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Home > Articles > Makeup > Face Shapes How-To or Achieving Your "Best Look"

Face Shapes How-To or Achieving Your "Best Look"


Makeup, Eyebrows and Hairstyle

Posted: January 5th, 2008 @ 11:15am


Face shape is the single most important consideration in getting a flattering look for yourself!

 
We are hard-wired, for survival, to recognize faces from the moment we can see. When we’re older, even if we don’t remember a name we may recognize the face of someone we’ve met before.

 
Since others spend so much time looking at our face it makes sense to present it in the best light possible!  When you know your face shape you can choose your most flattering makeup, eyebrow shape, hairstyles, hats, eyeglasses, sunglasses and earrings.

 
It's hard to be objective about your own face shape, but here's a sure fire way to be sure your not biasing your own analysis. Estheticians, Makeup Artists and Hair designers are the ultimate judges of your face shape, but if you need a little help try this experiment.

 
There are lots of suggestions on how to figure out your shape, from outlining your face shape on a mirror with lipstick to draping it with a towel and asking others to help you guess the shape. But, there is actually a simple way to determine your face shape once and for all.


 
To find the shape of your face, measure it with a tape measure or ruler. 
Take the following measurements.
  1. Measure across the top of your cheekbones. Write down the measurement on a piece of paper.
  2. Measure across the jaw line from the widest point to the widest point. Write down the measurement.
  3. Measure across the forehead at the widest point. Generally the widest point will be somewhere about halfway between the eyebrows and hairline. Write down the measurement.
  4. Measure from the tip of the hairline to the bottom of the chin.
 
 
Still not sure?  Here's a simple test:
 

   
  • Measure the length of your face with a ruler. (In this example we'll imagine the total length of the face is 8).
  • Divide the total length by 3. (In this case 8 divided by 3 is 2.67 or 2 2/3).
  • Measure the length from the bottom of your nose to the bottom of your chin. (in this case 2 1/3),
  • If the last number (the 2 1/3 number) is larger than the first number (the 2 2/3) than chances are you have a long face. 
  • If the last number is less than the first number than chances are you have a round face.
  • If the last number is equal to the first number than chances are you have an oval face.
 
 
Still yet another method to determine your face shape
 
 

   



 
So now you know your face shape, now what?
 
   
  • The same rules apply to putting on makeup as putting on a dress. The goal (for most) is have an hour glass fiqure.
  • The stripes on the left will make someone look wider (if that's what they need).
  • The stripes on the right make a person look thinner (if that's what they need).
Just as stripes on a dress can create an illusion of shape so can makeup, eyebrows and hairstyle.

 

 


 
Basic Face shapes
 
There can always be variations and combinations, but in general, face shapes fall into several categories:
  • Oval - Length equal to one and a half times width.
  • Round - Wide as it is long. This may vary a little but generally the measurement is close.
  • Rectangular - Longer than it is wide.
  • Square - About as wide as it is long.
  • Heart - Narrow at jaw line, wide at cheekbones/and or forehead.
  • Triangular, Pear - Widest at jaw, narrow forehead.
  • Diamond - Widest at cheekbones, narrow forehead and jaw line of approximately equal widths.


 

Oval Faces   

 
        
  • Only slightly narrower at the jaw line than at the temples, with a gently rounded hairline.
  • Forehead is wider than the chin
  • Prominent cheekbones
  • Face gracefully tapers to a narrow oval chin
Makeup 
  • Contour: Sides of jaw and temples
  • Highlight: chin, temples and above cheekbones
  • Blush: On the cheekbone
Eyebrows
  • This is the face shape the others are working to get towards.
  • The brow plays no role in making the face appear "more oval".
  • Selection can be guided by personal taste. (everyone prefers a different look).
Eyeglasses
  • More frames look good with this face shape than any other, as long as the size of the frames is in proportion to the face.
     
Hairstyles
Try
  • A variety of styles . . . most any hair shape looks good on you. Your "perfect" features allow you to wear more styles than any other face shape. Have you ever noticed the majority of models fall into this shape? Have you noticed how many different hair styles they can wear?
  • You can wear short, medium and long hair styles. Your face shape is well "balanced" or in even proportion. You will look best when styling your hair off your face. Most oval face shapes can wear slicked-backed looks as well.
Avoid
  • Covering up your "perfect" features with heavy bangs, or too forward-directed styles.
  • In wearing your hair style on your face, you'll lose your face shape behind the hair. It may appear to add weight to your face.

Celebrities with oval faces:
Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Mariah Carey, Cindy Crawford, Jewel, Heather Locklear, Sharon Stone, Uma Thurman, Julia Roberts, Courtney Cox Arquette, Elle MacPherson, Tyra Banks

 
 
Round Faces   

 
      
  • Full-looking face with a round chin and hairline. Widest point is at the cheeks and ears.
  • Face is almost as wide as it is long
  • Face is widest at the cheeks
Makeup  
  • Contour: Sides of jaw, temples and neck
  • Highlight: Centre of nose, centre of cheeks, chin and forehead
  • Blush: Just under the cheekbones
Eyebrows   
  • To make a round face appear oval one should apply lines that go up the face. This draws the eye more up and down and stops it from going side to side.
  • A high arched brow accomplishes this.
  • The peak is best moved out towards the end of the brow. This lets the lines of the brow go up and down as much as possible. The tail should therefore be short.
Eyeglasses
  • To play down the roundness, select frames with straight or angular lines.
  • Deep color such as black or tortoise also minimizes fullness.
Hairstyles
Try
  • Hair styles with fullness and height at the crown.
  • Off center parts.
  • Short hair styles with a swept-back direction or hair styles that are longer than chin length. By layering the top to achieve fullness and keeping the rest of the cut relatively close to the face, your face shape will appear longer and narrower.
Avoid
  • Chin length hair with a rounded line that mirrors face’s circular shape.
  • Center parts.
  • Short-short crops, straight "chopped" bangs.
  • Fullness at side of ears.
  • A rounded haircut ending at the chin will certainly add weight to your face shape.
  • Because the widest part of your face is at the cheeks and ears, you need to avoid having the fullness of the cut here as it will make your face appear wider.
Celebrities with round faces:
Ingrid Bergman, Roseanne Barr, Kate Winslet, Natalie Merchant, Drew Barrymore, Christina Ricci, Charlotte Church




Rectangular Faces      
 
      
  • About the same width at forehead and just below cheekbones.
  • May have a very narrow chin or a very high forehead.
  • Forehead, cheekbones and jaw line are all about the same width
  • Can tend to have a prominent chin has an elongated appearance
Makeup
  • Contour: Forehead by hairline, lower cheeks, chin
  • Highlight: Above cheekbones and temples
  • Blush: On the cheekbones
Eyebrows
  • To make a long face appear oval one should apply horizontal lines to the face. This draws the eye from side to side and stops it from going up and down.
  • A flat brow stops the eye from going up the face.
Eyeglasses
  • Frames should cover as much of the center of the face as possible in order to minimize the length.
Hairstyles
Try
  • Short to medium lengths.
  • Fullness at the sides of your face will add width to the look of your face shape.
  • Soft wispy bangs. You'll want to balance the look of a long and slender face. Soft wispy bangs will shorten the appearance of the length. 
  • By cutting the hair into a short or medium length, the outline of the cut will also shorten the look of the length of the face.
  • Layers work great with your face shape, as they will add softness to the straight lines in your face.
  • Try side parts, and you may be able to wear straight back styles.
Avoid
  • To much hair length . . . your face will look even longer!
  • Too much height lengthens your face.
  • Center parts.
  • When your hair gets past your shoulders there is a good chance it is doing you more harm than good.
  • The models with rectangular face shapes and long hair, get by with it only because they have a "on call" hairdresser who is busy primping and teasing, setting and styling to add fullness to the hair
Celebrities with rectangular faces:
Gwyneth Paltrow, Kirstie Alley, Janet Jackson, Gabrielle Reece, Niki Taylor, Stephanie Seymour




Square  Faces  
     
      
  • A strong, square jaw line and usually an equally square hairline.
  • Forehead, cheekbones and jaw line all about the same width
  • Squared jaw line is the most obvious feature
Makeup
  • Contour: Sides of jaw and temples
  • Highlight: Centre of nose, centre of cheeks and chin
  • Blush: On the sides of cheekbones
Eyebrows
  • Strong angled eyebrows balance a strong jaw line.
  • The peak of the brow is most effective when directly above the square of the jaw.
Eyeglasses
  • Compliment a square face with frames that are slightly curved.
  • The top of the frames should sit high enough on the face to downplay the jawline.
Hairstyles
Try
  • Short-to-medium length hair, especially with wave or roundness around the face.
  • Wispy bangs.
  • Off-center parts, height at the crown.
  • You want to soften the square look of your face with layers and wispy looks around the face.
  • Height at the crown will elongate your symmetrical shape.
  • If your hair is straight you may want to consider a body wave, as some curl or wave to the hair will achieve a nice balance to the straight features of your face shape.
  • You can wear a layered bob, however it should end above or below the jaw line.
  • Make sure in styling that you achieve some roundness to the shape and some height at the crown or bangs, and you will be on the right track.
Avoid
  • Long straight styles that accentuate square jawbone.
  • "Linear" straight bangs or center parts.
  • A straight bob ending at the jaw line is the wrong thing to do for your face shape. 
Celebrities with square faces:
Kristin Scott, Thomas Holly, Marie Combs, Sandra Bullock, Demi Moore, Isabella Rosellini




Heart shaped Faces    
   
   
  • Face is wide at the temples and hairline, narrowing to a small delicate chin.
  • Similar to oval but the chin tapers to a point.
Makeup
  • Contour: Temples and chin
  • Highlight: Lower cheeks on jaw line
  • Blush: On the cheekbones
Eyebrows
  • A rounded shape helps by adding curves to soften the face and emphasizes the lovely heart shape.
Hairstyles
Try
  • Chin-length or longer styles.
  • Side-parted hair styles.
  • Swept-forward layers around the upper face, gently wispy bangs.
  • A chin length bob is great on your face shape! This creates a balanced look by giving fullness where you need it. You can wear shorter styles, however, if you are a dramatic heart shape you need to leave weight in the back nape area. This will achieve more balance between your dramatic cheekbones and more narrowing chin.
  • Just remember if you have a dramatic heart shape face, you have great cheekbones to emphasize!
Avoid
  • Short, full styles that emphasize upper face.
  • Height at the crown.
  • Severe, slicked back looks.
  • If you are a dramatic heart shape, the short full styles with tapered necklines which emphasize the upper face will make you look top heavy.
  • Too much height at the crown will give the appearance of a longer and narrower chin. 
Celebrities with square faces:
Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Claudia Schiffer, Emmanuaell Beart, Juliette Binoche, Lisa Kudrow, Lucy Lawless, Naomi Campbell




Triangular, Pear shaped Faces   
 
       
  • A dominant jaw line with narrowing at the cheek bone and temples.
Makeup
  • Contour: Sides of jaw and neck
  • Highlight: Centre of nose, centre of cheeks, temples
  • Blush: At the very side of the cheekbones
Eyeglasses
  • Frames with a thin rim and vertical lines will help balance the bottom part of the face.
  • Frames should not sit too high on the face.
  • Avoid large frames, heavy nose bridges, bold colors and square shapes.
Hairstyles
Try
  • Shorter hair that balances prominent jaw line.
  • Styles that are full at the temples, taper at the jaw.
  • Off center parts.
  • Wedges and shags look great on you.
  • You need lots of layers to achieve fullness through the upper part of your face. By wearing styles which are full at the temples and taper at the jaw line, you achieve a balance which can be remarkable, in accenting features otherwise understated.
  • Try tucking hair behind your ears as this will draw attention to your eyes and add width in this area.
Avoid
  • Long, full hair styles that draw attention to jaw line. Center parts—off-center is more flattering.
  • Too much height at the crown. You want to stay away from putting most of the weight of a haircut at the jaw line and below. This will give the appearance of added weight to the face.
  • If going with long hair, it should be kept tight at the nape.
Celebrity with triangular shaped face:
Kathy Ireland




Diamond  Faces
 
      
  • A cross between heart and a dramatic oval. Widest at the cheekbones, and narrow equally at the forehead and jaw line.
  • Not as common as the other face shapes typically the face is highly angular the forehead is somewhat short the face is widest at the temples
Makeup
  • Contour: Sides of jaw, temples and neck
  • Highlight: Centre of nose, centre of cheeks, chin and forehead
  • Blush: Just under the cheekbones
Eyebrows
  • A rounded brow softens an angular face or
  • A peaked brow helps to narrow the width of the typical diamond wide face.
Hairstyles
Try
  • Your face shape is balanced and dramatic. Try a variety of styles. Almost everything works with your face (as long as you are a true diamond).
  • You can wear shorter styles, however if you are a dramatic diamond shape you need to leave weight in the back nape area like a heart shaped face. This will achieve more balance between your dramatic cheekbones and more delicate chin line.
Avoid
  • You can do just about everything, but try not too wear to much hair on your face, thereby hiding your great features.
Celebrities with diamond shaped faces:
Katherine Hepburn, Linda Evangelista, Sophia Loren

 




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