The Best Men’s Haircuts for Your Face Shape

The right hairstyle depends on your face shape, since a cut that flatters one shape can work against another. Once you know where you stand, choosing becomes much easier. This guide covers how to find your shape, then the cuts that suit triangle or square, round or oval, and diamond faces, followed by a note on buzz cuts.

How to Find Your Face Shape

Stand at a mirror and look at the outline of your face, focusing on three points: the mid face, the jaw and the forehead. If your jaw and forehead are both slightly wider than your mid face, you have a more rectangular face. If your jaw is narrower than your mid face and forehead, you have a diamond shape.

If your mid face is wider than both the jaw and the forehead, you have a round or oval shape. Many people fall between categories, such as part triangle and part square, so decide where you sit on that spectrum.

Trying Cuts Before You Commit

Before making a final decision, it helps to see a style on your own face. Apps such as FaceApp let you take a selfie and click through different hairstyles, projecting each one onto your face. It costs a few dollars a month, so you can subscribe for one month, test your options and then cancel. Use the styles below as a shortlist and check them this way before cutting.

Triangle and Square Face Shapes

These two shapes are similar enough that the same cuts work for both. A general rule applies here. A longer, more oblong face wants a wider hairstyle to balance it, while a shorter face benefits from a taller, slightly longer style.

The first option is a long messy side part, the style Brad Pitt has worn. You need some length. Dry your hair as much as possible after the shower, brush it with a wet brush to set the direction, then work a styling cream between your hands and rake it through. A styling cream gives a medium hold, which suits longer hair better than a stiff molding paste.

The second option is the classic crew cut, which is short and makes you look athletic. It slims down the bulk of your hair and gives a more masculine look, and it needs very little product, perhaps a little molding paste to hold the shape. If you are not yet at that length, the crew cut is a good way to start.

The third option is a fringe, seen on Chris Pine and Henry Cavill. It is a medium to short style, fairly short at the sides with some density, longer on top and in front, with hair falling over the forehead. A lighter hold product, such as a styling cream, suits it.

Round and Oval Face Shapes

The classic comb over is one of the best choices here, as worn by Justin Timberlake. It adds angle and structure, which gives the face a more square, structured look. Use a heavier hold product such as a paste or clay.

The choppy top is the second option. It needs short to medium hair, kept shorter at the sides, because bulk at the sides makes a round face look wider. It needs little product, perhaps an argan oil or a texture powder for bulk. Rake your fingers through the hair until you get a tousled look.

The third option is the side swept style. It needs at least three to four inches on top. It adds some bulk with the sweep toward the corners without making the face wider, which creates a squarer structure. It is a floppy, youthful style, so use a light, airy hold such as a styling cream.

Diamond Face Shape

A diamond face has a lower third that is narrower than the upper two thirds. Growing out your beard slightly can add width to the lower face, though that is a personal choice.

The first hairstyle is the classic middle part, which needs at least four inches of hair split down the middle. Austin Butler’s version and the one worn by Timothée Chalamet are good references, and a light hold product such as a styling cream works well.

The second is the messy side part, as worn by Austin Butler. It needs at least four or five inches. Style the hair into a classic side part with a lighter hold product, then mess it up. This is not a stiff, structured style.

The third is the short side part, a more mature, compact style that still adds structure and squareness to the head. Ryan Reynolds wears it. It gives a tidy, classic Hollywood look and needs a stronger hold such as a paste or clay.

Is a Buzz Cut Right for You?

A buzz cut always rounds out the face, so if you already have a round face, it is probably not the right choice. It tends to work for a square face with strong features, such as a strong jaw, cheekbones and brow ridge.

When the hair is removed, attention goes to the other details of your face. Strong features, thick eyebrows or eyelashes help carry the look. If you do not have those, you will need to rely more on your hair, so think carefully before cutting it all off.