Whether you’re looking for a flattering hairstyle or want to know what kind of makeup looks best on you, knowing your face type is crucial. Luckily, there are a few easy methods to determine which category you fall into.
First, take a look at your measurements. Measure your forehead, cheekbones and jawline to get a sense of what shape your face is.
Forehead
Knowing your face type based on your facial features isn’t just useful for finding the right hairstyle or makeup for you, it can also help to make your whole persona more interesting. For instance, you may decide to go for a bold haircut, or maybe you’ll choose a hair color that’s more suitable for your face shape.
In order to know your face type, you need to measure several key points of your face, such as the widest part of your forehead, the width of your cheekbones, and the length of your jawline. This is usually done in front of a mirror and involves using a flexible tape measure (similar to that used by a tailor).
Once you’ve gathered all the relevant measurements, you’re ready to compare them to other face shapes, according to Haner. She suggests taking the measurements at different times to get a better idea of your facial proportions.
First, try to find the widest point of your forehead, which is typically around halfway between the eyebrows and hairline. You can do this by sight or by using a flexible tape measure, which will be more accurate.
Next, look at the width of your cheekbones, which is generally the same as your forehead or a little wider. If you have a narrower forehead, try to widen the space between your brows a little to give the impression of greater width at the top of your head.
Finally, examine your jawline to see if it’s rounded, angled, squared, or pointy. If you have a rounded jawline, you’re likely to be a round face, while if your jawline is angular or squared, you’ll most likely be a diamond or triangle face.
After you’ve compared the measurements to all six of these common face shapes, you should be able to narrow your options down to one that best fits your personality. You’ll have a much easier time choosing a hairstyle, makeup, or even selecting a pair of trendy sunglasses for your face.
Cheekbones
When you’re looking for a way to determine your face type, cheekbones are a good starting point. They’re a key feature in most face shapes, but they’re also different for each person.
Cheekbones are the oval-shaped bones that sit on either side of your face. They’re also known as zygomatic bones, and they help shape your facial structure.
You can find out if you have high or low cheekbones by feeling them with your fingers. Usually, you’ll feel the zygomatic bone underneath your eyes closer to the nose bridge, and if you can see them at the same level as your nostrils, you’ve got high cheekbones.
Whether you have high or low cheekbones depends on your genes, as well as your ethnicity and sex. In some cultures, a higher cheekbone is a sign of beauty.
In others, it’s a sign of strength and dedication. In physiognomy, people with high cheekbones are admired for their confidence and resilience.
While you can’t always change your facial structure with makeup, there are a few ways to improve your cheekbones and create a more defined jawline. One of the most effective ways is to contour, which involves adding shadows and highlights to accentuate certain features in your face.
Another option is to use a facial massage tool called gua sha, which stimulates blood flow and improves the tone of your skin. It can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Finally, you can try hyaluronic acid to increase the volume and firmness of your cheekbones. This will give you a more chiseled, youthful look.
A third way to figure out your face shape is by using a measuring tape. The most common shape is a triangular face, which features high cheekbones and a narrow jawline.
You can also test for your face shape by placing your thumbs on top of your ears, and your index finger alongside your nostrils in a mirror. If you feel a hard lump under your outstretched finger, it’s your cheekbone.
If you’re not sure which shape your face is, you can always try to get a professional to measure it for you. However, this can be a bit of an awkward and time-consuming task.
Jawline
There are several ways to know your face type, but one of the most reliable methods is based on your jawline. This is because it’s the most recognizable part of your face.
To determine your face type, start by measuring the width of your jawline, which is a simple process. To do this, simply place a tape measure along your chin and bring it all the way down to the tip of your nose. Then, multiply the number you found by 2.
This should give you an idea of your face’s length. Repeat the process for both sides of your jawline to get an even better picture of your overall face length.
In addition to your facial measurements, take note of the angles and contours of your face. These will help you distinguish soft, sharp or pronounced characteristics of your face shape.
You can also take a close look at photos of famous faces, especially those that fit your particular face shape category. You can then identify the characteristics you’ve noticed, which will make it easier to narrow down your options.
For example, if you notice that your jawline is narrow and comes to a point, this will indicate a square face shape. In contrast, a round face shape has a rounded jawline.
Another way to tell your face type is by comparing the size of your forehead to your jawline. If your forehead is wider than your jaw, that’s a clear indicator that you have an oval face shape.
Alternatively, if your forehead measures slightly larger than your cheekbones, that’s a sign of a diamond face shape. Lastly, if the face length measures largest and the other measurements are relatively similar, you have a rectangular face shape.
Once you’ve determined your face type, you can choose hairstyles that best suit it. For instance, if your face type is triangular, low updos that don’t draw attention to your jawline look best. However, if your face type is oval, you can go for a shoulder-length bob with volume and texture on the top of your head.
Face Length
Your face shape is determined by the width of your cheekbones, the length of your forehead and the angle of your jaw. These are the key measurements to determine your face shape, and they also affect how you look when you wear makeup, pick out glasses, or choose hairstyles.
To measure your face length, stand in front of a mirror with a flexible tape measure and paper or pen. Place one end of the tape on one side of your forehead at the widest point halfway between your eyebrows and hairline, then run it in a straight line to the same point on the other side. Repeat the process to note down your face length.
Once you have your face length, you can compare it with some common shape names to get a better idea of what type of face you have. Oblong, oval, square, and rectangular all describe face shapes that are longer than they are wide.
If the measurements of your forehead, cheekbones and jawline are fairly similar across the length of your face, you have an oval face shape. If they are not, you have a square face.
In general, oval faces are longer than they are wide, and have a soft and slightly rounded jawline. If you have a square face, your forehead and cheekbones are equal in size, while your jaw is sharper and more pointed than your forehead.
The next step in determining your face shape is to compare the other measurements you’ve taken with the following four general face shapes: triangle, diamond, inverted triangle, and heart-shaped faces.
Triangular: These face shapes have a narrow forehead and cheekbones, and a chin that comes to a point (like a diamond shape). You can easily mistake a triangular face for an oblong face, however, so make sure to check other measurements as well.
Rectangular: These faces have a slightly wider forehead and cheekbones than their jawline, but the chin is not as wide as the rest of the face. This face shape has a curved chin, making it ideal for short hairstyles.
