What Shape Is Your Face?
Long
It's easy to recognize an elongated face because it's longer than it is wide. While this shape is fairly easy to determine, you could have features from other face shapes mixed in. A face that combines long and round features is oval, while one that combines long and square features is rectangular. If you have a long face, you may have:
A subtle chin and jawline:
A long face often has rounded and soft features, unless it's rectangular. Soft features may make it challenging to differentiate from a round head, but the length is the key factor to consider.
A wider forehead:
In an oval face, the forehead is typically the widest part. The cheekbones could be a similar width, but that isn't always the case. A rectangular face is wide across the forehead, cheekbones and jawline. Again, the length of the face is key.
Round
One of the key features of a round face is a shorter length, and the cheekbones are usually the widest point of the face. Other possible qualities of a round face include:
Symmetry:
If you have a round face, you likely have a similar distance across the widest point of your face and down the length. You don't need to measure and see if these numbers are the same. Take a look to see if you notice approximate symmetry.
Subtle cheekbones: With a round face, there usually isn't much definition to the cheekbones. While they're the widest part of a round face, they aren't particularly sharp or high.
Few angles:
From the cheekbones to the jawline, a round face doesn't have too many angular features. If there are any angles, they're likely to be softer and more subtle. The chin is typically rounded and less noticeable.
Square
Taking a look at your jawline is the key to seeing if you have a square face. A square face can have the same symmetry across the width and length as a round face, or it can have the characteristic length of a long face. You'll know if you have a square face if you also have:
Similar widths:
A square face often has the same width across the forehead, cheeks and jawline. That symmetry creates straighter lines along the sides of the face than you'd see in a round or oval face.
A pronounced jawline:
A pronounced jawline is the giveaway for a square face. A square face often has wide angles at the sides of the jawline that lead to an angled or more subtle chin.
Minimal curves: While a round face has few angles, a square face has few curves. A square face could have striking cheekbones along with a sharp, angular jawline.
Heart
A heart-shaped face has similar features to a round shape. In fact, heart shapes sometimes resemble a combination of round and square faces. Determine if you have a heart-shaped face by checking if you have these features:
A wider forehead:
A prominent forehead is one of the most characteristic features of this face shape. In a heart shape, the forehead is either the widest point of the face or similar to the cheekbones.
A slender jawline:
The jawline is less pronounced in a heart-shaped face, unlike a square shape. That's why the cheeks and forehead are the wider parts of the face, just as the top of a heart is wider than the pointed bottom.
An angled chin: A heart shape narrows as it goes from the forehead to the chin. Those with heart-shaped faces may have a more prominent chin than other face shapes.
Diamond
A diamond face is somewhat similar to a heart shape and can either have long or round proportions across the width and length. If you aren't sure if you have a heart-shaped face or a diamond shape, consider the qualities of a diamond face shape:
Narrow features:
A diamond-shaped face has a narrow chin and a narrow forehead. That creates the effect that a diamond has of a pointed top and bottom.
Wide cheekbones:
Like a round face, the cheekbones are the widest part of a diamond-shaped face. The main difference could be that in a diamond shape, the cheekbones are more prominent or sit high.
The Best Hat For Your Face Shape
Hats For Long Faces
If you'd like to minimize the length of your face, use hats with brims that cut across the forehead. The appropriate brim can minimize the length of your face, if that's your goal. Hats for long faces include:
Wide brims:
Sunhats, straw hats and other hats with wide brims suit a long face. Select one with a brim that fits across your forehead to diminish the look of an elongated face, if that's what you want from your hat.
Cowboy hats:
If you've got a Southern style, you're in luck. Cowboy hats suit elongated features with their slight height and a wide brim. Situate the hat across your forehead for a result that complements your features.
Hats for Round Faces
People with round faces may feel they have to search for a hat for a "fat" face, but that's not true. All they need is a hat with angular elements to contrast their smooth features. Here are a few options to consider, with the best hats for a round face being:
Fedoras:
Fedoras feature angular details and a shallow crown. Those elements, along with a narrow brim, help downplay the symmetrical, smooth features of a round face. There are hat options other than fedoras that have angled elements to contrast your smooth features, like a Panama hat.
Hats for Square Faces
With a square face, the goal is usually to play down the angular features with smooth and rounded accents. If you need a hat for a square face, consider these options:
Floppy hats:
Add softer features to a square face with accessories like floppy hats. Sunhats also fall under this category, giving you both a fashionable touch and a bit of shade.
Wide brims:
As long as the brim of a hat is rounded, it can suit a square face. You'll find wide brim hats in anything from masculine options to feminine styles.
Cloches:
These hats have a rounded look from the crown to the brim. The vintage look of a cloche hat is a fun accent that softens a square face.
Hats for Heart-Shaped Faces
You may want to avoid a narrow crown if you have a heart shape with prominent cheekbones. If you have subtle cheekbones, select a slightly structured hat that gets a bit narrow toward the top to balance a narrow chin. With that in mind, hats for heart-shaped faces include:
Flat caps:
These flat hats don't add too much width to your face. The slight angle and straight lines on the brim create symmetry with the angles in your jawline. If you're going for a vintage style and have a heart-shaped face, flat caps could be for you.
Fedoras:
Fedoras have small brims and a slimmer profile than other hats. That means this option can help maintain balance in your proportions from your forehead to your chin. The pointed top of a fedora also creates symmetry with prominent chins in heart-shaped faces.
Hats for Diamond-Shaped Faces
When you wear hats for a diamond-shaped face, you may want to adjust them to sit slightly back on your head. That'll help maintain the proportions between your forehead and your jawline. Whether you can wear your hat like that will depend on the type you wear. Hats for diamond-shaped faces include:
Flat caps:
If you have a narrow forehead that you'd like to draw attention away from, use a flat cap or pork pie hat to add width. You don't need to wear these hats set back on your head. Wear a flat cap as usual to contrast a narrow chin.
Wide-brimmed fedoras:
These stylish fedoras are meant to be worn set back on your head, ideal for this face shape. The wide brim will add more width to the top of your head, contrasting nicely with a narrow jawline.