Flattering Haircuts, Glasses, & Makeup for the Square Face Shape

What is the square face shape?

A square face is angular, straight, and the same length and width. Someone with a square face shape has a forehead, cheekbones, and jaw that are all about the same width. The length of the face is also about the same size. Their facial structure is sharp and angular with a strong jawline and defined cheekbones. Female celebrity examples: Olivia Wilde, Zendaya, Lucy Liu, Angelina Jolie Male celebrity examples: Michael B. Jordan, Henry Cavill, Charles Melton, Daniel Radcliffe

How to Tell You Have a Square Face Shape

Measure the width of your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw. Use a flexible measuring tape to measure the widest point of your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. Then, measure the length of your face. To determine your face shape, simply compare all of your measurements. If you have a square face shape: Your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline should be a similar width. Your face is about as long as it is wide. If you don’t want to get out a measuring tape, certified professional makeup artist Anjuli Yera, MD recommends dividing your face into top and bottom halves. Determine the shape of the top half (square, rounded, diamond, etc.) and then look at the bottom half. Simply put the halves together to find your overall shape. If your face doesn’t match the description of the square face shape, don’t worry—you probably just have a different shape! The other face shapes include the rectangle/oblong, round, heart, oval, diamond, pear/triangle, and inverted triangle. Still not sure what face shape you have? Try out our Face Shape Quiz!

Women’s Hairstyles for a Square Face Shape

Opt for styles that add softness and length. Hairstyles that soften your sharp, angular features help flatter and balance your face shape. Longer cuts also draw attention away from your jawline and add length to your face. In general, avoid blunt, chin-length bobs, as this accentuates your angularity. Of course, feel free to emphasize your strong features—you’ve got the bone structure to do it! Some flattering styles include: Curtain bangs or side-swept bangs: Soft and wispy bangs, like curtain or side-swept, add movement and round out your face to help it appear more balanced. Long layers: Layers add softness and dimension to your face. Plus, the extra volume is very flattering. Just ensure that the layers start below your jawline to keep it balanced. Butterfly cut: The butterfly cut is a super layered style that’s complemented by soft curtain bangs. Keep the curtain bangs at or above your cheekbones and make sure the first layers start below your chin. Shag cut: The shag is another ultra-layered cut. It has lots of short, choppy layers, which help add volume and softness to your face. Add a wispy bang for an even more flattering look. Textured bob: Bobs look great on square face shapes! Just ask your stylist to keep the length a little below your chin to balance it out and to make the cut with a razor for extra softness. Add a bit of texturizing spray to help relax your features, too. Curved lob: Ask your stylist to cut your hair around shoulder length and at a slight curve so the ends sweep toward your neck. To style, use a round brush to curl the ends inward even more. The rounded shape helps to soften your jaw and highlight your cheekbones. Tousled pixie: Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t rock short hair! A super short pixie highlights your beautiful bone structure. Just ask for lots of layers to give your hair a wavy, tousled look that softens your face. Deep side part: The asymmetrical look draws attention away from your angular features and adds an elegant and soft touch to your look. Plus, it adds lots of volume to your hair. Tight curls: Tight curls create a more rounded shape, which helps your face look more balanced. Plus, their extra volume and softness are super flattering. Simply use a small barreled curling iron or wand to get the look. Beachy waves: Loose, beachy waves are another great way to add softness, dimension, and movement to your face. To get the look, curl your hair with a large barreled curling iron or wand, braid your hair overnight, or spritz your locks with sea salt spray.

Men’s Hairstyles for a Square Face Shape

Choose styles that soften your face or highlight your features. If you want to bring more balance to your face, opt for cuts with lots of texture to soften your features. Or, if you want to show off your sharp, angular jaw and cheekbones, go with styles that bring them to the forefront. Some great styles include: Textured crop: Keep your hair longer on the top with lots of choppy waves and go with a low taper on the sides. Then, run a texturizing cream or pomade through your hair to create a messy look that softens your features. French crop: This super trendy look highlights your angular features, which is super flattering. Keep your hair short on the top with a blunt fringe, and go with a low fade on the sides. Buzz cut: The buzz cut is another great style that shows off your chiseled cheekbones and jawline. For a trendier look, opt for a high fade on the sides. Textured quiff: Creating volume adds length to your face and softens your face shape, which is super flattering. Keep your hair long on top and use pomade to brush up your hair into a quiff. Simply blow-dry it to set the style. Wolfcut: The wolfcut is a layered style that adds lots of dimension to your look and softens your features. Keep your hair length medium to long and ask for lots of short, choppy layers. Add curtain bangs for a more balanced look that highlights your cheekbones, too. Looking for more ideas? Check out our article on the best haircuts for men with a square face shape.

Best Glasses Frames for a Square Face Shape

Choose round, oval, or cat eye frames to balance out your face. To balance out your sharp and squared features, opt for glasses or sunglasses that have a more rounded style. Round and oval frames are a great option, as well as cat eye frames with curved tops and bottoms. Choose neutral or lighter colors if you want to soften your features even more, or opt for bold and bright colors to draw attention to your great cheekbones and jawline. In general, square, rectangle, and geometric frames highlight your angular shape. If you want to highlight your chiseled features, these are great options!

Makeup for a Square Face Shape

Contour your temples, jawline, and cheekbones. Applying a bit of makeup can help soften your sharp features, giving you a more balanced look. Using a contour or bronzer a few shades darker than your skin tone, apply a small line of product along your temples, the corners of your jaw, and under the curves of your cheekbones. Then, use a brush or damp beauty sponge to blend out the contour so there aren’t any harsh lines.

Apply blush on the apples of your cheeks. Applying blush is another great way to soften your face shape and draw attention to your defined cheekbones. To find the apples of your cheeks, smile and grab the rounded, fleshy area of skin. Then, take your favorite blush and use a tapered brush to dab on the product. Sweep a bit of the blush upward to highlight your cheekbones.

Hats for a Square Face Shape

Wear floppy hats with soft brims. When choosing a hat, opt for styles that are less structured and a bit floppy to add softness to your face. For instance, beanies, berets, and newsboy caps are great choices. If you like brimmed hats, go with soft and floppy brims, like on bucket, fisher, and sun hats.

Jewelry for a Square Face Shape

Wear long and delicate earrings and necklaces. Adding length to your face is a great way to balance and flatter your squared features. Choose dainty dangle earrings with minimal embellishments to avoid adding more bulk to your face. Long, thin, and delicate chain necklaces also help to add length and balance to your face. Opt for styles with small, rounded jewels or designs to help soften your features, too.

Is the square face shape attractive?

Yes, the square face is considered an attractive face shape. In most cultures around the world, defined cheekbones and angular jawlines are considered very attractive traits in men and women. Symmetry and balance are also seen as signs of beauty, which the square face definitely has, too! So, people with this face shape tend to have a striking but harmonious look. According to personal stylist Julia Deshkova, all of the face shapes are beautiful, as “there is no most attractive face shape!” She says using the right shapes and colors for your face only makes your features more attractive.