What Is an Oblong Face Shape?
An oblong face is noticeably longer than it is wide, and its sides run fairly straight: the forehead, cheekbones and jaw are close in width. Many have a tall forehead or a long chin. It's also called a long face, or a rectangle face when the jaw is square.
Oblong faces are common. In Ollie's face scan of 4,032 celebrities, 12.1% came out oblong, with men slightly more likely (13.8%) than women (9%). Celebrities the scan measured as most likely oblong include Adam Sandler, Jon Bernthal, Paul Rudd, Glen Powell, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cindy Crawford and Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Oblong vs Oval: How to Tell
Both are longer than wide. The difference is the sides. An oval face curves: the cheekbones are the widest point and the jaw rounds off gently. An oblong face is straighter, with little difference between forehead, cheekbones and jaw, and it is usually longer overall. If your jaw is angular and the face is long, you're oblong (rectangle) rather than oval.
A tape measure helps: an oval face is roughly one and a half times as long as it is wide; an oblong face is longer than that. Not sure? The free face scan in Ollie Stylist measures your proportions in your browser and shows how likely each shape is.
Read more: Hairstyles for Long Faces That Add Width
The Rule for Long Faces: Add Width, Not Height
Everything that suits an oblong face follows one idea: make the face look a little wider and a little shorter. Width comes from fullness at the sides, waves, curls and layers around the cheekbones. Length comes off with a fringe, which shortens the forehead, and with cuts that end around the chin or shoulders instead of far below them.
What to avoid: lots of height at the crown, very long straight hair with a centre part, and tight sides with a tall top. All three stretch the face further.
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Haircuts That Suit an Oblong Face
For longer hair: a lob or shoulder-length cut with soft waves, curtain bangs or a full straight fringe, and layers starting at the cheekbones. A chin-length bob with volume at the sides is one of the most flattering cuts for a long face.
For men: a classic side part with some fullness at the sides, a textured crop with a fringe pushed forward, or a medium-length messy cut. Skip high fades with a tall quiff or pompadour. The full list is in hairstyles for long faces.
Read more: Face Shapes: The 7 Types and How to Tell Yours Apart
Beards and Glasses for a Long Face
A beard that is fuller on the sides than at the chin adds width; a long pointed beard adds length, so keep the chin area shorter. Light stubble or a short boxed beard both work.
Deep, wide frames with a strong top line cut the length of the face. Oversized, square or aviator frames work well; small, narrow frames make a long face look longer. Decorative temples (the arms of the glasses) also add width.