Face Shape Test for Haircut: A Mirror, a Tape and 5 Steps

A face shape test for a haircut comes down to four measurements (forehead, cheekbones, jaw, face length) and one comparison: where your face is widest, and how its length relates to that width. Do it once with a mirror and a soft tape and you'll know which cuts belong on your shortlist.

See these cuts on your own face. If you'd rather skip the tape, CutMuse reads your face from a front and a profile photo and renders 5 haircuts on it, along with hair colors for your skin tone and glasses that suit you.

The 5-step face shape test

You need a mirror, your phone, and a soft sewing tape (or a piece of string and a ruler). Pull every bit of hair off your face with a headband or clip, including the fringe.

1. Take a reference photo. Prop your phone at eye level at least an arm's length away, and shoot straight on with your chin level. Use the 2x lens if your phone has one: a close-up selfie on the wide lens stretches the middle of your face.
2. Measure your forehead. Measure straight across the widest part, about halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline, from hairline edge to hairline edge.
3. Measure your cheekbones. Feel for the bony points just below the outer corners of your eyes and measure straight across between them.
4. Measure your jaw and your length. Jaw: from the tip of your chin to the angle of your jaw below the ear, then double it. Length: from the center of your hairline down to the tip of your chin. If your hairline has moved back, start at the top forehead crease you see when you raise your eyebrows.
5. Compare. Write the four numbers down, circle the biggest width, and set it against your length. Then open the photo, trace your outline with the markup pen, and look at the jaw corner: a smooth curve or a clear angle?

Read your result

Oval

Length is about one and a half times your widest width, the forehead is slightly wider than the jaw, and the jaw curves softly. You can wear most cuts; start with a textured crop with a mid fade for men or long layers for women. See haircuts for an oval face (men).

Round

Length and width are within a finger or so of each other, the cheekbones are widest, and the jaw corner is soft. You need height: a textured quiff with a high fade for men, long layers starting below the chin for women. More in haircuts for a round face (men) and haircuts for a round face (women).

Square

Forehead, cheekbones and jaw measure almost the same, length is close to width, and the jaw makes a clear angle on your traced outline. Start with a crew cut or a textured crop on a low taper. Full list in haircuts for a square face (men).

Oblong

Length clearly beats one and a half times the width, and the three widths are close, so the sides of your outline run fairly straight. You need width, not height: a French crop or a side part with fuller sides. See haircuts for an oblong face (men).

Heart

The forehead is the widest number, the jaw is clearly the smallest, and the chin comes to a point. Move volume down: a chin-length bob with side-swept bangs is the classic first choice. Details in haircuts for a heart-shaped face.

Diamond

The cheekbones beat both the forehead and the jaw by a clear margin, and the chin is often narrow. Fill in above and below the cheekbones: a textured chin-length bob or a fringe-forward crop. See haircuts for a diamond face.

What to avoid

• Measuring with your hair down: a fringe or volume at the sides hides your real forehead and cheekbone widths.
• Tilting your chin: chin up shortens the face in the photo, chin down lengthens it, and an oblong face can pass for oval.
• Judging the outline of your hair instead of your face: the test is about bone structure, so the ears and hairline must be visible.
• Treating the result as a rule: face shape tells you where to add or remove volume, but texture, hairline and lifestyle still shape the final cut.

What to ask your barber

Tell them the shape and what you want the cut to do for it:

"I measured my face and it's oblong: longer than it is wide, with a straight jawline. I want to add width, not height, so please keep the sides at a #4 or scissor cut instead of a high fade. Leave about 2 inches on top and push it forward into a textured fringe, point cut so it doesn't sit in a heavy line across my forehead."

Related guides

• the best haircut for each face shape, with texture tips
• glasses frames matched to your face shape
• hair colors that match your skin tone
• a longer look at finding your face shape with AI

FAQ

How do I know my face shape for a haircut?

Measure your forehead, cheekbones, jaw and face length, then check which width is biggest and how it compares with the length. The shape of your jaw corner separates round from square.

Can I find my face shape from a selfie?

Only if it's taken from at least an arm's length, straight on, with your hair pulled back. Close selfies distort proportions, so a mirror and a tape are more reliable.

What if my face is between two shapes?

Plenty of faces are. Choose a cut that suits both, like a textured crop with a mid fade if you're between round and square, and skip anything that exaggerates either one.

Is face shape the only thing that matters for a haircut?

No. Hair texture, density and your hairline decide whether a cut that suits your shape will actually hold it.

Does a receding hairline change my face shape?

It can make your face look longer, so measure from where your hairline used to sit. Our guide to haircuts for a receding hairline covers the cuts that work.

Measured, compared, and still not sure you trust the numbers? Put the cuts on your own face and take the one you like to your next appointment.