Once you know what to look for, a triangle face becomes easy to identify at a glance, without ever needing a tape measure. Also called a pear shape, a triangle face is narrow through the forehead and temples and widens progressively down through the cheekbones to a broad jawline — the inverse of a heart shape. The jaw is typically the single widest measurement on the face.
The Fastest Visual Checks
The fastest visual checks, in order: First, look at the jawline — on a triangle face it the face's widest point, often strong or square. Second, compare forehead and jaw width side by side — Jaw is the widest point; forehead is noticeably narrower than the jaw. Third, check the chin: can be broad or squared, continuing the jaw's width. Any two of these three checks agreeing is usually enough to confirm the shape without a full measurement.
What People Confuse It With
What people most often confuse it with: Triangle is most often misread when a photo is taken at a distorting angle (see our guide on photo distortion) or when hair is covering the forehead or jaw during a quick visual check — always pull hair back before making a visual call.