Oval or oblong?

Both outlines can have rounded chins. Start at the cheeks and trace down. An oval sketch narrows in a continuous curve. An oblong sketch stays near its full width farther down before it turns toward the chin.

Hold the cheek width steady

These drawings share a scale. Compare the length of the sides between the cheek dots and the start of the lower curve.

Oval example

140 u 100 u
Face length 140 units · cheek width 100 units

140 ÷ 100 = 1.40. The sides turn inward just below the widest points. The lower half tapers gradually to a rounded tip.

Oblong example

174 u 100 u
Face length 174 units · cheek width 100 units

174 ÷ 100 = 1.74. The sides run nearly parallel for longer. Even with a similar cheek width and rounded chin, the extra vertical distance changes the silhouette.

These ratios describe the two illustrations. Faces fall between sketches, and there is no universal ratio that separates the two labels.

Check the marks on one photo

  1. Pick a front-facing photo at eye level and at a comfortable distance. A close selfie or a downward tilt can change the apparent proportions.
  2. Mark the same two outer cheek points for width, then the middle of the visible hairline and the tip of the chin for length. The detector estimates the upper forehead. Move the mark if you can see the hairline clearly.
  3. Divide face length by cheek width. Trace each side toward the jaw as a second cue. If hair covers the upper edge or the jaw turns out of view, use the mirror check or keep both outlines in mind.

When both sketches look familiar

Try two frames of similar width with different lens depths. The deeper lens covers more of the cheek area. Note which one sits comfortably when you smile and which outline you prefer above the cheek. You can make that choice even with a close face-shape result.