The Rectangle Face Shape

How to recognize a rectangle face

A rectangle face is noticeably longer than it is wide, with a forehead, cheekbones, and jaw that run close to parallel — roughly the same width all the way down. The jaw is angular like a square, and the chin is often flat rather than pointed. The straight sides and the extra length are what set it apart. Some people call this shape oblong; they mean the same thing.

The defining comparison is rectangle versus square. Both are angular and have parallel sides, but a square is about as wide as it is long, while a rectangle is clearly elongated. If your face is long with a strong jaw and straight sides, it is a rectangle. The analyzer compares your length-to-width ratio to place you precisely.

Best haircuts for a rectangle face

The classic goal is to add the illusion of width and cut down on length — drawing the eye side to side rather than up and down. Height at the crown works against you here, so keep the top relatively flat.

• Fringes and bangs shorten the face by covering part of a long forehead.
• Waves and curls add width at the sides and soften the length.
• Chin- to shoulder-length cuts with volume around the cheeks broaden the middle of the face.
• Layers that build width, not height, keep the proportions in check.

Styles to approach with care: very long, straight, flat styles and tall volume at the crown both add length and can make the face look longer still.

Glasses and sunglasses

Frames with more depth (taller lenses) help break up the length of a rectangle face, and bold or decorative frames add width across the middle. Oversized and round frames both flatter, since they interrupt the long vertical line. Wayfarers with a strong top bar work well. Avoid narrow, short frames, which emphasize length and can look lost on a longer face.

Styling and grooming tips

For makeup, contouring along the top of the forehead and under the chin visually shortens the face, while blush swept horizontally across the cheeks adds width. For beards, keep length off the chin — fuller sides and a shorter bottom widen the face, whereas a long goatee lengthens it. Wider, rounded earrings and studs flatter more than long drop earrings.

Who has a rectangle face?

Rectangle faces are common among people known for elegant, angular, model-like features — the length reads as refined and photographs well. As always, "adding width" is a styling option, not a correction: a long, structured face is a genuine asset, and plenty of styles are designed to show it off rather than disguise it.

Want to be sure? Run the analyzer for your full breakdown, or compare with the square and oval guides — the shapes closest to a rectangle.

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Analyze your face to find your shape, or browse all six face shapes.