How the face shape detector works
When you take or upload a photo, the page loads a small face-mapping model that runs in your browser. It finds several hundred points around your eyes, nose, jaw, and the outline of your face. The detector then takes four measurements from those points: face length, forehead width, cheekbone width, and jaw width. It also measures the angle at the corners of your jaw, since a sharp corner and a rounded one can give the same width.
Your shape comes from comparing those numbers. A face that's much longer than it is wide reads as oblong. One where all three widths are about equal is square or round, depending on the jaw angle. If the forehead is clearly the widest part it's heart, if the cheekbones are, it's diamond, and if the jaw is, it's a triangle. The colored lines drawn on your photo are the actual measurements used, so you can check them against what you see in the mirror.
Before measuring, it checks that your head isn't tilted or turned and that your face is big enough in the frame. If a photo fails those checks, it tells you why instead of guessing.
The 7 face shapes and how to recognize each
In each diagram, the solid copper line is the widest part of the face. Where every line is solid, the widths are about equal.
Oval face
A little longer than it is wide, with a forehead slightly wider than the jaw and a softly rounded chin. The proportions are already balanced, so you have the most room to experiment.
Taper: Any height. Pick it for the amount of contrast you like, not to correct anything.
Round face
Length and width are close to equal, the cheeks are full, and the jaw curves rather than turning a corner.
Taper: Mid or high. Tighter sides make the face read narrower and the top longer.
Square face
Forehead, cheekbones, and jaw are about the same width, and the jaw has a clear corner below the ear.
Taper: Low or mid. It keeps the strong outline without turning the head into a box.
Oblong face
Clearly longer than it is wide, with the forehead, cheeks, and jaw at similar widths. Sometimes called a rectangle face.
Taper: Low. Keeping some weight on the sides stops the face from looking longer.
Heart face
The forehead is the widest part and the face narrows down to a smaller jaw and a pointed or narrow chin.
Taper: Low or mid, so some fullness stays lower on the sides to balance the jaw.
Diamond face
The cheekbones are the widest point, with a narrower forehead and a narrower jaw. Less common and often mistaken for oval.
Taper: Low or mid. Don't take the sides tight right at cheekbone level.
Triangle face
The jaw is wider than the forehead. Also called a pear shape.
Taper: Mid or high, with volume on top to widen the upper half.
How to measure your face shape by hand
If you'd rather not use a photo, or want to double-check the result, a soft tape measure and a mirror work fine. It takes about two minutes.
- Stand in front of a mirror with your hair pulled back, and have a soft tape measure ready.
- Measure your forehead across its widest point, roughly halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline.
- Measure across your cheekbones, from the outer edge just below one eye to the same point on the other side.
- Measure your jawline from the tip of your chin to the corner of your jaw below the ear, then double it.
- Measure your face length from the center of your hairline down to the tip of your chin.
- Compare the four numbers: which width is largest, and how the length compares with the cheekbone width.
Then read the numbers. If the length is clearly the biggest measurement and the widths are close, you're oblong. If the length and cheekbone width are within an inch or so of each other, you're round or square, and the jaw decides which. If one width stands out, it points to heart (forehead), diamond (cheekbones), or triangle (jaw). If your face is a bit longer than it is wide and tapers gently to the chin, you're oval.
If your hairline has receded or you shave your head, measure from where your forehead starts to curve back, and use that same point every time. Moving it even half an inch changes how long your face reads.
Best taper fades for each face shape
A taper changes how wide the sides of your head look, and the top adds or removes height. Put together, they can make a face read longer, shorter, wider, or narrower. These are common starting points, not rules.
| Face shape | Taper height | Top styles to try | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oval | Any height | Textured crop, Comb over, Quiff | Taper fade guide |
| Round | Mid or high | Quiff, Faux hawk, Textured top with height | High taper fade guide |
| Square | Low or mid | Textured crop, Comb over, Crew cut | Low taper fade guide |
| Oblong | Low | Textured fringe, Middle part or curtains, Medium top kept fairly flat | Low taper fade guide |
| Heart | Low or mid, so some fullness stays lower on the sides to balance the jaw | Textured fringe, Side-swept top, Medium, messy top | Mid taper fade guide |
| Diamond | Low or mid | Textured fringe, Longer top with movement, Middle part | Mid taper fade with a middle part |
| Triangle | Mid or high, with volume on top to widen the upper half | Quiff, Pompadour, Textured top with height | High taper fade guide |
Face shape is one input, not a rule. Your hair's texture and density, where it grows thick or thin, cowlicks, and the shape of the back of your head all change how a taper sits. A good barber looks at all of them, which is why the same cut can look different on two people with the same face shape.
If you're deciding between heights, the low vs high taper fade comparison shows the same cut at both heights side by side. Once you've settled on one, the barber brief generator turns it into instructions for your barber.
Why your result might be off
Most wrong results come from the photo, not the face. Hair over the forehead hides where the face actually starts, so the length comes out short and the shape drifts toward round. A full beard replaces your jawline with the beard's outline. Glasses can cover the points used for the cheekbone width.
The camera matters too. Phones held close to the face stretch the middle of the picture, which makes cheeks look wider than they are. Tipping your chin up shortens the face and tipping it down lengthens it. For the best read, prop the phone at eye level about an arm's length away, pull your hair back, and look straight at the lens with a relaxed face.
Your privacy
The detector runs entirely in your browser. The face model and the code that runs it are downloaded from our site once, and after that your photo is processed on your device. It isn't uploaded to our server, isn't sent to any third party, and isn't stored anywhere when you close or leave the page.
If you use the camera, the browser asks your permission first, and the camera turns off as soon as the photo is taken. If we ever measure how the tool is used, it will only be which face shape was shown, so we can see how often people correct the result. The photo and the measurements of your face are never recorded. More detail is in our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell my face shape from a photo?
Take a straight-on photo with your hair off your face, then compare four things: forehead width, cheekbone width, jaw width, and face length. The widest of the three widths, and how long your face is compared with it, decides the shape. The detector above does this automatically and draws the lines on your photo.
Is this face shape detector accurate?
Treat it as a starting point, not a precise measurement. The face mapping is solid, but the rules that turn measurements into a shape are general guidelines rather than something tested against a large labeled photo set, and hair over the forehead, a full beard, camera angle, and lens distortion all shift the result. Face shape is also partly a judgment call, and people often sit between two shapes. If the result feels wrong, try another photo or pick the shape yourself.
Is my photo uploaded or saved?
No. The photo is read and measured inside your browser, on your own device. It's never sent to our server or anyone else's, and nothing is stored after you leave the page. Neither the photo nor the measurements of your face are recorded anywhere.
Which face shape is the easiest to style?
Oval is usually the easiest, because its proportions are already balanced. Most tapers, fades, and top styles work on it. That doesn't make other shapes harder to style well. It just means the choice of taper height and top matters a bit more, which is what the recommendations here are for.
What haircut suits a round face?
Cuts that add height and keep the sides tight. A mid or high taper fade with a quiff, faux hawk, or textured top with some lift makes a round face look longer and more defined. Avoid flat, rounded tops and bulky sides, which repeat the round outline instead of breaking it up.
What haircut suits an oval face?
Almost any. With balanced proportions, you can choose by the look you like: a low taper with a textured crop, a mid taper with a comb over, or a buzz cut all work. The one thing to go easy on is a heavy fringe that hides the whole forehead, since it removes the balance you have.
Can a beard change my face shape result?
Yes. A beard hides the real jawline, so the detector measures the beard's outline instead. A full, boxy beard can make an oval face read as square, and a pointed beard can push a result toward heart or diamond. For the most accurate read, use a clean-shaven photo if you have one.
Why do I get different results from different photos?
Small changes add up. A phone held close to your face makes the middle of the face look wider, tilting your chin changes the face length, and hair on the forehead hides the top. Use a photo taken from arm's length or farther, at eye level, with your face straight on and your hair pulled back.