Finding The Perfect Haircut: A Guide For Men

Choosing the right haircut can be stressful for men, but it's worth putting some careful consideration into it as a great hairstyle can boost your self-confidence. The ideal haircut for you will depend on several factors, including your face shape, hair texture and thickness, and how much maintenance you're willing to put in.

Firstly, it's important to determine your face shape. The seven main face shapes are oval, round, long or rectangular, square, heart, diamond, and triangle. Once you know your face shape, you can start to think about the best haircuts for your features. For example, if you have an oval face, almost any hairstyle will suit you, whereas if you have a round face, you'll want a haircut that adds definition and makes your face appear longer.

Other factors to consider are your hair texture and thickness. Curly hair, for instance, will give a very different look to straight hair, even with the same haircut. And if you're experiencing thinning hair or a receding hairline, you may want to opt for a style that adds volume.

Finally, think about how much time and effort you're willing to put into maintaining your haircut. If you rarely go to the barber and only use a couple of products, you'll want a low-maintenance style. On the other hand, if you're happy to visit the barber every two weeks and use a range of styling products, you can choose a more high-maintenance haircut.

Face shape: oval

If you have an oval face, consider yourself lucky. This face shape is seen as the genetic jackpot for women and is the most common face shape among both men and women. For men, it's a good canvas for experimentation when it comes to haircuts. Symmetrical and well-proportioned, an oval face shape suits almost any hairstyle.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you optimise your oval face. Aveda master barber Stelios Nicolaou suggests: "The trick with an oval face shape is to wear your hair off the forehead to create some volume and angles on top. The most suitable style is a classic short back and sides and slightly longer on the top, with a side-swept parting." Celebrity hairstylist Jamie Stevens agrees, adding that you should avoid a forward fringe as "too much heaviness on the forehead softens features and increases roundness of the face." Ruffians creative director Denis Robinson advises that you can afford to go clean-shaven as "you don't need facial hair to fill out any disproportionate gaps."

• Long on Top, Short Sides: This style is versatile and can be adapted to suit a range of occasions, from formal events to casual outings.
• Side Part with Taper Fade: A timeless and sophisticated choice, perfect for business or formal occasions.
• Pompadour: This cut adds a bold statement to your look and can be adapted for both formal and casual occasions.
• French Crop: A stylish, low-maintenance cut that's perfect for a modern, everyday look.
• Buzz Cut: The ultimate no-fuss, low-maintenance hairstyle that works with any hair type.
• Caesar Cut: A simple look with a touch of style, suitable for everyday wear or a professional setting.
• Crew Cut: A classic and timeless hairstyle that's easy to maintain and suits almost any occasion.
• Slicked Back: A polished, refined look that's ideal for formal events or business settings.
• High and Tight: A bold, military-inspired style that's sharp and functional.
• Quiff: A versatile style that's perfect for both casual and formal occasions, adding a bit of flair to your look.
• Faux Hawk: A fun and edgy style that makes a bold, standout impression.
• Angular Fringe: A dynamic and modern look that adds flair without being overboard.
• Spiky Hair: A lively, textured look that's easy to style and perfect for making a statement with minimal effort.
• Undercut: A standout, cool, and easy-to-manage style that lets you play around with different looks on top.
• Curly Fringe: A great way to showcase your natural curls, perfect for casual days and summer wear.
• Textured Crop: A trendy, casual, and modern style with a bit of edge.
• Ivy League Cut: A classic, sophisticated choice that's easy to style, perfect for business meetings and casual gatherings.

Face shape: round

If you have a round face, it's important to choose a hairstyle that adds definition and length to your face shape. These styles help elongate the face and soften its roundness with sharp angles. Here are some specific haircut suggestions to suit your face shape:

Short Haircuts

• High and tight fade: This haircut helps to emphasise facial features, creating a sharp look that complements the round face shape. It works well with a clean shave or subtle beard.
• Crew cut: A timeless and classic haircut that adds sophistication and definition to your features. It is especially flattering when paired with a clean shave or well-groomed beard.
• Caesar crop: Keep the fringe slightly longer and add texture and a side parting to balance out the roundness of your face.
• Curly fade: If you have curly hair, this haircut will showcase your natural curls while adding definition and elongating your face.
• Textured crop: A modern twist on the classic short haircut, adding texture and height to your face.
• Buzz cut: A low-maintenance option that can work for round faces when paired with a slight fade to add definition.

Medium-Length Haircuts

• Wavy undercut: Adding volume on top and keeping the sides sleek, this haircut is a stylish and modern look that complements the round face shape.
• Textured French crop: A low-maintenance haircut with a short length and textured fringe that creates a frame to complement round faces.
• Layered mid-length cut: Adding texture and volume, this haircut helps to elongate the face and is versatile enough to suit various occasions.

Long Haircuts

• Man bun: When styled high on the head, the man bun can add height that complements round faces.
• Curtain bangs with long layers: A stylish and trendy look that frames the face, adding length and a touch of softness.
• Textured shag with side-swept bangs: A rock-and-roll-inspired haircut with choppy layers and longer bangs to create an angular frame for your face.
• Long slicked-back hair: A sleek and sophisticated look that adds height and elongates the face.

Other Considerations

When choosing a haircut, it's important to consider your natural hair texture and density, your daily routine, and your personal style. If you have a round face, it's best to avoid hairstyles that add bulk or width to the sides of your head, as these will emphasise the roundness. Instead, opt for styles that add height and create angles.

Face shape: oblong/rectangular

If you have a rectangular or oblong face, it's important to remember that your face shape is similar to a square shape but more elongated. Therefore, you should avoid haircuts that make your face look thinner and longer. This includes super-short haircuts, skin fades, and haircuts with volume, such as a quiff or pompadour.

Instead, you should opt for haircuts that add width to your face. Keep some length on the sides and add texture to the top. You can do this with a scissor cut and, for variation, try a side-parting crew cut, keeping the sides long and the body of the hair messy and texturised.

You can also try a well-proportioned hairstyle where the sides and top length are similar. This will help to create balance and give the illusion of a shorter face. Shaggy haircuts are great for this, as they help to create more volume at the sides of your face.

If you want something a bit edgier, a Caesar cut or a shaggy, surfer-style haircut could work well.

Face shape: triangle

If you have a triangle-shaped face, your jawline is the widest part of your face, with your forehead being significantly narrower. This face shape is characterised by a prominent jawline and a narrow forehead, so the best haircuts will balance out these differences by adding volume to the top and maintaining shorter sides.

• Crew cut: Ask your barber to keep the sides and back short, leaving a bit more length on top to play with. This low-maintenance haircut is perfect for straight or wavy hair.
• Buzz cut: This very short, uniform haircut suits all hair types and is ideal for those who want a clean, low-maintenance look.
• Textured crop: Ask your barber to keep the sides and back short, leaving the top longer and layered for added texture and volume. This style works well for casual hangouts or parties and suits wavy, straight, or thick hair.
• High and tight fade: This style involves keeping the sides short and leaving more length on top. It works well for both work and formal events, offering a clean yet bold look.
• Messy Caesar: This is a modern twist on the classic Caesar cut, with a laid-back vibe. Ask for a short, choppy fringe to soften the sharp angles of your triangle-shaped face.
• Textured fringe: This style involves keeping the hair on top medium-length with choppy layers to create natural movement and texture, while the sides are tapered or faded. It softens the angular features of a triangle-shaped face and adds width to the forehead.
• Undercut with volume: This bold style involves shaving the sides while leaving the top at a medium to long length. You can style the top slicked back for a sleek look or tousled for a more casual vibe.
• Quiff with faded sides: Leave length at the top while gradually fading the sides for a clean, sleek finish. Use a blow dryer to create volume at the front, adding structure to this trendy look.
• Side-swept fringe: Keep the top at a medium length with subtle layers, and sweep the fringe to one side for a relaxed vibe. This versatile haircut works well for both casual and professional settings.
• Pompadour: Use a blow dryer and styling mousse to achieve volume on top, while keeping the sides shorter. This style is perfect for big occasions like weddings or formal events.
• Long slick back: Grow your hair out on top and use a pomade to slick it back for a smooth, sleek finish. This look exudes confidence and style and is ideal for formal events and business meetings.
• Shaggy layers: Keep the sides layered while letting long, shaggy locks flow freely on top. This look is perfect for casual weekends or beach outings, giving an easy-going, carefree appearance.
• Modern mullet: Keep the front short and neat, letting the hair flow longer at the back, with trimmed sides. This style is ideal for casual outings and street style looks, offering a bold and edgy vibe.
• Loose waves: Grow your hair out and use a light mousse or sea salt spray to enhance your natural waves. This look is perfect for casual outings or music festivals, creating a laid-back yet stylish appearance.
• Long textured quiff: Style the front into a voluminous quiff, using a blow dryer and texturising product for lift and definition, while allowing the hair to flow naturally at the back. This bold look is perfect for fashion-forward events or concerts.

Face shape: diamond

If you have a diamond-shaped face, you will have a narrow forehead and chin, with width in the cheeks. This is one of the rarer face shapes for men.

When it comes to haircuts, you will want to add width to your forehead and chin area. Fringes work well to add texture to the forehead, while longer styles that can be tucked behind the ears are great for accentuating a diamond shape’s bone structure.

• A long sweeping fringe is one of the most popular diamond-shaped hairstyles. Characterised by long, soft layers at the front of your head, this look removes attention from your narrow forehead. It is easy to style and maintain, requiring just a little bit of holding wax to keep the fringe in place.
• A texture crop will help make your face look more narrow. For something extra, pair it with a fade at the back and sides. Use sea salt spray after styling to achieve a full, textured look.
• A classic side parting is a great way to extend the width of your forehead. Find the natural part in your hair and work in some gel to hold it in place.
• The man bun is a chic and trendy style that will accentuate your forehead and bring the contours of your face into balance. You can wear it low or high, depending on your preferences.
• A buzz cut is a great look for guys with diamond faces. Ask your barber to go super short with a number one or two all over for a classic style that is easy to pull off and maintain.
• The pompadour is a voluminous style that is great for balancing your face. Use an ionic blow dryer to achieve a full-bodied look.
• The long slick back is a timeless look and the perfect long hairstyle for diamond-shaped males. Simply comb your hair back and apply some holding gel for a polished and sleek look.

Remember, it’s all about embracing the angles and playing with textures to create a stunning style that’s all yours.

Frequently asked questions