Know your face and it’s shape
Know your face and style your look according to what might suit you the best.
Back in the day, there were times when sitting in the barber’s chair was just a case of saying ‘short back and sides’ and choosing glasses between plastic or metal was an option?
Today, any man worth his salt in the style department needs to understand the shape of his skull and how that affects what he can (and cannot) pull off. John Lennon frames on a round face? Nope. Skin fade on a diamond? Think again.
The correct way to know your face is to measure up your face properly.
Step 1: The Right Tools
Use a measuring tape used by tailors to know your face measurements accurately.
Then, grab a notebook and in front of a mirror take the following details, recording each as you go.
Step 2: Measure Your Forehead
In order to determine which face shape you have, you need to find out which parts are long, which ones are short or whether they’re actually all the same.
The forehead is a good place to start, so measure across the widest part – this is usually around halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline. Pull the tape measure from the peak of one eyebrow arch to the peak of the opposite arch. Record that number.
Step 3: Measure Your Cheekbones
The width of your cheekbones is especially important when it comes to picking a hairstyle. Getting it wrong can throw features like your ears way off proportion. Size yours up by placing the tape across the pointiest part, just below the outer corner of each eye.
Step 4: Measure Your Jawline
Measure from the tip of your chin to below your ear at the point at which your jaw angles upwards. Of course, you have a jaw on both sides of your face so multiply that number by two to get your jawline length.
Step 5: Measure Your Face Length
What’s the difference between a rectangle face and a square face? About two inches. This is true.
To find out the length of your face, run the tape measure from the centre of your hairline to the tip of your chin. For follicularly challenged men and with either shaved or bald heads, estimate the point where your hairline would be.
Write down these four measurements. Note which is the largest,
Determining Your Face Shape: Once you’ve got these measurements, note which is the largest of the four, and use the information below to determine your face shape. Compare your stats to the profiles below to see which best describes your face shape.
Round: Cheekbones and face length have a similar measurement. They are larger than forehead and jawline, which also have a similar measurement. The angle of the jaw is soft and much less defined.
Square: All measurements are fairly similar. The angle of the jaw is sharp rather than rounded.
Rectangle/Oblong: Face length is the greatest measurement. Forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are similar in size.
Oval: Face length is greater than the width of the cheekbones, and forehead is greater than the jawline. The angle of the jaw is rounded rather than sharp.
Heart: Forehead measures greater than the cheekbones and jawline. The chin is pointed.
Diamond: Face length measures largest. Then, in descending order: cheekbones, forehead, and smallest is jawline. The chin is pointed.
Triangular: Jawline measures greater than cheekbones, which measure larger than forehead.
Once you’ve figured out your face shape, you can begin to make more informed choices on everything from your hairstyle and beard to your sunglasses.
