Hairstyles for Face Shape: How to Find the Best Haircut for You
The best haircut for your face shape is the one that balances your proportions. Find your shape below, then open its guide for 12 named cuts for men and women, what to ask your barber or stylist, and the styles to skip.
Choose your face shape
Each guide has a measurement diagram, cuts for men and women, beard, glasses and makeup tips.
- Oval Balanced, slightly longer than wide, soft rounded jaw. Oval face hairstyles
- Round Length and width almost equal, full cheeks, soft jaw. Round face hairstyles
- Square Strong, angular jaw; forehead, cheeks and jaw similar width. Square face hairstyles
- Heart Wide forehead, high cheekbones, narrow pointed chin. Heart face hairstyles
- Diamond Wide cheekbones, narrow forehead and narrow chin. Diamond face hairstyles
- Oblong Clearly longer than wide, straight sides, even widths. Oblong face hairstyles
How to measure your face shape in 2 minutes
Pull your hair back, stand in front of a mirror and use a soft tape measure (or a piece of string and a ruler). Take four measurements:
- Forehead: across the widest part, roughly halfway between your eyebrows and hairline.
- Cheekbones: across the most prominent points, just below the outer corners of your eyes.
- Jawline: from the tip of your chin to the angle below your ear, then double it (or measure straight across between the two jaw angles).
- Face length: from the centre of your hairline to the tip of your chin.
Now note which width is largest and how the length compares with the cheekbone width. Most faces fall close to one of the six patterns below; if you sit between two, read both guides.
The four measurements, shown on an oval face.
Face shape cheat sheet
The best hairstyles for each face shape
Stylists cut to face shape because hair changes where the eye goes. Height and vertical lines make a face look longer; fringes and side volume make it look shorter and wider; waves soften angles; sharp lines add them. Here is the short version for each shape.
Oval face
An oval face is noticeably longer than it is wide, with the cheekbones as the widest point and a forehead that is slightly wider than a softly rounded jaw. Keep the natural balance. Almost any length works, so pick for hair type and features.
Men: Classic side part with taper, Textured quiff, Crew cut. Women: Pixie cut, Blunt bob, Lob (long bob).
All 12 hairstyles for oval faces →
Round face
A round face is about as wide as it is long. The cheeks are the widest and fullest part, the jaw is soft with no visible corners, and the chin is short and rounded. Add height on top and angles at the edges; keep the sides slim.
Men: Textured quiff with high fade, Pompadour, Faux hawk. Women: Long layers past the collarbone, Asymmetrical lob, Long side-swept bangs.
All 12 hairstyles for round faces →
Square face
A square face has a forehead, cheekbones and jaw of nearly the same width, straight sides, and a broad jaw with distinct corners under the ears. Length is similar to the width or only slightly longer. Women: soften the corners with texture. Men: show off the jaw with clean, classic cuts.
Men: Buzz cut, Ivy League side part, Textured quiff. Women: Soft wavy lob, Long face-framing layers, Side-swept bangs.
All 12 hairstyles for square faces →
Heart face
A heart shaped face (also called an inverted triangle) is widest across the forehead and temples, with cheekbones slightly narrower and a jaw that tapers to a small or pointed chin. Add width around the jaw and chin; keep the crown and temples quieter.
Men: Textured fringe, Side-swept medium length, Curtains (middle part). Women: Chin-length bob, Lob with flicked-out ends, Curtain bangs.
All 12 hairstyles for heart faces →
Diamond face
A diamond face is widest at the cheekbones by a clear margin. The forehead and jaw are both narrower and similar to each other, and the chin is narrow or pointed. The face is usually longer than it is wide. Add width at the forehead and chin; keep volume off the cheekbones.
Men: Textured fringe, French crop, Side-swept fringe. Women: Chin-length side-parted bob, Side-swept bangs, Full or wispy bangs.
All 12 hairstyles for diamond faces →
Oblong face
An oblong face is noticeably longer than it is wide, with a forehead, cheekbones and jaw of similar width and fairly straight sides. A high forehead or a long chin are common. Add width at the sides and shorten with a fringe; avoid extra height.
Men: Side part with scissor-cut sides, French crop, Caesar cut. Women: Shoulder-length wavy bob, Blunt full bangs, Curtain bangs.
Face shape is the start, not the whole answer
A great haircut also fits your hair type. Straight hair shows every line, so blunt cuts look sharp; wavy hair adds width on its own; curly and coily hair shrink, so fringes and layers should be cut dry and longer than you think. Fine hair needs shorter layers for volume, thick hair needs weight removed.
Think about your features too. A fringe frames the eyes, short sides show the jaw and face-framing layers highlight the cheekbones. Finally, be honest about time: a pompadour needs a blow-dry every morning, a crew cut does not. Take your face shape guide to the chair and ask your barber or stylist to adapt it to all three.
Hairstyles for face shape: FAQ
How do I know which haircut suits my face shape?
First identify your shape by comparing your forehead, cheekbone and jaw widths and your face length, or use a face shape detector. Then pick cuts that balance it: add height to round faces, width to oblong faces, softness to square faces and chin-level volume to heart and diamond faces.
What is the most common face shape?
Oval and round are generally described as the most common shapes, and diamond as the rarest. In practice many faces sit between two shapes, so read both guides if you are unsure.
What is the best haircut for my face shape as a man?
Round faces suit a quiff or pompadour with a high fade; square faces suit buzz cuts, crew cuts and side parts; oblong faces suit fringes and fuller sides; heart and diamond faces suit textured fringes; oval faces suit almost anything.
What is the best haircut for my face shape as a woman?
Round faces suit long layers and asymmetrical lobs; square faces suit soft waves and side-swept bangs; oblong faces suit bangs and shoulder-length waves; heart and diamond faces suit chin-length bobs and fringes; oval faces can wear any length.
Does hair type matter as much as face shape?
Yes. Straight, wavy, curly and coily hair behave very differently, so the same cut can look completely different. Each guide includes hair-type notes so you can adapt the cut to the hair you actually have.
Can a haircut change the shape of my face?
A haircut cannot change your bone structure, but it changes where the eye is drawn. Height, width, fringes and partings make a face look longer, shorter, wider or narrower, which is why stylists cut to face shape.
Is there an app that tells you which hairstyle suits your face?
Yes. The free face shape detector on this site identifies your shape from a selfie in your browser, and the RateMax app includes an AI hairstyle advisor that suggests cuts for your face.