If there is one thing that a man who cares about his appearance should take the time to know about himself, it is the shape of his face. Identifying the shape of your face is of paramount importance if you want to look your best from an aesthetic standpoint, whether it’s your haircut, your beard or mustache style, or the shape of your glasses.
For example, a specific pair of sunglasses may look great on your friend, but look like crap on you.
Our faces are important – not just to us but to everyone we meet. Sure, you can judge a man by his shoes, but your client won’t look at your shoelaces when he shakes your hand.
Our faces project onto the outside world a part of who we are. The character we give off is of great importance.
We all have different faces, and we all have certain characteristics that are best emphasized, and others that are best hidden.
By determining the shape of your face, you will be able to better identify these features and understand the best strategy to enhance yourself.
From mustaches to hairstyles, our goal is to provide the most comprehensive and in-depth guide to help you make the best choices for both your appearance and style.
The different face shapes
You’re probably wondering how many exact face shapes there are. While some may list as many as nine different shapes, others may just list four or cing.
In order to best detail the diversity of faces and to categorize them as simply as possible, we have defined 7 different face shapes :
Diamond face
If you have a Diamond Face shape, you probably fit the following description:
Your face length is the largest measurement, followed by the width of your cheekbones, and finally the width of your forehead and jawline.
You probably have good cheekbones with a long tapered jaw.
Note that the above description is a generalization. There may be discrepancies and exceptions. Your face may fit into several categories and be a “hybrid” of two or more shapes.
The diagram above is used to break down the particular characteristics of a diamond face shape. As you may notice, the prominent cheekbones draw attention. A narrower forehead and an even narrower jaw create the illusion of a diamond shape. This is a large face with a narrow, well-defined bone structure.
Tips when you have a heart-shaped face:
– Try to have volume on top of your head and adopt a hairstyle with rounded shapes to soften the face.
– Avoid haircuts that are too straight, too geometric, or too short sides that can cause a Dumbo ears effect.
Heart-shaped face
If you have a heart-shaped face, you should recognize yourself with the following images and description:
Your forehead is wider than your cheekbones and jawline. Your chin is slightly pointed.
On a heart-shaped face the cheekbones and chin are narrower than the forehead, giving an impression of smooth features, soft and pleasing shapes, the mouth and chin may appear small compared to the upper part of the face.
The idea of having a soft face is not necessarily flattering to a man, but do not worry, with the right style the heart-shaped face is very attractive, charming and sophisticated.
Tips when you have a heart-shaped face:
– Wear long hair that falls naturally, let your hair grow on the sides and back of the head.
– Avoid shaved sides or aggressive fades, avoid having hair too short on the sides compared to the top of the head.
Oblong or Rectangular Face
Oblong (or rectangular) faces generally have the following characteristics:
The length of your face is the largest dimension, while your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw are all of similar width.
Remember that these descriptions generalize face shapes, which means that there will always be a difference between each individual. You may recognize yourself in many different face shapes, it is up to you to properly identify your own shape using the resources we provide.
The above graphic presents and breaks down the characteristics of the rectangular face. Its structure is relatively simple, consisting of a more or less equal width on the sides. The forehead may be wider than the jaw or the cheekbones.
With elongated but balanced features, the structure of the oblong face lies somewhere between the oval and square shapes.
Tips when you have an oblong face:
– Go for even, balanced haircuts. Bangs and bangs are welcome and help make the forehead look a little smaller.
– Avoid short sides, too much height or length on top of the head.
Oval face
People with an oval face fit the following description:
Your face is longer than it is wide at the cheekbones, and the width of your forehead is greater than the width of your jaw. Your jaw and chin are likely to be not too pronounced and slightly rounded.
Above you have the illustration that analyzes the characteristics of an oval-shaped face. The width of the face gradually decreases from the forehead to the chin with a sloping jaw.
With its balanced characteristics, this face shape is considered the “ideal” face shape. Its neutral composition and lack of dominant features allow for great versatility in the style you can adopt, from your hairstyles to your glasses.
Tips when you have an Oval face:
– Try to have volume on the top of the head or create angles with a Side Part for example.
– Avoid bangs or crop tops.
Round Face
Here is a small overview of round faces, if this face shape is yours, you will surely recognize yourself in the following description:
On a round face, the width of the cheekbones and the length of the face are roughly the same, they are both larger than your forehead and jaw which are similar in size. There is also a good chance that your chin is rounded with soft features.
The chart above helps illustrate the characteristics of a round face shape. You will notice that the length of the face and the width of the cheekbones are of similar dimensions with a slight decrease at the jawline.
Having a round face may seem like a bad thing, but in reality its characteristics make it for a symmetrical facial structure with relatively high cheekbones. A round face evokes vitality and can create a friendly, youthful look.
Tips when you have a Round face:
– Try to have height and volume on the top of the head and keep the hair on the sides and back short. A Pompadour, Crop or Quiff would look great on you.
– Avoid long sides that would make your face look bigger, and don’t have hair too short on top of the head.
Square Face
If you have a square face shape, you will probably recognize yourself in the following description:The length and width of your face are almost equal, with a forehead and jaw of equal width. This structure also often stands out with a wide, pronounced chin.
The above diagram provides a geometric assessment of the key characteristics of a square face shape. With the reputation of being the quintessential masculine face, the square face shape has a structure that allows for a wide range of experimentation. Its inherent masculinity can be refined to develop a less authoritative image or exude tenderness beneath that facade that can appear a bit harsh.
Tips when you have a Square face:
– Keep the sides and back short with a fade for example. Try to have some volume on the top of the head.
– Avoid creating extra angles with a crop or parting.
Inverted Triangle Face
And finally,Inverted triangle shaped faces, people with this face shape usually have a wide forehead, prominent cheekbones and a pointed chin.
The image above geometrically breaks down the characteristics of an inverted triangle face shape.
Tips when you have an inverted triangle face:
– Try to reduce the width of the top of your face with short sides. Keep some length in the sideburns to widen your jawline.
– Avoid too much volume on the head and adopt a full beard if possible to give better balance.