How-to's
Pick the Right Haircut for Your Face Shape
1. Oval: People with oval faces have it made—they can pull off pretty much any hairstyle (barring certain considerations, like glasses, or obvious battle scars).
Best Cuts: Short, tapered cuts with some simple texture on top work best, like high fades and side parts with texture or volume up top, like Jon Bernthal’s high and tight (the dude who plays Marvel’s The Punisher on Netflix).
But really, anything goes. Even longer locks, like David Beckham’s demonstrated here.
Tip: Stay away from heavy fringes as too much weight at the forehead fattens an oval face.
2. Oblong (or Rectangular): If your face is longer and narrower (with hollow cheeks), then your cut’s got to make it shorter and wider.
Best Cuts: Balance is of the essence here, so go with something that’s lighter on top and little fuller on the sides; super tight sides will bring unwanted attention to that mug. Ask to have some textured length on top, and trimmed (but not clippered) sides. Small afros are great, too, just tell the barber keep it to about three centimetres or so, at least.
Tip: Look past longer styles, they tend to stretch out oblong shaped faces.
3. Round: Since round faces lack lines and angles, structure and definition are in order.
Best Cuts: Opt for a style that boasts contrast, something with marked weight up top that’s clipped tightly at the sides. A subtle pompadour, slick-back, or even a side part that’s slightly swept upward would do just fine here.
Tip: A nice, full beard (with some extra heft at the chin) can do double duty by lengthening and chiseling your face.
4. Heart/Diamond: Why consolidate both shapes here? Simple, because they’re identical in that they they’re both wide at the cheeks before settling to a narrow chin. The only difference is that a heart shaped face is also wide up top, where a diamond isn’t. Either way, guys with either shape will want to get away from width in the cheeks then add a little more movement and volume up top.
Best Cuts: Cuts with heavy fringes or long side sweeps are a no brainer. As are side parts with texture up top (or other words, Ryan Reynold’s signature cut).
Tip: Don’t go too short on the sides or you’ll end up with elephant ears. Keep things natural, like our boy Gosling here.
5. Square: Typically wide at the temples, narrow at the middle third of the face, and angular at the jaw, a square face is the manliest of all, and almost as versatile as an oval one.
Best Cuts: Classic side part haircuts, high-fades, buzzcuts—basically most short styles will do here, but a French crop with tight sides would look the coolest.
