If you’re like most guys, you either emulate a male celebrity or get the same haircut you’ve had since you were a kid. But you should choose a hairstyle that accentuates your best assets and brings balance to your overall appearance. One way to do it is to determine your face shape. This guide will help you determine your face shape and the hairstyle that compliments it best.
Most Common Male Face Shape
Source: https://manofmany.com/fashion/mens-hairstyles/choose-hairstyle-face-shape
A great haircut transforms your appearance by either accentuating or downplaying your natural features. Amazing haircuts don’t happen by chance – they are chosen strategically according to your face shape. Though every face is unique, most faces come in one of seven shapes.
- Oval – An oval face shape is longer than it is wide across the cheekbones and forehead, with the forehead a bit wider than the jawline, which is generally rounded. Examples include George Clooney and Jake Gyllenhaal.
- Square – Square faces have roughly the same measurement in height and width, but rather than soft, rounded edges, guys with square faces tend to have sharp, angular curves. Examples include Nick Lachey and Rob Lowe.
- Heart – Heart-shaped faces have a forehead that’s dramatically wider than the jawline, which may be pointy, angular or round. Examples include Bradley Cooper and Justin Timberlake.
- Round – The width of your cheekbones and length of your face are roughly the same measurement, but your chin and hairline are more softly curved than angular. Examples include Zac Efron and Leonardo DiCaprio.
- Triangle – Triangular face shapes are naturally the opposite of inverted triangle and heart-shape faces, as they feature a wider jawline and cheekbones with a slimmer forehead. Examples include Kanye West and Jack Black.
- Oblong or Rectangle – An oblong face is on the longer end, being longer than it is wide. The forehead, cheekbones and jawline have a similar width, while the chin has either soft or angular edges. Examples include Adam Sandler and Adam Levine.
- Diamond – A long face shape and angular features (and a defined chin) but your cheekbones are the widest part of your face, followed by your forehead then your jawline. Examples include Johnny Depp and Jessie Eisenberg.
How to Determine Your Face Shape
To accurately determine your face shape, grab a flexible measuring tape and begin measuring the features of your face. Don’t forget to record your measurements as you go.
- Forehead – Measure across your face from the peak of one eyebrow arch to the peak of the opposite arch.
- Cheekbones – Measure across your cheekbones, starting and ending at the pointiest part below the outer corner of each eye.
- Jawline – Measure horizontally from point to point at the corners/hinges of the jaw.
- Face Length – Measure from the centre of your hairline to the tip of your chin.
With your facial measurements in hand, consider the ratios between them and the face shapes in the section above. If that seems tedious, you can always stand in front of a mirror and outline your face shape with a dry erase marker.
How to Choose the Right Hairstyle for Your Face Shape
Now that you know your face shape, it’s time to choose the perfect hairstyle for your particular face. To help you pick the most flattering hairstyles for your face shape, we made this list of hairstyles categorized by face shape.
As you read, remember that you can highlight or downplay the natural curves and dimensions of your face using your haircut. The goal is to create symmetry and make your face and beard look even more attractive.
Hairstyles for Round Faces
If your face is round, you should choose a hairstyle that gives some length to their face. Try to avoid bulk on the sides as that will make your head look rounder. So keep things tight. The best hairstyles for men with round faces include:
- French Crop – The French crop is a shorter hairstyle marked by a taper fade or undercut with longer fringe on top. This look gives you the top volume while avoiding any side bulk that could add a rounder appearance.
- High Skin Fade – The high skin fade is the more modern, neat version of the French crop. It features super-short sides with longer strands on the side, creating a dramatic contrast between the two.
- Side Part – The side part is a simple, close-clipped cut marked by a dramatic quiff contrasted by a shorter cut on the other side of the part. The contrast between short and long creates the illusion of more volume.
- Flat Top – Another classic look marked by short sides and length on top, the flat top is a military-inspired ‘do that brings a bit of a retro vibe. Ask your barber to go for a rounded, rather than square, shape for a modern look.
Hairstyles for Oval Faces
Oval faces tend to look good with any type of hair and beard style. Wear a big pompadour, or a nice crop with a fade, or even an undercut with a short beard. The sky’s the limit with oval faces so feel free to experiment. Some of the best hairstyles for men with oval faces include:
- Pompadour – This uber-popular cut is perfect for oval faces because it brings style and drama without dropping any locks in your face.
- Undercut – An under-cut hairstyle is a throwback to the early 1900s and really never goes out of style. It features a long, side-parted top with buzzed sides.
- Comb-Over Fade – A mid or taper fade with a comb-over is the perfect pick for the oval face because it creates some bold shape and definition while keeping the hair out of your eyes.
- Man Bun – Oval faces are uniquely well-suited to the man bun because they’re one of the few shapes that can handle that much top volume. The man bun is another good choice.
Hairstyles for Square Faces
Men with square-shaped heads should choose haircuts with short, tight sides. Any bulk on the side will make your head look wider. Pick a haircut that gives some height to your face to lengthen it and give it a more oval look. Some of the best hairstyles for men with square faces include:
- Side-Swept Brush-Up – If you’re going for a bit of length, try a side-swept brush-up, which is short on the sides with an even top for volume. Similarly, a high fade with a swept-back top will give the same appearance with more movement. Use hair styling clay to keep it neat.
- Man Bun – Congrats, square-facers! You’re the perfect candidate for the man bun! This daring ‘do is great because it adds some rounded style and softness, helping to relax the angles of your face.
- Buzzcut – Volume, texture and length aren’t the only ways to go with square faces. For a bold, dramatic look, consider the classic buzzcut. By highlighting your face’s angles, this style piles on the strong and authoritative vibes.
Hairstyles for Oblong/Rectangle Faces
Men with a rectangle face need to be careful, as your face is longer than it is wide. Avoid hairstyles and beard styles that make your head look longer and skinnier. You don’t want to look like a science beaker. Some of the best hairstyles for men with rectangle faces include:
- Medium- Long All Around – Think: Bradley Cooper. This laid-back look is great for your face shape because it evens things out on the top and sides. It’s easy to go messy on this look, but you can keep it neat with some hair putty to give your locks that GQ polish without a close crop.
- Crew Cut – We’re not talking about the classic, close-clipped crew here. We’re talking about a side-swept crew cut that adds some texture and personality on top without the inches that could elongate your face.
- Side Part – By providing some dramatic contrast with a longer quiff on one side and a closer shave on the other, the men’s side part style brings a bit of volume without over-lengthening the appearance of the face.
Hairstyles for Heart-Shaped Faces
Guys with heart-shaped faces have a forehead that’s dramatically wider than the jawline, which may be pointy, angular or round. If you have a heart-shaped face, try for something a bit longer and fuller on the top and sides. Don’t be afraid to go bold with facial hair, too. This will help you widen the bottom half of your face for a more even look. Some of the best hairstyles for men with heart-shaped faces include:
- Shoulder-Length Hair – Especially ideal for guys who have a pointy chin but don’t want to grow any facial hair, a shoulder-length grow-out can help even out the width of your face for a more even appearance.
- Textured Quiff – This cut is like a pompadour mixed with a faux hawk and a flattop. The reason why we love it for the inverted triangle face is because it elongates the face ever-so-slightly, dialing down the pointed chin.
- Pompadour – Why not just go for the classic pompadour? The only caveat here is that, if you want to try a pomp and your face leans heart-shaped, make sure to opt for a style with more filled-out sides. Think: more James Dean or Elvis than David Beckham.
Hairstyles for Triangle Faces
Triangular faces start with a wide jawline, narrow a bit at the cheekbones, and then narrow even more at the forehead. Men with tr=iangle faces should add volume and length on the sides to reduce the pointy look of a triangle-shaped face. Some of the best hairstyles for men with triangular faces include:
- Medium-Long Waves – One of the easiest ways to bring some fullness to the top of your head is to grow it out. Go for some controlled chaos here with wispy waves textured and styled with the right men’s hair products.
- Textured Quiff – This one’s perfect for those face shapes that want a trendy look inspired by the pomp or faux hawk, but with some more length on the sides. The top texture is key for adding some intrigue up top.
- Side Part with Fringe – This classic cut is ideal for softening a wider forehead and creating a more oval appearance throughout.
- Crew Cut – Don’t discount the classic crew if you’re going for a perfectly even face shape. This close-clipped cut highlights the angular features of your face without going too bold.
Hairstyles for Diamond Faces
Men with a diamond-shaped face have wide cheekbones, but narrow jaw and brow lines. To make your face more oval looking, we recommend a haircut that will add width to your forehead. Some of the best hairstyles for men with diamond faces include:
- Textured Crop – On a diamond-shaped face, the cheekbones are the widest part. That means the forehead measurement and jawline measurement are both smaller than the cheekbones.
- Center-Part With Length – Wide jaws are balanced by this long, center-parted ‘do. A subtle mustache helps draw the eye toward the center of the face.
- Side Swept – Ear-length hair looks great when it’s swept dramatically to the side. Those with facial hair, take note: If your end game is to make your jaw look wider, keep the volume between your jaw and chin to make the transition less angular and more oval.
We hope this guide for male face shapes and the best hairstyles by face type was helpful. If you want to look your best no matter the shape of your face, drop by Goodman’s Barber Lounge in Chicago’s own River North neighborhood for full straight razor shaves, pedicures, manicures, facials, shoe shines and haircuts. and more.