Round, square, oval or long — our Christchurch barbers explain the best men's haircuts for every face shape.
The fastest way to get a haircut that actually suits you is to work with your face shape instead of against it. Here's the short version of what our barbers look at before picking up the clippers.
The goal is height and angles. A fade with more length and texture on top adds vertical lines that balance out width at the cheeks, while keeping the sides tight avoids adding extra bulk. Sharp, defined edges — a hard part or a crisp fade line — do a lot of work here.
A strong jawline can carry almost anything, so this is the shape with the most room to experiment — crops, quiffs, textured fringes all work well. The one thing to watch is a cut that's too uniform in length all over, which can make a strong jaw look boxy. A bit of contrast between the top and sides softens it.
Oval is the easiest shape to cut for — the proportions are already balanced, so most styles suit it. The main thing to avoid is too much height on top, which can make the face look longer than it is. Almost any fade, crop or classic side part works well here.
Here the aim is width, not height. Keep the top shorter and let the sides carry a bit more volume or length — a textured crop or a fringe that sits forward both help. Skip anything with a lot of height or a hard, tight fade, which tends to elongate the face further.
Most faces are a blend, not a textbook shape — and that's exactly what a consult is for. Tell your barber what you're after and they'll shape the cut around your actual face, not a diagram. Book a style cut online or walk in at either of our Christchurch locations.