The best hair for long face men adds width at the sides and keeps the top low. A long face is already tall, so any cut that builds height or shaves the sides makes it look longer. A fringe, some texture and a low fade do the opposite.
This guide covers 12 long face shape hairstyles male barbers actually recommend, a full section for straight hair, the cuts to skip, and the exact words to use in the chair.
In this guide
Quick answer: what hair suits a long face man?
A textured crop, French crop, side part or side-swept fringe with a low fade or taper suits a long face best. Keep the top under about 3 inches, leave some length on the sides, and style hair forward or sideways instead of straight up.
Do you really have a long face?
You have a long (oblong) face if your face is clearly longer than it is wide, and your forehead, cheekbones and jaw are about the same width.
Check it in one minute:
- Pull your hair back and face a mirror.
- Measure from your hairline to the bottom of your chin.
- Measure across your cheekbones at the widest point.
- If the length is roughly one and a half times the width or more, treat your face as long.
An oval face is similar but softer, with a narrower jaw and less length. If you sit between the two, the advice below still works. For a wider look at how barbers match cuts to face shapes, see the London School of Barbering face shape guide.
The 3 rules every cut should follow
Every good haircut for a long face does three things: it adds width, limits height and breaks up the forehead.
- Width at the sides. Keep some hair above the ears. A low fade or scissor taper keeps the temples full; a high skin fade removes them.
- Low height on top. Aim for 2 to 3 inches. Tall styles stretch the face.
- Something across the forehead. A fringe, even a short one, shortens the face more than any other single change.
Pages that recommend tall pompadours for long faces skip rule two. A quiff hairstyle can work, but only when it is short and pushed slightly forward.
12 best hairstyles for long face men
These 12 cuts are the best hair for long face men because they all add width or cover part of the forehead. The first four are the safest picks for most men; the rest depend on your hair length and texture.
| # | Hairstyle | Why it works on a long face | What to ask your barber |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Textured crop with low fade | Short fringe covers the forehead, texture adds width | “Textured crop, about 2 inches on top, pushed forward, low fade.” |
| 2 | French crop | Blunt fringe cuts the face length visually | “French crop with a straight fringe just above the brows, low taper.” |
| 3 | Side part with taper | Hair moves sideways, not up | “Classic side part, scissor taper on the sides, no skin fade.” |
| 4 | Side-swept fringe | A diagonal line across the forehead breaks the vertical | “Leave the fringe long enough to sweep across, medium sides.” |
| 5 | Curtain bangs | Hair falls on both sides and widens the upper face | “Middle part, fringe to the cheekbones, light layers.” |
| 6 | Low quiff | Gives style without much height | “Short quiff, under 3 inches, low fade, textured not slick.” |
| 7 | Ivy League | Neat, short, with a small side-swept front | “Ivy League, enough on top to part, tapered sides.” |
| 8 | Longer crew cut | Low-maintenance and keeps some side length | “Crew cut, about 1.5 inches on top, taper instead of a high fade.” |
| 9 | Two-block cut | Full top falls over shorter sides and adds width | “Two-block, keep the top long enough to cover the sides.” |
| 10 | Bro flow | Hair fans out at ear level | “Growing it out, just tidy the neckline and add light layers.” |
| 11 | Shoulder-length layers | Layers create side volume in long hair | “Long layers starting at the cheekbones, no blunt one-length cut.” |
| 12 | Messy medium cut | Loose texture hides length and looks relaxed | “Medium length all over, point-cut for texture.” |
Short hairstyles
The textured crop, French crop and Ivy League are the best short options. They need a trim every 3 to 4 weeks and under two minutes of styling.
Medium hairstyles
The side part, side-swept fringe, curtain bangs and two-block cut suit medium hair. They give the most width and the most styling choice.
Long hairstyles
Long hair works on a long face only when it has volume at the sides. Choose layers or a bro flow, and never tie it into a tight man bun, which exposes the full face length.
Long face shape hairstyles for male straight hair
Straight hair is the hardest texture for a long face because it lies flat and forms vertical lines. The fix is texture in the cut and a matte, messy finish in the styling.
The best long face shape hairstyles for male straight hair are:
- Textured French crop. Ask for point-cutting on top so the hair does not sit flat.
- Side-swept fringe. Straight hair holds a sweep well with a little clay.
- Two-block cut. Ideal for thick straight hair, including most Asian hair types, because the top falls outward.
- Layered curtain bangs. Layers stop straight hair from hanging like a curtain beside the face.
- Side part with a matte finish. Skip the wet look; shine makes straight hair look flatter.
How to style straight hair for a long face
Blow-dry your hair sideways or forward, never straight up, and finish with a matte product.
- Towel-dry until damp.
- Spray sea salt spray at the roots for grip.
- Blow-dry while pushing hair to the side or forward with your fingers.
- Rub a pea-sized amount of matte clay or paste between your palms.
- Work it through and pinch small sections apart for texture.
Fine straight hair needs a light paste or styling powder. Thick straight hair needs a stronger clay and some weight removed on top by the barber. If your hair is also very smooth and slippery, our guide to silky hair for men covers the cuts that hold best.
Pick your cut by hair type
Match the cut to your texture first, then to how much time you spend styling.
| Hair type | Best pick | Daily styling time |
|---|---|---|
| Fine straight | Textured crop or French crop | 2 minutes |
| Thick straight | Two-block or side part | 5 minutes |
| Wavy | Side-swept fringe or bro flow | 3 minutes |
| Curly | Medium curls with a low taper | 3 minutes |
| Thinning or receding | Longer crew cut or short textured crop | 1 minute |
Hairstyles to avoid with a long face
Avoid any style that adds height, removes the sides or shows the full length of your face.
- Tall pompadours and high quiffs. They add inches on top.
- High skin fades. They strip the width your face needs.
- Flat slick backs. They expose the whole forehead.
- Long, flat, one-length straight hair. It frames the face with two vertical lines.
- Man buns and top knots. They pull everything up and back.
- Very short buzz cuts. They hide nothing, so they only suit a strong, wide jaw.
Does a beard help a long face?
Yes, if it adds width on the cheeks and stays short at the chin. Heavy stubble or a short boxed beard fills out the sides of the face.
Avoid a long pointed beard or goatee. It adds length below the chin, which is the same mistake as a tall pompadour on top.
How to keep the shape between cuts
Book a trim every 3 to 4 weeks for short cuts and every 6 to 8 weeks for medium or longer hair. The sides grow out first, and once the fade line blurs the cut loses the width that balances your face.
Between visits, three habits keep the style working:
- Style it the same direction every day. Hair trains over a week or two. Push it forward or sideways each morning and it will stop standing up on its own.
- Use less product than you think. Too much clay or paste weighs the hair down and makes it sit flat against the head, which removes side volume.
- Tidy only the neckline and around the ears. Do not trim the temples yourself. Taking even a little off the sides at home makes the head look narrower.
If the fringe starts to fall into your eyes before your next appointment, ask your barber for a quick fringe tidy. Many shops do this in a few minutes, and it is better than cutting it straight across at home, which leaves a hard line that is difficult to fix.
Growing your hair out? Expect an awkward stage at around three to four months, when the top is too long to style forward and too short to tuck behind the ears. A light layer cut at that point keeps the volume at ear level so the extra length does not drag the face down.
What to tell your barber
Say this: “I have a long face, so I want width at the sides and not much height on top.” A good barber will adjust the cut from there.
Three details to confirm before the clippers start:
- Fade height: low fade or taper, not high.
- Top length: 2 to 3 inches, with texture.
- Fringe: left long enough to wear forward or to the side.
Bring one photo of a man with a similar face shape and hair type. A photo of thick wavy hair will not work on fine straight hair.
Want more detail for your exact situation? Read our guides to oblong face hairstyles for men, haircuts for a long face with straight hair, and the best beard styles for a long face.
FAQs
What is the best hair for long face men?
The best hair for long face men is a textured crop or side part with a low fade. Both add width at the sides, keep the top under 3 inches and let you wear a fringe, which makes the face look shorter and more balanced.
Is long hair good for a long face?
Long hair suits a long face when it has layers and volume at ear level. Flat, one-length hair makes the face look longer. Waves, layers or a bro flow push the hair outward and balance the length.
Which fade is best for a long face?
A low fade or a scissor taper is best. Both keep hair at the temples, which adds width. A high skin fade removes that width and makes the head look narrower and taller.
What hairstyle suits a long face with straight hair?
A textured French crop, side-swept fringe or two-block cut suits straight hair on a long face. Ask for texture in the cut and use a matte clay, because flat, shiny straight hair emphasises length.
Can men with long faces wear a middle part?
Yes, with curtain bangs that fall to the cheekbones. The hair opens outward and widens the upper face. A flat middle part with long straight sides does the opposite.
Is a buzz cut bad for a long face?
A buzz cut is risky because it shows the full length of the face. It can work with a wide jaw and a short full beard. A longer crew cut is the safer short option.
Final words
The right hair for long face men is wide and low: fuller sides, a short textured top and a fringe. Start with a textured crop or side part and a low fade, then adjust for your hair type.
Next step: save the barber script above, pick one style from the table and book your cut. Then read our guide to messy hairstyles for men for more textured looks you can style at home.
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