Choosing your haircut is not an easy task, especially when we don't know what to do, what would suit us best, or how to take the plunge and make a change with a brand new haircut.
In this article, you will discover the perfect haircut for you.
______________
Your face shape
First, it's essential to know what face shape you have.
To do this, we've found a technique to determine your face shape and help you choose a suitable haircut.
To start, take a front-facing photo of your head:
______________
Next, place a dot at the top of your forehead where your hairline begins:
______________
Then, place two dots at the right and left edges of your forehead:
______________
Place two dots at the edges of your cheeks:
______________
Next, place two dots at the ends of your jawline:
______________
And finally, place a dot at the bottom of your chin:
______________
Next, you will need to draw lines connecting certain points, follow the example below:
Once all these steps are complete, you can move on to measurements. Take a ruler and measure the different lines, and based on the measurements taken, you will be able to determine your face shape.
To do this, you can refer to the following table:
| Face Shape | Measurement Characteristics | Simplified Description |
|---|---|---|
| Round Face |
|
Soft, circular face, not very angular |
| Oval Face |
|
Balanced, slightly elongated shape |
| Square Face |
|
Structured face with straight lines |
| Rectangle / Oblong Face |
|
Longer face, dominant vertical proportions |
| Heart Face |
|
Inverted shape, wider at the top |
| Diamond Face |
|
Angular shape with prominent cheekbones |
| Triangular Face |
|
Pyramidal shape with base at the bottom |
______________
Haircuts adapted to each face shape
Round Face
Objective: Lengthen and slim the face to create the illusion of a more oval shape.
Recommended haircuts:
-
Quiff
- Hair lifted and combed back with volume at the front
- Short or medium-short sides
- The front fringe is styled high (3 to 8 cm of volume)
- Requires styling products (pomade, wax, or gel)
- Adds vertical dimension that compensates for roundness
-
High fade with textured top
- The fade begins high on the sides and nape
- Gradual transition from very short hair to long hair
- The top is textured and dishevelled (cut with scissors, thinned out)
- Top length: 5 to 10 cm
- Short sides slim the face, long top elongates it
-
Asymmetrical lifted "fringe"
- The fringe is long but styled high and to the side
- Pronounced asymmetry (longer on one side)
- Lifted with styling product
- Breaks the circular symmetry of the round face
- Creates flattering diagonal lines
To avoid:
- Too short uniform cuts (very short crew cut) which accentuate roundness
- Straight horizontal "fringes" which further widen the face
- Volume on the sides which adds width
______________
Oval Face
Objective: Maintain natural balance, as it's the ideal shape where almost all cuts suit.
-
Classic layered cut
- Progressive layering on the sides and nape
- Moderate length on top (4 to 8 cm)
- Simple, natural, and versatile styling
- Professional and timeless style
- Highlights harmonious natural proportions
-
Undercut or disconnected
- Undercut: strong contrast between very short sides and long top
- Disconnected: clear separation with no fade between the two lengths
- Great styling freedom on top
- Modern and bold look
- Works perfectly thanks to the balance of the oval face
-
Medium-long textured hair
- Length between 10 and 20 cm
- Layered cut to create movement
- Natural and dishevelled texture
- Can be worn loose, tied, or semi-tied
- Bohemian or artistic style
-
Buzz cut
- Buzz cut: very short uniform hair (3 to 9 mm)
- Minimal maintenance
- Highlights bone structure and facial symmetry
- Masculine and clean look
- Buzz cut: very short uniform hair (3 to 9 mm)
-
Man bun or long hair
- Sufficient length to tie (minimum 15 cm)
- Man bun: male bun on top or back
- Can be worn loose with or without a part
- Half-bun styles possible (half tied, half loose)
- Great freedom of personal expression
-
Total freedom of experimentation
- The oval face allows all styles: classic, modern, bold
- You can test trends without risk
- Adapt according to your personality and lifestyle
______________
Square Face
Objective: Soften pronounced angles and a strong jawline while maintaining masculinity.
Recommended haircuts:
-
Progressive fade with length on top
- Fade that starts low or medium (low or mid fade)
- Smooth and gradual transition
- Top kept long (6 to 12 cm)
- Allows for flexible styling
- Softens without losing masculine character
-
Medium-long hair with texture
- Length between 8 and 15 cm
- Layered cut to encourage waves
- Natural, slightly tousled texture
- Movement breaks the harsh lines of the face
- Relaxed and accessible style
-
Side part
- Clean or soft side part depending on preference
- Hair combed to the side symmetrically
- Moderate to long length on top (5 to 10 cm)
- Shorter sides with fade
- Diagonal lines soften the face's geometry
-
Textured and messy quiff
- Volume at the front but less structured than a classic quiff
- Natural and slightly dishevelled appearance
- Texture created with mattifying products
- Contrasts with the rigidity of features
- Modern and casual style
To avoid:
- Too geometric cuts (very defined undercut, too sharp lines) which reinforce the square aspect
- Very sharp shave lines on the temples which accentuate angles
- Straight horizontal fringes which create too many parallel lines
______________
Rectangular / Oblong Face
Objective: Visually widen and shorten to balance face length.
Recommended haircuts:
-
Fringes or bangs on the forehead
- Fringe that falls naturally on the forehead
- Can be straight, tapered, or swept to the side
- Sufficient length to partially cover the forehead
- Visually reduces face height
- Youthful and dynamic style
-
Volume on the sides
- Sides left longer than usual (2 to 5 cm)
- Styled with lateral volume
- Avoid overly tight fades on the sides
- Creates the illusion of a wider face
- Compensates for vertical elongation
-
Medium-long cut with side volume
- Overall length between 8 and 15 cm
- Volume distributed evenly
- Can be styled with a slight wave or curl
- Avoids creating too much height on top
- Balanced and proportionate look
-
Full beard (complement)
- Medium to long beard
- Well-trimmed and maintained
- Adds visual mass to the bottom of the face
- Shortens the appearance of overall length
- Ideal complement to any haircut
To avoid:
- Too much height on top (very high pompadour, mohawk) which further elongates the face
- Very short cuts on the sides which accentuate length
- Styles that create more vertical elongation
______________
Heart Face
Objective: Balance a broad forehead with a narrow chin to harmonize the overall look.
Recommended haircuts:
-
Medium fade with texture
- Fade that starts mid-height (mid fade)
- Avoids creating too much volume at the top
- Texture on top rather than excessive height
- Moderate length (5 to 9 cm on top)
- Balances proportions without accentuating the forehead
-
Side or swept fringe
- Long fringe styled to the side
- Swept asymmetrically
- Partially covers the forehead
- Visually reduces frontal width
- Elegant and modern style
-
Length at the temples
- Sides kept with some length
- Avoid completely shaving the temples
- Adds visual weight to the lateral areas
- Creates balance with the thinner chin
- Smooth transition between top and sides
-
Medium-long textured cut
- Length between 8 and 15 cm
- Multi-layered cut
- Natural and dishevelled style
- Harmonious distribution of volume
- Softens the entire face
To avoid:
- Excessive volume on top (very high pompadour) which further widens the forehead
- Temples and sides too short which accentuate the top/bottom imbalance
- Styles that emphasize frontal width
______________
Diamond Face
Objective: Soften prominent cheekbones and balance a narrow forehead and chin.
Recommended haircuts:
-
Quiff
- Frontal volume styled high
- Hair lifted back with body
- Short to medium sides
- Visually widens the forehead area
- Compensates for prominent cheekbones with upper volume
-
Medium-long hair with volume
- Length between 10 and 18 cm
- Volume distributed throughout the hair
- Natural or slightly wavy texture
- Softens the pronounced angles of the cheekbones
- Flexible and versatile style
-
Textured fringe
- Fringe styled with texture and movement
- Medium length partially covering the forehead
- Can be tapered or dishevelled
- Widens the frontal area
- Creates balance with wide cheekbones
-
Progressive fade with length
- Soft and gradual fade
- Length maintained on top (6 to 12 cm)
- Avoids overly strong contrasts at the cheekbones
- Harmonious transition
- Softens the overall facial structure
To avoid:
- Too short cuts on the sides that emphasize the cheekbones
- Styles that further accentuate prominent cheekbones (very defined undercut)
- Slicked-back hair that doesn't compensate for angles
______________
Triangular Face
Objective: Widen the forehead and create balance with a broad jawline.
Recommended haircuts:
-
Volume and width on top
- Top styled with a lot of volume
- Significant length (8 to 15 cm)
- Styled with fullness and texture
- Compensates for the wide base of the jaw
- Creates the necessary visual balance
-
Voluminous frontal fringe or bangs
- Thick and voluminous fringe
- Bangs styled on the forehead with body
- Sufficient length to create presence
- Visually widens the upper face
- Youthful and trendy style
-
Full quiff
- Quiff with generous volume
- Pronounced height and width
- Styled back with body
- Creates the necessary mass at the top
- Assertive and modern look
-
High fade
- Fade that starts high on the sides
- Very short sides at the bottom
- Quick transition to the long top
- Visually reduces jaw width
- Focuses attention on the upper face
To avoid:
- Flat cuts on top that don't compensate for the width at the bottom
- Too much volume on the sides at the bottom that accentuates the wide base
- Styles that further widen the jaw area
______________
General Advice
A beard can be an excellent complement to your haircut to visually alter your facial proportions and optimize the overall harmony of your style. Don't hesitate to use it as an additional tool to balance your features.
______________
So, have you chosen?
Choosing the right haircut means first understanding your face shape and selecting a style that enhances it. Whether you have a round, square, oval, or another face shape, there's a suitable cut to highlight your natural features.
The key is to find a balance between recommendations based on your facial morphology and your personal preferences. Remember that your cut should also be easy to maintain and reflect your lifestyle.
To complement your new haircut, check out our article: Which beard for which face?
