Hairstyles for Diamond Face Shape: Best Cuts for Men and Women
The diamond is the rarest of the six face shapes, defined by wide, high cheekbones with a narrower forehead and chin. It is naturally striking, and good haircuts work by adding a little width above and below the cheekbones. Here is how to recognise it, then 12 cuts for men and women with what to ask for.
By the RateMax AI team · Updated
Cheekbones clearly widest; forehead and jaw narrower and similar; narrow chin.
How to tell if you have a 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.
Cheekbones are clearly the widest measurement.
Forehead and jaw are both narrower and roughly equal.
The chin is narrow and often slightly pointed.
If your forehead is wider than your cheekbones, you are more likely heart; if your jaw is as wide as your cheekbones, more likely oval.
Fill in above and below the cheekbones so the outline looks more oval. Fringes widen a narrow forehead, and fullness at chin level widens a narrow jaw.
Avoid adding more width right at the cheekbones and avoid tall height at the crown, which makes the narrow forehead look narrower still. Tucking hair behind one ear is a simple trick that shows off the cheekbones without widening them.
Best haircuts for diamond face men
6 cuts with exactly what to tell your barber. Lengths are starting points for your barber to adapt.
01
Textured fringe
A forward, piecey fringe over medium-short sides.
Why it works
Hair falling forward makes the narrow forehead look wider, balancing the cheekbones.
Ask your barber
"Low taper, 5–7 cm on top pushed forward, textured fringe just above my brows."
Maintenance
Trim every 3–4 weeks. Sea-salt spray and matte paste.
Hair type
Great for straight and wavy hair. Fine hair holds the fringe better with a pre-styler; curly hair gives a looser, softer fringe.
02
French crop
Short sides with a short, blunt or textured fringe pushed forward.
Why it works
A horizontal fringe adds width at the forehead, and the low profile avoids crown height.
Ask your barber
"Mid fade, 3–5 cm on top, fringe pushed forward and cut straight or slightly textured."
Maintenance
Trim every 3 weeks. Matte clay.
Hair type
Works for straight, wavy and curly hair. On coily hair, keep the top even and shape a soft line at the front.
03
Side-swept fringe
A longer fringe swept to one side over scissor-cut sides.
Why it works
The fringe broadens the forehead and the sweep softens high cheekbones.
Ask your barber
"Scissor cut, 6–8 cm on top, longer fringe that I can sweep to the side."
Maintenance
Trim every 4 weeks. Light cream, blow-dried across.
Hair type
Best for straight and wavy hair. Curly hair can wear it with defined curls falling to one side.
04
Curtains
Centre-parted medium hair falling to either side of the forehead.
Why it works
Fills out the temples beside a narrow forehead.
Ask your barber
"Grow the top to eye length, centre part, light layers, sides not faded too high."
Maintenance
Trim every 5–6 weeks. Blow-dry and light cream.
Hair type
Straight and wavy hair suit it best. Curly hair needs extra length so the curtains drop rather than lift.
05
Shoulder-length layered hair
Long hair to the jaw or shoulders with soft layers, often tucked behind the ears.
Why it works
Length at the jaw adds width to a narrow chin and frames the cheekbones.
Ask your barber
"Grow to chin or shoulder length, layers to remove bulk at cheek level, weight at the ends."
Maintenance
Trim every 8 weeks. Leave-in or texture spray.
Hair type
Wavy and curly hair work beautifully. Straight hair should keep layers for movement.
06
Curly fringe
Curls on top cut so they fall forward over the forehead, with tapered sides.
Why it works
Curl volume at the front widens the forehead and softens angular cheekbones.
Ask your barber
"Low taper, keep curls longest at the front, shape with scissors."
Maintenance
Taper every 3 weeks. Leave-in and curl cream, scrunched forward.
Hair type
For curly and coily hair. Coily hair can use twists or a sponge, pushed forward at the hairline.
Best hairstyles for diamond face women
6 hairstyles from short to long. Mention your hair type so your stylist can adapt the layers.
01
Chin-length side-parted bob
A bob that ends at the chin, worn with a side part and soft volume.
Why it works
Fullness at the chin widens the narrow jaw, and the side part softens the cheekbones.
Ask your stylist
"Chin-length bob, soft layers at the ends for volume, side part."
Maintenance
Trim every 6–8 weeks. Round brush or flat iron.
Hair type
Straight and wavy hair are ideal. Curly and coily hair should be cut longer and dry, so it settles at the chin after shrinkage.
02
Side-swept bangs
A long, diagonal fringe across the forehead.
Why it works
Adds width to a narrow forehead and softens strong cheekbones.
Ask your stylist
"Long side-swept fringe from the brow, blending into my layers."
Maintenance
Fringe trims every 4 weeks. Blow-dry across with a flat brush.
Hair type
Easiest on straight and wavy hair. Curly side bangs should be cut dry and a little longer.
03
Full or wispy bangs
A fringe across the whole forehead, either full and blunt or light and wispy.
Why it works
A horizontal fringe directly widens a narrow forehead.
Ask your stylist
"Wispy full fringe at brow level, slightly longer at the edges."
Maintenance
Fringe trims every 3 weeks. Dry it flat with a paddle brush.
Hair type
Best on straight and wavy hair. Curly and coily fringes need to be cut dry and longer.
04
Textured pixie with fringe
A soft, layered pixie with a fringe that falls forward.
Why it works
Shows off cheekbones and eyes while the fringe broadens the forehead.
Ask your stylist
"Textured pixie, longer fringe at the front, soft not tight around the ears."
Maintenance
Trim every 4–6 weeks. Texture paste.
Hair type
Good for fine straight and wavy hair. Curly and coily hair suit a tapered curly cut with longer curls at the front.
05
Lob tucked behind one ear
A collarbone-length bob worn with one side tucked behind the ear.
Why it works
Shows off one cheekbone, while length at the jaw balances the chin.
Ask your stylist
"Lob ending at the collarbone, light layers, longer at the front."
Maintenance
Trim every 8 weeks. Texture spray or a few loose waves.
Hair type
Works on every hair type. Curly hair should be cut longer so it lands at the collarbone when dry.
06
Curly shag
A layered curly cut with a curly fringe.
Why it works
The fringe widens the forehead and curls fill out the jaw area.
Ask your stylist
"Curly shag with a curly fringe, keep the sides light at cheek level."
Maintenance
Trim every 8 weeks. Curl cream and diffuser.
Hair type
For curly and coily hair. Wavy hair can wear a wavy shag with the same shape.
Hairstyles to avoid with a diamond face
Not banned, just harder to make flattering.
Volume at the cheekbones. Big curls or short layers at cheek level widen the widest part of the face.
Tall height at the crown. High pompadours and teased crowns narrow the forehead further.
Slicked-back hair. Exposes the narrow forehead and emphasises the cheekbones.
Flat centre parts with straight hair. The hair hangs in a narrow frame that exaggerates the diamond outline.
Beard tips for a diamond face
A beard can widen a narrow chin and jaw, making a diamond face look more balanced.
Choose a fuller chin and jaw, such as a full beard or a boxed beard, and keep the upper cheeks cleaner.
Avoid very pointed beards that lengthen the narrow chin.
Glasses and makeup for a diamond face
Glasses
Oval, rimless, and cat-eye or browline frames work well because they add width at the brow line. Avoid narrow frames that sit at cheekbone width.
Makeup and contouring
Contour lightly at the outer edge of the cheekbones, and highlight the centre of the forehead and chin to add width there.
Celebrities with a diamond face shape
Commonly cited examples are Rihanna, Halle Berry, Vanessa Hudgens among women and
Robert Pattinson, Johnny Depp, Cillian Murphy among men. Shapes are judged from photos, so lists
vary between sources; use them as inspiration only.
Diamond face hairstyles: FAQ
What haircut is best for a diamond face shape?
For women, a chin-length side-parted bob or a lob with side-swept bangs. For men, a textured fringe, French crop or curtains. They add width at the forehead and chin.
Do bangs suit a diamond face?
Yes. Side-swept, full or wispy bangs widen a narrow forehead and balance wide cheekbones. Curly fringes work too, as long as they are cut dry and slightly longer.
Can diamond faces wear short hair?
Yes. A textured pixie with a fringe or a chin-length bob both work well. Avoid very short sides with tall height on top, which narrows the forehead further.
How do I know if I have a diamond face?
If your cheekbones are clearly wider than both your forehead and your jaw, and your chin is narrow, you probably have a diamond face. A heart face, by contrast, is widest at the forehead.
What should men with a diamond face avoid?
Avoid high fades with tall volume on top and slicked-back styles. Both make the forehead look narrower.
Is a diamond face shape rare?
It is generally described as the least common of the six main face shapes. Many people who think they are diamond turn out to be heart or oval when measured.
Which celebrities have a diamond face?
Rihanna, Halle Berry and Vanessa Hudgens are often cited for women, and Robert Pattinson and Cillian Murphy for men. These labels are judged from photos, so sources sometimes disagree.
