Heart Face Shape

What Is a Heart Face Shape?

The heart face shape, also commonly referred to as the inverted triangle face shape, is defined by a forehead that serves as the widest horizontal measurement of the face. From the forehead, the face narrows progressively through the cheekbones and jawline, culminating in a pointed or noticeably narrow chin. This tapering geometry gives the face its distinctive "heart" or inverted-triangle appearance.

According to craniofacial anthropometric research (Farkas et al., 2005), the heart face shape is identified when the bizygomatic width (cheekbone measurement) is less than the forehead width, and the bigonial width (jaw measurement) is substantially narrower than both. The overall face length tends to be slightly greater than the face width, though not as elongated as an oblong face shape.

Key anatomical features of the heart face shape include:

• Forehead: The widest part of the face. The forehead is broad and often appears prominent, particularly when the hairline recedes slightly at the temples or forms a widow's peak.
• Cheekbones: High and wide, but slightly narrower than the forehead. The cheekbones contribute to the angular, sculpted appearance that many people with this face shape exhibit.
• Jawline: Narrow and tapered. Unlike the square face shape, which has a strong, angular jaw, the heart shape features a jawline that narrows noticeably as it descends toward the chin.
• Chin: Pointed or small. The chin is the narrowest part of the face and often comes to a subtle point, which is the defining feature that distinguishes the heart from other face shapes.
• Widow's peak: Many individuals with a heart face shape have a V-shaped dip in the center of their hairline, known as a widow's peak. While not a requirement for classification, it is a frequently associated trait that accentuates the heart-like silhouette.

It is important to distinguish the heart face shape from the diamond face shape. While both share a narrow chin and angular contours, the key difference lies in the widest point of the face. In a heart shape, the forehead is the widest feature. In a diamond shape, the cheekbones are the widest feature, with both the forehead and the jawline being narrower. This distinction is critical for accurate identification and for selecting the most appropriate styling strategies.

How to Tell If You Have a Heart Face Shape

Determining whether you have a heart face shape involves a combination of measurement and visual assessment. While professional facial analysis provides the most accurate classification, you can perform a reliable self-assessment at home using a flexible measuring tape, a mirror, and good lighting.

Step-by-Step Self-Assessment

1. Measure your forehead width. Place the tape across the widest part of your forehead, typically from one temple to the other, following the natural curve just above the eyebrows. Record this number.
2. Measure your cheekbone width. Find the highest point of each cheekbone (just below the outer corner of each eye) and measure the horizontal distance between them. For most heart face shapes, this measurement will be slightly less than the forehead.
3. Measure your jawline width. Measure from the angle of your jaw on one side to the other, passing the tape under your chin. For a heart face shape, this measurement will be noticeably smaller than both the forehead and cheekbone widths.
4. Measure your face length. Measure from the center of your hairline straight down to the tip of your chin. The heart face shape tends to be slightly longer than it is wide, though not as elongated as an oblong shape.
5. Compare the ratios. If your forehead is the widest measurement, your cheekbones are slightly narrower, your jaw is substantially narrower, and your chin tapers to a point, you likely have a heart face shape.

Visual Cues to Look For

Beyond measurements, certain visual cues can help confirm a heart face shape:

• When you pull your hair back, your forehead appears noticeably wide compared to your chin.
• Your chin comes to a gentle point rather than being flat or square.
• You may have a widow's peak at the center of your hairline.
• Your cheekbones appear high and prominent, but your overall face looks wider at the top than at the bottom.
• When you draw an outline of your face in a mirror (using a washable marker or lipstick), the resulting shape resembles an upside-down triangle or a heart.

For the most accurate and effortless assessment, you can use our AI-powered face shape detector, which analyzes your facial proportions using a Swin Transformer model (Liu et al., 2021) and provides confidence scores for each of the six face shape categories.

Best Hairstyles for Heart Face Shape

The primary styling goal for a heart face shape is to balance the wider forehead with the narrower chin and jawline. This is achieved by minimizing visual weight at the top of the face while adding volume, width, or interest at or below the jawline (Milady, 2022). The ideal hairstyle creates the illusion of more balanced proportions, bringing the face closer to the symmetry associated with an oval face shape.

Women's Hairstyles

Women with a heart face shape have a wide range of flattering options. The key is to direct volume and texture toward the lower half of the face:

• Side-swept bangs: Rather than blunt, straight-across bangs that create a horizontal line at the forehead, side-swept bangs cut diagonally across the face, softening the forehead width and drawing the eye downward. They are one of the most universally recommended styles for this face shape.
• Chin-length bobs: A bob that hits at or just below the chin adds visual width precisely where the heart face shape is narrowest. This creates the appearance of a fuller, more balanced jawline. Textured or slightly wavy bobs are particularly effective.
• Layered cuts with volume below the ears: Long layers that begin at ear level or below encourage the hair to flare outward around the jaw and neck, counterbalancing the width of the forehead. Avoid layers that start too high, as they can add volume at the temples.
• Long waves and curls: Loose, flowing waves that cascade past the shoulders create soft, rounded volume in the lower half of the face and draw attention away from the forehead. This is a classic, romantic look that complements the natural elegance of the heart face shape.
• Deep side parts: Parting the hair to one side breaks up the forehead width and creates an asymmetric line that flatters the face. A deep side part paired with volume on one side is both modern and balancing.

Men's Hairstyles

Men with a heart face shape benefit from styles that reduce the visual prominence of the forehead while adding structure around the sides (Milady, 2022):

• Textured fringe: A textured, slightly messy fringe that falls across the forehead softens the width and adds a casual, approachable quality. The key is to keep it natural rather than heavy or blunt.
• Medium-length side part: A classic side part with medium-length hair on top creates a diagonal line across the forehead, reducing its apparent width. This style works well in both professional and casual settings.
• Longer styles that frame the face: Slightly longer hair, particularly around the ears and sides, adds width to the mid-face and jawline. This is especially effective when combined with natural texture or a slight wave.
• Layered medium-length cuts: Layers create movement and texture that prevent the hair from looking flat at the sides, helping to balance the proportions of the face. Avoid extremely short sides, which can make the forehead look even wider.

What to Avoid

Certain hairstyles can accentuate the top-heavy proportions of a heart face shape rather than balancing them:

• Slicked-back styles: Pulling the hair completely away from the forehead fully exposes its width, making it the dominant visual feature. This includes tight ponytails, high buns, and slicked-back undercuts.
• Heavy volume at the temples: Styles that add width or puffiness at the sides of the forehead make the upper face appear even wider. Avoid blowouts that lift the hair at the temples.
• Very short pixie cuts without bangs: Extremely short cuts that leave the forehead exposed can emphasize the taper of the face. If you prefer short hair, ensure there is some fringe or texture at the front.
• Center parts with flat hair: A center part on straight, flat hair can create a splitting line that draws attention to the width of the forehead on both sides.

Best Glasses for Heart Face Shape

Choosing the right eyewear for a heart face shape follows the same balancing principle as hairstyling: minimize visual emphasis on the forehead and add width or interest to the lower half of the face. According to eyewear selection guidelines (The Vision Council), frame shape, weight distribution, and color all play a role in achieving a flattering look.

Recommended Frame Styles

• Bottom-heavy frames: Frames that are wider or more detailed at the bottom draw the eye downward, creating visual balance. Look for frames where the lower rim is more prominent or has a thicker profile than the top.
• Aviator-style frames: The classic aviator shape, with its wider bottom edge and narrower bridge, naturally complements the heart face shape. The teardrop silhouette adds width at the cheek level and softens the forehead-to-chin taper.
• Rimless and semi-rimless frames: These lightweight, minimal designs do not add any visual bulk to the upper face. They sit subtly on the face without drawing attention to the forehead, making them a safe and elegant choice.
• Light-colored frames: Transparent, pastel, or light-colored frames are less visually dominant than dark or thick frames. They provide correction or sun protection without adding weight to the brow area.
• Round or oval frames: Gently curved frame shapes contrast with the angular taper of the heart face shape, softening the overall appearance. Round frames in particular add a vintage, balanced quality.
• Cat-eye frames worn low: While cat-eye frames can be flattering, they work best for heart face shapes when positioned lower on the face, so the upswept corners do not align with or accentuate the widest part of the forehead.

What to Avoid

• Top-heavy frames: Frames with thick brow bars, heavy upper rims, or decorative detailing at the top add visual weight to the forehead, which is already the widest part of the face.
• Decorative browline frames: The classic browline style, with its bold upper rim and thinner lower rim, draws attention upward. This is the opposite of what a heart face shape needs.
• Overly wide frames: Frames that extend beyond the width of the forehead exaggerate the top-heavy proportions. Choose frames that are approximately the same width as your cheekbones or slightly narrower than your forehead.
• Angular, geometric frames: Sharp, angular frames can emphasize the angular taper of the face rather than softening it. Opt for gentler curves where possible.

Fit Tips

When trying on glasses for a heart face shape, pay attention to the bridge fit. A frame that sits higher on the nose can make the forehead appear shorter, while a lower-sitting frame draws the eye downward. Nose pads that allow for adjustment are ideal, as they let you fine-tune the vertical position of the frames on your face.

Makeup and Contouring for Heart Face Shape

Contouring is one of the most effective techniques for visually adjusting the proportions of a heart face shape. The goal is to use light and shadow to narrow the appearance of the forehead while adding fullness to the chin and jawline (Milady, 2022). When done correctly, contouring creates a more balanced oval-like silhouette.

Contouring Strategy

• Contour the temples and sides of the forehead: Apply a matte bronzer or contour shade along the hairline at the temples and blend inward slightly. This reduces the apparent width of the forehead, which is the most prominent feature of the heart face shape. Blend carefully to avoid harsh lines.
• Contour below the cheekbones: A subtle contour under the cheekbones adds definition to the mid-face without widening the upper face. Start from the ear and blend toward the middle of the cheek, stopping about two finger-widths from the corner of the mouth.
• Minimize jaw contouring: Unlike contouring for a round face shape or square face shape, the heart face shape does not need jaw contouring. The jaw is already narrow, so adding shadow here would make the lower face appear even smaller.

Highlighting Strategy

• Highlight the chin: Apply a light, luminous highlighter to the center of the chin to draw the eye downward and create the appearance of a fuller lower face. This is one of the most impactful techniques for balancing a heart face shape.
• Highlight the center of the forehead: A narrow strip of highlighter down the center of the forehead (rather than across the sides) creates a vertical line that visually narrows the forehead rather than emphasizing its width.
• Highlight the under-eye area and cheekbone tops: A brightening concealer or highlighter under the eyes and along the tops of the cheekbones brings light to the center of the face, creating a balanced focal point.

Blush Placement

For the heart face shape, apply blush to the apples of the cheeks and blend slightly downward and outward toward the temples. Avoid applying blush too high on the cheekbones, as this can widen the upper face. A soft, rounded blush application on the apples creates a youthful, balanced look. Choose warm peach or rose tones that complement your skin tone rather than highly pigmented shades that create strong focal points on the upper cheeks.

Eyebrow Shaping

Eyebrow shape can influence the perception of forehead width. For a heart face shape, softly curved or gently arched brows are most flattering. Avoid very straight, thick brows that create a strong horizontal line across the widest part of the face. A soft arch lifts the eye and adds vertical movement, drawing attention away from the horizontal width of the forehead.

Celebrities with Heart Face Shapes

The heart face shape is well-represented among Hollywood celebrities and public figures. Studying how these individuals style their hair, choose eyewear, and present themselves can provide practical inspiration for anyone with this face shape. Here are some notable examples:

These celebrities demonstrate that the heart face shape is naturally photogenic and versatile. The combination of a wide forehead, high cheekbones, and a refined chin creates a face that photographs well from many angles and suits a broad range of styles.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Heart Face Shape

References

1. Farkas, L.G. (1994). Anthropometry of the Head and Face (2nd ed.). Raven Press.
2. Farkas, L.G., Katic, M.J., & Forrest, C.R. (2005). International anthropometric study of facial morphology in various ethnic groups/races. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 16(4), 615-646.
3. Liu, Z., Lin, Y., Cao, Y., Hu, H., Wei, Y., Zhang, Z., Lin, S., & Guo, B. (2021). Swin Transformer: Hierarchical Vision Transformer using Shifted Windows. Proceedings of the IEEE/CVF International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV), 10012-10022.
4. Milady (2022). Milady Standard Cosmetology (14th ed.). Cengage Learning.
5. The Vision Council. Consumer Guide to Eyewear Selection. thevisioncouncil.org.