Like your clothes, haircuts vary in size to fit different needs. But, Unlike your clothes, a bad haircut cannot be taken off after a long day. Before you cut, there is one thing to consider: which styles best suit your face shape. This may seem trivial at first glance, but an extra inch here or some facial hair there can make all the difference.
What Face Shape Am I?
But how do you figure out what shape your face is? It’s simple. Arm yourself with a flexible tape measure and take the following measurements, recording each as you go.
- Forehead: Measure across your forehead from one eyebrow arch to the other.
- Cheekbones: Start at the pointiest part below the outer corner of each eye and measure to the other side.
- Jawline: Measure the vertical length from the tip of your chin to below the point at which your mouth reaches upward. This is often just under or next to where a jaw angle would be visible. Multiply that number by two for evidence size.
- Face Length: Measure from the tip of your chin to the centre of your hairline.
Once you have taken these measurements, find out which is the largest and match it to the seven main profiles.
- Oval: In an oval face, the distance from cheekbone to cheekbone is greater than the width of your forehead. Your chin will be more prominent and possibly pointed up.
- Rectangle: The length of the face is greater than its width, with similar measurements for the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline.
- Triangular: The triangular measurement shows a jawline that is larger than the cheekbones, which are in turn bigger than the forehead.
- Round: Cheekbones and face length can be measured about the same, as they are bigger than the forehead or jawline. The jawline has a smaller angle.
- Heart: The heart shape has a pointed chin. The forehead is greater than the jawline and Cheekbones.
- Square: All measurements are close. The jaw shape is sharp rather than round.
- Diamond: Face length is longest. Then cheekbones, forehead, and it’s the shortest is the jawline. The chin sticks out more than any of them.
How To Choose The Right Haircut For Your Face Shape
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Haircuts For Oval Faces
Seen as a coveted feminine trait, an oval face shape may not be the most masculine of shapes for men. It is, however, able to do well with many styles and hairstyles because it’s symmetrical and proportional. All you have to do is to decide what style suits you the best!
To tackle an oval-shaped face, Nicolaou suggests a classic short back and sides with slightly longer hair on top.
Since a forward fringe can make your face look rounder, this haircut should be avoided if looks are important to you or professional haircuts is your job.
Not only should you avoid a beard, but Ruffians’ creative director Denis Robinson also says to ditch your facial hair. “This isn’t the time for a beard,” he said. “Feel free to go clean-shaven.”
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Haircuts For Square Faces
A square face is characterized by a defined jawline, even proportions with a chiselled appearance.
The oval-shaped face is a great starting point for most hairstyles, especially those of different lengths—from buzz cuts to French crops to quiffs. When selecting the length of your hair, bear in mind that going shorter will make you appear younger.
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Haircuts For Rectangle Faces
The rectangular face is the longest of all the round shapes and needs to be carefully styled in order not to appear even longer than it is, which can create a sense of disproportion.
“The problem with a long face is that it can make the person seem withdrawn or anxious,” according to some expert barbers. Staying away from haircuts that chop into the sides of your head and wearing styles with a dramatic eye-length versus forehead length ratio will help to counter this effect.
However, the hair on the sides of your forehead and across your cheeks can highlight a narrow face. Finally, never pair with a Duck Dynasty beard, says Robinson. “A full beard only elongates the face, so instead, try facial hair ranging in length from stubble.
Read More: All You Need to Know About Opening a Salon
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Haircuts For Round Faces
A round face shape typically benefits from a haircut that helps provide some definition. If you have a round face, think about adding height to your hair to create some angles. Pompadours and flat-tops work well as they give the impression of looking powerful on top.
Square edges in the high recession area of your hair will help, or square corners in the high-recession area of your sleeve and sharpening up any soft edges. A beard can also help thin the chin area, leaving a more chiselled jawline.
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Haircuts For Diamond Faces
Keeping your face shape in mind, here are some requirements to make sure you look ‘diamond’ sharp. Stevens recommends wearing styles that add width at the forehead and chin area for a flattering appearance. Fringes work well to add texture against the hard lines of a diamond shape, while longer hairstyles are great for people with angular bone structures who want to hide their face behind their hair.
However, don’t take sides too short- given your cheekbones are wide, a hairstyle that is particularly short at the sides will only make your ears look bigger. Longer layers work to soften the natural angles of this face shape. Consider a side sweep or deep side-parting, plus consider growing out some scruff if you want to add more breadth to a narrower chin.
Read More: Curly Hair Tips: 8 Common Mistakes and How To Avoid Them
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Haircuts For Heart-Shaped Faces
If you have a relatively rare heart-shaped face, use these simple optical illusions to make it appear more proportional. Avoid cuts that emphasize the width of the forehead and the narrowness of your chin by choosing styles such as a medium-length swept look. Medium-length swept look is the best bet!
Excessive facial hair, in this instance a beard, is a common fix for heart-shaped faces to provide that additional facial balance.
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Haircuts For Triangle Faces
The triangular face requires the opposite treatment of a heart shape. Lengthen hair while retaining some length near the contours of the face. Men with beards will likely look best when they grow some light stubble. If you want to avoid that, it’s best to go clean-shaven.
