Oblong Face Shape

What Is an Oblong Face Shape?

The oblong face shape — also commonly referred to as a "rectangular" face — is one of the six primary face shape categories recognized in both clinical anthropometry and the beauty industry. What distinguishes it from other elongated face shapes is the combination of significant vertical length with relatively uniform horizontal width across the three key measurement zones: forehead, cheekbones, and jawline.

In anthropometric terms, research by Farkas et al. (2005) established that facial proportions can be measured and classified by comparing the ratio of face length (from the hairline to the lowest point of the chin) to face width (the horizontal distance across the cheekbones). For the oblong face shape, this ratio is typically approximately 1.75:1 or higher, meaning the face is at least 75% longer than it is wide. In some individuals, this ratio can reach 1.9:1 or even 2:1, creating a face that appears distinctly elongated.

The defining anatomical features of the oblong face shape include:

• Elongated face length — The vertical distance from hairline to chin is substantially greater than the horizontal width, creating a tall, narrow appearance.
• Uniform width — Unlike the oval face, where cheekbones are noticeably wider than the forehead and jaw, the oblong face maintains roughly the same width at all three measurement points. This produces straight or nearly straight sides.
• Moderate jawline — The jaw is neither strongly angular (as in a square face) nor prominently tapered (as in a heart face). It tends to be relatively straight with softened angles.
• Tall forehead — Many individuals with an oblong face shape have a visually prominent forehead that contributes to the overall vertical length.
• Longer chin and lower face — The distance from the lips to the bottom of the chin is often longer than average, adding to the vertical emphasis.

Oblong vs. Oval: Key Differences

The oblong and oval face shapes share the trait of being longer than they are wide, which is why they are sometimes confused. However, the two shapes differ in important ways. The oval face tapers gradually at both the forehead and chin, with the cheekbones serving as the clear widest point. This creates a gently curved, egg-like silhouette. The oblong face, by contrast, maintains a more uniform width from top to bottom, with straighter sides and less tapering at the forehead and jaw. The length-to-width ratio is also typically higher in the oblong face than in the oval.

Oblong vs. Square: Key Differences

The oblong face shape and the square face shape both feature relatively uniform width across the forehead and jaw. The critical distinction is in the length-to-width ratio. A square face has a ratio close to 1:1, meaning the face is roughly as wide as it is long. The oblong face, on the other hand, is significantly longer. Additionally, the square face tends to have more defined, angular jaw corners, while the oblong face may have softer jaw angles due to the way the vertical length stretches the overall contour.

How to Tell If You Have an Oblong Face

Determining whether you have an oblong face shape involves comparing a few simple measurements. You can do this with a flexible tape measure and a mirror, or by using our AI-powered face shape detection tool. Here is the manual method:

Step 1: Measure Your Face Length

Using a flexible measuring tape, measure the distance from the center of your hairline (or the top of your forehead, if your hairline has receded) straight down to the lowest point of your chin. Write this number down.

Step 2: Measure Your Face Width

Measure horizontally across the widest part of your cheekbones, from the outer edge of one cheekbone to the other. This is your face width. Next, measure across your forehead at its widest point (usually about halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline), and then measure across your jawline at its widest point.

Step 3: Compare the Measurements

If your face length is noticeably longer than your face width — specifically, if the ratio is approximately 1.75:1 or more — and your forehead width, cheekbone width, and jawline width are all roughly similar, you likely have an oblong face shape. The key indicator is the combination of elongated length with uniform width and straight sides.

Visual Cues

Beyond measurements, there are several visual cues that suggest an oblong face shape:

• Long forehead — Your forehead appears tall relative to the rest of your face, and bangs or fringe tend to make a dramatic visual difference.
• Straight cheeks — When you look at your face from the front, the sides of your face run relatively straight from the temples to the jaw, without the prominent cheekbone curve seen in oval or diamond faces.
• Elongated chin — The lower third of your face (from the base of the nose to the chin) appears longer than average.
• Narrow appearance overall — Despite having normal-width features, the face looks narrow because of the vertical dominance.

If you are uncertain, keep in mind that face shapes exist on a spectrum. You may find that your face has characteristics of both the oblong and another shape, such as oval or square. Our AI detector provides confidence scores for all six categories, which can help you understand where you fall.

Best Hairstyles for Oblong Face Shape

The primary goal when choosing hairstyles for an oblong face shape is to add horizontal width and reduce perceived vertical length. According to cosmetology principles (Milady, 2022), the ideal approach is to create the illusion of a more oval silhouette by using volume, layers, and framing at strategic points.

Women's Hairstyles

Women with an oblong face shape have a variety of flattering options that work to visually widen and shorten the face:

• Side-swept bangs — Bangs that sweep diagonally across the forehead are one of the most effective tools for shortening an oblong face. They visually cut the forehead length and draw the eye horizontally. Wispy, layered bangs work particularly well because they soften the look without creating a harsh horizontal line.
• Chin-length bobs — A bob that falls at or just below the chin adds width at the jawline and creates a more balanced proportion between the face length and the hairstyle. Adding waves or curls to the bob amplifies this widening effect.
• Shoulder-length cuts with side volume — Medium-length hair that is layered to create volume at the sides, particularly around the cheekbones and jaw, works well to counterbalance the vertical emphasis. Blow-drying with a round brush to push volume outward is a simple daily technique.
• Layered cuts that add width — Layers that begin at the cheekbone or jaw level create movement and volume in exactly the areas where an oblong face benefits most. Avoid layers that start too high, as they can create height at the crown.
• Soft waves and curls — Any texture that adds horizontal dimension is beneficial. Loose beach waves, roller sets, and even strategic use of a curling iron at the mid-lengths can transform a flat, elongating style into one that provides visual width.

Men's Hairstyles

Men with an oblong face shape should focus on styles that keep the top relatively close to the head while adding texture and horizontal interest (Milady, 2022):

• Fringe or bangs — A fringe that falls across the forehead shortens the face visually. This can range from a heavy, blunt fringe to a lighter, textured one depending on personal preference and hair type.
• Textured crops — A cropped cut with texture on top — think French crop or messy crop — keeps the top from adding too much height while providing visual interest. The key is texture rather than volume.
• Side-swept styles — Sweeping the hair to the side rather than straight up or back moves the visual emphasis horizontally. A side part with medium length on top, swept across the forehead, is a classic choice for this face shape.
• Medium-length styles with volume at the sides — Rather than a tight fade at the sides, keeping a bit more length and fullness around the temples and ears helps balance the vertical proportions.

Hairstyles to Avoid

Certain hairstyles can exaggerate the length of an oblong face and should generally be avoided:

• Extra height on top — Pompadours, tall quiffs, and high buns add vertical length and make the face look even longer.
• Very long, straight hair with no layers — Long, flat hair that falls straight down past the shoulders creates vertical lines that elongate the face further, without providing any compensating width.
• Slicked-back styles — Pulling the hair straight back exposes the full forehead length and removes any horizontal framing, which is the opposite of what benefits an oblong face.
• Very short buzz cuts or shaved sides — Extremely short styles remove any opportunity for the hair to add width, leaving the face's natural elongation fully exposed.

Best Glasses for Oblong Face Shape

Choosing glasses for an oblong face shape follows the same principle as hairstyling: add horizontal width and break up the vertical length. The right frames can make a significant difference in how balanced the face appears. Consumer guidelines from The Vision Council recommend selecting frames that contrast with, rather than mirror, the dominant proportions of the face.

Frame Styles That Work

• Wide frames — Frames that extend to the full width of the face, or even slightly beyond, create a strong horizontal line that counteracts the vertical emphasis. The wider the frames (within reason), the more effectively they balance the face.
• Aviator frames — The classic aviator shape is naturally wider than it is tall, and the teardrop lens shape adds visual weight to the mid-face area. Both metal and acetate aviators work well for oblong faces.
• Oversized frames — Large frames cover more vertical real estate on the face, which effectively shortens the perceived distance from hairline to chin. Oversized round, square, or cat-eye frames can all work for the oblong face shape.
• Decorative temples — Frames with bold, thick, or decoratively patterned temple arms draw attention to the horizontal dimension and add visual interest at the sides of the face.
• Top-heavy frames and browlines — Browline frames (also called clubmaster-style) have a strong brow bar that draws the eye upward and across, adding width at the upper portion of the face. This can help balance a longer chin or lower face.
• Frames with depth — Choosing frames where the lens height is proportional (not too tall and not too short) helps ensure the glasses break up the face vertically without simply echoing the elongated proportions. A lens height in the medium range is generally ideal.

Frames to Avoid

• Small, narrow frames — Tiny frames leave too much face exposed above and below, which emphasizes the length of the face rather than shortening it.
• Tall, narrow rectangular frames — Frames that are tall but not wide essentially mirror the oblong proportions, adding to the vertical impression rather than counterbalancing it.
• Frameless or semi-rimless styles — While these can work on other face shapes, on an oblong face they provide too little visual weight to meaningfully counteract the elongation.

Makeup and Contouring for Oblong Faces

Contouring and makeup techniques for the oblong face shape focus on the same fundamental goal as hairstyling and eyewear selection: visually shortening the face and adding horizontal width. These techniques use light and shadow to sculpt the perception of facial proportions (Milady, 2022).

Contouring Strategy

The contouring approach for an oblong face targets the two vertical extremes — the forehead and the chin — to bring them visually closer together:

• Contour the forehead hairline — Apply a contour shade (one to two shades darker than your natural skin tone) along the top edge of the forehead at the hairline. Blend carefully so there is no visible line, but the effect is to visually push the hairline downward, reducing the perceived forehead height.
• Contour beneath the chin — Apply the same contour shade along the underside of the chin and blend it down slightly into the jawline. This creates a shadow that visually shortens the lower face.
• Avoid contouring the sides — Unlike contouring for a round face, where you shade the sides to narrow the face, the oblong face should not be slimmed further at the sides. You want to preserve (or even enhance) the perception of width.

Highlighting

Highlighter should be used strategically to draw attention to the widest part of the face:

• Highlight the cheekbones horizontally — Apply highlighter along the tops of the cheekbones in a horizontal stroke. This brightens and draws the eye across the face, emphasizing the horizontal axis.
• Highlight the center of the face sparingly — A thin line of highlighter down the bridge of the nose is fine, but avoid extending it too far, as a long highlight stripe down the center of the face can reinforce the vertical length.

Blush Placement

Blush placement makes a meaningful difference for the oblong face shape:

• Apply blush horizontally — Place blush on the apples of the cheeks and blend it outward toward the temples in a horizontal direction. This creates a widening effect that balances the elongated proportions.
• Avoid sweeping blush upward — Applying blush in an upward diagonal toward the temples (a common technique for round faces) can create a lifting effect that makes an oblong face look even longer. Keep the direction horizontal or slightly downward.

Additional Tips

• Eyebrow shape — Flat, straight, or gently arched brows with horizontal emphasis help widen the face. Highly arched or peaked brows draw the eye upward and add to the vertical impression.
• Lip emphasis — Bold lip colors and techniques that make the lips appear fuller (such as slightly overlining) draw attention to the center-bottom of the face, which can help break up the elongated look.
• Eye makeup — Extending eyeshadow or eyeliner slightly outward past the outer corner of the eyes creates a widening effect that complements the overall goal.

Celebrities with Oblong Face Shapes

The oblong face shape is well represented among both male and female celebrities. Looking at how public figures with this face shape approach their styling can provide inspiration and practical ideas:

These celebrities demonstrate that the oblong face shape is versatile and photogenic. The common thread in their styling is the use of volume, texture, and horizontal elements to create visual balance with the natural vertical emphasis of their face shape.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Oblong 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.