The Ultimate Guide to Men's Haircuts for Every Face Shape

Michael Carpenter
Dec 11, 2025
3 min read

Choosing the right haircut can transform your look and boost your confidence. But not every style suits every face. Understanding how to match men's haircuts with face shapes helps you highlight your best features and avoid styles that don’t flatter you. This guide breaks down popular face shapes and the haircuts that work best for each, making your next visit to the barber or stylist easier and more effective.

Classic tapered haircut on a man’s side profile

Identifying Your Face Shape

Before picking a haircut, you need to know your face shape. The most common face shapes are:

Oval: Balanced proportions, slightly narrower at the jaw than the temples.
Square: Strong jawline, broad forehead, and angular features.
Round: Full cheeks, rounded jawline, and equal width and length.
Rectangle (Oblong): Longer face with a straight cheek line.
Diamond: Narrow forehead and jawline with wide cheekbones.
Heart: Wider forehead and cheekbones with a narrow chin.

Stand in front of a mirror and use a soft pencil or lipstick to trace the outline of your face on the mirror. Step back and observe the shape. This simple exercise helps you identify your face shape accurately.

Best Haircuts for Oval Faces

Oval faces are the most versatile. Almost any haircut works because of the balanced proportions. You can experiment with styles that add volume or keep it sleek.

Textured crop: Adds dimension and works well with natural hair texture.
Side part: Classic and clean, it emphasizes the balanced features.
Quiff: Adds height and style without overwhelming the face.

Avoid haircuts that cover the forehead completely, as showing some forehead helps maintain the oval face’s natural balance.

Haircuts for Square Faces

Square faces have strong, angular features. The goal is to soften the jawline and add some roundness.

Crew cut: Short on the sides and slightly longer on top, it keeps the look sharp but not harsh.
Side swept fringe: Adds softness and breaks the angular lines.
Faux hawk: Adds height and draws attention upward, balancing the strong jaw.

Avoid blunt bangs or cuts that emphasize the jawline further, as they can make the face look boxier.

Close-up of a man with a side swept fringe haircut, eye-level view — Side swept fringe haircut on a man, close-up

Haircuts for Round Faces

Round faces benefit from styles that add height and angles to create the illusion of length.

Pompadour: Adds volume on top and elongates the face.
High fade with textured top: Keeps the sides short and draws attention upward.
Angular fringe: Creates sharp lines that contrast with the roundness.

Avoid cuts that add width on the sides, like bowl cuts or full curls, as they can make the face appear wider.

Haircuts for Rectangle Faces

Rectangle faces are longer and need styles that add width and reduce the appearance of length.

Medium length waves: Adds volume on the sides and softens the long shape.
Curtain bangs: Breaks up the length and adds horizontal lines.
Buzz cut: Keeps the face balanced by not adding extra height.

Avoid very short sides with long tops, as this can make the face look even longer.

Haircuts for Diamond Faces

Diamond faces have wide cheekbones and narrow forehead and jawline. The goal is to balance the width of the cheeks.

Side part with volume: Adds width to the forehead area.
Textured fringe: Softens the sharp cheekbones.
Short sides with longer top: Keeps the focus on the top and balances the face.

Avoid styles that add volume to the cheeks, as this can exaggerate the widest part of the face.