How to Look Good in Pictures With a Big Forehead
To look good in pictures with a big forehead, lower the camera to eye level or just below, keep your chin level instead of tucked, and use a side part, soft fringe or face-framing pieces to break up the space. Then light your face from the front with soft light so your forehead doesn't turn into the shiniest part of the photo. That's it: height, tilt, hair and light.
If your forehead keeps taking over your selfies, Glowmaxx scores your daily selfie's angle, hair and light levers and gives you three moves aimed at the lowest one. Start my glow-up
Why foreheads look bigger in some photos
A high forehead (or a "fivehead," if you're online a lot) looks totally normal in person. People see you moving, from eye level, with light coming from lots of directions. Photos change three things:
- Camera height. A phone held above your eyes is closer to your forehead than your chin, so the forehead gets magnified and the chin shrinks.
- Shine. Foreheads are broad and fairly flat, so they catch light like a mirror. A bright spot makes the area look even bigger.
- Hair pulled back. A slicked-back look or a tight ponytail shows the whole hairline with nothing to break it up.
If you've ever asked "why does my forehead look big in pictures but not in the mirror?", the answer is usually number one: the popular high-angle selfie.
Camera height: eye level or slightly below
Most selfie advice says "hold the phone up high." That tip was made for rounder faces, and it's the opposite of what you want here.
How to set it up
- Hold the phone at arm's length or put it on a stand 2-3 feet away.
- Line the lens up with your eyes, or drop it an inch or two lower.
- Keep the phone upright rather than tilted down at you.
- Step back and use 2x zoom if you want a tighter crop.
At eye level, your forehead and chin are about the same distance from the lens, so neither one grows. Just below eye level shrinks the forehead a touch more. Don't go all the way down to your chin, though, or you'll start showing nostrils and neck.
Not sure what's best for you overall? The 10-minute routine in how to find your best angle for selfies tests height, side and tilt in one go.
Head tilt and chin position
There's a well-known Reddit post: "LPT: How to look photogenic by drawing your forehead to the camera." It's a great jawline trick, and it does help most faces. But with a big forehead, you need to adjust it.
| Head position | What it does to your forehead | Use it? |
|---|---|---|
| Forehead pushed toward camera, chin down | Makes the forehead bigger, jaw sharper | Only a tiny amount |
| Chin level, head straight | Balanced proportions | Yes, your default |
| Chin slightly up (a few mm) | Shortens the forehead, shows more jaw | Yes, test it |
| Chin tucked down | Forehead dominates the frame | Avoid |
| Head tilted to one side | Hair falls diagonally across forehead | Nice with a side part |
The trick is to keep the jaw-sharpening lean very small and bring the chin up a couple of millimeters so the forehead tips slightly away from the lens.
Hair part and fringe options
Hair is your biggest tool here. It frames the whole face.
How to fix a big forehead besides bangs
Bangs work, but they're not the only option, and they're a big commitment. Try these first:
- Deep side part. Moving the part two or three inches to the side lets hair sweep diagonally across the forehead. This alone often makes the biggest difference.
- Face-framing layers. Pieces that start around cheekbone level draw the eye to the middle of your face.
- Soft volume at the crown instead of flat, slicked-back hair.
- Loose styles. A low, loose bun or half-up style shows less hairline than a tight high pony.
Hairstyles that look good in pictures with a big forehead
- For girls: curtain bangs, a side-swept fringe, a deep side part with waves, or a low loose bun with a few face-framing strands.
- For guys: a textured crop pushed forward, a short fringe, or a side part with some messiness. Very high, slicked-back styles show the full hairline, so they're the ones to skip for photos.
And to everyone asking "big forehead girls, how do you cope?": you don't have to hide anything. These are choices for photos, not rules for life.
Here's what's hard to do alone: you change your part, lower the camera and fix the light all on the same day, and then you can't tell which one actually helped. Glowmaxx scores hair, posture and angle, and light and fit separately, 1-10 each with a one-line note, and puts each day on your glow timeline so you can compare day one with today. Start my glow-up
Light that doesn't shine on the forehead
A shiny forehead draws the eye straight to it. The fix is softer, lower light.
- Face a window, not a lamp. Daylight through a window is broad and soft, so it doesn't make a hot spot.
- Keep the light at face height. Overhead lights beam down onto your forehead and leave your eyes in shadow, the worst combo.
- Turn slightly away from bright light if you still see a shine spot. A few degrees is enough.
- Blot, don't reapply. A tissue or blotting paper pressed on the forehead removes oil shine in seconds.
- Avoid close flash. It creates a white glare right in the middle of the forehead.
For every room, including dorms and bathrooms, see how to take a selfie with good lighting.
Hats and framing
Two last tools when you want a quick fix.
Hats and accessories
- Beanies and bucket hats cover the top of the forehead naturally.
- Baseball caps work well if the brim doesn't shadow your eyes; tilt your chin up a hair to get light back on your face.
- Headbands worn a little forward break up the space. Worn far back, they do the opposite.
- Glasses add a strong horizontal line across the middle of the face. If you wear them, our guide to looking good in photos with glasses covers glare.
Crop and frame
- Leave only a little space above your head.
- Include your shoulders so your head isn't the whole frame.
- A square crop feels more balanced than a tall vertical one.
Your big-forehead photo checklist, scored in a minute
That's how to look good in pictures with a big forehead: camera at eye level or just below, chin level or slightly up, a side part or fringe, and soft front light with no shine. Take one selfie with those four changes and Glowmaxx scores your five levers, adds them up into a glow score out of 100 and gives you three moves for today. It never rates your features, only what you can change.
FAQ
How do I make my forehead look smaller in pictures?
Lower the camera to eye level or slightly below, keep your chin level, and use a side part or fringe. Blot away shine and face soft window light so your forehead isn't the brightest part of the photo.
What is the best angle for photos with a big forehead?
Eye level or an inch or two below, with your face straight on or turned slightly. Avoid the high-angle selfie, which enlarges whatever is closest to the camera, in this case your forehead.
How do I fix a big forehead besides bangs?
Try a deep side part, face-framing layers, a looser hairstyle or a hat. Changing camera height and light also does a lot without touching your hair.
Why does my forehead look shiny in photos?
Foreheads are broad and catch direct light easily, especially from overhead bulbs or flash. Blot oil with a tissue and face a window instead of standing under a ceiling light.
Are there good hairstyles for guys with a big forehead in pictures?
Yes: textured crops pushed forward, short fringes and messy side parts all break up the hairline. Very tall, slicked-back styles show the full forehead, so save them for when you want that look.