Choosing a hairstyle is not just about picking a look that you think is cool; it is about finding a cut that complements your unique facial features. For men with a round face shape, the goal is often to create angles and definition where nature provided curves. A round face typically has soft jawlines and equal width and length, which can sometimes make the face appear younger or less defined. The right haircut can completely transform this appearance by adding height, volume, or sharp lines to elongate the face and give it a more oval or square illusion.
This guide delves into twelve specific hairstyles that are perfect for balancing out rounder features. Whether you prefer short, low-maintenance cuts or longer, more styled looks, there is an option here for everyone. By understanding how hair length, texture, and volume interact with your face shape, you can walk into the barbershop with confidence. These styles rely on principles of geometry and visual balance to slim down the cheeks and highlight the jaw, ensuring you leave with a look that enhances your best features rather than hiding them.
1. The Classic Pompadour
The classic pompadour is one of the most effective hairstyles for men with round faces because it adds significant volume on top. By brushing the hair up and back, you create a vertical line that draws the eye upward, instantly making the face appear longer and leaner. This height counters the width of the cheekbones, providing a much-needed balance. To achieve this look, you need a bit of length on top, usually at least three to four inches. The sides should be kept shorter to ensure the focus remains on the volume above the forehead.
Styling a pompadour requires some effort, but the payoff is worth it. You will likely need a blow dryer and a round brush to create the initial lift, followed by a strong pomade or wax to hold the shape in place throughout the day. The result is a sophisticated, confident look that commands attention. Because the hair is swept away from the forehead, it opens up the face while simultaneously elongating it. It is a timeless style that works well for both professional settings and casual outings, making it a versatile choice for anyone looking to sharpen their profile.
2. The Textured Crop with High Fade
A textured crop is a modern, edgy style that works wonders for round faces by adding definition through choppy layers. The key to making this work for a round face is to pair it with a high fade on the sides. The short sides minimize width, which is crucial for slimming down the face, while the textured top adds interest and a bit of height without being too structured. This style is particularly great for men who want a low-maintenance option that still looks trendy and intentional. It is easy to style with just a bit of matte paste or clay.
When you visit a professional for a Long Haircut in New York, you might see variations of this style, but for round faces, keeping the sides tight is essential. The contrast between the skin-tight sides and the textured hair on top creates a square silhouette, which helps to counteract the natural roundness of the head. The fringe can be worn short and blunt or slightly longer and messy, depending on your preference. This cut draws attention to the eyes and away from the fullness of the cheeks, making it a highly flattering option for younger men or those with a sporty style.
3. The Faux Hawk
The faux hawk is a less extreme version of the traditional mohawk and is an excellent choice for adding verticality to a round face. By concentrating the volume in the center of the head and tapering the sides, you create a distinct peak that draws the eye upward. This effectively disrupts the round outline of the face and creates the illusion of a more angular, elongated shape. Unlike a punk-rock mohawk, a faux hawk can be subtle and professional, making it suitable for a wide range of lifestyles.
To style a faux hawk, you use product to push the hair on top towards the center, creating a ridge or spike. The sides don’t need to be shaved to the skin; they just need to be significantly shorter than the top. This graduation in length helps to slim the sides of the face. It is a fun, youthful style that adds a lot of personality while serving a practical purpose for your face shape. Whether you have straight or wavy hair, the faux hawk can be adapted to work with your natural texture, providing a sharp and structured look.
4. The Side Part
The side part is the epitome of a gentleman’s haircut, offering a clean and polished appearance that suits almost everyone. For round faces, a deep Side Part Haircut is particularly beneficial because it creates asymmetry. This asymmetry breaks up the uniform circular shape of the face, adding a diagonal line that draws the eye across rather than just around. When the hair is combed to one side with a bit of volume at the roots, it adds height and structure, helping to square off the top of the head.
This style is timeless and incredibly versatile, working well in corporate environments or formal events. To get the most out of a side part for a round face, keep the sides short and neat, perhaps with a taper. Avoid letting the sides get too puffy, as this will only add width to the face. Using a comb to define the part line adds a sharp, geometric element that contrasts nicely with soft facial features. A medium-shine pomade will keep the hair in place and provide a sleek, finished look that exudes maturity and class.
5. The Quiff
Similar to the pompadour, the quiff relies on volume at the front of the head to elongate the face. However, the quiff is generally less structured and can be worn a bit messier, making it a great casual alternative. The hair at the forehead is brushed upward and slightly back, creating a wave-like shape. This height is the enemy of a round face in the best way possible; it stretches the silhouette vertically. The quiff is adaptable and can be tailored to be as tall or as subtle as you like.
The beauty of the quiff lies in its ability to look effortless while actually doing a lot of work to balance your features. It requires some length at the front, but the rest of the hair can be kept relatively short. Styling involves blow-drying the front hair upwards and using a lightweight product to maintain the lift without weighing it down. This style brings attention to the forehead and eyes, shifting focus away from the width of the cheeks. It is a dynamic, energetic hairstyle that adds a touch of rugged charm to a round face.
6. The Undercut
The undercut is a bold, high-contrast hairstyle that is fantastic for slimming down a round face. This cut features very short sides—often shaved with clippers—that are disconnected from the longer hair on top. This lack of blending creates a sharp, distinct line that adds angles to the head shape. By removing all the bulk from the sides, the undercut instantly makes the face look narrower. The long hair on top can then be styled in various ways, such as slicked back or swept over, to add height.
While many styles incorporate Fades, the undercut is distinct because of the sudden transition between lengths. This stark contrast is what makes it so effective for round faces; it essentially deletes the width from the sides of the head. It is a strong statement look that suggests confidence and modern style. Because the sides are so short, it requires regular maintenance to keep the contrast sharp. However, the styling versatility on top means you can change your look from day to day while always benefiting from the slimming effect of the tight sides.
7. The Angular Fringe
Most advice for round faces suggests keeping hair off the forehead, but the angular fringe is the exception to the rule. In this style, the hair on top is cut at an angle so that the bangs hang diagonally across the forehead. This diagonal line cuts across the roundness of the face, breaking up the circle and adding a sharp, geometric element. It is a great way to add texture and interest to your look while effectively altering the perception of your face shape.
The sides should be kept short, often with a fade or undercut, to ensure the focus remains on the angular fringe. This style works particularly well for younger men or those with a fashion-forward aesthetic. It is also a good option for men with high foreheads who want some coverage without making their face look wider. Styling involves using a texturizing product to define the ends of the fringe and keep it sweeping in the right direction. It creates a mysterious, artistic vibe that frames the face in a unique and flattering way.
8. The Spiky Hair
Spiky hair might remind some of the early 2000s, but when done correctly with modern techniques, it is a fantastic option for round faces. The key is to create texture and height rather than stiff, gelled spikes. By styling the hair upward, you extend the vertical line of the head, similar to a faux hawk or pompadour. This added height balances out the width of the cheeks and makes the face appear longer. It is a simple, energetic look that is easy to achieve and maintain.
A skilled New York Barbershop will texture the hair with scissors to ensure the spikes look soft and natural rather than hard and crunchy. Using a matte clay or wax allows you to mold the hair upwards while keeping it pliable. The sides should be kept short to maximize the elongating effect. This style is perfect for men with thick, coarse hair that naturally wants to stand up. It creates a rugged, active appearance that distracts from the softness of a round jawline, replacing it with sharp, vertical energy.
9. The Caesar Cut
The Caesar cut is a short, horizontally straight fringe style named after Julius Caesar. While a straight horizontal line might seem counterintuitive, it works for round faces when paired with the right elements. The key is to keep the fringe very short and the sides tight with a fade. This creates a boxy, square silhouette at the top of the head. By squaring off the hairline, you introduce angles that counteract the natural curves of the face. It is a precise, low-maintenance cut that looks very masculine and strong.
This style is ideal for men who prefer shorter hair and don’t want to spend much time styling in the morning. It frames the top of the face and draws attention to the eyes. For men with receding hairlines, the Caesar cut is also a great way to minimize the appearance of thinning while maintaining a stylish look. The sharp lines created by the fringe and the temples help to structure the face, giving it a more defined and solid appearance. It is a classic, no-nonsense haircut that projects authority and strength.
10. The Vertical Hairstyle (The Blowout)
The vertical hairstyle, sometimes called a blowout, is all about defying gravity. The objective is to get the hair to stand up as much as possible, creating maximum volume and height. This is perhaps the most direct way to elongate a round face. By adding inches to the top of the head, the face instantly looks longer and more oval in proportion. The sides are usually tapered or faded to keep the silhouette slim and focused on the vertical aspect.
Achieving this look requires a blow dryer and a good volumizing product. You blow-dry the hair upwards from the roots to create lift and then use a strong-hold product to keep it there. While it requires some effort, the result is dramatic and very effective for reshaping the face. It gives an impression of fullness and height that is very flattering. This style works best for men with medium-length hair that has enough body to stand up. It is a bold, spirited look that completely changes the profile of a round face.
11. The Side Swept Brush Up
The side swept brush up combines the height of a quiff with the asymmetry of a side part. The hair is brushed up and over to one side, creating a diagonal movement that lifts the face. This diagonal direction is excellent for round faces because it leads the eye upward and outward, disrupting the circular symmetry. It provides volume on top without looking too rigid or centered. The result is a fluid, natural look that adds length and sophistication.
This style is softer than a hard pompadour or a spiky cut, making it great for casual or romantic settings. The sides should be kept short, but they don’t necessarily have to be shaved to the skin; a scissor taper works well here too. Use a flexible hold cream or paste to style the hair, allowing for some movement throughout the day. The “brush up” aspect ensures that the hair doesn’t lie flat against the head, which is crucial for avoiding a wider appearance. It is a charming, approachable style that flatters round features effortlessly.
12. The High and Tight
The high and tight is a military-inspired cut that is extremely short on the sides and back, with a slightly longer patch of hair on the top. The “high” refers to how far up the side of the head the shave goes before transitioning to the top. This high transition point helps to square off the head shape, reducing the appearance of roundness. Because the sides are shaved so close, there is zero width added to the face, making it look as slim as possible.
This is the ultimate low-maintenance hairstyle for men with round faces. It requires almost no styling, just regular trips to the barber to keep the fade fresh. The small amount of length on top can be kept messy or flat, but the defining feature is the sharp contrast and the lack of volume on the sides. It creates a rugged, tough appearance that defines the bone structure. It highlights the cheekbones and jaw by removing any hair that might soften them. For a man who wants a clean, masculine, and hassle-free look, the high and tight is a winning choice.
Conclusion
Finding the right hairstyle for a round face shape is all about creating balance. The best cuts for this face shape focus on adding height and volume on top while keeping the sides short and tight. This combination elongates the face and creates a more angular, defined silhouette. From the classic pompadour to the edgy undercut, there are numerous styles that can help you achieve a sharper, more masculine look. It is important to consider your hair texture and daily routine when choosing a cut, as some styles require more maintenance than others.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different looks until you find the one that makes you feel most confident. A skilled barber can be your best resource, helping to tailor these suggestions to your specific features and hair type. By applying these principles of geometry and balance, you can transform your appearance and highlight your best assets. A great haircut is a powerful tool, and for men with round faces, it can be the key to unlocking a more defined and stylish profile.
