Oval Face Shape

Length vs width

A bit longer than wide

Widest part

Across the cheekbones

Jawline

Rounded and soft, a little narrower than the forehead

Chin

Rounded

• Measure face length from the hairline to the tip of the chin, then cheekbone width from the outer corner of one cheekbone to the other. On an oval face, length comes out a little greater than the width, without the face looking long.
• Compare forehead and jaw: the forehead is a touch wider, but the gap is small. If the forehead is clearly the broadest line, look at the heart page.
• Run a finger along your jaw from ear to chin. It should feel like one smooth curve with no corner below the ear.
• Check the chin in a side-lit photo. A rounded tip, neither pointed nor squared off, fits this shape.
• Few faces match any one outline exactly. If you sit between oval and round or oval and oblong, read both pages; a change in weight, or the softening that comes with age, can tip a close call either way.

• Among oval face shape hairstyles, a blunt bob at chin length is the easiest win: the straight hem echoes your jaw curve without widening it.
• Curtain bangs parted in the center and brushed toward the cheekbones draw attention to your widest, most flattering point.
• A long layered cut with face-framing pieces starting at the cheekbone keeps length balanced and adds movement for straight hair.
• Slicked-back ponytails and tight buns work because there is nothing to hide; pull the hair cleanly off the hairline to show the full outline.
• A shaggy shoulder-length cut with choppy ends suits wavy and curly textures and keeps volume level at the sides.
• Pixie cuts with a slightly longer fringe show off cheekbones and jaw at once, and suit fine hair that struggles to hold volume.

Hairstyles to avoid

• Very tall volume at the crown, like a high teased pouf, can push your proportions toward oblong.
• Heavy, straight-across bangs cut below the brows hide your forehead curve and shorten the face more than it needs.
• Hair worn flat and pulled forward over both cheeks covers the cheekbones, which are your best feature.

Men's haircuts

• A textured quiff with short sides suits you; keep the top at about 5 to 8 cm so the face stays balanced.
• Classic side-part cuts with a tapered nape look neat and work for office settings.
• A buzz cut is a safe option, since your skull and jaw lines are already even.
• Medium-length swept-back hair, around ear length, works if your hair has natural wave.

Beard styles

• Light stubble kept at 3 to 5 mm defines the jaw without changing its proportions.
• A short boxed beard works if you keep the cheek line natural and avoid a sharp, low neckline.
• Clean-shaven is a strong choice here, because there is no outline to disguise.
• Skip a long, pointed beard: it adds length below the chin and pulls you toward oblong.

Since your outline is soft, a frame with some angle adds contrast, but round frames suit you too. Aim for frames about as wide as your cheekbones, with the top bar sitting near your natural brow line rather than far above or below it.

• Wayfarer-style frames, slightly squared, add structure to your curves.
• Wide rectangular frames that match the width of your cheekbones.
• Aviators with a gently curved double bridge.
• Geometric hexagon or octagon frames for a bolder look.

Frames to avoid

• Oversized frames that extend well past your temples and swamp the face.
• Very narrow, slim frames that make the face look longer than it is.

• Keep brows softly arched with the peak above the outer edge of the iris; a flat brow can make the face read shorter and rounder.
• Sweep bronzer in a loose 3 shape from temple to cheekbone to jaw for warmth rather than sculpting.
• Put highlighter on the top of the cheekbone and the center of the forehead to show off your shape.
• Pick one focal point, a bold lip or a defined eye. Your face shape does not need extra structure, so let color do the work.

Where to contour, highlight and blush

• Contour lightly just under the cheekbone, starting at the ear and stopping below the middle of the eye.
• Shade a little at the temples only if your forehead looks wider than your jaw in photos.
• Blush on the apples of the cheeks, blended slightly upward toward the temple.
• Highlight down the bridge of the nose and on the chin to keep the length centered.