Triangle Face Shape, How to Tell and What Suits It

A triangle face shape is widest at the jaw, with a narrower forehead and cheekbones that sit between the two in width. It is also called a pear shaped face. The jawline is usually strong and the chin broad, which gives the face a grounded, sturdy look in photos. Styling it is mostly about adding a little width at the forehead and temples.

What a triangle face shape looks like

These signs usually show up together.

• The jaw is the widest part. The face is broadest at the jaw corners.
• A narrower forehead. The forehead is noticeably narrower than the jaw.
• A strong jaw and a broad chin. The jaw line is defined and the chin is wide.
• Cheekbones in between. The cheekbones are wider than the forehead but narrower than the jaw.

How to tell if you have a triangle face

Check in a mirror, with a tape measure, or with our free face shape detector.

The mirror trace

1. Pull your hair back from your forehead, face a mirror and keep your head level.
2. Trace your outline on the glass with a washable marker or soap.
3. Step back. A triangle face traces like a pear or a triangle with softened corners, narrow at the top and widest at the jaw.

The tape measure

Measure across your forehead, your cheekbones and your jaw at the corners below your ears. If the jaw is clearly the widest and the forehead clearly the narrowest, your face is a triangle. If the three widths are close, look at the square face shape. If the jaw is soft and the face is as wide as it is long, look at the round face shape.

Best hairstyles for a triangle face

The aim is to add width and volume at the forehead and temples, so the top of the face balances the jaw.

Short hair

A pixie with volume at the crown and temples, or a short cut with longer, textured pieces on top, adds width at the top. Side swept bangs widen the forehead. Very close cropped sides with no volume on top make the jaw look wider.

Medium hair

A shoulder length cut with layers that start at the cheekbones adds width high on the face. A long bob with volume at the top works well. Blunt bobs that end right at the jaw put more width where the face is already widest.

Long hair

Long layers with volume at the crown, side swept or curtain bangs, and waves that start above the cheekbones all balance a triangle face. Very flat hair on top with fullness only at the ends adds width at the bottom.

For men

A longer, textured top with some height and width, a side part or a quiff all balance a strong jaw. Keep the sides a little fuller near the temples. Very tight sides with a flat top make the jaw look wider.

Glasses for a triangle face

Browline frames, cat eye frames and frames that are wider at the top add width at the forehead. Bold colors or details on the top of the frame draw the eye upward. Frames that are heavy at the bottom repeat the width of the jaw.

Makeup and contouring

Contour softly along the jaw corners to soften their width. Highlight the forehead and temples to add width at the top. Blush blended up toward the temples lifts the eye.

Beards and facial hair

A short, neat beard or light stubble keeps the jaw from looking wider. A beard trimmed shorter at the sides and a little longer at the chin narrows the bottom of the face. Very full beards at the sides add width at the jaw.

Triangle, square and round compared

Triangle faces are most often confused with square and round ones.

• A square face has a forehead, cheekbones and jaw of similar width.
• A round face is as wide as it is long, with soft cheeks and no clear corner at the jaw.

If your result sits between two shapes, try ideas from both pages.

A strong jaw, two ways

A wide, strong jaw is a striking feature, and plenty of people choose styles that show it off. Everything on this page is about choice. Add width at the top when you want balance, or keep the hair close and let the jaw lead. Our guide to the most attractive face shape explains why no outline is better than another.

Triangle face at a glance