How the face shape detector works
Most "what is my face shape" quizzes ask you to guess whether your jaw is wider than your forehead. This face shape
analyzer measures it instead. When you add a photo, an AI face-mesh model running in your browser places 478
landmarks on your face. We then straighten the face mathematically (correcting small head tilts and turns) and take
four measurements:
- Face length to width: estimated hairline-to-chin length divided by the width across your cheekbones.
- Forehead width: how wide your upper forehead is compared with your cheekbones.
- Jaw width: how wide your jaw corners are compared with your cheekbones.
- Jaw angle: how sharply your jawline turns from the side of your face toward your chin.
Each of the six face shapes has a typical pattern of these four numbers. The detector compares your pattern with
all six and picks the closest. Because real faces are rarely textbook examples, you also see how close you are to
every shape, so you know if you are, for example, an oval face with some heart traits.
How to take a photo for an accurate result
The face shape finder can only measure what it can see. These habits make the biggest difference:
- Look straight into the camera with the phone at eye level. Shooting from below or above changes the length of your face.
- Pull your hair back off your forehead and jawline so the outline of your face is visible.
- Keep a neutral expression with your lips closed. A wide smile widens the lower face and lifts the cheeks.
- Hold the camera at arm's length or further. Very close selfies distort proportions, making the nose and centre of the face look bigger.
- Use soft, even light from in front of you, like a window. Strong side shadows can hide the jawline.
- Remove glasses and hats and use a photo with only you in it.
What your result means
Your shape is a closest match, not a label
Face shapes are a handy shorthand for stylists, not strict categories. Plenty of people land between two shapes:
oval and oblong, round and square, or heart and diamond are the most common pairs. When the detector says
"closest match, with some heart traits", treat both shapes' advice as useful.
Reading your measurements
Face length ÷ width separates the shorter shapes (round and square, around 1.3) from the balanced
ones (oval, heart, diamond, around 1.4–1.45) and the long one (oblong, about 1.55 and up). Forehead and jaw
width show where your face is widest: similar widths point to square or oblong, a wider forehead and narrow
jaw point to heart, and narrow forehead and jaw with wide cheekbones point to diamond. Jaw angle tells
apart faces with similar widths: under about 129° reads as angular (square, oblong), above about 136° as soft
(round, heart).
Why online results sometimes disagree
If you have tried several face shape tools, or the old trick of tracing your reflection on a mirror, you may have
got different answers. A few reasons:
- The hairline is hard to measure. Hair covers it, and it moves as hairlines recede. Our detector estimates it from the upper forehead, so very high or low hairlines can nudge the length ratio.
- Lens distortion. Front cameras are wide-angle. Held close, they make faces look narrower and longer at the centre.
- Different definitions. Some tools have only five shapes, or add "triangle" and "pear". We use the six shapes most hair and glasses guides use.
- Soft tissue. Cheeks, weight and beards change the outline that any camera sees.
How to measure your face shape by hand
Want to double-check? Grab a soft tape measure and a mirror:
- Measure across your forehead at its widest point, about halfway between brows and hairline.
- Measure across your cheekbones, from the outer point just below each eye.
- Measure your jawline from the tip of your chin to below one ear, and double it.
- Measure your face length from the centre of your hairline to the tip of your chin.
If length is clearly the largest number, you are likely oval or oblong. If all widths are similar and close to
the length, round or square. Widest at the forehead suggests heart; widest at the cheekbones with a pointed chin,
diamond.
Put your face shape to work
Knowing your shape helps you choose a haircut that balances your proportions, glasses that contrast with your
outline (angular frames for round faces, rounded frames for square ones), a beard that adds or removes length, and
where to place contour and highlight. Start with our hairstyles for every face shape
guide, or check your facial symmetry and golden ratio proportions next.
This free tool is for entertainment and style ideas. It is not a medical or professional assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my face shape?
Compare four things: the length of your face (hairline to chin), the width of your forehead, the width across your cheekbones and the width of your jaw, plus how angular your jaw is. The face shape detector on this page measures all four from a selfie and tells you which of the six shapes you are closest to.
What is the most common face shape?
Oval is usually described as the most common face shape, followed by round and square, while diamond is the least common. In practice many people sit between two shapes, which is why the detector also shows how close you are to each one.
Is this face shape detector accurate?
It is as accurate as the photo you give it. With a straight-on, well-lit selfie and hair pulled back, the measurements are consistent. Head turns, wide-angle lenses held close to the face, hair covering the jaw or a big smile can all shift the result, so try two or three photos if you sit between shapes.
Is my photo uploaded or stored?
No. The face shape finder runs entirely in your browser using an on-device AI model. Your photo is never sent to a server, never stored and disappears when you close or refresh the page.
Why did I get two different face shapes from two photos?
Face shapes are a spectrum, not boxes. If you are halfway between, say, oval and oblong, small changes in angle, expression or camera distance can tip the result either way. Look at the "how close you are to each shape" bars: if two shapes are close, styling advice for both will suit you.
Can my face shape change?
Your bone structure does not change in adulthood, but weight changes, muscle tone, ageing and facial hair can change how wide or angular your face looks. A beard, for example, can make a round face read as square in a photo.
Does the face shape detector work for men and women?
Yes. The six face shapes and the measurements behind them are the same for everyone. Men with full beards should use a photo with a short or no beard for the most accurate jawline reading.
What should I do once I know my face shape?
Use it as a starting point for haircuts, glasses frames, beard shapes and contouring. Our hairstyles guides show cuts that balance each shape, and the RateMax app adds a full analysis of your features.
