How to find your face shape
Pull your hair back and look straight into a mirror. Compare four measurements: forehead width, cheekbone width, jawline and face length (hairline to chin).
- Oval: clearly longer than wide; gently rounded jaw, forehead slightly wider than the chin.
- Round: length and width are close; soft jawline with no corners.
- Square: forehead, cheekbones and jaw are similar in width; strong, angular jaw.
- Oblong (rectangle): much longer than wide; forehead, cheekbones and jaw are similar in width.
- Heart (triangle): wide forehead, narrow pointed chin.
- Diamond: cheekbones are the widest point; forehead and chin are narrower.
Which haircut for which face shape?
| Face shape | Cuts that suit it | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Oval | Almost anything: pompadour, quiff, short crop, side part, long hair | Heavy fringes that cover the whole forehead |
| Round | Short sides (mid or high fade) with volume on top: quiff, pompadour, faux hawk | Full sides with a flat top; the bowl cut |
| Square | Classic short cuts, crew cut, side part, buzz cut, a softly textured top | Very geometric lines that harden the jaw further |
| Oblong | Low fade or taper, medium length on top, a light fringe or hair falling to the side | Very high volume on top with skin-short sides |
| Heart | Medium length on top, textured and slightly messy; sides not too short | Extreme volume on top, skin fade on the sides |
| Diamond | A textured fringe that fills the forehead, medium length on the sides | Skin-short sides that emphasise the cheekbones |
Hair type matters too
Even with the same face shape, fine, thick, straight or curly hair gives different results. Fine hair looks fuller with textured, layered cuts. With curly hair, short sides and preserved curls on top suit most faces. If your hairline is receding, short textured cuts work better than long, slicked-back styles.
The beard completes the balance
Think about haircut and beard together. On a round face, a beard slightly longer at the chin lengthens the face; on a long face, fuller cheeks and a shorter chin add width. See beard styles for your face shape for details.
The best decision: with an experienced barber
The table is a good start, but head shape, cowlicks, lifestyle and how much time you spend styling also matter. At Muharrem Bilen salons you can talk through the right cut with your barber before the first snip. Browse our services or book at our Ümraniye salon.