Sunglasses for Big Heads: Best Selections for 2024
July 2, 2024 • 1:10 PM
Let’s start by saying that if you have a big head, there’s really nothing wrong with that — but if you find it pretty difficult to hunt down the perfect pair of sunglasses as a result, we hear you. Not everyone has the same head shape, and it can be a little tricky to find a comfortable pair of sunglasses for certain head shapes. Sometimes, finding eyeglasses takes some time… and maybe even a few measurements.
In this guide, we’ll fill you in on some of our favorite sunglasses for people with big heads, and we’ll walk you through a few steps to help you find the perfect fit.
What Are the Best Sunglasses for Big Heads?
At Pair, we have an extensive selection of eyewear. If you have a big head, you’re in luck —we went through our collection of sunglasses to find some of the best frames to complement larger heads. Here are our top picks:
The Drew: Extra-Wide Rectangle Frames
The Drew frames are nicely angled, extra-wide frames that can help give your face some more definition. They’re great for round faces and can easily fit a bigger head. Plus, they come in many colors, including black, clear blue, blue tortoise, and more — and you can even customize the color of the lenses to spice things up.
The Drew Extra-Wide Rectangle Frames start at $60 and are available with both prescription and non-prescription lenses.
The Murphy: Oversized Modern Frames
For a more modern look that pairs well with square, round, and heart-shaped faces, look no further than The Murphy Frames. Designed for all genders, these shades are made from durable, hand-polished acetate, meaning they can hold up to all the wear and tear of a high-energy summer, busy work week, or on-the-go weekend.
The Murphy Wide Oversized Sunglasses start at $60 and are available with both prescription and non-prescription lenses, and you can get them in black, tortoise, clear, and more, with additional customizable lens colors.
The Reese: Modified Round Frames
The Reese frames are classy and timeless, making them perfect if you want a look that’s been in style since the middle of the 20th century.
They’re fun, tasteful, and super easy to customize with Pair’s one-of-a-kind Top Frames. Plus, customizable base frames and lens colors allow you to further customize your eyewear to make them really feel like you. These frames are super versatile, and they work well with square, diamond, and oval faces.
The Reese Modified Round Sunglasses start at $60 and are available with both prescription and non-prescription lenses.
The Kirby: Stylish Rectangular Frames
The Kirby is another timeless style that looks great on just about anyone and everyone — but they’re especially attractive on round and oval faces. These frames are durable enough to last a long time,even with everyday wear throughout the sunniest months of the year. You can personalize them to fit your specific needs with prescription lenses, blue light filtering, and more.
The Kirby Rectangle Frames start at $60 and are available with both prescription and non-prescription lenses.
The Wanda: Retro Cat-Eye Frames
The Wanda frames are full of character and feminine flair, and they look straight out of the ‘50s. However, even though they’re ultra-retro, they’re still right at home in 2024.
These versatile sunglasses fit almost every face shape, but we especially recommend them for people with larger heads and heart-shaped faces. Plus, our Top Frames make these glasses completely customizable based on your outfit (or your mood).
The Wanda Cat-Eye Frames start at $60 and are available with both prescription and non-prescription lenses.
How To Pick Sunglasses for Your Face Shape
We know, we know — you’re here for sunglasses that will fit your head, but understanding your face shape is also a key part of the journey.
We always recommend looking in the mirror and taking some time to identify the shape of your face — round, oval, square, heart, and diamond are the main shapes we use as references.
Here’s a quick rundown of each basic face shape to help guide you:
- Round Face Shape: If you have a round face, your cheekbones, jawline, and forehead will generally all be just about the same in length.
- Oval Face Shape: If you have an oval-shaped face, your cheekbones will likely be a bit narrower than your forehead and jawline, and your chin may have a slight point to it.
- Square Face Shape: Square-faced people often have a jawline, cheekbones, and forehead that are nearly the same length, but boxier. If you have a bigger head, you may have a square-shaped face.
- Heart Face Shape: A person with a heart-faced shape typically has a pointed chin and wider-than-average cheekbones with a wide forehead. This face shape is often paired with a larger head, too.
-
Diamond Face Shape: Those with diamond-shaped faces tend to have more angular features, with their cheekbones being the widest out of all of the face shapes. A person with a diamond face usually has a narrower forehead and jawline.
Which Frames Do I Pick?
If you have a bigger head, there’s a good chance that you have a heart-shaped or square-shaped face.
That means you can make a wide range of frames work for you, including round, oversized, wide, or even cat-eye glasses. Look for a specific pair that accentuates your favorite features.
Should You Get Prescription Sunglasses?
If you’re a contact lens wearer, you might be used to wearing your favorite sunglasses over your contacts in the summer.
While that method definitely gets the job done, we’re also big fans of high-quality prescription shades. They’re convenient, easy to swap out with your glasses, and designed for your eyes specifically. Plus, you can customize your lenses with features like blue light filtering to make your shades even more personalized, versatile, and functional.
Pair gives you plenty of options for prescription lenses, including progressives, readers, and more — but one of our biggest recommendations for the summer is a pair with light-responsive lenses.
These unique lenses lighten or darken in response to UV rays, which means they can be both your eyeglasses and sunglasses. That’s just one more reason to go with prescription sunglasses rather than sticking to your contacts and a pair of drugstore shades.
How To Get the Perfect Glasses for Your Head Shape
You don’t have to play guessing games regarding your glasses and sunglasses. Use the steps below to learn your head shape, find the measurements you need, and end up with frames that fit you just right.
Do You Need Head Measurements?
Getting someone to measure the width of your head can be a big help when picking out glasses. We always provide the dimensions for all of our frames, but that info is much more helpful if you know the dimensions of your noggin, too.
Knowing your pupillary distance can also be helpful, especially if you’re ordering prescription sunglasses. In that case, we consider PD an essential step in getting the right fit. Your eye doctor can measure your PD in the office, and it’ll be included on the prescription card you get after your exam.
Don’t Skip the Virtual Try-On
Are you ordering sunglasses online? You go. It’s the easiest and most hassle-free way to get a new pair of shades. Just don’t just pick out a pair randomly — make sure you take advantage of Pair’s virtual try-on feature.
We make trying on glasses from home easier than ever. Just upload a pic of yourself (which we won’t share with anyone), pick out a pair of glasses you like, hit the “Virtual Try-On” button, and watch the magic happen right before your eyes.
Our team always recommends trying on a few different pairs of glasses using the virtual feature before finally picking out your shades. It can be tempting to go with the very first pair you see that you like, but trying a few options can help you make sure you’re not missing out on anything else.
If you’re really not sure which pair is right for you, consider ordering a few different ones to try — you can always send one back if you need to. At best, you’ll end up with a solid rotation of great-looking sunglasses that you can swap out on a daily basis.
What If My Glasses Don’t Fit My Head?
If you can’t seem to get the right fit, don’t worry. Everyone has a unique head, and glasses might not always feel right for you, even if the measurements look correct on paper. Our biggest recommendation is to visit your eye doctor for some precise measurements and then order a new pair of sunglasses.
In addition, opting for a more flexible and adjustable pair of glasses can be a huge help. Pair frames are made from acetate, a durable, flexible plastic that can bend without breaking. That means you can use your hands to adjust different parts of your frames and make them more comfortable.
Wrapping Up
Your sunglasses are a key part of your look — and so is the shape of your head. Finding a pair of shades that fits your head and face perfectly is an instant confidence boost. That’s why we recommend taking your time, trying on lots of different pairs (using our handy virtual try-on feature), and getting help from your eye doctor if needed. Once you find the right pair, you’ll be blown away by how much of a difference it makes.
Sources:
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation and Sun Exposure | US EPA
Evaluation of Pupillary Distance (PD) Measurement using Smartphone-based Pupilometer | IOP Science