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Choosing the best earrings for your face shape

When it comes to clothes, hair and makeup, choosing the right fit, style, and colour compliments our natural beauty, builds confidence and celebrates our unique personalities. Jewellery is no different, and when it comes to earrings, there are styles that are more suited to different face shapes. When researching face shapes for this article, I found the tape measure method to be the most accurate. To find yours, follow the steps below;

Step #1: Measure: Before you start, tie your hair back, pulling your hair off your forehead so you can see your entire face. With a flexible measuring tape in hand, measure the four key distances of your face as listed below.

  1. Forehead Width: Measure the distance across your forehead at the widest point, from hairline to hairline.
  2. Cheekbone Width: From your hairline above your cheekbone, measure the distance across your face to the same spot on the other side.
  3. Jawline Width: Start at the base of your jaw (underneath your ears). Measure the distance along the edge of your jaw until you reach the middle of your chin. Continue to measure the other side or simply multiply that number by two.
  4. Face Length: Begin measuring at the centre of your hairline, all the way down, until it reaches the tip of your chin.

Step #2: Consider Your Facial Features: If you answer “yes” to the first question below, move to the next. If you answer “no” to any of the questions, skip to the next face shape.

If none of your measurements perfectly align with a specific category, you’re not alone (aka, J.Lo), so you will fall into a blend. Many people don’t fit into just one face shape category and end up being a combination (the most common fusion is rectangular and oval), although other mixtures are totally possible.

Let’s determine your face shape and explore which style earrings complement which face shapes;

Oval Face Shape;

  • Forehead: Is the width of your forehead smaller than the width of your cheekbones? Do you have a tall forehead?
  • Cheekbone: Are your cheekbones the widest part of your face?
  • Jawline: Do you have no sharp angles on your jaw or chin?
  • Face: Is your face longer than it is wide?

It’s best to avoid very narrow, long earrings, making the face look drawn or over-elongation. Opt instead for studs, huggies, hoops, or chandelier-style earrings that draw attention to the cheekbones.

Round Face Shape;

  • Forehead: Is your forehead rounded at the hairline?
  • Cheekbone: Is the width of your face essentially the same as the length?
  • Jawline: Is your jawline rounded with very subtle angles?

Avoid hoops and rounded earrings, and focus more on long, dangling styles, lengthening the facial silhouette as opposed to widening it.

Square Face Shape;

  • Forehead: Does your hairline follow a straight line? Is your forehead essentially the same width as your jaw?
  • Cheekbone: Are there minimal curves to your cheekbones? Do the sides of your face follow a straight line from your jaw to your forehead? Is the width of your cheekbones about the same as the width of your forehead and jaw?
  • Jawline: Do you have a strong, squared jawline? Do the sides of your face follow a straight line from your jaw to your forehead?
  • Face: Is your face about as long as it is wide?

Avoid square-shaped and angular earrings, and instead, choose rounded hoops or curvy-style earrings that flatter and soften the facial structure and jawline.

Rectangular Face Shape;

  • Forehead: Does your hairline follow a straight line? Is your forehead essentially the same width as your jaw? Do you have a tall forehead?
  • Cheekbone: Are there minimal curves to your cheekbones? Do the sides of your face follow a straight line from your jaw to your forehead? Is the width of your cheekbones about the same as the width of your forehead and jaw?
  • Jawline: Do you have a strong, squared jawline? Do the sides of your face follow a straight line from your jaw to your forehead?
  • Face: Is your face twice as long as it is wide? Does your face have a square resemblance but appear slightly longer? If you’re still having trouble deciphering between square and rectangle, you can often distinguish a rectangular shape from its straight/horizontal hairline, extended middle, and very defined/square jawline.

Stay away from long earrings that drop past your chin. The best choices for rectangle faces are studs, round and oval hoop earrings.

Heart Face Shape;

  • Forehead: Is your forehead wider than your jawline? Is your hairline rounded? Bonus: Do you have a widow’s peak (a V-shaped point in the hairline at the centre of the forehead)?
  • Cheekbone: Is your cheekbone width about the same as your forehead width? Are they both wider than your jawline?
  • Jawline: Do you have a narrow jawline? Does your chin have a strong point?
  • Face: Is your face slightly longer than it is wide?

Choose earrings that sit close to the face. Small to medium hoop earrings and teardrop-style earrings that are wider at the bottom, balance out the jawline.

Diamond Face Shape;

  • Forehead: Is the width of your forehead smaller than the width of your cheekbones?
  • Cheekbone: Are your cheekbones significantly wider than your forehead? Are your cheekbones wider than your jawline?
  • Jawline: Do you have a narrow chin area? Does your chin have a strong point? Is your cheekbone measurement wider than your jawline?
  • Face: Is the length of your face about the same as the width?

Avoid chunky earrings or earrings with a lot of volume at the top, making a diamond-shaped face look wider than it is. Instead, choose teardrop-style and larger hoop earrings to balance out and flatter the angles of this face silhouette, drawing attention away from wider cheekbones.

Now that we’ve covered the six main face shapes and earring styles, it’s important to remember that jewellery is very personal, and how we wear jewellery is a self-expression of who we are and what we love. Ultimately, the earrings you choose to wear are up to you.

Source credit: Dr Shafer@Real Simple Magazine; Charlie Teather@Glamour Magazine UK; Brook Shunatona@Cosmopolitan; Jean Haner@The Wisdom Of Your Face

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