Understand face shape and proportions

Attraction is not a single ratio

A face is perceived as a whole:

• eye shape;
• eyebrows;
• skin;
• hair;
• smile;
• vertical proportions;
• face width;
• expression;
• lighting.

Only one measure cannot summarize this set.

Perfect symmetry hardly exists

Almost every face has asymmetries.

A small difference between the two eyes, the eyebrows or the sides of the jaw is normal. It becomes especially visible when you start to flip photos, draw lines and zoom very strongly.

Why selfies distort analysis

The perspective depends on the shooting distance.

Short distance:

• the nose looks bigger;
• ears and sides of the face appear to be receding;
• Some asymmetries appear to be accentuated.

To analyze proportions, use instead:

• a photo taken further;
• a device at face height;
• uniform light;
• a neutral expression.

Thirds of the face

A simple way to observe the face is to look at three areas coarsely:

1. forehead and eyebrows;
2. eyebrows and nose base;
3. base of nose and chin.

These areas do not need to be strictly identical. The point is simply to understand where the volume is visually.

The ratio between width and length

A hairstyle can significantly alter the perception of this relationship.

For example:

• More height above the skull can visually elongate the face;
• more volume on the sides can increase its apparent width.

This explains why style is sometimes more important than a small measurement gap.

Use proportions intelligently

Ask yourself these questions:

• Which element attracts the eye first?
• Which zone lacks contrast?
• Does my cup balance my face?
• Are my eyebrows adapted to my eyes?
• Does the beard strengthen or weigh the bottom of the face?

These issues lead to concrete actions.

What to avoid

Avoid measuring your face every week or looking for a defect to correct for every millimeter of deviation.

The ratios are especially useful for understanding aesthetics, not for obtaining a note objective.