How to Determine Your Face Shape

... Guide to Styling Your Face Shape

Guide to determining your face shape and styling it with hairstyles and accessories

Determining your face shape is very important as it helps you select the best accessory, hair and clothing styles. Your facial shape determines a set of guidelines that will help you feel confident and look your best!

Knowing Your Face Shape Guides You to Your Best:

Hairstyles and haircuts
Sunglasses and eyewear
Jewelry such as earrings and necklaces
Necklines and print tops
Hats
Yes and even makeup techniques

Your facial shape is a super-essential aspect of looking your best because it helps you know what to look for when going shopping. You'll know what pieces accentuate your best features and how to downplay the parts you're self-conscious about.

So on this page I'll present to you an overview of the most common face shapes, how to determine your face shape along with your best styling tricks with accessories!

Anna, I already know my face shape.
Please take me straight to the styling tips!

How the Wrong Styling Affects Your Face

Because your face is the first thing we notice about a person, the wrong styling for your face shape can easily make people think: "What's up with her face?"

Ever had people say you looked different but they couldn't quite pinpoint change? Maybe you changed your hairstyle, dyed it or tried on a new makeup color? Yes, that's the exactly how "subtle" changes like that can create a new impression of you!

If you want to create a fabulous first impression, it really pays to make sure that you're wearing the right hairstyle and accessories that look good with your face shape.

"It is only at the first encounter that a face makes its full impression on us."
- Arthur Schopenhauer (German philosopher)

Think about it...

An oval face shape is considered ideal because it has the right proportions that make it easier to style.

Have you ever tried to wear a pair of earring or a top, or maybe a new hairstyle and discovered that it just didn't look right?

Maybe your face turned wider, narrower, shorter, longer, etc.?

Or maybe a facial feature such as a pointy chin or a square jawline got more noticeable?

You may have put on something that didn't complement your face shape and its features – and it more than likely accentuated parts you didn't like which highlighted the bits you're not so confident about.

Because just like the shape of your body - what you wear with your face shape can visually alter the silhouette of it or the shape and size of your facial features.

So by understanding the shape and proportions of your face you'll be able to bring out the features you love and downplay the rest.

Ok, enough chit chat, let's get to the bones on how to determine your face shape and explore what accessories and hairstyles you should look for.

Anna, I'm already ready.
Take me straight to the tips for each face shape.

How to Determine Your Face Shape

When determining your facial shape we will need to take an objective look of your front profile.

You'll need:

A big mirror. Big enough to see your whole face and the area from your chest up at least 2-3 feet away from the mirror
Hair clips to pull hair from your face and expose your ears
A top that shows the full length of your neck and chest. I think it's best to do this with a low cut top or even topless. In this way, you’ll avoid fake lines that can alter your face shape (eg. Scoop necks tend to soften and make a face rounder)
Day light. Fake light can emphasize areas of your face and can create shadows that make your facial features smaller

How to do it:

Face your face in front of the mirror. Avoid tilting your head as side profiles can alter your perception of your own face shape (eg. analyzing your face from the side won't always the show the true shape of your jawline and cheekbones).

Keep a relaxed face – avoid smiling as this can make your lower face pointier and longer.

Now look at your face in the mirror and measure yourself:

1. How wide is the widest point of my forehead compared to my jawline?
2. How prominent are my cheekbones compared to my jawline and forehead?
3. Is the widest point of my jawline wider than my forehead?
4. How long is my face?

With the answers to these questions you'll be able to determine the shape of your face (see face shape overview further down this page). A friend or relative can also be the judge.

You may also want to do a tape measurement and write down the numbers - this can help you decide on your face shape by using the length and width in numbers. Have someone to help you with this.

Look at the Bigger Picture

It's not possible to categorize our earth's population in 7 little boxes.

But as explained in the -page, don't get hung up on trying to squeeze yourself in one single category. These are just the general shapes and there are variations of each face shape, but we're focusing more on looking at your face as a whole and improve its proportions.

Learn how to create balance with your face shape and facial features »