Heart Face Shape: How to Tell and What Suits It

How to tell if you have a heart face shape

1. Your forehead is broad, either the widest part of your face or about as wide as your cheekbones.
2. Your face narrows clearly from cheekbones to jaw.
3. Your chin is narrow or softly pointed.
4. Your face is a little longer than it is wide.
5. You may have a widow’s peak, a V-shaped point in the hairline at the center of the forehead. It’s common in heart faces but not essential.

If your forehead is noticeably narrower than your cheekbones, you’re more likely diamond; if your jaw is only slightly narrower than your cheekbones, you may be oval.

Heart vs diamond vs oval

• Heart vs diamond: both have a narrow chin. The forehead decides it: wide on a heart face, narrow on a diamond. See diamond.
• Heart vs oval: an oval face tapers gently; a heart face tapers more, with a clearly narrower jaw and a pointed chin. See oval.
• Heart vs triangle: these are opposites. A heart face is widest at the top, a triangle face at the jaw. See triangle.

The full face shapes chart shows heart next to the other six, including triangle, its upside-down opposite.

Hairstyles for a heart-shaped face

The classic approach is to add fullness where the face narrows (around the jaw and chin) and soften the width at the forehead.

Short

• Chin-length bob with volume at the ends: width at jaw level balances a narrow chin.
• Longer pixie with side-swept bangs: the bangs soften the forehead and the length at the sides frames the cheekbones.
• A textured, tousled crop rather than a flat, very short cut.

Medium and long

• The lob, especially with waves or curled-under ends at the collarbone.
• Layers starting at the chin, so the fullest part of the hair sits at the narrowest part of the face.
• Long waves or curls from mid-length down.

Bangs and parts

• Side-swept bangs cut across the forehead diagonally.
• Curtain bangs that open at the center soften a widow’s peak.
• A side part breaks up forehead width; a center part works well with face-framing layers.
• Volume at the crown adds more width at the top, so skip teasing there if you want balance.

Men

Medium length on top with a side part or a textured fringe balances a wider forehead. Avoid very high volume on top; tapered sides that aren’t shaved very close keep width around the face.

By hair type

• Straight hair: a lob that flips out slightly at the ends adds jaw-level width with little styling.
• Wavy hair: encourage waves from the cheekbones down, and keep the roots smooth rather than teased.
• Curly and coily hair: tapered shapes with more volume at the bottom (an A-line or triangle-free shape) fill out the jaw area beautifully.
• Fine hair: chin-length blunt cuts look fuller and put the weight exactly where a heart face narrows.

Glasses for a heart-shaped face

• Bottom-heavy frames, with thicker or more decorated lower rims, add visual width at the jaw.
• Rimless, semi-rimless or light-colored frames keep the forehead area light.
• Round and oval frames soften the taper toward the chin.
• Aviators suit heart faces well because they’re widest at the bottom.
• Frames about as wide as the forehead, not wider, keep proportions balanced.
• Heavy browline or dark top rims add weight up top. Choose them only if you want to emphasize the eye and brow area.

Eyebrows and makeup for a heart-shaped face

Brows: a softly rounded arch suits heart faces. Very angular, high arches add width to the upper face; a gentle curve balances it.

Contour: shade lightly at the outer edges of the forehead and temples to soften width, and add a touch of bronzer under the cheekbones. Skip heavy contour on the chin, which is already narrow.

Blush: blush on the apples of the cheeks, blended slightly outward and down rather than up toward the temples, adds fullness to the lower face.

Lips: because the chin is narrow, the lips are a natural focal point. A bolder lip draws attention to the lower face. The lip shape detector suggests liner and lipstick for your lip shape.

Earrings, necklines and hats for a heart face

• Earrings: earrings that are wider at the bottom, such as chandeliers, teardrops and triangle drops, add fullness near the jaw where the face narrows. Small studs keep the focus on your eyes and cheekbones.
• Necklines: scoop and sweetheart necklines echo the soft taper of the chin; a boat neck widens the shoulder line, which balances a broad forehead.
• Hats: medium-brim hats and fedoras worn slightly tipped work well. Very wide, flat brims can make the forehead area look broader.

Heart face shape for men

For men, a fuller beard around the chin and jaw adds width to the lower face, balancing a broad forehead. A full or extended goatee also works. Keep the sides of the head a little longer rather than skin-faded, so the forehead doesn’t look wider by contrast. See the face shapes for men guide.

Myths about heart faces

• “You need a widow’s peak to have a heart face.” Many heart faces have a straight or rounded hairline.
• “Heart faces can’t wear short hair.” Longer pixies and bobs with texture look great.
• “Heart and inverted triangle are different shapes.” They’re the same idea; heart is the more common name.
• “A narrow chin needs correcting.” It’s a feature, not a problem. Styling can balance it or play it up.

Not sure if you’re heart or diamond? The face shape detector measures your forehead and jaw against your cheekbones.