Face shapes

Square face: how to spot it and which haircut to choose

A square face has a forehead, cheekbones and jaw of similar width, with a clearly defined jaw angle. On men it's often an asset. On women, the usual goal is to soften the angles. Either way, a good cut balances straight lines with softer ones. 📏

Updated November 7, 2026 · By Julien Rayes · Version française

How to tell if your face is square

On a front-facing photo, check three things:

• Your forehead, cheekbones and jaw are about the same width.
• Your face length is close to its width. If it's clearly longer, it's more of a rectangle (long) face.
• The jaw angle, under the ear, is sharp and angular, not rounded.

Haircuts for a square face (women)

The goal is to soften the angles with movement:

• A soft layered cut or waves that frame the face.
• Lengths that fall below the jaw, not right at it.
• Curtain or wispy bangs rather than heavy, blunt ones.
• A side part, which breaks up the symmetry of the angles.
• Avoid a short, straight bob that stops at jaw level, because it makes the jaw look wider. 💇

Haircuts for a square face (men)

A square face suits structured cuts: a fade, a crew cut or a textured cut. Most men want to show off the jaw, and short sides with a short, neat beard that follows the jawline work well. To soften it instead, keep more length and texture on top.

Glasses and makeup

Round or oval frames contrast with the angles of the face, while very square frames sharpen them. For makeup, light contouring under the jaw angle and a bit of highlight in the center of the face soften the whole look. 👓

Softening a very wide jaw: with a doctor

When the width comes from very developed masseters (the chewing muscles), botulinum toxin injections can reduce them and slim the lower face within a few weeks. This is a medical procedure, to discuss with a qualified doctor. GlowUpTogether never recommends surgery.

Measuring your proportions

The GlowUpTogether scan measures your jaw angle and width and the width-to-height ratio of your face. It also suggests haircuts to try on your photo in the Style tab.

What our measurements show

Across 78 adult faces, jaw width reaches 90% or more of cheekbone width in 13 of them. Even in those faces, the cheekbones are still the widest part.

A square face is better recognized by a jaw almost as wide as the cheekbones than by three perfectly equal widths.

Measured on November 3, 2026 by the GlowUpTogether engine on 78 compliant front-facing photos (out of 102) from the Face Research Lab London Set (DeBruine and Jones, CC BY 4.0 license): 34 women and 44 men, median age 25. Method and limits (in French).

Frequently asked questions

What is the best haircut for a square face (women)?

A mid-length layered cut or soft waves that fall below the jaw, with wispy or curtain bangs.

Square or rectangle face: how do you tell the difference?

A square face is almost as wide as it is long. A rectangle face has the same angles but is clearly longer than it is wide.

Is a square face more attractive on men?

A defined jaw is often seen as masculine. But overall harmony, skin and body fat matter more than face shape alone.