20 Hairstyles for Men with Oval Face Shape
Pompadour with Mid Fade While oval face shapes suit most hairstyles, the best looks are cropped on the sides and longer on top. Choose a pompadour with a mid fade for a haircut that balances with your face shape. Comb it back for a classic, polished effect or part it in the middle for a more casual appearance.
Undercut An undercut is where lower layers of your hair are kept super short—typically, with a fade—while higher layers are kept at medium or long length. The result is an edgy style that’s become a favorite for men and women with all face shapes. Pick a shorter length on top for a cleaner style.
Quiff with Taper Fade If you have an oval face shape, having fringe (or bangs) can make your face look rounder. Instead, maintain the height of your shape by opting for a quiff hairstyle instead. Get a taper fade to keep the style cropped on the sides, with brushed-forward volume on top.
The Caesar A Caesar haircut, inspired by the Roman Emperor Augustus, is closely cropped on the sides, back, and top with horizontal bangs. This balances the oval face shape by complementing its roundness without shortening its length. A Caesar haircut works on any hair texture.
Slick Back with Low Taper Fade A slick-back hairstyle is perfect for men who want to keep length on top without going for a full-blown pompadour. Pair the slick back with a low taper fade for a clean, soft look that’s office appropriate. Style your slick back by distributing product through clean, damp hair and combing it straight back.
Undercut with Comb Over (Side Part) Get a bold undercut with textured length on top that you can comb over to one side. While any hair type can work with this look, it’s easiest to style on straight or wavy hair. Specify which side you intend to part your hair when you ask for the cut to make sure you have the right length for your comb over.
Textured Crop While fringe isn’t usually recommended for an oval face because it may make your face appear rounder, if you’d like short fringe, go for a textured crop. The look features trimmed sides and a textured, but short, top that can be smoother forward or spiked with texturizing spray.
Crew Cut A crew cut is a great low-maintenance hairstyle for men with oval faces. The haircut is buzzed on the sides and back and left slightly longer on top. It’s a sleek, professional look that won’t demand much care beyond regular washing and combing.
Afro with a Fade With an oval face shape, you have lots of options for your hair, including an afro fade. Go for a mid afro to keep length on top, and pair it with a low fade to emphasize that length. If you have a beard, get it lined up to complement the fade.
Layered Bro Flow A bro-flow hairstyle, also known simply as a flow haircut, gives off a laid-back surfer vibe. Since oval face shapes are compatible with practically every hairstyle, you have the freedom to pick any flow haircut. A layered bro flow look can be brushed back or parted in the middle for swoopy pieces that blend into a cropped back. Ask your barber for a layered flow hairstyle that’s mid-length on the sides and back and longer on top.
Brush Up with High Fade If you want a high-contrast hairstyle, go for a brush-up style with a high fade on the sides and back. A high fade is close to a skin fade, though it leaves some hair on the top of the sides and back. When paired with length on top that’s brushed and styled upward, it creates an interesting look. Because a brush-up style features more length toward the front of the top of the head, it’s ideal for those with naturally thick hair. If you have thin hair, a shorter style may be more flattering for your face shape.
Short Spiky Hair Go for a subtle punk look with a haircut that’s short and extra spiky on the top and sides. Decide if you want a spiky effect all over, or just on the top—if it’s the latter, do a low or mid fade on the sides and back. To get the look, bring in reference photos. Ask for a short, textured cut all over.
Faux Hawk with Fade Achieve the punk sensibility of a mohawk without looking too extreme by wearing a faux hawk with a fade. Get a burst or drop fade that follows the line of the faux hawk down toward the back of your head.
Box Braids The ideal face shape for box braids is an oval one, shares master cosmetologist Shun Pittman. That’s because there’s no need to accommodate extra width on the top or bottom of the face or worry about shortening the face shape. Chat with your barber to find box braids at a length and pattern that match your style. Or, do your own box braids at home.
Modern Shag With an oval face shape, try to avoid shag haircuts like the wolf cut that cover your forehead. These styles could make your face look rounder. Instead, go for a modern take on the shorter shag cut that features wispy layers you can easily part toward the sides. That way, you frame your face without shortening its vertical line. Ask for a mid-length, layered shag that’s parted at the center, with a long, face-framing fringe.
Man Bun Skip the cut and style your long locks in a way that complements the oval face shape perfectly: a man bun. Begin by combing your hair back at the top. Gather the top section of your hair and secure it with a tie at the back of the head where the bun will sit. Twist the ponytail into a bun and secure with another hair tie.
Ivy League Haircut Flatter your oval face shape with a classic Ivy League haircut. The look is closely related to the crew cut, but features slightly more length on top to allow for a clean side part. Swipe it to the side with a comb for a polished look, or use your fingers for a messier appearance. Since your barber may not be familiar with the name of the style, save a reference photo on your phone before you go.
Short Mod Take it back to the ‘90s with a short mod hairstyle inspired by rockers of the time like the Gallagher brothers. Go for a short mod, also known as a Caesar mod, which features sideburns and a feathered top as well as short, choppy fringe. Emphasize to your hairstylist that you want a Caesar take on the mod so you don’t end up with long fringe.
Mid-Length Swept Back Hairstyle Get a mid-length cut on the sides and back with slightly more length on top. Sweep it back with a smoothing product like hair styling clay, a blow dryer on medium heat, and a vented brush shortly after washing. An advantage of this style compared to others is it doesn’t require regular trims to maintain.
Dyed Crop Choose a dyed crop hairstyle if you really want to stand out. Go for a high fade and short, cropped style on top to get the look. Then, take another salon visit to dye the top hair a bright color like green, blue, purple, or pink. Keep in mind that this look might not be acceptable in professional settings. Consider your work environment before adopting it.
How to Identify Your Face Shape
Mark up a straight-on selfie to find your face shape. Make sure your hair is pulled back, if needed, and you’re not wearing any hats or glasses. Take a straight-on selfie. In your phone’s photo app, use the mark-up feature to trace the outline of your face. If your face is widest at the brow (not the chin or forehead), features soft angles, and has a defined jaw, you probably have an oval face shape. Another feature common to oval face shapes is an angular jaw. A softer jawline indicates you may have a round face instead. A wide jaw means your face is probably pear-shaped. EXPERT TIP Frankie Sanderson Frankie Sanderson Makeup Artist & Stylist Franklin (Frankie) Sanderson is a Makeup Artist and Stylist and the Founder of TheStudeo, a styling business based in Washington DC that specializes in hairstyling, makeup, and personal image consulting services. He specializes in hair extensions, chemical services such as highlighting, Balayage, Japanese straightening, keratin treatments, and designer cuts. He has a BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and has trained at the L'Oreal Soho Academy, TIGI, Vidal Sassoon, Redken, and Wella. His clients include Nicole Kidman, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Jane Lynch, and Alicia Keys. Frankie Sanderson Frankie Sanderson Makeup Artist & Stylist Use your face shape to decide your hairstyle. You want to make sure that you're understanding your facial proportions and how it relates to your hair so you're not promoting a part of your facial structure that you don't love. Oval is the ideal face shape because it balances your face in thirds.
Measure your face if you’re torn between shapes. Sometimes, it’s hard to eyeball your face shape because of factors like your bone structure and weight. Use measuring tape to measure the length of your face from the center of your hairline to the bottom of your chin. Then, measure straight across the center of your face. You likely have an oval face shape if your face is longer than it is wide, but it also depends on the shape of your jaw and the widest part of your face.
Best Facial Hair for Men with Oval Face Shape
Stay clean-shaven for a classic look. Unlike other face shapes that can balance their proportions using beards or mustaches, facial hair isn’t required for oval face shapes because they’re symmetrical. Skip the hassle of grooming a beard or mustache by wearing a bareface look from day to day.
Grow a simple mustache. Those with oval face shapes usually have angular, defined jaws. Highlight these angles with a simple mustache that’s short and barely extends past the edges of your lips. If you want something more dramatic, grow out a chevron stache that covers the top lip.
Wear a thin goatee. If you’d like to grow out a beard, stick to a short style that doesn’t cover up or round your natural face shape. Consider adopting a thin, short goatee that squares your jaw without changing the appearance of the lower half of your face.
Pair a tapered mustache with a trim beard. Grow out your mustache until it’s slightly past the edges of the lips for a wide look that matches the angularity of your jaw. Keep a short beard and get or perform regular trims to keep it tidy. Instead of shaping for roundness, ask your barber for soft corners that give your beard a slightly square look.
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