How to choose earrings for your face shape

Tie your hair back completely, stand in front of a mirror in good light and look straight ahead. Using an old kajal or lip liner, trace the outline of your face on the mirror, from the hairline down to the chin. Step back and look at the shape you have drawn rather than at yourself. It is much easier to judge an outline than a face.

Now compare three widths: your forehead, your cheekbones and your jaw. Then compare the overall width with the length from hairline to chin.

• Round: width and length are nearly equal, cheeks are the widest part, jaw is soft
• Square: forehead, cheekbones and jaw are similar in width, jaw is angular
• Long or oblong: face is clearly longer than it is wide, sides are fairly straight
• Heart: wide forehead, narrow pointed chin
• Oval: slightly longer than wide, jaw a little narrower than the forehead, no sharp angles

If your face is round, earrings that fall vertically make it look longer and slimmer. Long drops, linear danglers, tassels and narrow chandbalis that taper downwards all work well. A jhumka is not off limits, but choose one that hangs from a longer stem or a chain so the bell sits below the jawline rather than right beside the cheek.

Avoid big round hoops and large circular studs. They repeat the roundness of the face and draw the eye sideways.

Square faces also benefit from length, but the bigger need is softness. Curved shapes such as teardrops, ovals, crescent chandbalis and small hoops balance a strong jaw. Very geometric earrings with sharp corners, such as square studs or triangular drops, can make the jaw look heavier.

A long face looks more balanced when earrings add width near the cheeks. Large studs, cluster earrings, short chandbalis, wide jhumkas that sit close to the ear and medium hoops are all good choices. Kundan and Meenakari studs with a broad floral shape suit this face shape especially well because they fill the space beside the ear.

Skip shoulder-grazing danglers and thin linear drops. They stretch the face further. If you love a long earring, pick one that widens at the bottom, like a fan or a chandelier, so it adds breadth as well as length.

Heart-shaped faces are wider at the top, so the aim is to add a little volume near the chin. Earrings that are narrow at the top and fuller at the bottom are ideal: chandbalis, jhumkas, teardrops and triangle drops with the wide side down. Avoid very heavy studs at the earlobe paired with nothing below, because they emphasise the wider upper half.

If your face is oval, you have the most freedom. Studs, hoops, jhumkas and long drops all sit well. Instead of worrying about shape, choose by outfit and occasion. Just keep the size in proportion; an oversized earring can still overwhelm a small oval face.

Face shape is only one part of the picture. A short neck looks longer with drops and danglers and can feel crowded by large clusters touching the jaw. A long neck carries chunky jhumkas and big chandbalis beautifully.

Hair changes everything. With open hair, small earrings disappear, so go a size bigger or choose something with movement. With a bun or a sleek ponytail, even a simple stud is fully visible, and statement pieces get all the attention.

Height plays a role as well. Petite women often look best in medium-sized earrings, while taller women can carry larger pieces without them looking like costume.

Product photos online are usually shot close up, so earrings look bigger than they are. Always check the length and width in the description, then hold a ruler against your face in the mirror to see where the earring would end. If you are browsing Kundan and Meenakari earrings, this one habit saves a lot of returns.

Also check the weight. Heavy earrings pull the lobe down and change how they hang, which can undo the effect you chose them for. And remember that the neckline of your outfit counts: a high collar with long danglers can look cluttered, while a deep neck welcomes them.