Face shape guide
Heart Face Shape
A wider forehead and cheekbones that taper down to a narrow, often pointed chin.
What is a heart face shape?
A heart-shaped face is widest at the forehead and/or cheekbones and narrows steadily down to a slim, sometimes pointed chin. Many people with this shape also have a slight widow's peak at the hairline, though that's not required to have a heart-shaped face. // TODO(human-review): verify widow's peak association — commonly mentioned but not universal.
Key traits
- Forehead
- Wide, often the widest point of the face, sometimes with a widow's peak.
- Cheekbones
- Prominent, close in width to the forehead.
- Jawline
- Narrows noticeably from the cheekbones toward the chin.
- Chin
- Narrow, often pointed, and clearly the narrowest point of the face.
- Length vs. width
- Varies, but the taper from forehead to chin is the defining proportion rather than overall length.
Often confused with
Heart vs. diamond
Diamond faces narrow at both the forehead and chin with the cheekbones as the widest point, while heart faces stay wide through the forehead and narrow only toward the chin.
Heart vs. triangle
Triangle faces are narrowest at the forehead and widest at the jaw — the reverse taper of a heart-shaped face.
Styling goals
Styling often aims to add visual width or fullness near the jaw and chin to balance the broader forehead, or to soften the forehead's width with coverage.
Hairstyles
Full guide →Do
- Chin-length or jaw-length styles with volume near the bottom can add visual width where the face narrows.
- Side-swept fringes can soften a wide forehead without a blunt cut-off line.
- Lobs (long bobs) that flick outward at the jaw are frequently recommended.
Avoid
- Styles with a lot of volume at the crown can emphasize an already wide forehead.
- Slicked-back styles with no fringe can leave the forehead fully exposed and more prominent.
Glasses
Full guide →Do
- Frames that are wider at the bottom, or light, rimless styles, can balance a narrower chin.
- Round or cat-eye frames with gentle curves tend to complement the taper of this shape.
Avoid
- Frames that are heavily decorated or thick along the top edge can draw more attention to the forehead.
- Very narrow frames can make the chin look even smaller by comparison.
Necklines & accessories
Do
- Scoop necks and necklines with some width at the collarbone can balance a narrow chin.
- Statement earrings that widen toward the bottom, like chandelier styles, can add visual weight near the jaw.
Avoid
- High, narrow necklines can draw the eye straight up to an already wide forehead.
- Earrings that taper to a point at the bottom can echo the chin rather than balance it.
Beard styles
Full guide →Do
- Fuller beard growth concentrated at the chin and jawline can add width where the face narrows.
- Rounded beard shapes that build out the lower jaw tend to balance a wider forehead.
Avoid
- Very closely trimmed or patchy styles right at the chin can leave the narrow chin looking even smaller.
Want to confirm your heart face shape?
Upload a photo to the Face Shape Detector for an instant estimate, then use the guidance above to style it.
Try the Face Shape Detector →Frequently asked questions
Do all heart-shaped faces have a widow's peak?
No. A widow's peak is common with this shape but isn't a requirement — the defining trait is the taper from a wider forehead/cheekbones to a narrow chin, with or without a peaked hairline.
What's the main difference between heart and diamond face shapes?
Heart faces are widest at the forehead; diamond faces are widest at the cheekbones with a narrower forehead and chin on both ends.
What hairstyles are usually recommended for a heart-shaped face?
Chin-length or longer styles with volume near the jaw, along with side-swept fringes, are frequently suggested to add balance near the chin and soften the forehead.