How to choose glasses frames for your face shape
The short answer
Choose frames that contrast with your face shape. Angular frames (rectangle, square, geometric) suit round faces, and round or oval frames soften square, angular faces. Oval faces suit almost any shape. Then check the size: the frame should be about as wide as your face, your eyes should sit near the centre of each lens, and the bridge should rest on your nose without pinching or sliding.
How to find your face shape
Pull your hair back, stand about an arm's length from a mirror and trace the outline of your face on the glass with a bar of soap, or take a straight-on selfie. Compare three widths (forehead, cheekbones and jawline) with the length of your face from hairline to chin.
- Round: width and length are about the same, with full cheeks and a soft, curved jaw.
- Oval: longer than it is wide, with a jaw slightly narrower than the forehead and gentle curves.
- Square: forehead, cheekbones and jaw are similar widths, with a strong, angular jaw.
- Heart: a wider forehead and cheekbones, narrowing to a small or pointed chin.
- Oblong (long): clearly longer than it is wide, with fairly straight sides.
- Diamond: the cheekbones are the widest point, with a narrower forehead and jaw.
Most faces are a mix of two shapes. Go with the one that describes your jawline and the widest part of your face, because those matter most when you choose frames.
Glasses for a round face
Round faces look best in frames that add angles and length. Rectangle and square frames that are wider than they are deep make the face look longer and more defined, and geometric frames work well too. A strong or slightly upswept browline adds lift. Avoid small, perfectly round frames: they repeat the curve of the face and can make it look fuller.
Frame shapes to try: Rectangle · Square · Geometric
Glasses for an oval face
Oval faces are balanced, so most frame shapes suit them. Keep the frame about as wide as the widest part of your face and in proportion with your features: very oversized frames can overwhelm a small face, and very narrow ones look lost on a larger one. This is the face shape for experimenting, so aviators, cat-eye frames and bold round styles are all worth trying.
Frame shapes to try: Aviator · Cat Eye · Round · Square
Glasses for a square face
Square faces have a strong jaw and a broad forehead, so curved frames create balance. Round and oval frames soften the angles, and thin metal or semi-rimless frames keep the look light. Frames that sit slightly higher on the face draw attention up to the eyes. Avoid boxy, sharply angular frames that echo the jawline.
Frame shapes to try: Round · Oval · Semi-Rimless
Glasses for a heart-shaped face
Heart-shaped faces are widest at the forehead and narrow toward the chin, so the aim is to balance the top and bottom halves. Soft oval or round frames, light rimless and semi-rimless styles, and frames that are slightly wider at the bottom all work. Aviators, with their teardrop lenses, are a classic choice. Avoid heavy or decorated browlines that add more width at the top.
Frame shapes to try: Oval · Round · Rimless · Aviator
Glasses for an oblong (long) face
Long faces need frames that add width and break up the length. Choose frames with deeper lenses, a strong browline or bold temples, and make sure they are as wide as the widest part of your face. Square and round frames with some height suit oblong faces well, and so do aviators. Avoid small, narrow frames, which make the face look longer.
Frame shapes to try: Square · Round · Aviator
Glasses for a diamond face
Diamond faces have high, wide cheekbones with a narrower forehead and chin. Cat-eye frames, oval frames and frames with a detailed or curved browline add width at eye level and show off the cheekbones. Rimless frames are a subtle option. Avoid frames that are narrower than your cheekbones.
Frame shapes to try: Cat Eye · Oval · Rimless
Size and fit matter as much as shape
A frame in the right shape still looks wrong if the size is off. Three numbers printed inside the temple arm describe the size, for example 52-18-145: lens width, bridge width and temple length, all in millimetres. The easiest way to choose is to compare them with a pair you already own and like. Staying within 2 to 3 mm of those numbers is usually a good match.
When you try a frame on, check that:
- The frame is about as wide as your face at the temples, with no gap and no pinching.
- Your eyes sit near the horizontal centre of each lens.
- The bridge rests on your nose without sliding down or leaving deep marks.
- The arms reach your ears comfortably and don't press behind them.
With a strong prescription, smaller frames with rounder lenses keep the lens edges thinner and lighter.
Try frames on before you buy
Face-shape advice is a starting point, not a rule. Colour, skin tone, hairstyle and how you dress matter just as much, and the right frame is the one you feel good in.
At Qurrah you can take the AI style quiz for frame suggestions based on your answers and browse eyeglasses by frame shape, comparing each frame's measurements with a pair you already like. When you've found the one, order it online with your prescription lenses. Delivery is free in Cairo and Giza.
Frequently asked questions
What glasses suit a round face?
Angular frames such as rectangle, square and geometric styles that are wider than they are deep. They add definition and make the face look longer. Small round frames tend to make a round face look fuller.
What if my face is a mix of two shapes?
Most faces are. Choose based on your jawline and the widest part of your face, then try a few frames on. Compare each frame's measurements with a pair you already wear comfortably.
How do I know what frame size I need?
Look at the three numbers inside the arm of glasses you already own (for example 52-18-145: lens width, bridge width and temple length in millimetres) and choose a frame within a few millimetres of them. Every frame on Qurrah lists its measurements.
Do the same rules apply to sunglasses?
Yes. Sunglasses are often a little larger than optical frames, so also check that the frame isn't wider than your face and doesn't rest on your cheeks.
Does my prescription limit which frames I can choose?
Most frames take most prescriptions. With a strong prescription, smaller frames with rounder lenses keep the edges thinner, and progressive lenses need a frame deep enough to fit the reading zone. If you're unsure, message us on WhatsApp before you order.