Face Shape Detector

How face shape is determined

Face shape comes down to four measurements and how they compare. Stylists have used the same ones for decades, and they are what this face shape detector measures on your photo:

1. Forehead width, across the widest part of the forehead, roughly halfway between the brows and the hairline.
2. Cheekbone width, across the highest points of the cheekbones, just below the outer corners of the eyes.
3. Jaw width, from one corner of the jaw (below the ear) to the other.
4. Face length, from the middle of the hairline to the tip of the chin.

Two more things matter, and they are harder to put a number on: the jaw angle (a sharp corner below the ear or a smooth curve) and the chin (rounded, pointed or broad).

The shape is simply the pattern those make. A face that is as wide as it is long with soft angles reads as round. Add a straight, angular jaw and it reads as square. Stretch the same proportions out and it becomes oblong. Narrow the jaw and chin under a wider forehead and you get a heart.

How this face shape detector works

Everything happens in your browser. The photo is not sent to a server for this free tool.

• A face model finds 478 points on your face. It is the same kind of face landmark model used by video-call effects, running on your device. From those points we take the edges of your forehead, cheekbones and jaw, and the tip of your chin.
• A second model finds your hairline. It separates hair from skin, so the face length runs from where your hair actually starts, not from a guess. If your hairline is hidden by a fringe or a hat, we estimate it and tell you so.
• We remove head roll. If your head is tilted to one side, the measurements are rotated back to level before we compare them.
• We check the photo. If you are turned away from the camera, or the phone was too close, the result is less reliable and we say so instead of pretending otherwise.
• We compare your proportions with all seven shapes and show the two that fit best, with the reason for each. We do not show a percentage: one photo cannot support that kind of precision, and a close second is often just as useful.

You then see your photo with the four measurements drawn on it, in the same colors as the guides on this page, so you can check the result with your own eyes.

The 7 face shapes at a glance

Each shape links to a full guide with haircuts for women and men, glasses frames, brows, beard styles and contour placement.

How to take a photo that gives a reliable result

Phone selfies are convenient, but they are not neutral. These five habits make the biggest difference:

• Arm's length, not closer. A phone held close to the face acts like a wide-angle lens: it makes the center of the face bigger and the sides smaller, so faces read longer and narrower than they are. Hold the phone at arm's length, or prop it up and use the timer.
• Phone at eye level. Shooting from below makes the jaw look wider and the forehead smaller. Shooting from above does the opposite.
• Look straight ahead. Even a small turn of the head hides one side of the jaw. Keep your chin level, not tucked or raised.
• Hair off the face. Tie it back or tuck it behind your ears so the forehead, temples and jawline are visible. A fringe hides your hairline, which changes the face length.
• Neutral expression. A big smile widens the cheeks and changes the jaw line.

Glasses can stay on if you need them, but they can hide the outer edge of the cheekbones. Even light from a window helps the face model find the edges.

Measuring by hand: the tape measure method

If you would rather not use a photo, the manual method works well, and it is what the "pick by measuring" option in the tool walks you through.

Stand in front of a mirror with your hair pulled back. Use a soft tape measure, or hold a ruler against the mirror. You can also put a strip of paper against your face, mark the edges with a pencil and measure the paper afterward. Take the four measurements above and write them down.

Then compare them:

• Which width is the largest? Forehead points toward heart, cheekbones toward oval or diamond, jaw toward triangle. If all three are within about a centimeter of each other, think round, square or oblong.
• How does the length compare with the cheekbone width? About the same suggests round or square. Around one and a half times suggests oval, heart or diamond. More than that suggests oblong.
• What does the jaw look like? Soft and curved, or straight with a clear corner?

Do not worry about precision. Most people land between two shapes, and the advice for neighboring shapes overlaps a lot.

Common mistakes when finding your face shape

• Using a close-up selfie. The most common cause of a wrong answer. Close photos read as oblong or oval far more often than the face really is.
• Measuring with hair down. Hair on the sides hides the jaw corners and makes the face look longer. A fringe hides the hairline and makes it look shorter.
• Confusing the jaw with the chin. Jaw width is measured at the corners below the ears, not at the chin.
• Expecting a perfect match. Face shapes are reference outlines, not boxes. Two close results, such as oval and oblong or round and square, are normal and useful: read both guides and keep the advice that overlaps.
• Treating the result as a judgment. No shape is better than another. Face shape is a styling tool: it tells you which haircut, frame or brow shape will balance your proportions if you want them balanced. You are free to ignore it.
• Testing in a beauty filter. Filters and "portrait" modes reshape faces. Turn them off before you take the photo.

What to do with your face shape

Your face shape is most useful in three places:

• Haircuts. The main lever. Volume and length can add width where a face is narrow and length where it is short. Each guide shows cuts for women and men, with illustrations, plus the ones to think twice about.
• Glasses. Frames work best when they contrast with the face's dominant lines and match the width of the face at the cheekbones.
• Brows and beard. A brow arch or a beard shape can add or soften angles, and a beard can change the apparent length of the face.

If you want advice that goes beyond shape, such as your hair texture, your current cut and your brows, the free AI glow-up analysis uses your photo to pick a haircut and preview it on you.