Oval Face Shape: How to Tell and What Suits It

How to tell if you have an oval face shape

Pull your hair back and look straight into a mirror, or use a straight-on photo taken at arm’s length. You probably have an oval face if:

1. Your face is longer than it is wide, by roughly half again, but not dramatically so.
2. Your cheekbones are the widest part of your face.
3. Your forehead is slightly wider than your jaw.
4. Your jawline has no sharp corners; it curves into the chin.
5. Your chin is softly rounded, neither pointed nor broad.

To check with a tape, measure your forehead, cheekbones, jaw (corner to corner) and face length (hairline to chin). For an oval face, the length is about one and a half times the cheekbone width, and the three widths step gently down from cheekbones to jaw.

Oval vs oblong vs round

Oval, oblong and round are the three shapes people confuse most often.

If your widths are almost equal and your face is long, you may be oblong. If your face is nearly as wide as it is long, look at round. If your cheekbones are clearly wider than both forehead and jaw, compare with diamond.

For the remaining four shapes and how each one is measured, see the complete face shapes guide.

Best haircuts for an oval face

Because the proportions are balanced, the main question isn’t “what suits my face shape?” but “what suits my hair and my routine?”

Short

• Pixie cuts show off cheekbones and work especially well on oval faces with defined features.
• Chin-length bobs, blunt or textured, frame the jaw without adding width.
• Curly shags work if your hair has natural texture.

Medium

• The lob (a long bob that grazes the collarbone) is one of the easiest cuts for oval faces: it’s flattering straight, wavy or tucked behind the ears.
• Face-framing layers starting at the cheekbones highlight the widest part of the face.

Long

• Long layers keep movement around the face.
• Sleek, middle-parted hair suits an oval face because its symmetry echoes the face shape.
• If your oval face is at the longer end, add waves or volume at the sides rather than height at the crown.

Bangs and parts

Curtain bangs, wispy bangs and side-swept bangs all work. Blunt, heavy bangs also suit oval faces, especially with a bob. Middle and side parts both work, so choose by how your hair falls naturally.

Glasses for an oval face

• Match the widest part of your face. Frames a little wider than your cheekbones look natural; much narrower frames make the face look longer.
• Follow the brow line. A top rim that sits just below the brow and follows its curve keeps things tidy.
• Try any shape: rectangles add structure, round frames soften, cat-eyes lift, and aviators suit oval faces well because their teardrop shape echoes the face.
• Oversized frames can hide the balance of your features if they cover the cheekbones, so choose them only if that’s the look you want.

Eyebrows and makeup for an oval face

Brows: a soft, natural arch that follows your brow bone suits an oval face. Very high, sharp arches can make the face look longer; very straight brows can make it look slightly wider, both of which are fine if that’s your aim.

Contour and blush: oval faces need little contour. A light touch of bronzer just under the cheekbones adds definition, and blush on the apples of the cheeks, blended slightly up toward the temples, keeps it balanced. Highlighter on the top of the cheekbones catches the light at the widest part of the face.

Earrings, necklines and hats for an oval face

• Earrings: studs, hoops, drops and statement earrings all sit well. If your oval face is on the long side, rounder shapes (hoops, buttons, clusters) keep it balanced better than long, linear drops.
• Necklines: crew necks, V-necks, scoop necks, turtlenecks and collared shirts all work. A V-neck adds a little length; a boat neck adds a little width.
• Hats: fedoras, bucket hats, baseball caps, berets and wide-brim hats all suit an oval face. Choose a brim about as wide as your shoulders for large hats so they don’t overwhelm your frame.

Oval face shape for men

Oval is a versatile shape for men too. Classic side parts, textured crops, quiffs and slicked-back styles all work; keep height moderate if your face is at the longer end. Most beard styles suit an oval face, from stubble to a full beard. The face shapes for men guide covers haircuts and beards in more detail.

Myths about oval faces

• “Oval is the ideal face shape.” Stylists use oval as a reference point because it’s balanced, not because it’s better. Styling guides for other shapes aren’t about becoming oval.
• “Everything works, so it doesn’t matter.” Face shape matters less, but hair texture, features and lifestyle still guide good choices.
• “Oval and oblong are the same.” Oblong faces are longer with straighter sides; they suit different cuts.
• “You can tell your shape from a selfie.” Close-up selfies widen the middle of the face. Use a photo from arm’s length or further, or a tape.

Not sure you’re oval? The face shape detector shows your ratios next to the average and your next closest shape.