Haircuts for a triangle face
The jaw is the widest line and the forehead the narrowest. The usual aim is to add volume at the top and the temples to balance the jaw.
How to tell if you have a triangle face
With your hair pulled back, compare the widths from top to bottom. On a triangle face, also called pear-shaped, the jaw is wider than the cheekbones and the cheekbones are wider than the forehead, so the face widens toward the bottom.
It's the opposite of a heart, which is widest at the top. A square face also has a strong jaw, but there the forehead is about as wide as the jaw; on a triangle the forehead is clearly narrower.
How we measure it
Our tool reads triangle when the jaw is more than about 1.06 times the forehead width and at least as wide as the cheekbones.
Why these cuts work
Volume up top balances width at the bottom. Lift at the crown, fullness at the temples and layers that start around the cheekbones widen the upper half of the face; a shag or a wolf cut builds that in.
Hair that is flat on top and full at the jaw, like a one-length cut that ends right at the jawline, adds weight where the face is already widest.
For men, fullness at the temples and volume at the crown are the usual advice, often with some length: a textured flow, a mid-length shag or curls with a taper. For facial hair, a moustache can lead with short stubble around it; some guides suggest skipping a full beard, which adds to the jaw.
Haircuts that suit a triangle face
For women
Shags and layers with lift at the crown.
For men
Volume up top, with some length.
Beards
A moustache with short stubble keeps the focus up; a full beard adds width at the jaw.
See all 14 men’s styles for triangle faces
Example photos are AI-generated. Open one to see it larger, or try it on your own photo.
What to avoid
One-length cuts that end at the jaw and tops slicked flat put the weight at the bottom. On men, a full, wide beard adds to the jaw.
Questions
What haircut suits a triangle face shape?
Cuts with volume at the crown and temples: a shag, a wolf cut, a graduated bob with lift at the back, or a shoulder-length mullet. For men, a textured flow, a curly top with a taper, or a mid-length shag.
How do I know if my face is triangle or square?
Compare the forehead and the jaw. On a square face they're close in width; on a triangle face the jaw is clearly wider than the forehead. In our measurement, a jaw more than about 1.06 times the forehead width points to triangle.
Is a triangle face the same as a pear-shaped face?
Yes. Guides use both names for the same shape: narrowest at the forehead, widest at the jaw. It is the opposite of the heart shape, which some guides call an inverted triangle.