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How to compliment your face shape.
The shape of your face is something that you may not have put much thought into before. It can however have a big impact when it comes to styling and accessorising.
Certain hairstyles, makeup choices, glasses frames and earrings can look better when matched with certain face shapes. Below is a guide to face shapes - and how you can compliment your face shape.
Types of face shape
Below are the eight main types of face shape:
Round shape: With this face shape, the forehead and cheeks are equal width. The cheeks are prominent but are rounded with little cheekbone definition.
Square shape: Like a round face, square faces are as wide as they are long, but tend to have a more angular shape. Cheeks aren’t very prominent and the sides of the face tend to be more straight.
Oblong shape: In this case, the forehead and lower face are the same shape and have a rounded appearance similar to a round face, but with long straight sides.
Oval shape: The oval shape tends to be the most common and easy-to-work-with face shape. It is rounded but with long sides.
Rectangle shape: The rectangle shape is similar to an oblong shape, but with much more angular features.
Diamond shape: This face shape is widest at the cheekbones – the chin and forehead are narrower creating a diamond shape.
Triangle shape: A wide forehead, prominent cheekbones and a narrower chin can form a triangle shape.
Heart shape: This is similar to a triangle shape, except the hairline forms more of a heart shape. This can make the forehead appear larger.
This guide here can help you to work out your face shape if you are not sure which category you fall into. By knowing your face shape, you can learn to accentuate your best features.
Hairstyles
Ever wondered why a certain hairstyle doesn’t work on you, but looks great on other people? While your hair type can have a big impact on the types of hairstyle you can get away with, your face shape is also an important factor to consider. Certain hairstyles may be perfect for framing your face, while others may not be so flattering.
For instance, curly and wavy hairstyles can be great for softening more angular face shapes such as square, rectangle, diamond and triangle shapes. Such faces can also work well with more rounded hairstyles like bobs.
Meanwhile more straight cuts could help to take away some of the roundness from round, oblong and oval face shapes. Blunt bobs can also work well with this face shape due to their square look.
Side-swept fringes may help to draw attention away from a square jaw and put more emphasis on the cheekbones. If you have a square or rectangle face shape, this could be something to consider.
Bobs and lobs meanwhile can help to contrast face shapes with narrow chins such as triangle, diamond and heart shapes.
If you have a narrow forehead as is the case with a diamond shape, tying the hair back into a ponytail could help to make the forehead appear wider. Fringes are meanwhile a better option for disguising large foreheads (as in the case with heart shaped faces).
Short hairstyles and long hairstyles can work on all face shapes. Just make sure to choose more angular cuts to contrast rounder faces and more rounder cuts to contrast more angular faces.
A stylist will be able to help you find that perfect hairstyle - it could be worth trying out a number of different styles with a stylist to see what works. Remember that your hair can also be used to accentuate many other features - dying it a certain colour may be able to bring out your eye colour or contrast your skin tone.
Makeup
Many of us use makeup to accentuate our best features and conceal our least favourite features. However, few of us consider our face shape when applying make-up.
The cheekbones may be one of the more obvious examples of where make-up can be used to flatter one’s face shape. For example, if you have a round or oval face, adding bronzer to your cheeks is often a great way to bring more definition to your cheekbones.
Constrastingly, if you’ve already got prominent cheekbones (as is the case with triangle, heart and particularly diamond shapes), a softer blush may be a better choice for your cheeks.
When it comes to eyeliner, consider complimenting oblong and rectangular face shapes with more angular eyeliner, while sticking to softer rounded styles with round and square face shapes.
Oval shapes tend to be more versatile - you can pretty much apply eyeliner in any fashion to these face shapes.
When it comes to lipsticks, choose more harmonious colours when trying to draw attention away from your lower face (for instance if you want to draw attention away from an overly square or pointed jaw).
A make-up artist can help you find a look that perfectly compliments your face shape if you are unsure of what works. Alternatively, you could try simply experimenting with different looks at home.
Eyewear
Wear glasses? Or perhaps you’re wondering what the best shape of shades is for your face? Certain shapes of eyewear can also work better with certain shapes of face.
Square frames for instance are often better complimented with round and oval faces. Their angular shape will help to contrast the roundness of your face.
Round and circular frames are meanwhile better complimented with square and rectangle face shapes. Their roundness works well with more angular face types.
If you have a heart face shape, bottom-heavy frames may be a better choice. These will contrast the narrower bottom half your face.
If you have a diamond or triangle face shape, top heavy cat-eye shapes can work well at complimenting the cheekbones (this is one case where’s it’s better to match the face shape).
You can go here to compare a range of different frame shapes. If you’re not sure as to the shape of your face, it could be worth going to an optician’s store and trying different frames in the mirror. Alternatively, you could try playing with AR apps that allow you to virtually try out different shapes of glasses.
Earrings
Different shapes of earrings can also be used to help frame your face.
For instance, if you have a round face, opt for drop or dangle earrings - these will contrast the roundness of your face and potentially make it look slimmer.
As for square faces, consider more rounded earring designs. This could include hoop earrings, button earrings and circular earrings.
Chandelier and teardrop earrings meanwhile can be great for contrasting top-heavy face shapes such as triangle shapes.
For long and narrow face types, avoid long dangling earrings - instead consider short dangles, hoops or studs.
Earrings can also be used to accentuate other aspects of your appearance - for instance, certain colours could be used to bring out the tone in your eyes, while certain metals can be contrasted with your skin.
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