How to Pick the Right Frames For Your Face

You love styles, you love glasses, but do you love the good looks you get from your frames?

Before jumping into buying any eyeglass because of its good looks, most people don’t know or probably forget to consider the essential feature before going for the frame. Due to that, nice looking glasses can sometimes look opposite on an individual face. The important feature? ‘Face Shape’

Glasses can only look good on you if the shape of the frame contrasts with the shape of your face. There are a variety of face shapes, and you can quickly know which category you belong to by measuring the length of your face (from your hairline to the bottom of your chin) and the width of your face (at the cheekbones from not ear to ear). Another easy local method of knowing your face shape is by looking at yourself in a mirror and outlining the shape of your face on the mirror using lipstick, washable mascara, eye-shadow, or anything cleaned easily after you are done. Make sure you get your hair off your face before doing any of the methods.

Before I continue to tell you the perfect frame based on your face type, here is a list of some of the different face shapes

• Circle/Round-Shaped Face
• Diamond-Shaped Face
• Heart-Shaped Face
• Oblong Face
• Oval-Shaped Face
• Square-shaped Face
• Rectangular Face
• Triangle/Pear-Shaped Face

One of the aims of glasses is to upgrade our looks. So use this as a guide to know which frame will best upgrade your unique looks.

Circle/Round-Shaped Face

The round-shaped face has a feature of a broad jawline which is as wide as the forehead, wide cheeks, soft chin, and a common part of the face being as wide as it is long (proportional in length and width). If your face contains all these features, then no doubt you have a round-shaped face, similar to celebrities like Chrissy Tiegen and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Frames with strong angular shapes like the rectangular frame, D and cat-eye frame are the best fit for this category of people. It softens the shape, brings out that virtue, and add structure to the face. Moreover, go for wider frames than they are tall, frames that the bottom hits right above the cheeks. Also, avoid the circular, small and rimless frames because they might stress the roundness of your face.

Diamond-Shaped Face

People with this face have common features of a narrow forehead and a narrow jawline with broad cheekbones. The face is longer than it is wide, and just like the precious stone, this face is also rare to find.

Frames with detailing and a typical brow line are a good option for this type of face. The frames will accentuate the eyes and softens the cheekbones. Round, oval or rimless frames will suit the softer, more feminine shape. The least appreciative frames for people with a diamond-shaped face are the boxy rectangle/square or straight across frame because they will emphasise the widest part of the face rather than enhance it.

Heart-Shaped Face

This is a difficult face to identify; some people with this type of face can’t even tell if they are under this category. A broad forehead and a narrow jaw is its main feature. The chin is narrow then gradually widens up towards the forehead. Why it is difficult to identify is because most people bring cheekbones into consideration. You may or may not have cheekbones because the main focus is that the forehead is wider than the jawline. The face is longer than it is wide.

Frames that are a little bit wider than the forehead are best for this face shape. The rectangular-shaped frame is a good choice because it adds balance to the lower part of the face. Rimless frame, thin or clear plastic always looks “wow” on people with this type of face. Avoid square and oval-shaped frames. You might as well avoid heavy and frilled glasses as they might devastate your face.

Oblong Face

A type of face that is longer than it is wide. The outline of the face looks like a tall rectangle containing circular corners. Oblong faces also have broad jaws, wide foreheads and cheekbones.

With this type of face, you should avoid any too small and short frame. Instead, wear oversize glasses, go for wider frames than your face—glasses with shapes that are rounder with more depth. 

Oval-Shaped Face

The forehead, jaw and chin are all balanced. The face is longer than wide but with a more curve to the sides than the oblong face with a tapering jawline and a softer chin.

This face matches almost any type of frame when it comes to frames. It is pretty unique; you can enhance your delicate features with practically any kind of frame. Advisingly, try rectangle and square-shaped frames because it adds a little bit of structure to this soft face. The only frames to avoid are oversized.

Square-shaped Face

A broad forehead and prominent solid jaw, with a face as broad as it is long, are the features of this face. Cheekbones may also be noticeable but not wider than the forehead or jawline. The primary part of this face is the prominent strong jawline. Celebrities like Olivia Wilde and Josh Hutcherson are good examples of people with this type of face.

Soft, more round frames that sit high on the nose are the best option for people of this category; these frames will soften the lines of the face. Cat eyes frames are also a good match for people with this face as it enhances the shape of the face and adds more softness. Frames to avoid with this face are the rectangular or square frames, which will only intensify the angles of the face. In addition, you should avoid any heavy around the eye frames with this type of face to keep it well built without being overwhelmed.

Rectangular Face

This face is very similar to the square-shaped face because they both have the common features of the forehead and strong jaw with the cheekbones in line with the forehead and jaw. What differentiates the two is that the rectangular-shaped face is longer than wide, unlike the square-shaped face.

The best match for people with this face is the curvy and oval-shaped frames, and similar frames a square-shaped face person would rock. However, frames should contrast with the shape of the face, so the rectangle and square-shaped frames should be avoided. Don’t go for any too-small frame because the wider the frames, the more flattering.

Triangle/Pear-Shaped Face

If you have a broad jawline, wide around the chin and cheeks area that narrows down towards the forehead, then you belong to this category.

Brow-line, cat eyes and frames that are heavily accented with colour and detailing on the top half (brow) of the frame are the best frames for this category because they add a little bit of balance to a more narrow forehead. Aviators can also be a good option for this category because they are a universal accessory. Unfriendly frames for this type of face are the wayfarer, oversize and square because they don’t balance the lower and upper parts of the head.

Don’t feel bad if you can’t find your category up there. There are more face shapes than just these, but whatever type you belong to, here are two points to consider before choosing a frame.

• The more angular your face is, the rounder the frames you should go for.
• The rounder your face is, the more angular the frames you should go for.