What does a face reveal about the person behind it? Can eyes, foreheads, or wrinkles tell us more than words—or is it all just a game of old myths? Dr. Julia Frank from the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa) spends her free time pursuing a hobby that is as fascinating as it is controversial: face reading. The author of these lines ventures into the experiment—a conversation about lines, shapes, and character traits—and courageously offers himself as a test subject. May my forehead be strong and my chin gracious!
Even though the practice of “face reading” is considered unscientific by many today and has no real place in modern psychology, it looks back on a history that spans thousands of years – from the Chinese Siang Mien teachings to the typologies of antiquity. Between cultural history and human nature lies a topic that arouses curiosity. And what if there is something to it after all?
Julia, how did you get into face reading in the first place—was it by chance, curiosity, or a special encounter?
“That was in the fall of 2021. At that time, without looking for it, I came across two podcasts that first brought the topic to my attention. In the same week, I discovered another article on the subject in a magazine. Out of sheer curiosity, I had Anne Fierhauser read my own face and was quickly hooked on the subject. In 2022, I began training and learning face reading myself.”
Many people today consider facereading to be unscientific. What fascinates you so much about it?
“I dispute that it is completely unscientific. It has neither been scientifically proven nor disproven, and there are now research teams revisiting the ancient practice of face reading. Its sister discipline, reading facial expressions, is already very well scientifically proven. So I think it’s only a matter of time. Face reading is a discipline that developed independently on all continents. In the past, when the medical diagnostic techniques we know today did not exist, other sources of information had to be found that made it possible, for example, to predict or recognize diseases.”
Which of the historical roots have particularly impressed you?
“That varies greatly. Traditional Chinese medicine, for example, still sees a projection area for every organ of the body in the human face. These can be used to identify predispositions to diseases years before they can be measured in the laboratory. Or take the example of Hippocrates from ancient Greece and his famous “eight signs of death”: if six of these eight signs were visible on the face, it was known that the person would die within 24 hours. There are many such insights from history. Rediscovering this teaching and incorporating the ancient knowledge of humanity is extremely exciting for me!”
But to put it skeptically: many people look similar for genetic reasons, yet they don’t automatically have the same personality…
“That’s right. You are born with a certain genetic makeup and may look very similar to one of your parents, for example. But lifestyle and environment change people and their entire face within the framework of their genetics. You can even see this in identical twins, where there are gradual but significant differences that are recognizable to the trained eye. But of course, the analysis is not always easy. You sit for several hours studying a face to uncover what it reveals. In general, I can say that there is nothing in the face that has no meaning!
Are there typical features in the face that face readers pay particular attention to? Forehead, eyes, mouth—which “tells” the most?
“Different features or parts of the face represent specific areas such as communication or working methods. The left side of the face is the emotional side, the face we show to friends and family. The right side of the face, on the other hand, is the rational side, which reflects our personality in public or in our professional life, for example.
The eyes, on the other hand, are the gateway to the soul, and the general rule for face readers is: no matter what wrinkles, scars, or other features say, the eyes and mouth always have the last word. They provide information about the current emotional state and lifestyle, and they also change the fastest – not only in spontaneous facial expressions.”
Dr. Julia Frank
The forehead, on the other hand, represents thought processes, i.e., whether someone thinks in a very straightforward or unconventional way. We pay attention to many things: the type and severity of forehead wrinkles, the slope, height, and width of the forehead. Everything has a specific meaning. Among other things, the mouth is responsible for communication. If someone has a large mouth, we can assume that they are good at and enjoy speaking in front of people, provided that there are no contradictory characteristics. However, these are only individual facets; ultimately, I always have to look at the entire face in order to understand the person in depth.
A counterargument: You would certainly also find a singer with a small or narrow mouth…
“Of course! That’s why we only read what we see – and don’t conclude the opposite just because a feature is not pronounced or is different.”
Are there situations in which face reading has actually helped you in everyday life—for example, when forming a first impression of people?
“First of all, it must be said that we are all face readers! It’s just that we do it unconsciously and perhaps purely on the basis of feelings. I have learned a way of expressing this, like a language. For all of us, the face is crucial in determining whether we find someone likable, whether we trust them or even see them as a potential partner – and this is something that often happens in a fraction of a second and completely unconsciously.”
…nevertheless, you have a different basis for assessment than most people…
“I only read faces professionally on commission. Then I spend a long time studying the face. But of course, this knowledge is useful in my private and professional life. When certain things really jump out at me, I can’t help it, that’s just the way it is. And of course, there are also faces that are very striking in some ways. But of course, I don’t consciously read faces to gain an advantage. That’s not the intention of a good face reader.”
So. Now it’s getting serious—but for me! When you look at my face, what immediately catches your eye? Please remain diplomatic—after all, we’re still working together!…
“Okay, we don’t have much time, of course, so maybe a quick speed reading of the most striking features for me, okay?”
Okay…
“You have very close-set ears. This indicates a person who likes to live in harmony. That doesn’t mean that you avoid necessary conflicts, are afraid of them, or don’t exist – but you don’t necessarily feel comfortable in them. You prefer peace.
You also have noticeable laugh lines and nose wrinkles. The latter are known as marionette lines. These are found in people for whom humor plays a very important role in life and who are mischievous in the truest sense of the word. You probably have a very sociable sense of humor and a positive way of winking at the world—while ensuring that many people in your personal environment feel very comfortable with you.
You also have wide-set eyes, as is common in nature, for example, in animals that need to keep an eye on their surroundings. Not only does this give you a much more pronounced peripheral vision than others, but in the field of face reading, this feature also actually stands for a great foresight into things.”
Thanks for the flowers, Julia! Those are all pretty positive things. But everyone has positive and negative sides. What’s the critical stuff about my face?
“I do see one conflict. Your face shape is quite round and moon-like. These are people who want their environment to be good and who enjoy socializing. However, due to this disposition, such people do not have a direct claim to leadership, which is written elsewhere in your “private” half of your face in the form of a small wart on the left side of your face.”
What does that mean?
“We refer to this as ‘pent-up resentment’. This could be interpreted to mean that you may not be living up to your true leadership potential in your private life, perhaps due to your great need for harmony.”
Hmm. I’ll have to think about that. Have you ever been completely wrong in an analysis?
“Not that I’m aware of, anyway. Of course, not everyone can handle what I tell them. But: the face doesn’t lie!”
Thank you very much for the interview!
