Face shape guide
Round Face Shape
A round face shape is about as wide as it is long, with full cheeks, a soft jawline without visible angles and a rounded chin. The cheekbones are the widest point, but the forehead and jaw are not much narrower.
Styling a round face is about adding length and angles: frames, haircuts and brows with straight lines and some height make the face look longer and more defined.
- As wide as long
- Full cheeks
How to tell
How to tell if you have a round face shape
A round face is about as wide as it is long — the length is usually less than 1.3 times the cheekbone width — with the cheekbones as the widest point and a jaw that curves without visible corners. The fullness is in the cheeks and the lower face, so styling aims to add vertical lines and a few angles.
- Your face is nearly as wide as it is long (a length-to-width ratio around 1.0–1.3).
- Your cheeks are full and your cheekbones are the widest part of your face.
- Your jawline is soft and curved, with no clear corners.
- Your chin is rounded rather than pointed or square.
| Face length ÷ cheekbone width | 1.25× |
|---|---|
| Forehead width (vs cheekbones) | 83% |
| Lower jaw width (vs cheekbones) | 73% |
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Round vs similar face shapes
Round vs square
Both are about as wide as they are long. A square face has a straight, angular jaw almost as wide as the cheekbones; a round face has a soft, curved jawline and fuller cheeks.
Round vs oval
A round face is shorter — length close to width — while an oval face is clearly longer than it is wide.
Common mix-ups
Full cheeks can make a square or oval face look round in a smiling photo. Use a neutral expression. Weight changes also shift the soft outline of the face, so a face that reads as round today may read as oval or square later.
Glasses
Best glasses for a round face
Frames that balance a round face shape, and what each one does.
Rectangle frames on a round face — made with our try-on.
Rectangle glasses
Rectangular frames are wider than they are deep, which visually lengthens a round face and adds the angles it lacks.
Oversized square glasses
Sharp corners contrast with soft curves; choose frames at least as wide as your cheekbones.
Browline glasses
A heavy top rim draws the eye upward and adds definition to the upper half of the face.
Choosing frames for a round face
For a round face, pick frames at least as wide as your cheekbones with straight top lines and visible corners. Darker colours and thicker rims add more structure; a clear bridge or a slightly raised bridge also lengthens the nose and face.
Frames to avoid
Avoid small, perfectly round frames — they repeat the curves of your face and make it look rounder. Very narrow frames can also make full cheeks look wider.
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Hairstyles
Best hairstyles for a round face
Haircuts for women
- Long layers. Length past the chin draws the eye down and makes the face look longer.
- Long bob (lob). A bob that ends below the jaw avoids adding width at the widest point.
- Deep side part. An off-centre part breaks the symmetry of a round face and adds an angle.
- High ponytail or top knot. Volume on top adds height and lengthens the face.
Haircuts for men
- Pompadour or quiff. Height on top is the quickest way to lengthen a round face.
- Undercut or fade. Short sides keep width away from the cheeks.
- Faux hawk. A strip of height in the middle adds a vertical line.
- Angular fringe. A choppy, asymmetric fringe adds edges to soft features.
Hairstyles to avoid
- Chin-length bobs that end at the widest part of the face
- Blunt, straight-across fringes that shorten the face
- Tight curls or volume at the sides at cheek level
Bangs for a round face
Long side-swept bangs and a deep side part are best: they cut a diagonal across the face and make it look longer. Avoid short, blunt, straight-across fringes.
Brows & makeup
Eyebrows, makeup and beards for a round face
Eyebrow shape
A high, defined arch is the most flattering brow for a round face: it creates vertical lift and makes the face look longer. Avoid very rounded brows that echo the face shape.
Beard styles
A beard that is longer at the chin and shorter at the sides — a goatee, short boxed beard or anchor style — adds length and a defined jawline.
- Contour
- Contour from the ear toward the corner of the mouth, under the cheekbones, and along the sides of the forehead to add shadow at the widest points.
- Blush
- Blend blush slightly above the apples of the cheeks and sweep it upward toward the temples rather than in a circle.
- Highlight
- Highlight down the centre of the face — forehead, bridge of the nose and chin — to draw the eye vertically.
Accessories
Earrings, hats and necklines for a round face
Earrings
Long drop earrings, linear styles and angular shapes lengthen a round face. Avoid large round hoops at cheek level.
Hats
Hats with height and angles — fedoras, trilbies, newsboy caps worn back — add length. Avoid round, close-fitting hats.
Necklines
V-necks and deep scoop necks create a vertical line that lengthens the face. Avoid high, round crew necks.
FAQ
Round Face Shape FAQ
Angular frames that are wider than they are deep — rectangle, square and browline styles — add structure and make a round face look longer and slimmer.
You can, but small round frames tend to emphasise roundness. If you love round glasses, pick a slightly larger frame with a thicker top rim or a keyhole bridge.
Both are about as wide as they are long. A square face has a straight, angular jaw almost as wide as the forehead; a round face has a soft, curved jaw and fuller cheeks.
Long layers that fall below the chin, long bobs, side parts and styles with height on top. For men: pompadours, quiffs and fades that keep the sides short.
Round faces are often perceived as youthful because full cheeks and soft angles are associated with youth. It is a common perception, not a rule.
Yes — wayfarer, rectangle and square sunglasses suit round faces best. Avoid small round lenses that repeat the face’s curves.
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