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Also called: pear-shaped face

Triangle face shape

Line drawing of a typical triangle face with forehead, cheekbone, jaw and length measurement lines
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Jaw wider than the forehead, so the face broadens from the temples down to the jawline. On proportions alone our engine ranks the curtains / middle part, quiff and mod cut highest for men and the curtain-bang layered cut, shag and butterfly cut for women.

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What does a triangle face look like?

Length ÷ width
about 1.2 to 1.4
Widest point
the jaw
Forehead ÷ jaw
about 0.9 or less (jaw wider)
Jaw corner
often angular

Even a textbook triangle face is a mix

Our engine’s own reading of the face drawn above:

  • Triangle69%
  • Oval31%

Face-shape labels are fuzzy. We score on measurements.

The seven shapes are a stylists' convention, not a validated classification. Charts draw the lines in different places, and judging by eye is unreliable: in one study, visual face-type calls agreed with caliper measurements at a kappa of just 0.19.

The best published face-shape classifier reached about 85% accuracy on noisy photos. So we don't hand you one label. We show your shape as a mix, like 62% oval and 25% oblong, and our scorer never uses the label at all.

Proportions are also only part of the story. Your texture, density and hairline decide what a cut can physically do, so they carry more weight than face geometry.

What stylists aim for

Widen the top half: volume on top and at the temples, and keep bulk away from the jawline.

Stylist rule of thumb

Triangle vs square and round face: how to tell them apart

The shapes most often confused with a triangle face, with the proportions that define each. A length ÷ width of 1.0 means as long as wide.

Triangle face shape compared with square and round
ShapeLength ÷ widthWidest pointForehead ÷ jawAlso look atHow to tell it from triangle
Triangle (this page)about 1.2 to 1.4the jawabout 0.9 or less (jaw wider)often angular
Squareabout 1.0 to 1.25none; widths are evenclose to 1.0sharp and angular (high angularity)A square face keeps forehead and jaw about even; in a triangle the jaw clearly wins.
Roundabout 1.0 to 1.2the cheeksclose to 1.0soft and curved (low angularity)A round face is widest at the cheeks with a soft jaw.

All seven shapes side by side, and a free check of your own proportions: face shape detector.

Haircuts ranked for triangle proportions

Our scorer’s ranking on proportions alone, for the textbook triangle face above. Proportions are about 15% of a real score; your hair type, thickness and hairline decide more, so your own list can look quite different.

Men's cutsProportions only

  1. 01Curtains / middle partMedium · best on straight to wavy hairVolume at the temples widens a narrower forehead.When it doesn’t work: A prominent nose; an off-centre front cowlick; hidden from hairline stage 2.
  2. 02QuiffMedium · best on straight to wavy hairAdds height on top, which balances a shorter, wider face.When it doesn’t work: Long or oblong faces; fine, low-density hair; hidden from hairline stage 3.
  3. 03Mod cutMedium · best on straight to wavy hairVolume at the temples widens a narrower forehead.When it doesn’t work: A low forehead, a round or short face (the fringe and side fullness shorten and widen it), fine hair (falls flat), a front cowlick, heavy glasses frames; possible with a caveat at hairline stage 3 and hidden beyond; trend-dependent (Janif 2014: rarer looks rate higher).
  4. 04Slick backMedium · best on straight to wavy hairAdds vertical length, which balances a shorter, wider face.When it doesn’t work: Hidden from hairline stage 2; a high forehead, a prominent nose or a long face are all on show.
  5. 05Classic taper (short back & sides)Short · best on straight to curly hairAdds vertical length, which balances a shorter, wider face.When it doesn’t work: Few — it is the default for a reason.
  6. 06PompadourMedium · best on straight to wavy hairAdds vertical length, which balances a shorter, wider face.When it doesn’t work: Hidden from hairline stage 2; long faces, high foreheads and fine hair.

Women's cutsProportions only

  1. 01Curtain-bang layered cutMedium · best on straight to wavy hairVolume at the temples widens a narrower forehead.When it doesn’t work: A very round, short face (end the bangs below the cheekbone); a front cowlick.
  2. 02ShagMedium · best on wavy to curly hairSofter lines and movement take the edge off a square jaw.When it doesn’t work: Very fine low-density hair; a round face if the volume sits at cheek level (move it to the crown); straight 1A–1B hair needs daily styling.
  3. 03Butterfly cutLong · best on straight to wavy hairVolume at the temples widens a narrower forehead.When it doesn’t work: Fine low-density hair, 3C+ hair, no heat tools (it needs a blowout).
  4. 04Long pixie / bixieShort · best on straight to wavy hairSofter lines and movement take the edge off a square jaw.When it doesn’t work: Very thick, coarse hair needs debulking.
  5. 05Wolf cutMedium · best on wavy to curly hairAdds fullness at the temples, which balances a jaw that is wide next to the forehead.When it doesn’t work: Fine low-density hair, round faces, a conservative look; trend-dependent (Janif 2014: rarer looks rate higher).
  6. 06Curly rounded cut (Deva-style)Medium · best on curly hairSofter lines and movement take the edge off a square jaw.When it doesn’t work: Round or wide faces (keep volume on top, not at the sides); if you often straighten, the curly shag suits better.

The full top 10 with guard numbers, upkeep and when each cut doesn’t work: men’s cuts for triangle-shaped faces and women’s cuts for triangle-shaped faces.

What is different about the triangle list

In the men's list, Side part / gentleman's cut makes the proportions top 10 for triangle faces and for none of the other six shapes. Classic taper (short back & sides) is in the top 10 for all seven shapes, so it says little about triangle faces in particular.

In the women's list, Curly shag (Rezo-style) makes the proportions top 10 for triangle faces and for none of the other six shapes. Long pixie / bixie is in the top 10 for all seven shapes, so it says little about triangle faces in particular.

The top picks for triangle-shaped faces, rendered

Reference pictures of the highest-ranked cuts on our synthetic cast. Tap one for the full spec.

Checking by hand

Possible, but people tend to overestimate their face's width and underestimate its length. A photo taken at arm's length also distorts it, so stand back or use a timer.

  1. 1

    Pull your hair back

    Forehead, hairline and ears visible. Neutral expression, looking straight ahead.

  2. 2

    Measure four lines

    Forehead width, cheekbone width at the widest point, jaw width at the jaw corners, and length from hairline to chin.

  3. 3

    Divide

    Length ÷ cheekbone width, and forehead ÷ jaw. Compare with the ranges in the tables above.

  4. 4

    Look at the jaw corner

    A sharp angle points to square or triangle; a curved one to round, oval or heart.

Triangle face shape: questions

Is a pear-shaped face the same as a triangle face?
Yes. Both names describe a jaw that's wider than the forehead.
What should a triangle face avoid?
By convention: heavy volume at jaw level, like a blunt chin-length bob, and skin-tight temples with nothing on top.
Which cuts work for a wide jaw?
Cuts that add height or width above the ears tend to score well on proportions: textured tops, side parts, quiffs and layered lengths that start above the jaw.
How do I know if I have a triangle face?
Compare your jaw with your forehead on a straight-on photo with your hair pulled back. If the jaw is clearly the widest part, the forehead is about 10 to 15% narrower than the jaw, and the cheekbones sit between the two, it is a triangle. If the forehead is the wider one, it is a heart.
Should a triangle face wear its hair short at the sides?
Very tight sides expose the full width of the jaw, so many stylists keep some length or texture at the sides and build height on top instead. If you like the jaw, tight sides are a valid choice: it is a preference, not a rule.
How do I know if I have a triangle face?
Use the free face shape detector: it measures your proportions in your browser in about 10 seconds, and your photo never leaves your phone. You'll get your shape as a mix with a confidence level, plus three cuts that fit your proportions.

The other six shapes

Want the list for your hair, not a textbook face?

The free analysis adds your hair type, thickness and hairline and names your best fit, with the reason. Members get every pick explained, on their own face.

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