Finding out your face shape

I realised that my last post on face shapes didn't specifically give instructions on how to determine your face shape, but instead focused on what type of hairstyle suited which face shape.  So this post is more specific to finding out your face shape.

At first when introduced to the idea of face shapes, I wasn't completely sure on how to find out what my face shape was.  But after time I figured out how to do so and now I use a methodical approach.

Method:

This is ideal for those with longer hair - especially if you have a long fringe.  After washing your hair, slick back your hair so that your sides are tucked behind your ears and your fringe is no longer covering any of your face.  Think John Travolta in Grease Lightning.  Below is a photo example of Zac Efron with slicked back hair.  I apologize in advance - it was the best photo of 'slicked back hair' when I Googled it.

This will help reveal your face shape as your whole face is exposed.  Now you can look straight into the mirror or take a photo at eye level  - this is important that you have a front on shot with no angle.  Also look/take a photo when you have a neutral expression - smiling will make it slightly ore difficult to see defined shapes.

If you're not particularly sure about what face shape you have, it is best to take a photo so you can carefully consider what face shape you are - this is something that you want to get right since this bone structure will be with you for the foreseeable future. 

What I like to do to find out face shapes is to try to break down the face into shapes.  Sounds obvious right?  However, facial features draw my focus away from the face shape so what I do is shade in the shape of a person's face in paint.

1)  Firstly you have a front on face shape - try get the right size in order to make the process faster.

2)  Using thick lines on paint, draw an outline of your face.  I usually use a colour as opposed to black or white because personally it stands out more.  I've placed an example below.

3)  Next, you need to fill in the outline that you have created.  After time, by just doing the outline, you should be able to determine face shapes.

4)  Now if you look at picture above, you should focus on the area above the jawline because that is what really defines face shapes (except for oval because of the rounded chin).  This is because guys usually have a squarer jawline, so most are very similar.  Now you will be able to see a clear rectangle. If not, look below.

I will do one more example on this method.  Note that I had to try guess where his hairline was because he (Lee Jae Jin) has a long fringe, which is why it is easier with slicked back hair.  That is why I can not say definitively whether he has an oval face.

 

For more on face shapes - specifically what hairstyles suit which face shape, see this post.