The Most Flattering Brow Shape for Your Face Shape

Download Article

Professional makeup artist Janet Miranda explains why your face shape is important for determining your brow shape

Co-authored by Janet Miranda and Devin McSween

Last Updated: March 29, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Brow Shapes for Face Shapes
|
• Finding the Perfect Shape
|
• Shaping & Defining Brows
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Your eyebrows help define your face, from framing your eyes to emphasizing your other features. If you want to know how to choose the most flattering shape, selecting a style that complements your face shape is a great place to start! In this article, we’re going over the best brow styles for each face shape. We also partnered with makeup artists and estheticians to explain how to find the perfect brow shape for you, as well as the best ways to shape, fill, and define your brows. Keep reading to learn more!

What is the best eyebrow shape for my face shape?

Download Image

Professional makeup artist Janet Miranda says it’s important to determine your face shape when shaping your eyebrows, as different shapes and arches flatter the different face shapes. In general, the best brows for your face shape bring balance to your features—here’s the breakdown:

• Square: Soft and lifted arches, and moderately thick
• Rectangle: Flat (very subtle arch) and moderately thick
• Round: High and angled, and moderately thick
• Oval: Lightly arched with an outer lift, and thick
• Heart: Rounded with a soft arch, and thick
• Diamond: Curved with slight outer arch, and moderately thick
• Triangle: Elongated and arched, and moderately thick

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Eyebrow Shapes for the Face Shapes

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Square: Softly arched brows The square face shape is about as wide as it is long, with a strong, angular jawline and defined cheekbones. To complement this face shape, aim for brows that have a gentle and lifted medium arch and a moderate thickness. The softer look helps balance your sharp features, while they’re still defined enough to complement the structure of your face.

   • What to avoid: In general, avoid brows that are severely arched or very flat, as harsh shapes can emphasize the angular structure of your face.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Janet Miranda is a professional makeup artist and hair stylist with over 15 years of experience

   Shara Strand is a makeup artist and founder of Shara Makeup Studio with over 15 years of experience.

   Shipra Taneja is a makeup artist and the founder of Taneja's Bride, a lifestyle, beauty, and fashion blog.

   Karina Villalta is a certified esthetician who specializes in eyebrow shaping. She has over 8 years of experience.

   Alicia Ramos is a skincare professional and licensed esthetician, and the owner of Smoothe Denver.
2. 
   2
   Rectangle (Oblong): Flat brows People with a rectangle or oblong face shape have a face that’s longer than it is wide, with defined cheekbones and an angular jaw. To help balance this face shape, opt for flat brows with a minimal, soft arch and a moderate thickness. Brows that are more horizontal, rather than arched, help add width to your narrow face. Plus, the straight shape helps complement your defined facial structure.

   • What to avoid: Aim to avoid brows that are high and very arched, as they can visually lengthen your already longer face shape.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Round: High and angled brows The round face shape is about as wide as it is long, with a soft, non-angular jaw. According to makeup artist Shara Strand, an angular and polished brow looks best on this face shape. She says, “On a round face shape, an angular and more shaped brow will give definition to [the] face and eye shape.” Higher brows help elongate your face, while the defined and angled arches help add structure.

   • What to avoid: Generally, avoid very rounded or flat eyebrows, as this can make your face appear rounder and wider.
4. 
   4
   Oval: Soft and arched brows An oval face shape is longer than it is wide, with a soft jaw and forehead. It’s generally considered the most “balanced” face shape, and lots of brow styles complement it. However, the best brow shape for the oval face shape is lightly arched and lifted around the outer corner of the eye, and on the fuller side. This helps create a defined and polished look.

   • What to avoid: Aim to avoid very low and flat brows, as they can lengthen and widen the forehead.
5. 
   5
   Heart: Rounded and arched brows Those with a heart-shaped face have a wide forehead and a narrow, pointed chin with defined cheekbones. To complement this shape, go with brows that are curved with a low arch and on the thicker side. The softer and rounded brows help balance out your sharp, angular features while still defining your prominent cheekbones. Plus, a fuller brow works well with your wider forehead.

   • What to avoid: In general, avoid brows that are very high, angular, and thin, as they can accentuate your forehead and emphasize your angular features.
6. 
   6
   Diamond: Rounded and soft brows People with a diamond face shape have a narrow forehead and chin with high and wide cheekbones. To bring balance to this face shape, opt for rounded brows with a slight arch toward the tail and a moderate thickness. A more curved shape helps soften your angular features, while the subtle arch and thicker look helps widen your forehead.

   • What to avoid: Generally, avoid very high and angular brows, as these styles can highlight your sharp features and create a harsher look.
7. 
   7
   Triangle (Pear): Long and arched brows The triangle or pear face shape is narrow at the forehead but wider along the jawline. For balancing this face shape, go with long brows that have a soft arch near the tail and are moderately thick. Extending your brows farther on your face helps widen your forehead, while the slight arches complement your jaw.

   • What to avoid: Aim to avoid short and flat brows, as they can emphasize your narrower forehead.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 3:

How to Find Your Perfect Brow Shape

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Determine your face shape. According to makeup artist Shipra Taneja, it’s important that you know your face shape before you shape your eyebrows. Miranda agrees and says it's best to determine your face shape first, as your face shape influences the type of arch that complements your face.

   • Luckily, finding your face shape is pretty easy! Simply measure the length of your face and the width of your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw. Then, check out our article on how to determine your face shape to see what you have!
   • Alternatively, take our Face Shape Quiz to determine your face shape.
2. 
   2
   Use eyebrow mapping to find a flattering, natural-looking shape. Eyebrow mapping is a technique for creating the perfect eyebrow shape, says certified esthetician Karina Villalta. This technique uses your eyes and nose as guides to create brows that frame and accentuate your features. Mapping shows you where your brows should start, arch, and end—here are some quick steps on how to do it:

   • Brow start: Take an eyebrow pencil (or mapping string) and hold it against the nostrils of your nose in a straight line. Where the pencil falls near your eyebrows is where they should start. Simply take your pencil and draw a small line to mark the beginning of your brows.
   • Brow arch: Angle your pencil along your nostril toward your eye so it goes through your pupil. Where it falls is where your arch should start. Use your pencil to mark the spot with a dot.
   • Brow end: Angle your pencil further so it lines up with the outer corner of your eye. Where it falls is where the tail of your brows should end. Take your pencil and mark the end with a dot.
   • Alternatively, use an eyebrow mapping filter from TikTok or Instagram (like the one used in this TikTok video by @ericataylor2347). These filters already have the guidelines in place, so all you have to do is mark the spots with your eyebrow pencil.
3. 
   3
   Use an eyebrow stencil. Miranda says eyebrow stencils are great because they help you determine how to shape your brows at home. The stencils come in different shapes, which helps you see different styles on your face to determine which suits you the best.

   • To use a stencil, simply hold it up to your brow, lining it up with the base of your brow. Then, use a brow pencil or powder to outline the shape and fill in your brow.
   • Miranda adds that most stencil kits come with powders and waxes, which you apply to your brows after you shape them with the stencil.
4. 
   4
   Go to a professional to get your eyebrows shaped. If you don’t feel comfortable shaping your eyebrows yourself, book an appointment with an esthetician or brow specialist in your area. They’ll consult with you to get your desired style while working with your face shape to give you brows that complement you perfectly.

   • Taneja recommends looking at photos to find inspiration for the brow shape you want. Then, at your appointment, show them to your esthetician to get feedback on how they’ll work on you.
   • Eyebrow specialist Zin Lwin says she prefers using the golden ratio mapping method to shape her clients’ brows. She uses their preferences, goals, and face shape to give them the look they like and that flatters them.
Advertisement

Section 3 of 3:

Ways to Shape and Define Your Brows

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Pluck, wax, or thread excess hairs to define the shape of your brows. Once you’ve determined the right brow shape for your face and mapped them, remove any hairs you need to achieve your look. There are lots of options for doing this, including plucking with tweezers, waxing, or threading.

   • As mentioned, if you don’t feel comfortable doing your brows yourself, see a professional to get them done. The average waxing or threading appointment costs around $15 to $30.
2. 
   2
   Fill in and define your brows with pencils, pomades, or powders. If you want to make your brows fuller, fill in sparse areas, or simply sharpen up their shape, eyebrow makeup can help, says skincare professional Alicia Ramos. Take your pick from eyebrow pencils, pens, pomades, gels, and powders. Then, use the product to make thin, short strokes to mimic the look of your hair.
3. 
   3
   Get an eyebrow tint. Ramos explains that an eyebrow tint dyes your brows darker and helps them appear fuller. The dye is only temporary, though, and usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks. Licensed esthetician Melissa Jannes explains that there are specific semi-permanent dyes made for eyebrows, which you should use if you plan on tinting your brows at home.

   • Alternatively, get your eyebrows tinted by a professional, which usually costs around $50.
4. 
   4
   Try eyebrow lamination. According to Jannes, eyebrow lamination is a trendy brow technique where the eyebrow hairs are relaxed and softened so they’re easier to brush into the shape you like. Plus, the technique makes them look fluffier and fuller. Brow lamination is temporary, though, and typically lasts 4 to 8 weeks.

   • Book an appointment with a professional to get your eyebrows laminated. The average appointment costs around $70.
   • For an at-home laminated look, Jannes suggests using a clear eyebrow gel to brush up your eyebrow hairs and place them where you want.
   • Jannes also recommends using brow soap, which gives a similar laminated look. Simply take a spoolie brush, coat it with the soap, and brush it into your eyebrows. She says this helps set the shape of your brows (similar to hairspray for your hair!).
5. 
   5
   Get your eyebrows microbladed. If you’re looking for a long-lasting way to keep your brows shaped and defined, consider microblading them. Ramos explains that microblading is essentially a temporary tattoo under your brows that helps them appear both fuller and darker for up to 30 months. A licensed aesthetician uses a tool that has a small number of tiny needles on it, which they move across the skin under your brows to deposit pigment. Ramos says the pigment doesn’t go as deep as a tattoo, but simply leaves lines similar to a brow pencil.

   • As tattoo artist Michelle Myles explains, cosmetic tattooing generally doesn't hold up as long as a regular tattoo does. Because your face is constantly exposed to sunlight, it'll fade more than a regular tattoo.
   • If your eyebrows are uneven or sparse, microblading can be an especially great option. As makeup artist Cassandra McClure explains, the little tiny cuts microblading makes into your skin can actually help to regenerate hair growth.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!