An oblong face, sometimes called a long face, is clearly longer than it is wide, with fairly straight sides and a gently rounded jaw. It often looks elegant and mature. The best styles add width at the sides and avoid making the face look any longer.
What Is an Oblong Face Shape?
An oblong face looks like a stretched oval with straighter sides. The forehead, cheekbones and jaw are close in width, so the outline does not taper much at the top or bottom. The jaw corners are rounded rather than sharp, and the chin can be slightly long.
Many people with oblong faces have a long nose or a tall forehead, which adds to the overall length. Because the face is narrow for its length, styles that create width, like waves, bangs and fuller sides, are the most flattering.
Oblong is easy to confuse with oval and rectangle. An oval face tapers more at the forehead and chin. A rectangle face is just as long but has angular, square jaw corners.
Key Traits of an Oblong Face
Look for most of these signs together. One trait on its own is not enough to decide your face shape.
- Long face. The face length is clearly greater than the width, often by 1.6 times or more.
- Straight sides. Forehead, cheekbones and jaw are similar in width.
- Rounded jaw corners. The jaw is soft, without sharp angles.
- Tall forehead or long chin. Extra height often shows up in one or both.
- Narrow cheeks. The cheeks rarely stand out from the rest of the outline.
How to Tell If You Have an Oblong Face
You can check your face shape at home with a soft measuring tape and a mirror. It takes about five minutes.
Take a front-facing photo
Hold the camera at eye level. A camera held low or high distorts length.
Measure face length
Measure from the center of your hairline to the bottom of your chin.
Measure cheekbone width
Measure across the widest part of your cheekbones.
Divide length by width
A result of about 1.6 or higher suggests a long face.
Check the jaw
Rounded jaw corners point to oblong. Sharp, square corners point to rectangle.
Oblong vs Rectangle Face Shape
These two shapes are easy to mix up. Here is the quickest way to tell them apart.
Oblong
An oblong face is long, with even widths and softly rounded jaw corners.
Rectangle
A rectangle face is just as long but has a straight, angular jaw with clear corners.
If your jaw has sharp corners, read our rectangle face shape guide.
Best Hairstyles for an Oblong Face
The right haircut works with your outline, not against it. These styles are reliable starting points to discuss with your stylist or barber.
For women
- Bangs of any kind Blunt, curtain or side-swept bangs shorten the forehead and the whole face.
- Shoulder-length waves Waves and curls add width at the sides where the face is narrow.
- Chin-length bob A bob creates a horizontal line that breaks up length.
- Layers around the cheeks Volume at cheek level widens the middle of the face.
- Low ponytails with face-framing pieces Keep some hair near the cheeks instead of pulling everything up and back.
For men
- Side part with medium length A classic side part keeps height in check and adds width.
- Fringe or bangs A forward-styled fringe shortens a tall forehead.
- Textured crop with fuller sides Skip tight fades and leave some length on the sides.
- Shoulder-length waves Longer hair with movement adds width.
Hairstyles to avoid with an oblong face
- Tall pompadours, quiffs and high top knots, which add even more length.
- Very long, straight, one-length hair, which drags the face down.
- Tight fades or shaved sides, which narrow the face further.
Best Glasses for an Oblong Face
A simple rule guides most eyeglass frame choices: pick frames that contrast with your face shape, and make sure they are about as wide as the widest part of your face.
- Oversized frames Large frames cover more of the face vertically and add width.
- Deep, tall lenses Frames with more height break up the length of the face.
- Decorative temples Details on the arms draw attention outward.
- Round or square frames with thick rims Strong horizontal lines widen the face.
Frames to avoid
- Narrow, shallow frames that make the face look longer.
- Small frames that sit inside the width of the face.
Beard Styles for an Oblong Face
Facial hair can reshape the lower half of your face in a way no haircut can. Use it to add width, length or definition where you want it.
- Mutton chops or fuller sides Hair on the cheeks widens the face.
- Short, full beard Keep the chin short and the sides full to avoid extra length.
- Stubble A light shadow adds definition without adding length.
- Long beards or goatees that extend below the chin.
Makeup and Contouring Tips
Contouring adds shadow to areas you want to recede, and highlighting brings areas forward. For an oblong face, focus on these steps:
- Contour along the hairline and under the chin to visually shorten the face.
- Apply blush horizontally across the cheeks, from the apples toward the ears.
- Highlight the cheekbones to add width in the middle of the face.
- Choose straighter, flatter brows. High arches add length.
Earrings, Hats and Necklines
- Studs, wide hoops and clusters add width. Skip long, skinny drop earrings.
- Hats with low crowns and wide brims shorten the face.
- Crew necks, turtlenecks and chokers break up length at the neck.
Celebrities With an Oblong Face Shape
Stars often described as having oblong faces include Sarah Jessica Parker, Liv Tyler, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck.
Oblong Face Shape FAQs
What is an oblong face shape?
An oblong face is clearly longer than it is wide, with forehead, cheekbones and jaw about the same width and softly rounded corners.
Is oblong the same as a long face?
Yes. "Oblong" and "long" are often used for the same shape. Some guides also use "rectangle," but on our site rectangle refers to a long face with an angular jaw.
What hairstyle suits an oblong face?
Styles with bangs and width at the sides, such as shoulder-length waves, a chin-length bob, or a medium side part for men.
Should I avoid long hair with an oblong face?
Not necessarily. Long hair works if it has layers, waves or bangs to add width. Very long, straight, one-length hair can make the face look longer.
What glasses suit a long face?
Oversized frames, tall lenses and frames with thick rims or decorative temples. They add width and break up length.
Final Thoughts
An oblong face is graceful and refined. Styling is all about balancing length with width: bangs, waves, bobs and fuller sides for hair, deep and oversized frames for glasses, and beards that stay full at the cheeks rather than long at the chin.
Not sure if you are oblong, oval or rectangle? Our AI face shape detector measures your length-to-width ratio and jaw angle to tell them apart.
