Round Face Shape: How to Tell and What Suits It

How to tell if you have a round face shape

1. Length and width are similar. Measured hairline to chin and across the cheeks, your face is close to as wide as it is long.
2. Your cheeks are the widest point, often with fullness in the lower cheek.
3. Your forehead and jaw are similar in width, slightly narrower than your cheeks.
4. Your jawline is soft, with no clear corners.
5. Your chin is rounded rather than pointed or broad and flat.

Round is about proportion, not weight. People of every build have round faces, and face shape can look slightly different as weight changes.

What does having a round face mean?

A round face shape describes your outline only: similar length and width with soft curves. It’s often linked with a youthful look, but it says nothing about personality, health or weight. Round faces are also among the easiest to restyle: height at the crown, a side part or angular frames add length quickly if you want it.

Round vs oval vs square

• Round vs oval: both have soft curves, but an oval face is clearly longer than it is wide. If your face is only slightly longer than wide, you sit between the two: advice for both will suit you. See oval.
• Round vs square: both are about as long as they are wide. The difference is the jaw: square faces have defined corners and a broader, flatter chin; round faces curve. See square.
• Round vs heart: a heart face tapers noticeably from a wide forehead to a narrow chin; a round face stays full all the way down. See heart.

Round is one of seven shapes, and the face shapes overview compares them all in one table.

What hairstyle suits a round face?

Whether to add length is your call: round faces also look great in soft, full styles that lean into their shape. If you do want a longer, slimmer look, these work well:

Short

• Textured pixie with height on top: lift at the crown and shorter sides add length.
• Asymmetric bob: one side longer than the other breaks up the horizontal line.
• A-line bob that’s longer at the front than the back, ending below the chin.

Medium and long

• Long layers starting below the chin keep volume away from the widest part of the face.
• The long lob grazing the collarbone, worn with a side part.
• Loose waves from mid-length down, rather than volume at cheek level.

Are bangs good for round faces?

Yes, when they fall at an angle or past the cheekbones. Short, blunt bangs add width instead, so wear those for the look rather than to lengthen. A side part helps too.

• Side-swept bangs create a diagonal line that lengthens.
• Curtain bangs that part in the center and fall past the cheekbones frame the face vertically.
• A deep side part adds asymmetry, which reads as length.
• Short, blunt bangs add width. Wear them if you love them, but they won’t lengthen.

Men

A quiff, pompadour or textured crop with height on top and shorter sides adds length. A side part works well; very short, round buzz cuts follow the round shape.

What glasses shape is best for a round face?

• Go angular. Rectangular, square, geometric and upswept cat-eye frames contrast with soft curves.
• Choose width wisely. Frames slightly wider than your cheeks make the face look narrower; frames narrower than your face make it look wider.
• Pick a clear or thin bridge, which makes eyes look wider set and the face slimmer.
• Look for a strong top line, such as a browline or a slightly thicker top rim, which draws the eye up.
• Round frames echo the face shape. Choose them if you want a soft, vintage look rather than contrast.

Eyebrows for a round face

A brow with a higher arch and a defined peak adds vertical lift. Set the peak roughly above the outer edge of your iris, and keep the tail slightly shorter and lifted rather than long and flat. Very rounded, low brows repeat the face’s curves.

Contour and makeup for a round face

Contour is optional. If you enjoy it:

• Shade in a diagonal line from just below the cheekbone toward the corner of the mouth, stopping about level with the outer eye. Soft shading along the sides of the forehead and under the jaw adds definition.
• Highlight down the center: the middle of the forehead, the bridge of the nose and the chin. A vertical line of light lengthens.
• Blush placed slightly above the apples and swept up toward the temples lifts; blush on the center of the apples adds roundness.

The undertone test helps you pick contour and blush shades that match your skin.

Earrings, necklines and hats for a round face

• Earrings: long, linear drops and angular shapes (bars, triangles, rectangles) draw the eye down and add length. Large round hoops and buttons repeat the face’s curves; wear them if you like the soft look.
• Necklines: V-necks, open collars and long pendant necklaces create a vertical line. Crew necks and chokers add width at the base of the face.
• Hats: structured hats with some height in the crown, like fedoras, trilbies and high-crown caps, lengthen the face. Round, close-fitting hats like cloches follow the curve of the face.

Round face shape for men

Beards are the most effective tool for men who want a longer look: keep the sides of the beard short and let it grow a little longer at the chin, which extends the face downward. A short boxed beard or a goatee both work. Very full sides add width. More in the face shapes for men guide.

Myths about round faces

• “Round faces can’t wear short hair.” Short cuts with height on top suit round faces well.
• “You need to contour a round face.” It’s entirely optional.
• “A round face means you need to lose weight.” Face shape comes mostly from bone structure. Round faces are common at every weight.
• “Round faces look younger, so they age badly.” Face shape doesn’t decide how anyone ages.

Unsure whether you’re round, oval or square? The face shape detector compares all seven shapes and shows your runner-up.