Ever tried on a cap that looked amazing on someone else but somehow looked completely wrong on you? It's not your imagination—face shape plays a crucial role in how caps look. Understanding your face shape and which cap styles complement it can transform your headwear game from awkward to effortlessly stylish.
This guide will help you identify your face shape and discover which cap styles will look most flattering on you. While these are guidelines rather than strict rules, they provide a solid starting point for finding your perfect caps.
Identifying Your Face Shape
Before choosing caps, you need to determine your face shape. Stand in front of a mirror with your hair pulled back and examine the overall outline of your face, focusing on these key areas:
- Forehead width: Is it wider or narrower than your cheekbones?
- Cheekbone prominence: Are your cheekbones the widest part of your face?
- Jawline shape: Is it angular, rounded, or pointed?
- Face length: Is your face longer than it is wide, or more balanced?
Measure across your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw, plus from your hairline to chin. Comparing these measurements helps identify your shape more precisely than visual assessment alone.
Oval Face Shape
Oval faces feature balanced proportions—slightly wider at the cheekbones, with a gently narrowing forehead and jaw. If your face length is about one and a half times your face width, you likely have an oval shape.
Why Oval Faces Are Lucky
Oval is considered the most versatile face shape for hats and caps. The balanced proportions mean most styles will work well. You can experiment freely without worrying about emphasising or balancing particular features.
Best Caps for Oval Faces
- Classic baseball caps with curved brims look naturally proportioned
- Snapbacks with flat brims add a modern edge
- Dad caps with their relaxed fit complement the balanced features
- Fitted caps in any crown height work well
If you have an oval face, your main consideration is crown height. Try different heights to see what feels most comfortable and looks best with your hairstyle.
Round Face Shape
Round faces have similar width and length measurements, with full cheeks and a rounded chin. The hairline is typically curved rather than straight.
Styling Goals
The aim is to add some visual length and angles to balance the rounded features. Avoid caps that emphasise the roundness or make the face appear even wider.
Best Caps for Round Faces
- High-crown caps add vertical height, elongating the face
- Structured caps with defined angles contrast with soft features
- Slightly angled wear—tilting the cap back slightly exposes more forehead, adding length
- Caps with vertical design elements draw the eye up and down
🎯 What to Avoid with Round Faces
- Very low-profile caps that sit flat on the head
- Pulling the cap too low on the forehead
- Wide, flat brims that emphasise horizontal width
- Rounded, unstructured crowns that mirror face curves
Square Face Shape
Square faces feature a strong, angular jawline with similar width across the forehead, cheekbones, and jaw. The face often appears quite strong and defined.
Styling Goals
Square faces already have plenty of angles, so the goal is to soften the overall look without completely hiding those strong features.
Best Caps for Square Faces
- Curved-brim caps provide a softer contrast to angular features
- Unstructured dad caps with their relaxed shape balance the strong jawline
- Rounded crown shapes complement rather than compete with angular features
- Mid-profile caps work best—not too high, not too low
Square-faced individuals often look excellent in caps because the strong jawline provides a solid foundation. The cap frames the face rather than overwhelming it.
Heart Face Shape
Heart-shaped faces feature a wider forehead that narrows to a smaller, sometimes pointed chin. Cheekbones may be prominent, and the hairline often forms a widow's peak or curves gently.
Styling Goals
The goal is to balance the wider forehead with the narrower chin—adding visual weight to the lower face or reducing emphasis on forehead width.
Best Caps for Heart Faces
- Medium-brim caps that don't extend too far past the forehead
- Styles worn slightly back to show some forehead and reduce top-heaviness
- Curved brims that draw focus downward
- Lighter colours that don't create too stark a contrast at the top of the head
Very wide brims can make the forehead appear even broader. Similarly, caps worn very low on the forehead emphasise width. Extremely structured high crowns may also create too much volume at the top.
Oblong/Rectangular Face Shape
Oblong faces are notably longer than they are wide, with a forehead, cheekbones, and jawline of similar width. The face appears elongated without much variation in width from top to bottom.
Styling Goals
The aim is to add visual width and break up the length—essentially making the face appear more balanced between height and width.
Best Caps for Oblong Faces
- Low-profile caps that don't add more height
- Wide, flat brims that add horizontal visual interest
- Snapbacks with flat brims worn straight create width
- Caps worn lower on the forehead reduce visible face length
- Horizontal design elements or wide logos create balance
People with oblong faces should embrace flat-brimmed styles that might look too wide on other face shapes. The width helps create visual balance.
Diamond Face Shape
Diamond faces feature narrow foreheads and jawlines with wide, prominent cheekbones. This creates an angular, striking appearance with the widest point at the middle of the face.
Best Caps for Diamond Faces
- Caps with some brim width to balance narrow forehead
- Styles that add volume at the top without emphasising cheekbones
- Curved brims that soften the angular appearance
- Moderate crown heights that don't overpower the face
Beyond Face Shape: Other Considerations
While face shape provides a useful starting framework, other factors also influence how caps look on you:
Hair Volume and Style
Thick, voluminous hair affects how caps sit and look. You may need larger sizes and higher crowns to accommodate hair. Those with little or no hair often look best in well-fitted caps with clean lines.
Personal Style
Your overall aesthetic matters more than any "rule." Someone with a round face who loves streetwear shouldn't avoid snapbacks just because curved brims are technically more flattering—personal style and confidence matter more than perfect proportions.
Glasses
If you wear glasses, consider how cap brims interact with frames. Longer brims may bump against larger glasses, while very curved brims can obscure the tops of some frames.
Use these guidelines as a starting point, but don't be afraid to experiment. Sometimes the unexpected works beautifully. Try different styles, take photos, and trust your instincts about what looks and feels right.