Oblong Face Shape

What is an oblong face shape?

An oblong face shape, also called a rectangle or long face, is clearly longer than it is wide, with forehead, cheekbones and jaw all of similar width. Think of a square face stretched vertically: the sides run fairly straight from temple to jaw.

Most styling advice for an oblong face aims to make it read shorter and wider: bangs to cut the length, volume at the sides, and avoiding extra height on top.

In numbers: length ≥ 1.6 × cheekbones · widths similar.

How to tell if you have an oblong face shape

Look for these signs in a mirror or a straight-on photo with your hair pulled back:

• Face length is 1.6 times the cheekbone width or more
• Forehead, cheekbone and jaw widths are similar (a long rectangle)
• The jaw can be straight or slightly rounded

To check with numbers, measure four things with a soft tape measure: forehead width across the widest part near the temples, cheekbone width across the highest points of the cheekbones, jaw width from the corner of the jaw below one ear to the other, and face length from the hairline to the bottom of the chin. Then enter them in the face shape calculator, or let the face shape detector measure them from a photo.

Oblong vs. similar face shapes

• Oblong vs. Oval: Oval faces are long too, but they narrow toward the chin. An oblong face keeps its width all the way down.
• Oblong vs. Square: Square faces have the same straight sides but are much shorter: length close to width.
• Oblong vs. Diamond: A long diamond face has a narrow forehead and chin; an oblong face is evenly wide.

Best haircuts for an oblong face shape

Make the face read shorter and wider: add width at the sides and break up the vertical line.

Bangs are the quickest fix: straight-across or curtain bangs shorten the visible face. Shoulder-length cuts with waves or curls at the sides add width. Very long, straight, flat hair and tall styles on top both add length and are the least flattering.

Hairstyles for women

• Bangs (straight or curtain) to shorten the face
• Shoulder-length cuts with waves at the sides
• Layered bobs
• Avoid very long, straight hair with no volume

Haircuts for men

• Side part with moderate height
• Fringe or crop that covers part of the forehead
• Fuller sides; avoid very tall pompadours

What to avoid

• Extra height on top
• Long, flat, straight hair that adds length

Glasses for an oblong face

Deep, oversized frames cover more of the face vertically and make it look shorter. Frames with decorative or contrasting temples add width. Small, narrow frames make a long face look longer.

• Oversized and deep frames
• Frames with decorative temples
• Avoid small, narrow frames

Beard styles and makeup for an oblong face shape

Beard

• Fuller sides and a shorter chin, to add width and not length
• Avoid long, pointed goatees

Contour and blush

• Contour along the hairline and under the chin
• Blush across the cheeks horizontally

Treat all of these as starting points. Hair texture, the features you like most and your personal style matter as much as face shape.

How the detector recognises an oblong face

The face shape detector places 478 landmarks on your face, finds your hairline, and compares the whole outline of your face with thousands of labelled faces. Instead of one verdict, it gives you a percentage for each of the seven shapes. If oblong comes out on top but a second shape is close, read both guides: most faces are a blend, and the advice the two shapes share is the safest bet.