The Complete Face Shape and Haircut Guide

Your face shape determines which haircuts will look naturally flattering and which ones will work against your features. This isn’t about following rigid rules – it’s about understanding proportions so you can make informed choices. Here’s a complete breakdown of face shapes and the cuts that complement each one.

How to Determine Your Face Shape

Before we dive into specific recommendations, you need to figure out your actual face shape. Here’s the accurate way to do it:

Step 1: Pull Your Hair Back

Get your hair completely out of your face. Use a headband, clips, or just wet it and slick it back. You need to see your entire face outline clearly.

Step 2: Stand in Front of a Mirror

Use a well-lit bathroom mirror. Natural lighting works best. Stand about arm’s length away.

Step 3: Trace Your Outline

Using a dry-erase marker or lipstick (something that wipes off easily), trace the outline of your face on the mirror. Start at your hairline, go down around your jaw, and back up the other side.

Step 4: Step Back and Assess

Look at the shape you’ve drawn. Compare it to the descriptions below.

The Seven Face Shapes

Oval Face

How to identify: Your face is longer than it is wide. Your forehead is slightly wider than your jaw. Your chin is gently rounded, not pointed. The widest point is at your cheekbones.

Why it’s considered versatile: Oval faces have balanced proportions, meaning most haircuts work. You don’t need to compensate for anything.

Best haircuts:

• Almost anything works – use this as an opportunity to experiment
• Classic side parts
• Textured crops
• Pompadours
• Buzz cuts
• Longer styles with layers

What to avoid: Heavy bangs that cover your forehead can make your face look shorter and rounder than it is. If you want bangs, go for side-swept or textured versions.

Round Face

How to identify: The width and length of your face are nearly equal. Your cheeks are full. Your hairline and jawline are rounded with no sharp angles.

The goal: Create the illusion of length and add angles to balance the roundness.

Best haircuts:

• Styles with height on top (pompadours, quiffs)
• Side parts that create asymmetry
• Fades or short sides that slim the face
• Angular, structured cuts
• Longer styles that fall past the chin

What to avoid: Round, bulky styles that add width. Chin-length cuts that end at the widest part of your face. Very short all-over buzz cuts that emphasize roundness.

Square Face

How to identify: Your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw are roughly the same width. Your jawline is strong and angular. Your face appears wide and somewhat short.

The goal: Either embrace the strong angles or soften them slightly, depending on your preference.

Best haircuts:

• Textured styles that add softness on top
• Side parts
• Medium-length cuts with movement
• Styles with some length on the sides (not ultra-tight fades)
• Messy, tousled looks

What to avoid: Super short, tight cuts that emphasize the boxiness. Flat tops or styles that add more width. Blunt, straight-across bangs.

Rectangular (Oblong) Face

How to identify: Your face is significantly longer than it is wide. Your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw are similar widths. Your face shape is essentially a long oval.

The goal: Add width and avoid making the face look even longer.

Best haircuts:

• Styles with volume on the sides
• Horizontal styling (side parts, side-swept bangs)
• Medium length all over
• Layered cuts that add dimension
• Bangs that break up forehead length

What to avoid: Too much height on top (pompadours, tall quiffs). Very long hair without layers. Slicked-back styles that add length.

Heart Face (Inverted Triangle)

How to identify: Your forehead is the widest part of your face. Your face narrows down to a pointed chin. Your cheekbones are prominent.

The goal: Balance the wider forehead with the narrower chin.

Best haircuts:

• Side-swept bangs that reduce forehead width
• Medium length styles that add fullness at the jaw
• Textured, messy looks
• Longer styles that hit at or below the chin
• Styles with volume at the bottom, not the top

What to avoid: Slicked-back styles that expose the full forehead. Lots of volume on top with tight sides. Very short cuts that emphasize the forehead.

Diamond Face

How to identify: Your cheekbones are the widest part of your face. Your forehead and jaw are both narrow. Your chin is pointed.

The goal: Add width at the forehead and jawline to balance the prominent cheekbones.

Best haircuts:

• Side-swept bangs that add forehead width
• Volume at the crown
• Chin-length or longer styles
• Textured, layered cuts
• Styles with some fullness at the temples

What to avoid: Slicked-back styles that narrow the forehead. Styles that add volume at the cheekbones. Very short sides.

Triangle Face

How to identify: Your jaw is the widest part of your face. Your forehead is narrow. Your face widens as it goes down.

The goal: Add volume at the top to balance the wider jaw.

Best haircuts:

• Volume and texture on top
• Side parts
• Longer styles with layers
• Styles that add width at the temples and crown
• Bangs that widen the forehead

What to avoid: Chin-length cuts that emphasize jaw width. Flat styles with no volume. Very long, straight styles that make the jaw look wider.

Beyond Face Shape: Other Factors That Matter

Your Hair Texture

Face shape recommendations are starting points, not absolute rules. Your hair texture determines what’s actually achievable. Fine, straight hair won’t hold a pompadour without significant product. Thick, curly hair might not lie flat for a slicked-back look.

Work with your natural texture when possible. Fighting against it means more styling time and often worse results.

Your Lifestyle

The “perfect” haircut for your face shape means nothing if you can’t maintain it. If you have five minutes to get ready in the morning, don’t get a style that requires 20 minutes of blow-drying and product application.

Your Features

Face shape isn’t the only consideration. A strong nose, prominent ears, or high forehead all influence which cuts work best. A skilled barber considers all of these together.

How to Use This Information

Think of face shape as one tool in your decision-making process, not the only factor. Here’s a practical approach:

1. Identify your face shape using the steps above
2. Look at the recommended styles for your shape
3. Find reference photos of those styles on people with similar hair texture to yours
4. Consider your lifestyle and maintenance preferences
5. Bring everything to your barber and get their professional opinion

The best haircut is one that flatters your face, works with your hair, and fits your life. These guidelines help you narrow down options, but the final decision should account for all of who you are.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring your barber’s advice: They see faces all day. If they suggest a modification to your chosen style, hear them out.

Only considering front-facing photos: Your haircut is visible from all angles. Make sure it works from the side and back too.

Copying celebrity cuts exactly: Celebrities have stylists, perfect lighting, and often different face shapes than you. Use their photos as inspiration, not blueprints.

Changing too drastically at once: If you’re unsure, make gradual changes. It’s easier to cut more hair off than to wait for it to grow back.

Understanding your face shape is the first step toward consistently good haircuts. Use this knowledge to have better conversations with your barber and make more confident decisions about your style.