What Haircut Should I Get? Find Cuts for Your Face Shape

Start With Your Hair, Your Routine, and the Shape You Like

Choose a haircut that works with your natural texture and the time you want to spend styling it. Face shape can help you compare proportions: a quiff adds height, a fringe covers more forehead, and a short taper removes volume at the sides. These are options to try, not rules you have to follow.

Before your appointment, shortlist two or three looks and compare how they frame your face. Tell your barber what you like about each one, including the top length, fringe, and sides.

Use Face Shape as a Starting Point

You do not need to make your face look oval to get a good haircut. Decide which features you want to emphasize, then consider your hairline, growth pattern, and texture. A photo preview can help you compare the outline; a barber can explain what is practical with your hair.

The suggestions below are a starting point for that conversation. If you prefer a style outside your face-shape category, it can still be worth trying.

How to Determine Your Face Shape

Before choosing a haircut, you need to know your face shape. Here is a quick method:

Pull your hair back completely so you can see your full face outline.
Look in a mirror or take a straight-on photo with neutral expression.
Measure or visually compare these four dimensions: forehead width, cheekbone width, jawline width, and face length (hairline to chin).

Now match your measurements to one of these six shapes:

The Six Face Shapes and Their Best Haircuts

Face Shape Cheat Sheet

Face Shape	Characteristics	Top 3 Cuts (Men)	Top 3 Cuts (Women)
Oval	Balanced proportions, forehead slightly wider than jaw	Textured crop, pompadour, buzz cut	Long layers, bob, pixie
Round	Equal width and length, full cheeks	Pompadour, faux hawk, angular fringe	Side-parted lob, asymmetrical bob, long layers
Square	Strong jaw, wide forehead, angular	Textured crop, quiff, curtain hair	Soft waves, side-swept bangs, layered lob
Heart	Wide forehead, narrow chin	Curtain hair, textured fringe, side part	Chin-length bob, curtain bangs, shoulder waves
Diamond	Narrow forehead and jaw, wide cheeks	Side part, textured fringe, medium layers	Chin-length styles, curtain bangs, lob
Oblong	Face longer than wide	French crop, textured fringe, buzz cut	Bob with bangs, beach waves, curtain bangs

Not sure which face shape you have? Our complete face shape guide shows you how to measure in 2 minutes.

Oval Face Shape

How to identify it: Your face is slightly longer than it is wide. Your forehead is a bit wider than your jaw, and your cheekbones are the widest part of your face. The chin is gently rounded.

An oval face shape is considered the most versatile because its natural proportions are already balanced. You can pull off almost any haircut, which is both a blessing and a curse - too many options can make the decision harder.

Best haircuts for oval faces:

Textured crop- A modern, low-maintenance cut that adds natural movement on top while keeping the sides clean. Works with a slight fade or a scissor cut on the sides.
Side part- A classic that never goes out of style. The side part adds a touch of structure and formality. Pair it with a mid fade for a contemporary look.
Buzz cut- Since oval faces have balanced proportions, they can handle the minimalism of a buzz cut without looking too harsh. A great option for thinning hair or a low-effort summer style.

Styles to approach with caution: Heavy bangs that cover your forehead can make an oval face appear shorter and rounder. If you like bangs, keep them textured and side-swept rather than blunt.

Round Face Shape

How to identify it: Your face width and length are roughly equal. Your cheeks are full, and both your forehead and jawline are rounded without strong angles.

The goal with a round face is to create the illusion of length and add angular definition. You want height on top and tighter sides to elongate your face visually.

Best haircuts for round faces:

Pompadour- Height on top is your best friend. A pompadour - classic or textured - adds vertical volume that elongates a round face significantly. The higher the lift, the more elongated your face appears.
Quiff with high fade- Similar to the pompadour but with a more relaxed, forward-swept top. The high fade on the sides removes bulk from the widest part of your face, while the volume on top creates length.
Faux hawk- The central ridge of height draws the eye upward and creates a strong vertical line, counteracting the width of a round face.

Styles to avoid: Anything that adds width at the sides - like long, unstyled hair that falls to ear level - will make a round face look rounder. Avoid very short, uniform-length cuts (like a #2 all over) since they follow the round shape rather than correcting it.

Square Face Shape

How to identify it: Your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw are all approximately the same width. Your jawline is strong and angular, and your face length is similar to its width.

Square faces have naturally strong, masculine features. The goal is to soften the angularity slightly while highlighting that strong jawline, not hiding it.

Best haircuts for square faces:

Textured fringe- Soft, choppy texture across the forehead balances the hard angles of a square jaw. This works especially well at medium length.
Short back and sides with length on top- A classic approach. Keeping the sides tight emphasizes the jaw while the length on top provides contrast and softness.
Messy, swept-back style- Think of a relaxed, undone version of a slick-back. The loose, natural movement softens the angular frame while still looking sharp.

Styles to approach with caution: Very geometric, boxy cuts (like a flat-top) can make a square face look overly rigid. Aim for soft edges and natural texture instead.

Heart Face Shape

How to identify it: Your forehead is the widest part of your face, and your face narrows down to a pointed or narrow chin. You might have prominent cheekbones.

A heart-shaped face needs balance at the bottom. The wide forehead is already prominent, so you want to avoid adding more width or volume at the top.

Best haircuts for heart faces:

Side-swept bangs or fringe- Covering part of the forehead reduces its apparent width and draws attention downward to the mid-face. This is one of the most flattering moves for a heart-shaped face.
Medium-length layers- Layers that fall around the ears and jawline add visual weight to the lower half of your face, balancing out the wider forehead.
Chin-length bob (for longer hair)- If you prefer longer styles, a bob that hits at the chin adds fullness exactly where a heart face needs it.

Styles to avoid: Slicked-back styles that fully expose the forehead or very short sides with tall volume on top - both will exaggerate the top-heavy proportions.

Diamond Face Shape

How to identify it: Your cheekbones are the widest part of your face, with a narrow forehead and a narrow, pointed chin. Think of it as an angular version of the oval.

Diamond faces are rare and striking. The narrow forehead and chin mean you want to add some width at both the top and bottom while not adding more bulk at the cheekbones.

Best haircuts for diamond faces:

Textured crop with fringe- A fringe adds visual width to the forehead area, and texture prevents it from looking flat or heavy.
Side part with volume- A deeper side part adds asymmetric fullness at the top of the head, which widens the forehead area visually.
Swept-back medium length- Longer styles that are swept back add volume around the forehead and temples, filling in the narrow top portion.

Styles to avoid: Slicked-down, flat styles that hug the sides of your head will only highlight the width at the cheekbones and make your face look wider in the middle.

Oblong (Rectangular) Face Shape

How to identify it: Your face is noticeably longer than it is wide. Your forehead, cheeks, and jaw are all similar in width, but the overall shape is elongated.

For oblong faces, the goal is the opposite of round faces - you want to add width and reduce the appearance of length.

Best haircuts for oblong faces:

Fringe or bangs- Covering part of the forehead visually shortens the face. A textured, layered fringe is more modern than a blunt cut.
Medium-length style with side volume- Hair that has some body on the sides adds width. Think of a classic medium-length cut that is blow-dried for volume.
Chin-length cuts- A cut that hits at the jaw adds a horizontal visual line that "shortens" the face.

Styles to avoid: Very tall pompadours or high-volume updos will add even more length. Also avoid very long hair that hangs straight down past the shoulders, as it elongates the face further.

How AI Hairstyle Try-On Changes the Game

Even with all of this face shape knowledge, there is still a gap between theory and reality. You know a textured crop should work for your oval face, but will it actually look good on you? What about your specific forehead height, your hairline, your skin tone?

This is where AI hairstyle technology has become a genuine game-changer. Tools like MyNewHaircuts let you upload a selfie and see yourself with dozens of different hairstyles - rendered realistically on your actual face. It is not a crude cut-and-paste job. Modern AI analyzes your facial features, hair color, skin tone, and lighting to generate a natural-looking preview.

Here is how the process works:

Upload a clear, front-facing selfie- good lighting, hair pulled back if possible.
Browse hairstyle options- from short crops to longer layered looks.
Compare the result- the AI creates a visual reference of your selected style. Generation time varies.

This removes the biggest risk factor in getting a haircut: the unknown. Instead of staring at a photo of a model and hoping it translates to your face, you get to see the actual result before you commit.

A Step-by-Step Process for Choosing Your Haircut

Here is a practical framework for making your decision:

Determine your face shape using the guide above.
Shortlist 3-5 styles from the recommendations for your shape.
Preview each style with AI- upload your photo to MyNewHaircuts and see how each one looks.
Consider your lifestyle- how much time are you willing to spend styling? A pompadour requires more effort than a buzz cut.
Think about your hair texture- curly, straight, thick, thin. Some styles require specific textures to work well.
Save your favorite preview and show it to your barber or stylist. This eliminates the "barber miscommunication" problem entirely.

Dive Deeper by Face Shape

Complete Face Shape Guide — measure your face shape in 2 minutes
Oval Face Hairstyles
Round Face Haircuts
Square Face Hairstyles
Heart Face Hairstyles
Oblong Face Hairstyles
Thin Hair Solutions
Thinking About Bangs?
What Would Short Hair Look Like?
Men's Trends 2026
Women's Trends 2026
Low Taper Fade Guide — the most popular men's fade explained
Hair Transformation Ideas — ready for a bigger change?
How to Choose a Hairstyle — the systematic approach
Wolf Cut Guide — the trending layered mullet hybrid
Pixie Cut Guide — pixie styles for every face shape
Textured Crop Guide — the modern men's classic
Layered Haircut Guide — layers explained by face shape
How to Talk to Your Barber — get exactly what you want

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know what haircut suits me best?

The most reliable method is to start with your face shape, then narrow down options by considering your hair texture, lifestyle, and personal style. Using an AI hairstyle preview tool takes the guesswork out entirely by showing you exactly how a style will look on your face.

What is the most universally flattering haircut?

A medium-length textured cut with some length on top and shorter sides tends to be flattering on most face shapes. However, "universally flattering" is a myth - what works depends on your specific proportions. That is why personalizing your choice to your face shape matters.

Can AI really show me what I would look like with a new haircut?

Yes. Modern AI hairstyle tools use facial recognition and neural rendering to generate realistic previews. The technology has improved dramatically - results now account for your skin tone, hair color, face shape, and even lighting conditions.

Should I follow hair trends or go with what suits my face?

Face shape first, always. A trendy haircut that does not suit your proportions will never look as good as a classic cut that complements your features. That said, many trends can be adapted to work with different face shapes - a good stylist (or an AI preview) can help you find the right version of a trend for you.

How often should I change my haircut?

There is no rule. Some people find their signature style and stick with it for years. Others like to experiment every few months. If you want to try something new without risk, preview it with AI first so you know whether the change is worth making.

What should I tell my barber?

Bring a photo. Seriously, this is the single best thing you can do. Screenshots from an AI hairstyle preview are even better than celebrity photos because they show the style on your face. Your barber will know exactly what you want, and you will know exactly what to expect.