped face! Do with this information what you will, like trying a hairstyle for square faces if you're down.

 

Diamond Face Shape

 

Anna Kendrick

 

Forehead: Is the width of your forehead smaller than the width of your cheekbones?

Cheekbone: Are your cheekbones significantly wider than your forehead? Are your cheekbones wider than your jawline?

Jawline: Do you have a narrow chin area? Does your chin have a strong point? Is your cheekbone measurement wider than your jawline?

Face: Is the length of your face about the same as the width?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you have a diamond-shaped face! Now go on and shine bright like a diamond.

 

Oval Face Shape

 

Beyonce

 

Forehead: Is the width of your forehead smaller than the width of your cheekbones? Do you have a tall forehead?

Cheekbone: Are your cheekbones the widest part of your face?

Jawline: Do you have no sharp angles on your jaw or chin?

Face: Is your face longer than it is wide?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you have an oval-shaped face! File that fun fact away for the next time you have to play an awkward ice-breaker game.

 

Heart Face Shape

 

Kourtney Kardashian

 

Forehead: Is your forehead wider than your jawline? Is your hairline rounded? Bonus: Do you have a widow's peak (a V-shaped point in the hairline at the center of the forehead)?

Cheekbone: Is your cheekbone width about the same as your forehead width? Are they both wider than your jawline?

Jawline: Do you have a narrow jawline? Does your chin have a strong point?

Face: Is your face slightly longer than it is wide?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you have a heart-shaped face! Cuuuuuute.

 

 

A Blend of Shapes

 

 

Jennifer Lopez

Remember what I said about not everyone falling into a singular face shape? Haner points out that many people end up being a combination. If none of your measurements perfectly align with a specific category, you’re not alone (hi J Lo). Although Haner says the most common fusion is rectangular and oval, other mixtures are totally possible because we're all unique little snowflakes, which in conclusion, is the reason that face shapes are kinda B.S.