Face shape guide
Triangle Face Shape
Narrower through the forehead, widening at the jawline — the reverse of a heart shape.
What is a triangle face shape?
A triangle face shape (sometimes called a pear or base-heavy shape) is narrowest at the forehead and widens steadily down to a broader, often angular jawline. It's effectively the mirror image of a heart-shaped face. // TODO(human-review): verify alternate naming ('pear') and general prevalence claims.
Key traits
- Forehead
- Narrow, often the narrowest point of the face.
- Cheekbones
- Moderate width, wider than the forehead but narrower than the jaw.
- Jawline
- Wide and often the most prominent feature, sometimes with visible angularity.
- Chin
- Can be wide or squared, contributing to the broader lower face.
- Length vs. width
- Varies by individual; the defining trait is the widening taper from forehead to jaw rather than overall length.
Often confused with
Triangle vs. heart
Heart faces are widest at the forehead and narrow toward the chin — the opposite taper of a triangle face, which widens toward the jaw.
Triangle vs. square
Square faces have a jaw that's similar in width to the forehead, while triangle faces have a jaw that's distinctly wider than the forehead.
Styling goals
Styling commonly aims to add visual width or volume near the forehead and temples to balance a broader jawline.
Hairstyles
Full guide →Do
- Volume at the crown and temples can help balance a wider jaw.
- Side-swept or full fringes can add visual width to a narrower forehead.
- Shorter styles that stay fuller on top and taper toward the jaw are frequently suggested.
Avoid
- Styles with a lot of width or volume right at jaw level can emphasize the width that's already there.
- Sleek, flat styles with no volume on top can leave the forehead looking narrower by comparison.
Glasses
Full guide →Do
- Frames with detail or color concentrated along the top edge, like browline or cat-eye styles, can add width to the upper face.
- Frames wider than the jawline can help balance the lower face's width.
Avoid
- Bottom-heavy frames can draw more attention to the jaw.
- Narrow frames that sit well inside the width of the jaw can make the lower face look even broader.
Necklines & accessories
Do
- Necklines that draw the eye upward and outward, like boat necks or structured collars, can add visual width to the shoulders and upper chest.
- Earrings with width or embellishment near the top of the ear can balance a narrower forehead.
Avoid
- Long, narrow pendants that point attention down toward an already wider jaw.
- Chunky statement pieces that sit right at jaw level can add emphasis where the face is already widest.
Beard styles
Full guide →Do
- Shorter, closely trimmed styles along the jaw and chin tend to avoid adding more width where the face is already widest.
- A bit of fullness kept higher, near the cheeks, can help balance a narrower forehead.
Avoid
- Full, bushy beards with a lot of width at the bottom can emphasize an already broad jawline.
Want to confirm your triangle 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
Is a triangle face shape the same as a pear-shaped face?
Yes — 'triangle' and 'pear' are generally used to describe the same face shape: narrow at the forehead, widening toward the jaw.
How is triangle different from heart-shaped?
They're opposites: heart-shaped faces are wide at the forehead and narrow at the chin, while triangle faces are narrow at the forehead and wide at the jaw.
What hairstyles help balance a triangle face shape?
Styles with volume at the crown and temples, plus fuller fringes, are commonly suggested to add width near the forehead and offset a broader jawline.