Oval faces
Longer than wide, with a gently rounded jaw. 7 face guides on EveryFaceShape so far.
An oval face is longer than it is wide, widest at the cheekbones, with a jaw that narrows to a softly rounded chin. Stylists say most frames, beards and brow shapes sit easily on it, so advice is usually about taste rather than balance. Older guides called it the ideal; that idea says nothing about beauty, and every face shape is as good as any other.
Frames and facial hair
Opticians suggest frames about as wide as the broadest part of the face, and say nearly any shape works: aviators, wayfarers, rectangles and rounds. Very deep or very narrow frames can change the balance. Barbers say most beard styles suit oval faces, from stubble to a full beard, and that a pencil or chevron moustache sits neatly. The choice is personal.
Makeup and brows
Makeup artists working with an oval face often keep contour light, following the natural cheekbone, and place blush on the apples of the cheeks. Softly arched brows follow the face's curve. Because the oval is used as a reference shape in many guides, much advice for other shapes is written as moving towards it, which is a convention, not a goal.
Famous oval faces face guides
Further reading
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Aviator sunglasses: Paul Evans, CC BY 2.0, source
- Wayfarer: Starman1984, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Van Dyke beard: Didier Descouens, Public domain, source
- Designer stubble: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Pencil moustache: Roland Godefroy, CC BY 2.5, source