Face Shape
Triangle
Narrow forehead, wider jawline
The proportion rule
Jaw widest · narrow forehead · expanding downward
What is a triangle face shape?
A triangle face shape (sometimes called pear-shaped) has a narrower forehead and a wider, often heavier jawline — the inverse of a heart shape. The face appears to widen from top to bottom. The styling goal is to add width at the forehead (volume on top, side-swept bangs), slim the jaw (chin-length cuts), and emphasize the upper face with top-heavy accessories. Minnie Driver and Kelly Osbourne are commonly cited triangle-faced celebrities.
How to identify a triangle face
- Pull your hair back and look at your face from straight on.
- If your jaw is the widest part of your face and your forehead is narrower — you have a triangle face.
- The face appears to widen from top to bottom.
- Cheekbones are typically medium width — between the forehead and jaw.
- Jawline may also feel heavier or fuller than the rest of the face.
Defining signals
The four geometric markers that place you in this shape.
| Forehead | Narrow, often the smallest part of the face |
| Cheekbones | Medium width, between forehead and jaw |
| Jawline | Widest part of the face, full and strong |
| Face length | Slightly longer than width, expanding downward |
Hairstyles that flatter
- +Volume on top and at the temples
- +Side-swept bangs (widen the forehead)
- +Layered styles with fullness above the cheek
- +Pixie cuts and short crops with volume
- +Avoid one-length cuts ending at the jaw
Hairstyles to skip
- −Bobs and lobs ending at the jawline (emphasize jaw)
- −Center parts with flat hair
- −Slicked-back styles
Glasses
- · Top-heavy frames (cat-eye, bold brow line)
- · Aviators with strong tops
- · Oversized frames
- · Avoid heavy bottom rims
Necklines
- · V-necks · sweetheart · plunging (slim the jaw line)
- · Avoid wide boat necks and high collars
Earrings
- · Top-heavy studs and shorter drops
- · Skip wide chandelier earrings near the jaw
Triangle vs Heart
Triangle and heart are inverse: triangle is narrow at the forehead with a wider jaw; heart is wider at the forehead with a narrow chin.
| Trait | Triangle | Heart |
|---|---|---|
| Forehead | Narrow | Widest part |
| Jaw | Widest part | Narrow/pointed |
| Goal | Add width at forehead | Add width at chin |
| Best cuts | Volume on top, side bangs | Chin-length, side bangs |
| In a word | Bottom-heavy taper | Top-heavy taper |
Read the full Heart guide.
Triangle vs Square
Both have strong jaws — but square has equal width at forehead and jaw; triangle has narrow forehead and wider jaw.
| Trait | Triangle | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Forehead vs jaw | Forehead < jaw | Forehead = jaw |
| Best cuts | Volume up top | Soft waves at jaw |
| Goal | Balance bottom-heavy | Soften the angles |
| Best glasses | Top-heavy (cat-eye) | Round (soften) |
| In a word | Bottom-heavy | Strong-balanced |
Read the full Square guide.
Celebrities with a triangle face
Images from Wikipedia.
Triangle face shape — frequently asked
- What is a triangle face shape? +
- A triangle face shape (sometimes called pear-shaped) has a narrower forehead and a wider, often heavier jawline — the inverse of a heart shape. The face appears to widen from top to bottom.
- How do I know if I have a triangle face? +
- Pull your hair back. If your jaw is the widest part of your face, your forehead is narrower, and the face widens visibly from top to bottom — you have a triangle face. Cheekbones are typically medium width, between the forehead and jaw.
- What hairstyles flatter a triangle face? +
- Volume on top and at the temples adds forehead width. Side-swept bangs widen the forehead visually. Layered styles with fullness above the cheek work well. Pixie cuts and short crops with volume flatter. Avoid one-length cuts ending at the jaw — they emphasize the wider jaw.
- What glasses flatter a triangle face? +
- Top-heavy frames balance the wider jaw — cat-eye, bold brow lines. Aviators with strong tops work. Oversized frames help. Avoid heavy bottom rims that emphasize the jaw.
- What necklines flatter a triangle face? +
- V-necks, sweetheart, and plunging necklines slim the jaw line visually. Avoid wide boat necks and high collars that draw attention to the wider jaw.
- What is the difference between triangle and heart faces? +
- They are inverse shapes. Triangle has narrow forehead and wider jaw (wider at bottom). Heart has wider forehead and narrow chin (wider at top). Look at where the face is widest.
- What is the difference between triangle and square faces? +
- Both have strong jaws. Square has equal width at forehead, cheekbones, and jaw with parallel sides. Triangle has a notably narrower forehead than jaw, with the face widening downward.
- What earrings flatter a triangle face? +
- Top-heavy studs and shorter drops draw the eye upward. Avoid wide chandelier earrings near the jaw that emphasize the wider lower face.
Three axes of style
Now find your color season and body archetype
Face shape tells you which hairstyles, glasses, and necklines flatter you. Color analysis tells you which palette flatters you. Kibbe tells you which silhouettes do. Run all three for a complete style picture.