How to Choose the Best Haircut for Your Face Shape | GQ

In this GQ grooming guide, Maddie Conrad explains how to choose the best haircut for your face shape. She covers nine face shapes, including oval, round, square, oblong, rectangular, triangular, diamond, heart, and pear, and provides styling tips for each. For oval faces, hairstyles that are swept up and back are recommended. Round faces should avoid fringe styles and opt for height on top. Square faces look good with a bit of volume on the sides, while oblong faces are ideal for bald styles or those that add softness to the sides. Triangular faces benefit from coverage near the forehead, and diamond shapes should aim for width on top. Heart-shaped faces are complemented by soft, textured hair, and pear-shaped faces need hairstyles that add width on top to balance a wider jaw. The guide emphasizes the importance of balance and confidence in choosing a hairstyle that suits your face shape.

Takeaways

• 👤 Oval face shapes are versatile and suit most hairstyles, but should avoid fringe styles that shorten the face.
• 🍎 Round faces should opt for hairstyles that add height and avoid styles that widen the face, like Michael Sara's voluminous sides.
• 😎 For round faces, facial hair like a full beard can help elongate the face, balancing its width.
• 🟫 Square faces, like those of Leonardo DiCaprio, benefit from hairstyles that soften the strong jawline, such as a layered cut.
• 👴 An oblong face shape is well-suited for baldness or hairstyles that add softness to the sides and avoid high fades.
• 🤵 Rectangular faces can pull off short, textured hairstyles that balance the angular features.
• 🔺 Triangular face shapes, characterized by a wider jaw, look good with hairstyles that add coverage near the forehead.
• 💎 Diamond-shaped faces should avoid hairstyles that overly elongate the face and instead opt for softer, rounded styles.
• 🧡 Heart-shaped faces are complemented by hairstyles with texture and movement that soften the wide forehead and play against the narrow chin.
• 🍐 Pear-shaped faces should aim for hairstyles that add width to the top to balance the wide jaw, avoiding high and tight styles.
• 🧔 Facial hair for pear-shaped faces should be structured and angular to create the illusion of a stronger jawline.

Q & A

What is the most versatile face shape according to the video?

The most versatile face shape is the oval face shape, as it is the perfect balance between width and height.

What hairstyle is suggested for oval face shapes to avoid?

Oval face shapes should avoid fringe styles that shorten the appearance of the face.

Which facial hair style is recommended for men with an oval face shape?

Men with an oval face shape usually look best with just a mustache, as it keeps the bottom part of the jaw exposed, which is often more angular and lean.

What is the main goal when choosing a hairstyle for a round face shape?

The main goal for a round face shape is to stretch it out slightly, making it appear more oval.

Why is a blow dryer recommended for those looking for height on top of their hairstyle?

A blow dryer is recommended for adding height on top because it can help create volume and lift to the hair, which is beneficial for certain face shapes like the round face shape.

What is a common characteristic of a square face shape?

A square face shape is characterized by features that sit slightly lower on the face, a prominent forehead, and a strong jawline.

Why should men with an oblong face shape avoid a comb-over hairstyle?

Men with an oblong face shape should avoid a comb-over because it does not effectively conceal thinning hair and can appear unnatural.

What type of facial hair is suggested for a diamond-shaped face to balance its features?

For a diamond-shaped face, lower, larger beards are suggested as they help de-emphasize the angular nature of the face and bring more balance.

How can a heart-shaped face be complemented with hairstyle choices?

A heart-shaped face can be complemented with hairstyles that have texture, softness, and movement, which helps to balance the wider forehead and narrow chin.

What is the recommended approach to facial hair for a pear-shaped face?

For a pear-shaped face, a more structured and angular beard is recommended to create the illusion of a stronger and more balanced jawline.

How can one determine their face shape for the purpose of choosing the best haircut?

To determine one's face shape, take a picture of your face on a cell phone, and using the marker icon, draw shapes around your face. The shape that aligns most closely with your face is likely your face shape.

Outlines

00:00

💇‍♂️ Hairstyles for Oval Face Shapes

Maddie Conrad discusses the versatility of the oval face shape, which is widest at the brow and has a balanced width and height. Celebrities like Justin Bieber, ASAP Rocky, Ryan Gosling, and Henry Golding exemplify this shape. For oval faces, hairstyles that are swept up and back with tight sides are flattering. Fringe styles that shorten the face appearance are not recommended. Facial hair should typically be a mustache to keep the jawline angular and lean.

05:01

🤓 Grooming Tips for Round and Square Face Shapes

Round face shapes, like those of Michael B. Jordan and Jeremy Renner, are wide with full cheeks and a soft jawline. Hairstyles that are wide on the sides are not recommended as they can make the face appear wider. Instead, angular styles that create height on top are advised. For square face shapes, represented by Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Pattinson, the focus should be on hairstyles that soften the strong jawline, avoiding styles that shorten the forehead. Facial hair should be clean-cut or stubble to highlight the jawline.

10:01

👴 Hair and Beard Styles for Oblong, Rectangular, and Triangular Face Shapes

Oblong face shapes, like those of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Jake Gyllenhaal, are elongated with a strong jawline. The Rock's bald look is balanced by his jawline, while Gyllenhaal's softer, rounded hairstyles complement his elongated shape. Rectangular face shapes, similar to an oval but with a broader chin, are represented by Joe Alwyn and Chad Michael Murray. Textured and voluminous sides balance the angular features. Triangular face shapes, wider at the jaw with a pointed chin, are exemplified by Kilian Murphy and Timothée Chalamet. These faces benefit from hairstyles that add coverage near the forehead and facial hair that is clean-cut or clean-shaven.

15:03

🧔 Beard and Hairstyles for Diamond, Heart, and Pear Face Shapes

Diamond face shapes, widest at the cheekbones, are highlighted by celebrities like Jason Derulo and James Harden. These faces are complemented by hairstyles that create width on top and facial hair that is short and tight around the chin. Heart-shaped faces, wider at the forehead and cheekbones with a narrow chin, are exemplified by Nick Jonas and Harry Styles. Soft, textured hairstyles that add movement work best. Pear-shaped faces, narrower at the forehead and widest at the jaw, are represented by Zach Galifianakis and Anthony Anderson. The goal is to create width at the top of the hairstyle to balance the jaw's width, avoiding high and tight styles. Structured, angular beards are recommended for facial hair.

Keywords

Oval Face Shape

An oval face shape is characterized by being widest at the brow and having softer angles with an angular jawline. It is considered one of the most versatile face shapes due to its balance between width and height. In the video, celebrities like Justin Bieber are mentioned as examples, and it's suggested that hairstyles that are swept up and back, with lean sides, are flattering for this face shape.

Round Face Shape

A round face shape is almost as wide as it is tall, with the widest point at the cheekbones and features that are slightly lower on the face. It typically has fuller cheeks and a softer jawline. The video advises against hairstyles that add width on the sides, such as those with volume on the sides rather than the top, as they can make the face appear wider.

Square Face Shape

A square face shape is similar to a rectangle but with a broader chin. It's not as elongated as a rectangular face shape, and features sit slightly lower on the face. The video recommends hairstyles that create a softer appearance by interrupting solid vertical lines with volume or shape, such as the classic parted hairstyle with full sides as worn by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Oblong Face Shape

An oblong face shape is longer than it is wide, often with a strong jawline. It is suitable for bald styles or hairstyles that present a balanced shape, avoiding additional height to prevent exaggerating the length of the face. The video suggests that a goatee style can be complementary, as it creates an anchor for the chin shape without widening the look.

Rectangular Face Shape

A rectangular face shape is similar to an oval but with a broader chin and a higher forehead. It is often more angular. The video recommends hairstyles with texture and fullness on the sides to balance the angularity. Short, almost militaristic styles can also work due to the natural roundness they add to soften the angles.

Triangular Face Shape

A triangular face shape is characterized by a jawbone wider than the cheekbones, a pointed chin, and a slightly narrower brow. The video suggests that hairstyles creating a curtain effect on the corners of the head can help de-emphasize the width of the forehead and balance the face shape.

Diamond Face Shape

A diamond face shape is widest at the cheekbones, narrowing towards the forehead and chin. The video advises against hairstyles that add height on top and keep the beard narrow, as this can elongate the face. Instead, hairstyles with more width on the top and a fuller beard that de-emphasizes the angular chin are recommended.

Heart-Shaped Face

A heart-shaped face has a wider forehead and cheekbones with a narrow chin. The video suggests that hairstyles with texture, softness, and movement work best for this face shape. It also recommends avoiding hairstyles that emphasize the narrowness of the chin and instead opting for a soft, natural look.

Pear-Shaped Face

A pear-shaped face is characterized by a slightly narrower forehead, wider cheekbones, and the widest part at the jaw. The video recommends hairstyles that create more width at the top to balance out the width of the jaw, avoiding high and tight hairstyles that can make the top of the head look too narrow.

Facial Hair

The choice of facial hair can significantly impact the appearance of one's face shape. The video discusses how mustaches, beards, and clean-shaven looks can either balance or emphasize certain facial features. For instance, a full beard can add angularity to a round face, while a mustache can elongate a square face.

Haircut Balance

The concept of balance in a haircut refers to creating a hairstyle that complements the face shape without overemphasizing or detracting from its natural features. The video emphasizes that the goal is to achieve a sense of balance, such as avoiding hairstyles that are too wide or too narrow for the face shape, and instead opting for styles that enhance the face's proportions.

Highlights

Choosing the right haircut is crucial for enhancing your facial features, and it should be suitable for your face shape.

Oval face shapes, like those of Justin Bieber and Ryan Gosling, are versatile and can pull off a variety of hairstyles.

For an oval face, avoid fringe styles that shorten the face and instead opt for styles that are swept up and back.

Mustaches can work well for oval faces, as they keep the angular jawline exposed.

Round face shapes, such as Michael B. Jordan's, are wide with full cheeks and a soft jawline.

To balance a round face, avoid wide hairstyles and opt for angular styles that create height.

Facial hair choices for round faces should ideally elongate the face shape, such as a full beard with an angular outline.

Square face shapes, like Leonardo DiCaprio's, are characterized by a strong jawline and balanced features.

Square faces can benefit from hairstyles that interrupt solid vertical lines with volume to soften the appearance.

Oblong face shapes are elongated with a strong jawline, and can be complemented by softer, more rounded hairstyles.

Baldness can be a stylish choice for oblong face shapes, as seen with The Rock's balanced and strong appearance.

Rectangular face shapes, similar to oval shapes, have a broader chin and can be balanced with textured hairstyles.

Triangular face shapes, wider at the jaw, benefit from hairstyles that create a narrower looking forehead.

Heart-shaped faces, wider at the forehead and cheekbones, are complemented by soft, textured hairstyles.

For heart-shaped faces, avoid hairstyles that emphasize the narrowness of the chin and opt for natural, loose styles.

Pear-shaped faces are characterized by a wider jaw and can be balanced with hairstyles that add width on top.

Facial hair for pear-shaped faces should be structured and angular to create the illusion of a stronger jawline.

To determine your face shape, take a selfie and use the marker tool to outline your face; the shape that matches most closely is likely your face shape.