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Glasses for your face shape: a guide to seven shapes
Glasses for your face shape: contrast your outline or echo it. One chart tells seven shapes what to try and skip. Find your shape free in seconds.
Read the overview5 min read
Glasses, bangs and contour
How frames, bangs and contour follow the face shape, and how to pick a frame size.
What this topic covers, and where to start
Glasses, bangs, beards and contour have one thing in common: each is a line on the face, and the level where it lands gets emphasised. This topic is for anyone who wants to know how face shape affects these choices before picking frames, cutting bangs, contouring or trimming a beard. By the end you will know how to choose between contrast and echo, what frame width, bangs length and weight, beard length and the placing of shading each change, and that most of this advice is practitioners’ experience rather than experimental findings. Fit and taste often count for more than face shape.
Start with glasses for your face shape, whose chart of seven shapes is the overview of the glasses guides, then read the one for your shape; there are seven, from oval to pear-shaped. Once you have a frame style, read glasses size for the frame width, the bridge and the temple length. Bangs, beards and contouring each have a guide of their own, and each starts by settling how long, where and in which direction, before checking it against your face shape.
Nobody has run controlled comparisons of these pairings, and guides often contradict one another on detail. So each guide gives you a way to test it on a photo: same spot, same light, put the frames on, draw the contour or pin the bangs, take another shot and compare the part you care about.
Filter by face shape
Showing 14 guides
- Oval faceGlasses for oval faces: any shape, the right sizeGlasses for oval faces: almost any shape works, so size is the variable. Eight frames compared. Unsure you're oval? A free face report tells you.4 min read
- Round faceGlasses for round faces: measure the jaw, then add cornersGlasses for round faces: first check yours is really round, then add corners. Seven frames compared. Truly round? A free face report shows your shape.4 min read
- Square faceGlasses for square faces: start with the jaw angleGlasses for square faces: sources agree on curves against the jaw corners, then split on width and weight. Eight frames. Check your shape free first.4 min read
- Long faceGlasses for long faces: it comes down to lens heightGlasses for long faces: deeper lenses, wide frames and a one-third height check. Eight frames compared. See if yours is long with a free face report.4 min read
- Heart-shaped faceGlasses for heart-shaped faces: keep the weight lowGlasses for heart-shaped faces: a light top rim and a rounded base. Five frames compared. Check your taper first with a free face report.5 min read
- Diamond faceGlasses for diamond faces: match the cheekbones, add detail up topGlasses for diamond faces: size to the cheekbones, put detail on the top rim. Five frames compared. Diamond or oval? A free face report helps.5 min read
- Pear-shaped faceGlasses for pear-shaped faces: add width above the eyesGlasses for pear-shaped faces: weight on the top rim, width above the eyes. Six frames compared. Is yours pear? A free face report shows your shape.5 min read
- GlassesThick glasses lenses: choose the frame first, then the lensThick glasses lenses: what frame width, centring, 1.67 vs 1.74 and coatings really change. Unsure of your face shape? Check it free.6 min read
- BeardHow to shave your face: seven steps, then where the edges go if you keep stubbleHow to shave your face in 7 steps, plus where stubble edges go. Blades last 5–7 shaves. Wondering about your jawline? Check it free.8 min read
- BeardBeard styles for face shape: where length and width goBeard styles for face shape: length, width and edges compared across seven shapes. Grow it a month first. Find your face shape free before you trim.5 min read
- BangsBangs for your face shape: one table for length, weight and directionBangs for your face shape come down to length, weight and direction. A seven-shape table and where guides disagree. Check your shape free in seconds.4 min read
- MakeupContouring for your face shape: where shading and blush goContouring for your face shape is drawing with light. Where shade, highlight and blush go for seven shapes. Which are you? A free face report shows.4 min read
- GlassesGlasses size: how to read frame width, bridge and temple lengthGlasses size starts with three numbers inside the arm: lens, bridge, temple. Read them, run four mirror checks. A free face report shows your shape.5 min read
FAQ
How do I choose glasses for my face shape?
There are two routes: let the lines of the frame contrast with your outline, such as curves for an angular face, or echo it. Then compare the frame width with the widest part of your face; the usual advice is about the same or a touch wider. This comes from brands and stylists rather than experiments, and fit and comfort count for more than face shape.
How do I know what size glasses will fit?
Check three measures: frame width against your cheekbone width, with the outer edges not sticking out past your face; the bridge and nose pads; and the temple length. The three numbers printed inside the arm are lens width, bridge width and temple length, in millimetres.
Do bangs, beards and contour also follow face shape?
Face shape is only a starting point. Bangs change how much forehead shows and so how long the face reads, a beard long at the chin reads longer and full at the sides reads wider, and contour puts shadow where the face already dips in and highlight where it already stands out. Guides often disagree, so change a little and compare photos taken the same way.