A Quick Guide: How to Choose Earrings for Your Face Shape

Mariana is a writer living in Waterloo, Ontario. She loves using jewelry to add the perfect…

Shopping for jewelry can be overwhelming. Earrings are one of the accessories in your jewelry collection that can really elevate any outfit, or completely ruin it for you. Earrings can also enhance or hide certain facial features. That’s why this guide will teach you how to choose earrings for your face shape.


How to Know Your Face Shape

Before googling around your face shape, first measure your face. To do this, tie your hair back to see your entire face. Using a flexible measuring tape, measure four key distances of your face.

  1.  Forehead width: Measure the distance, from hairline to hairline, across the widest point of your forehead.
  2. Cheekbone width: Measure the distance above your cheekbone, from hairline to hairline.
  3. Jawline width: Starting at the base of your jaw, measure the distance along its edge to the middle of your chin. Continue to measure the other side or just multiply the first measurement by two.
  4. Face length: Measure from the center of your hairline to the tip of your chin.

Once you have made the above measurements, you’ll notice that some characteristics are more prominent. This will help you identify your face shape more objectively instead of just staring at your face in the mirror. 

Round Face Shape

round face

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People with round faces usually have a rounded hairline and the width and length of your face are essentially the same. Round faces also have rounded jawlines with very subtle angles. Drew Barrymore, for instance, is a celebrity with a round face shape.


Square Face Shape

square face

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On square faces, the hairline usually follows a straight line, and your forehead and jaw are the same widths. Square faces have minimal curves to the cheekbones. 

💡 Tip: One of the best ways to understand if you have a square face is to check if the side of your face follows a straight line from your jaw to your forehead. People with square faces also tend to have strong jawlines and their face is as long as it is wide.


Diamond Face Shape

diamond face shape

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Diamond face shapes consist of a smaller forehead width compared to the width of the cheekbones. People with this face shape tend to have cheekbones wider than their forehead and jawline. They also have a narrow chin area and their face length is about the same as the width.


Oval Face Shape

oval face

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Oval faces also have a forehead width smaller than the width of their cheekbones. However, they tend to have tall foreheads. Oval faces also typically have no sharp angles on the jaw or chin. For this face shape, the cheekbones are the widest part of the face, and the face is usually longer than it is wide.


Heart Face Shape

heart shape face

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On a heart-shaped face, the forehead is wider than the jawline. Many people with this face shape have a rounded hairline or a widow’s peak. Heart-shaped faces tend to have the same width for the cheekbones and forehead, which should be wider than the jawline. This shape also consists of a strong chin and a face slightly longer than it is wide.


Oblong Face Shape

oblong face shape

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Oblong faces have a hairline that follows a straight line. Their usually tall forehead is the same width as their jaw. 

People with oblong faces tend to have minimal curves, even on their cheekbones. The width of their cheekbones is about the same as the width of their forehead and jaw. They also tend to have a strong, square jawline. If your face is twice as long as it is wide, you most likely have an oblong face shape.


How to Choose Earrings for Your Face Shape

There are so many options when it comes to earrings. However, some earrings might be more flattering to your face shape than others. Now that you know your face shape, it will be easy to understand which earrings best suit you. 

Choosing Earrings for Round Faces

Since round faces have wider cheekbones and narrower foreheads and jawlines, dangling earrings are the best option. Long earrings elongate the face. 

💡 Our Verdict: If you’re round faced, choose earrings with a sleek and long build.

tiffany earrings

A great example is these Tiffany Victoria Vine drop earrings. Not only do these earrings look stunning, but they also bring an ethereal touch by taking inspiration from the natural world. Made of 18k yellow gold with round brilliant and marquise diamonds, this is a stunning option if you have a round face shape.

long chain earrings

For something more affordable, these long chain earrings by Jared are a beautiful option to use if you have a round face. They’re great for casual and fancier occasions since they have a minimalist vibe that can elevate any look. 

long hoop earrings

See 10 more earrings for round faces.


The Best Kinds of Earrings for Oval Faces

💡 Our Verdict: People with oval face shapes can wear any style of earring. If you want to bring attention to your high cheekbones, hoops, studs, or triangle-shaped earrings are a great option. 

The oval face is considered the ideal shape since it features natural angles that blend and provide an even distribution of facial features.

If you want to add hoops to your collection of earrings, these diamond hoops by the Blue Nile are a beautiful option. 

These earrings bring a unique twist to the traditional hoop by featuring it in an oblong shape. Plus, the beautiful diamonds add just the right amount of sparkle to complete any night-out look. 


How to Choose Earrings for a Heart-Shaped Face

Since a heart-shaped face consists of a wider forehead and a smaller chin, earrings for this face type should be more weighted at the bottom. This is because you will need to create some balance in your face. 

💡 Our Verdict: Teardrop earrings are one of the best options for a heart-shaped face. This type of earring will gradually become wider at the bottom, complimenting a heart face shape to perfection.

A great option is this gold teardrop earring from Kay Jewelers. These chic earrings are a beautiful way to elevate any outfit. They are crafted in 14K yellow gold and feature a minimalistic teardrop dangle design. 

teardrop earrings

Choosing Earrings for a Diamond-Shaped Face

💡 Our Verdict: Since diamond-shaped faces tend to have a lot of angles, avoid earrings that create sharp angles. Instead, go for earrings that soften your face’s natural angles. 

For example, teardrop earrings are a creative option. This type of earring brings more attention to your chin, which is the smaller part of your face. Studs also look great on diamond face shapes. 

sunburst earrings

These sunburst diamond studs by the Blue Nile are a beautiful option to add to your collection. The earrings are crafted in 14K rose gold and feature a vintage-inspired design. Every single diamond makes these small and stunning earrings look breathtaking. 

See 10 more earrings for heart-shaped faces.


How to Choose Earrings If You Have a Square Face

💡 Our Verdict: Square faces are symmetrical all-around and consist of a lot of sharp angles. So, earrings that soften your face’s natural angles are a great option. 

Hoops and circular studs are a great option for people with a square face shape.

twisted hoop earrings

These twisted hoops by Jared are a great and unique option. While hoops are very classic, these add a unique twist to them. Plus, who doesn’t love a little rose gold in their life? These 30mm hoop earrings are crafted in 10K rose gold and are a great addition to your jewelry collection. 


Which earrings are best for oblong faces?

💡 Our Verdict: Oblong faces are narrow and long, so you need to emphasize the width through your earring choice. If you are going for something more subtle, studs are a great option. 

However, if you want a bolder look, you can go for large hoops or an earring that features a large round shape. Teardrops also work very well for oblong faces.

heart hoops earrings

These heart hoops by Zales are a cute and unique earring option for oblong faces. The unique shape of the hoop creates enough drama to add to the width of your face. Plus, it adds a unique touch to the classic hoop earring. 


Choosing Earrings for Your Face Shape 

how to choose earrings for your face shape infographic

FAQs About Choosing Earrings for Your Face

What type of earrings make the face look slimmer?

Drop or dangle earrings are the best option when trying to make your face look slimmer. These earrings will help elongate your face. Also, try to avoid large circular earrings, hoops, and button studs, since these will make your face appear rounder and wider. 

Do big earrings make your face look smaller?

This depends on the earring itself. A big and long earring will help elongate your face. On the other hand, a big hoop will make your face appear wider. 

Usually, hoops and wider-looking earrings are great for people who have a narrower chin. Long earrings are great for people who have a round face shape to help elongate it. 

Do hoops look good on round faces?

Hoops should be avoided if you have a round face shape. However, if you really to add a pair of hoops to your earring collection, you can choose smaller hoops. 

Hoops 30mm or less are a great option for round faces, since they will not make a huge change to your face’s angles and shape. Plus, the angular style will be more flattering to a round face shape. For example, square or triangular-shaped hoops of any size will work for round faces. 

What earrings should I wear with a long face?

If you have a long face, hoops, studs, and short dangles are your best option. With long faces, it is important to not elongate the face with a teardrop earring. Instead, aim for earrings that will emphasize the width of your face, rather than the length. 


Find the Perfect Earrings 

Now that you understand your face shape, earring shopping will be much easier. Of course, you can wear any earring design you want. However, it will be much easier to understand why those teardrop earrings do not look as good as hoops if you have a longer face shape. 

Understanding face shapes is also a great skill to have when buying earrings for friends and family. Who knows? Maybe you will become the earring connoisseur of your friend group. The one person who always knows which earring will be perfect for every face shape. 

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