How to determine what kind of face shape you have

Determining your face shape can be crucial, especially if you’re on the fence about committing to that chic new hairstyle. Knowing your face shape can also be the deciding factor in buying those cat-eye sunglasses you saw online.

Here’s our easy guide to help you figure out what your face shape is.

Measure your face

A good first step is to understand what the widest part of your face is. Pick up a measuring tape, open a notebook or the notes app on your phone -- here’s how to do it:

Pull your hair back and get ready to measure your forehead. This can be done by measuring across your forehead, from hairline to hairline. Now, measure your cheekbones. This time, you’ll go from your hairline above your cheekbones to the exact spot on the other side of your face.

Don’t forget your jawline. Measure from underneath your ears, to the middle of your chin, and underneath your other ear. Finally, you’ll want to measure your face length. Start at the centre of your hairline, and measure down your face, until you reach the tip of your chin.

Understanding face shapes

Once your measurements are done, you’re all set. It’s time to figure out what your face shape is!

Diamond face shape

Are your cheekbones the widest part of your face? Do your jawline and forehead match in width? Is your chin pointed? Do you have a narrow hairline?

If this describes you, you have a diamond face shape. You’re the perfect candidate for big, beachy waves.

You’re in the company of celebrities like Megan Fox, Halle Berry, and Jennifer Lopez!

Heart face shape

Is your forehead the widest part of your face? Is your chin pointed? Do you have a widow’s peak?

Granted, a widow’s peak isn’t always a given, as some people without a widow’s peak can also have this face shape. Still, two out of three probably means you have a heart face shape!

Eva Longoria, Reese Witherspoon, and Naomi Campbell all share this face shape.

Oval face shape

Is your forehead wider than your chin -- but only by the tiniest bit? Do you have a high forehead? Is your face longer than its width?

If you’ve answered yes to all these questions, you have an oval face shape. The oval face shape is often deemed the most versatile face shape, so you can pull off practically any hairstyle!

Your celebrity face shape doppelgängers are Courtney Cox, Cindy Crawford, and the indomitable Beyoncé.

Rectangular face shape

Is your jaw a similar width to your cheekbones and your forehead? Is your face longer than it is wide? Does your chin curve, but only slightly?

If you can relate to this, you have a rectangular face shape. This is sometimes referred to as the oblong face shape.

Celebrity style icons with rectangular face shapes are Sandra Bullock, Lucy Liu, and Victoria Beckham.

Round face shape

Are your cheekbones the widest part of your face? Do you have softer facial angles, and a rounded chin? Is your forehead rounded at your hairline?

If that description fits you, you have a round face shape. You can pull off any mid-length hairstyle and a great smoky eye!

You’re in excellent company -- Chrissy Teigen, Selena Gomez, and Kate Middleton all have round face shapes, too.

Square face shape

Are the sides of your face straight? Is your jawline square? Are your jawline, cheekbones, and forehead all similar in measurements?

If that sounds like you, you have a square face shape.

Like Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, and Rosario Dawson, strong eyebrows will look phenomenal on you.