There’s something captivating about visual puzzles that challenge not just your eyes but also your perception. The image you’re about to dive into is a mind-bending example of how art can play tricks on our brains. At first glance, you might see a simple tree illustration. But look closer—hidden within the branches and trunk are cleverly disguised human faces. The question is: Can you find them all?
This visual riddle has taken social media by storm, and for good reason. It’s not just a test of eyesight; it’s a fun workout for your brain’s ability to recognize patterns. So take a good look. How many faces can you spot?
Why This Puzzle Isn’t as Easy as It Looks
Let’s be honest—most people miss several faces in their first try. That’s because our brains tend to focus on the bigger picture first. We recognize the obvious outlines—a tree, leaves, branches. What we often fail to notice are the subtle shifts in shading, contours, and negative space that reveal hidden images.
Psychologists call this phenomenon “inattentional blindness.” When our brains expect to see one thing (like a tree), we subconsciously filter out everything that doesn’t match that expectation—even if it’s right in front of us.
Another common mistake? People often get fixated on one area of the image. Instead of stepping back and scanning the whole composition, they focus too narrowly. This tunnel vision causes many to miss faces that seem obvious once pointed out.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Spotting the Hidden Faces
Ready to solve it? Let’s break down this puzzle and approach it with fresh eyes. Below is a guide that can help you look at the image more critically.
Video : How many faces do YOU see?
Step 1: Start from the Top
Begin at the top branches of the tree. These high areas tend to contain more abstract or stylized faces, often blended into the shape of leaves. For example, in the upper left and upper right, you’ll notice silhouettes formed by the curvature of the branches and shadows.
Faces here are usually in profile (side view), which makes them slightly harder to detect unless you focus on the nose or lips first. Try mentally flipping the orientation—sometimes it helps to spot the face by imagining it upside-down.
Step 2: Scan the Central Trunk
The thick trunk in the middle is the perfect hiding place for full faces. Here, you’ll find several prominent facial features—eyes, noses, and even mouths—that emerge from the twisted bark and shading.
This section typically includes faces looking both left and right, as well as some that may be looking directly at you. One key face appears near the center, formed by the overlapping of two branch curves, with a distinct eye and chin line that pops once you see it.
Step 3: Don’t Miss the Lower Branches
As you move toward the base, look carefully at how the roots and branch stubs are shaped. They may seem like simple artistic touches, but many are cleverly formed to resemble jawlines or necks.
There’s one particularly sneaky face on the lower left, nestled within what looks like a curling root. You may have mistaken it for a crack or shadow. Focus on symmetrical shapes—they often hide a nose bridge or eye sockets.
Step 4: Use Color and Contrast as Clues
While this artwork is mostly monochromatic (blue ink or sketch), the artist has used contrast smartly. Faces are often outlined with darker lines against lighter areas. Anywhere there’s sudden light/dark contrast, pause and look closer. These spots tend to reveal eyes or lips hidden in plain sight.
Also, pay attention to negative space—the “empty” parts between branches or leaves. Some faces are formed entirely from these gaps, using your brain’s tendency to complete missing parts.
Step 5: Count and Compare
Once you think you’ve spotted all the faces, compare your count with others. On average, most people find 4 to 5 faces. But there are actually 9 distinct faces cleverly hidden throughout this tree illustration. Some are subtle, some are bold—but all are intentional.
The correct answer to this puzzle is: The 9 hidden faces are circled clearly in the version of the image you see above. They appear within the branches, roots, and bark of the tree, some facing sideways, some front-facing.
Why These Puzzles Are More Than Just Fun
Sure, puzzles like these are entertaining, but they also offer real cognitive benefits. They challenge your visual perception, enhance attention to detail, and exercise your brain’s problem-solving skills.
More importantly, they remind us of how easily we can overlook what’s right in front of us. In everyday life, we often see what we expect to see. But when we slow down and look a little deeper, new layers of meaning emerge.
Visual puzzles teach us mindfulness in a fun, engaging way. They reward curiosity, patience, and persistence—skills that are valuable far beyond the screen.
Let’s Hear from You!
Now it’s your turn. How many faces did you spot before reading the solution? Did you find all nine on your own? Or did a few remain hidden no matter how hard you tried?
Drop your answer in the comments and challenge your friends to beat your count! You’ll be surprised how many different answers people come up with.
Video : How many faces you see👀
And if you enjoyed this challenge, keep your eyes peeled—we regularly post new optical illusions, brain teasers, and visual riddles to test your mind in fresh ways.
Conclusion: Don’t Just Look—See
At first glance, this drawing is just a tree. But with deeper observation, it becomes a clever exploration of perception. The hidden faces remind us that not everything is what it seems, and sometimes, what’s most obvious is easiest to miss.
So the next time you see a tree, a cloud, or even a cup of coffee, ask yourself: What’s hiding in plain sight?
Keep challenging your mind, keep having fun—and remember, it’s not just about what you see… but how you see it.
