Heart face shape (inverted triangle)
The forehead is the widest point of the face, tapering through high cheekbones to a narrow, often pointed chin.
In one line: Forehead wider than cheekbones, cheekbones wider than jaw · a sharp chin point · F > C > J in the three width measurements.
How to tell
- The forehead is the widest of the three widths — the opposite of diamond.
- Cheekbones are prominent and sit below a relatively broad upper face.
- The jaw tapers sharply to a narrow, pointed chin.
- A widow’s peak is common but not required; the taper is the defining trait, not the hairline.
Check it yourself with a tape measure
- Measure F (forehead, at the widest point) and J (jaw).
- Heart if F is clearly larger than J — roughly 10% or more.
- Then compare the cheekbones: they should sit between the two, wider than the jaw but narrower than the forehead.
- If the cheekbones are the widest instead, check diamond.
Prefer not to measure? The face shape detector makes the same comparisons from a photo, inside your browser — your photo is never uploaded.
On the numbers above: the ratios quoted here describe tape-measure measurements — hairline to chin for length, and the widest points for the three widths. The photo tool derives its ratios from facial landmarks, which is a slightly different quantity, and its numbers typically sit a little lower than the ranges quoted here. Neither is wrong; they are two ways of drawing the same outline, and the measurement basis is stated so you can compare like with like.
Hairstyles
Works with heart
- Volume at the jaw — chin-length bobs, lobs, and layers that end at or below the chin.
- Curtain bangs and a side part, which break up the width of the forehead.
- Styles that add width lower down to balance the taper.
Works against it
- Heavy volume on top, which adds to the widest part of the face.
- Tight slicked-back styles that expose the full forehead width.
- Short crops that are fuller at the temples than at the jaw.
Glasses frames
Frames that balance
- Bottom-heavy frames, which add weight where the face is narrow.
- Rimless and thin metal frames, which keep the focus off the upper face.
- Aviators and frames that are slightly wider at the bottom edge.
Frames that repeat the geometry
- Cat-eye and other top-heavy frames, which widen the forehead further.
- Decorative or heavy brow lines on the frame.
Makeup
- Blush placed mid-cheek rather than swept high towards the temples adds visual weight to the lower face.
- A flatter, straighter brow visually shortens a wide forehead.
- Highlight down the centre of the chin brings the narrow point forward.
Easily confused with
Diamond
Both taper at the jaw, but diamond has the cheekbones as the widest point while heart has the forehead widest. It comes down to which of F and C is larger.
Oval
Oval tapers gently from the cheekbones; heart tapers sharply from the forehead. The chin point is the giveaway.
FAQ
Is a heart face shape the same as an inverted triangle?
Yes — the two names describe the same proportion: a face that is widest at the forehead and tapers to a narrow chin. Heart is the more common term in styling, inverted triangle in geometry-first descriptions.
What is the difference between a heart and a diamond face?
Which point is widest. In a heart face the forehead is widest (forehead > cheekbones > jaw). In a diamond face the cheekbones are widest, with both the forehead and the jaw narrower than the cheekbones.
Other shapes
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