Rectangle vs Oblong Face Shape: What's the Difference?

Side-by-side comparison

How to tell which one you have

1. Check your length. If your face isn't clearly long, you're probably neither: look at square or oval instead.
2. Feel your jaw. Run a finger from below your ear to your chin. If there's a distinct corner where the jaw turns forward, you're rectangle. If it curves smoothly, you're oblong.
3. Look at your hairline. A straight, square hairline often goes with a rectangle face.

Still unsure? Our face shape detector measures your length-to-width ratio and jaw angle from a photo.

Styling a rectangle face

The rectangle face needs two things: width and softness.

• Hair: bangs or curtain fringes to shorten the face; layered bobs and waves that end below the jaw. Avoid height on top.
• Glasses: round, oval and oversized frames.
• Beards (men): a full beard kept wide at the sides; avoid long, pointed chin beards.

See all rectangle face hairstyles and glasses.

Styling an oblong face

The oblong face mostly needs width.

• Hair: blunt or curtain bangs, shoulder-length waves, chin-length bobs and shags.
• Glasses: deep, oversized frames with decorative temples.
• Beards: fuller on the sides.

See all oblong face hairstyles and haircuts for men.

Why many guides confuse them

Older face shape systems only had seven shapes and used "oblong" for every long face. Splitting long faces by jaw shape gives better advice, because a sharp jaw and a soft jaw need different haircuts.