An oval face is a little longer than it is wide, with gently curved sides and a chin that is softer and narrower than the forehead. Stylists often call it the most versatile face shape, and for good reason. Here is how to tell if you have one and how to make the most of it.
What Is an Oval Face Shape?
Picture an egg turned upside down. That is the classic outline of an oval face. The forehead is a touch wider than the jaw, the cheekbones sit at the widest point, and the face narrows smoothly toward a rounded chin. Nothing in the outline is sharp or boxy.
Because the proportions are so balanced, artists have used the oval as the "ideal" reference face for centuries. That does not mean oval faces are better than any other shape. It simply means the outline has no strong feature that styling needs to balance, so you can try a wide range of cuts, frames and beard styles without much risk.
In practice, very few people have a textbook oval face. Many sit somewhere between oval and oblong, or oval and round. If our AI face shape detector shows a close second match, take the advice for both shapes into account.
Key Traits of an Oval Face
Look for most of these signs together. One trait on its own is not enough to decide your face shape.
- Longer than wide. Your face length is roughly one and a half times the width across your cheekbones.
- Cheekbones lead. The widest part of your face sits at the cheekbones, with a small taper above and below.
- Forehead slightly wider than jaw. The difference is subtle, usually just a little extra width at the temples.
- Soft, curved jawline. The jaw has no hard corners. It flows in a smooth curve down to the chin.
- Rounded chin. Your chin is neither pointed nor flat, and it does not jut forward.
How to Tell If You Have an Oval Face
You can check your face shape at home with a soft measuring tape and a mirror. It takes about five minutes.
Pull your hair back
Tie your hair away from your face and stand in front of a mirror in good, even light. Keep your expression neutral.
Measure your face length
Run a soft tape from the middle of your hairline down to the tip of your chin. Write the number down.
Measure across your cheekbones
Measure from the outer point of one cheekbone to the other, just below the outer corners of your eyes.
Compare forehead and jaw
Measure across the widest part of your forehead, then from one jaw corner to the other. On an oval face the forehead wins by a small margin.
Check the ratio
Divide your length by your cheekbone width. A result around 1.4 to 1.6 with a soft jaw points strongly to an oval face.
Oval vs Oblong Face Shape
These two shapes are easy to mix up. Here is the quickest way to tell them apart.
Oval
An oval face is about 1.5 times longer than wide and tapers gently at the forehead and chin.
Oblong
An oblong face is longer still, and its forehead, cheeks and jaw are close to the same width, so the sides look straighter.
If your face looks long and the sides run almost parallel, read our oblong face shape guide as well.
Best Hairstyles for an Oval 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
- Long layers Soft layers that start below the chin add movement without hiding your natural outline.
- Sleek blunt bob A chin-length bob shows off balanced proportions. Keep it straight for a polished look or add a slight bend for softness.
- Curtain bangs Bangs that part in the middle frame the cheekbones and draw attention to your eyes.
- Pixie cut Very short cuts work beautifully on oval faces because there is no angle or width to hide.
- High ponytail or top knot Pulled-back styles look clean and confident when your outline is already balanced.
For men
- Quiff Height on top with shorter sides keeps the face looking balanced and adds a little attitude.
- Classic side part A tidy side part is timeless on an oval face and suits both office and evenings out.
- Textured crop A short, choppy fringe adds texture and is easy to style with a little matte paste.
- Buzz cut With balanced proportions, you can go very short without your face looking too long or too wide.
- Medium-length flow Hair pushed back to the ears shows off the jawline and cheekbones.
Hairstyles to avoid with an oval face
- Heavy, straight-across bangs that sit low on the brow. They can cut the face in half and make it look shorter than it is.
- Lots of volume right on top if your face leans long. Extra height can tip an oval face toward oblong.
- Hair that covers most of your face. It hides the balanced proportions that are your best asset.
Best Glasses for an Oval 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.
- Wide rectangle frames Frames slightly wider than the broadest part of your face keep the natural balance.
- Geometric shapes Hexagonal and square-ish frames add a little structure to soft features.
- Aviators The teardrop shape follows the gentle taper of an oval face.
- Bold cat-eye An upswept frame lifts the cheekbones and adds personality.
Frames to avoid
- Frames much wider than your face. They overwhelm the gentle proportions.
- Very narrow, small frames, which can make the face look longer.
Beard Styles for an Oval 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.
- Short boxed beard A neat, evenly trimmed beard keeps the outline clean and works with almost any haircut.
- Light stubble Three to five days of growth adds definition along the jaw without changing the shape.
- Corporate beard A medium, well-groomed beard with tidy cheek lines looks sharp and professional.
- Very long, pointed beards, which stretch the face downward.
Makeup and Contouring Tips
Contouring adds shadow to areas you want to recede, and highlighting brings areas forward. For an oval face, focus on these steps:
- Use light contour under the cheekbones only. Your face needs very little reshaping.
- Apply blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep it lightly toward the temples.
- Highlight the center of the forehead, the bridge of the nose and the top of the cheekbones.
- Keep brows softly arched. A gentle curve matches the shape of your face.
Earrings, Hats and Necklines
- Most earring styles work, from studs to long drops and hoops.
- Wide-brim hats, fedoras and beanies all sit well on a balanced face.
- Statement necklaces can be any shape. Pick based on your neckline, not your face.
Best Caps and Hats for an Oval Face
Caps are where an oval face really shows its range. Because your length and width are already in balance, a cap does not need to fix anything. You can choose by outfit and mood instead of by rules.
- Baseball caps. A classic curved brim sits naturally on an oval face. Wear it straight for a clean look or turned slightly for something more casual.
- Snapbacks and flat-brim caps. The straight brim adds a crisp line across the forehead, which looks sharp against your soft outline.
- Dad caps. Unstructured, low-profile caps suit an oval face well because they do not add height or bulk.
- Beanies. Both slouchy and fitted styles work. Leave a little hair showing at the forehead so the cap does not swallow your face.
- Bucket hats and fedoras. A medium brim frames the face evenly. Very wide brims also suit you, as long as they match your build.
The one thing to watch is how low you wear it. Pulling any cap down to your eyebrows hides the forehead and can make an oval face look shorter and rounder. Keep the brim just above the brows so your balanced proportions stay visible.
Celebrities With an Oval Face Shape
Celebrities often described as having an oval face include Beyoncé, Jessica Alba, George Clooney and Rihanna. Keep in mind that photos, angles and hairstyles change how a face looks, so treat these examples as a loose guide.
Oval Face Shape FAQs
Is an oval face shape the most attractive?
No face shape is more attractive than another. The oval face gets called "ideal" because it is balanced and suits many styles. Beauty depends on far more than outline, including skin, expression, grooming and confidence.
How rare is an oval face shape?
It is one of the more common results in face shape tests, but a perfect oval is uncommon. Most people blend two shapes, such as oval and oblong or oval and round. That is why our tool shows a score for every shape.
What haircut should I avoid with an oval face?
Very heavy, blunt bangs and styles that cover most of the face are the main ones to skip. If your face is on the longer side, also avoid a lot of height on top.
What glasses suit an oval face?
Almost all frames suit an oval face. The best ones are as wide as, or slightly wider than, the broadest part of your face. Rectangle, geometric, aviator and cat-eye frames are safe choices.
Can my face shape change over time?
Yes, a little. Weight changes, ageing, orthodontic work and muscle tone can soften or sharpen the jaw and cheeks. Your bone structure stays the same, so most people keep a similar shape for life.
What caps suit an oval face?
Almost all of them. Baseball caps, snapbacks, dad caps, beanies and bucket hats all work on an oval face. Just keep the brim above your eyebrows so it does not hide your forehead.
Final Thoughts
An oval face gives you a lot of freedom. Its balanced length, soft jaw and gentle taper mean you can switch between short and long hair, bold and subtle frames, or a clean shave and a full beard without much risk. The main thing to watch is length. Keep extra height in check if your face already looks long, and avoid heavy styles that hide your outline.
Not sure you are a true oval? Upload a selfie to our free AI face shape detector. It measures 478 points on your face and shows how closely you match each of the eight shapes.
