10 Best Hairstyles for Men with Oval Faces

Having an oval face shape is like winning the genetic lottery—your balanced proportions and slightly longer-than-wide structure can pull off almost any hairstyle. This versatility is a gift, but it can also make choosing a look overwhelming. The key is to select styles that maintain your face’s natural harmony while expressing your personal flair. From sharp, classic cuts to textured, modern trends, this list is your ultimate inspiration board. Discover the top 10 hairstyles designed to highlight your best features and give you the confidence that comes with a perfect cut.

1. The Classic Side-Parted Undercut

The classic side-part is a timeless choice that exudes sophistication and works flawlessly with an oval face. The style features a sharp parting, typically with a razor line, where the longer hair on top is swept over to one side. The sides and back are faded short with an undercut, creating a clean, dramatic contrast. This vertical element emphasizes the natural length of your face without overstating it. It’s a incredibly polished look that transitions seamlessly from the office to a formal event, proving that classic grooming never goes out of style.

To master this look, ask your barber for a scissor-cut on top to allow for weight and movement. Use a high-hold, low-shine pomade to create a defined side-part and keep every strand in place. The undercut should be maintained with regular trims to keep the contrast sharp. This hairstyle not only celebrates the oval face’s symmetry but also adds a touch of old-school Hollywood glamour. It’s a powerful, intentional style that commands attention and showcases a keen eye for detail and refinement.

2. Textured Crop with a Fringe

The textured crop is a modern, low-maintenance icon that perfectly suits the oval face. This cut keeps the hair relatively short all over but uses point cutting and texturizing shears to create choppy, separated layers on top. The result is a look full of volume and movement that feels effortlessly cool. A soft, textured fringe falls forward, sitting just above the eyebrows, which subtly shortens the appearance of the face’s length, creating an ideal balance. It’s the go-to style for men who want a contemporary, fashion-forward look without high-maintenance styling.

Achieving this style requires a good texturizing product, like a sea salt spray or a matte finish paste. Work the product through damp hair and use your fingers to twist and lift sections for a piecey, defined texture. A blow dryer can add extra volume at the roots. The beauty of the crop lies in its “lived-in” aesthetic; it looks great even as it grows out. It’s the perfect blend of structure and chaos, offering a youthful and energetic vibe that works for both casual and smart-casual settings.

3. The Sleek Pompadour

The pompadour is a bold, confident style that makes a powerful statement. Characterized by voluminous hair swept up and back from the forehead, it adds significant height on top. For oval faces, this vertical emphasis is a fantastic way to lean into your face’s natural length in a dramatic and stylish way. The sides are typically tapered or faded to keep the silhouette clean and sharp. This classic rock-and-roll cut has been modernized and remains a symbol of rebellion and sophistication, perfect for the man who isn’t afraid to stand out.

Styling a pompadour requires a blow dryer and a strong-hold product like a pomade or gel. You’ll need to blow-dry your hair upward and back, using a round brush to build the desired height and shape at the front. Once the base is set, apply your product to lock in the volume and create a sleek, polished finish. While it requires more effort, the impact is undeniable. This hairstyle showcases your facial structure in its entirety, drawing attention to your eyes and jawline for a truly head-turning effect.

4. Long, Flowing Locks

Don’t be afraid to grow it out! Long hair on an oval face creates a stunning, romantic silhouette that frames your features beautifully. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, or curly, allowing it to reach your jawline, shoulders, or beyond celebrates a free-spirited and confident personality. The key is to ensure it remains healthy and well-groomed. Long layers are essential to remove bulk, add movement, and prevent the hair from looking like a heavy curtain. This style offers incredible versatility, allowing you to wear it down, in a man bun, or a half-up style.

Maintaining long hair requires a dedicated routine of conditioning and occasional trims to prevent split ends. Use a leave-in conditioner or argan oil to tame frizz and add shine. For a bohemian touch, use a sea salt spray on wavy hair to enhance texture. When you want to keep it off your face, a low ponytail or a loose bun at the crown maintains the aesthetic while showcasing your bone structure. This look is a testament to patience and personal expression, perfect for making a bold and artistic impression.

5. The Modern Mullet

The mullet has made a triumphant return, and the oval face is the perfect canvas for this edgy, business-in-the-front-party-in-the-back cut. The modern version is far more refined, featuring textured, often shorter layers on top and sides that dramatically transition into a longer, flowing back. This contrast is what makes it so compelling on an oval shape; it adds visual interest and a rebellious edge without throwing the face’s natural balance off-kilter. It’s a daring choice for the fashion-forward man who wants to showcase his individuality.

To nail this look, communication with your barber is key. Ask for a disconnected undercut on the sides with plenty of texture and layers throughout the top and back. Styling involves using a matte putty or wax to create piecey, separated texture on top, while allowing the back to flow freely. This hairstyle is all about attitude and controlled chaos. It beautifully highlights the jawline and neck, making it a conversation-starting style that’s perfect for creatives, musicians, and anyone looking to break away from the conventional.

6. Slicked-Back Undercut

The slicked-back undercut is the epitome of sharp, modern masculinity. This style involves growing the hair on top to a medium length and using a high-hold product to sweep it straight back, away from the face. The sides are kept extremely short with a sharp fade or undercut, creating a clean, severe contrast. For oval faces, this style elegantly exposes the entire forehead and facial structure, putting your balanced features on full display. It’s a clean, powerful, and sophisticated look that works incredibly well for both professional and formal occasions.

Achieving the perfect slicked-back look requires damp hair, a blow dryer, and a strong-hold pomade or gel. Blow-dry your hair back while brushing it into place to train it. Then, apply your product evenly, ensuring every strand is slicked down for a seamless, glossy finish. The look should be tight and polished, not loose or messy. This style requires regular maintenance to keep the sides crisp and the top at the ideal length for manageability. It’s a timeless, commanding style that never fails to impress.

7. The Textured Quiff

Sitting between a pompadour and a slick-back, the textured quiff is a versatile and dynamic choice. It features volume at the front, pushed upward and backward, but with a more relaxed, textured finish than the sleek pompadour. This height at the crown further elongates the oval face in a flattering way, while the textured, piecey ends keep the look modern and approachable. It’s a style that blends vintage inspiration with contemporary grooming, resulting in a charismatic and energetic appearance that’s perfect for everyday wear.

To create a quiff, you’ll need a blow dryer and a pre-styling product like a volumizing mousse. Blow-dry your hair upward and back, using your fingers to lift at the roots. Once you have a good base of volume, apply a matte wax or clay to define the texture and create separation, avoiding a slicked-down look. The goal is controlled volume with a dry, touchable finish. The quiff is a testament to effortless cool, offering a perfect balance of structure and freedom that complements the oval face’s natural advantages.

8. Curly Top with Tapered Sides

This is the ultimate style for men with natural curls or waves. The “curly top with tapered sides” cut allows the hair on top to flourish, embracing its full, voluminous potential. The sides and back are neatly tapered or faded, which creates a clean frame around the curly masterpiece on top. This contrast prevents the hair from looking round or bulky, instead directing all the attention to your curls and the harmonious shape of your oval face. It’s a celebration of natural texture that looks both smart and effortlessly stylish.

The key to maintaining this look is hydration and definition. Use a curl-defining cream or a light-hold mousse on damp hair to enhance your natural pattern and control frizz. Avoid brushing once the product is in; instead, scrunch your hair and let it air dry or use a diffuser. Regular trims are essential to maintain the shape and prevent the sides from growing out and losing definition. This low-fuss, high-impact style showcases confidence and is perfect for anyone who wants to work with their natural hair texture, not against it.

9. The French Crop

The French Crop is a minimalist, modern, and incredibly chic hairstyle. It’s characterized by very short sides and a slightly longer top, with a heavy, blunt fringe that sits across the forehead. A defining feature is the often-visible, sharp fringe line. For oval faces, this straight-across fringe effectively and stylishly breaks up the length of the face, creating a perfectly proportioned look. It’s understated yet fashion-forward, championed by style icons for its clean lines and effortless cool. It requires minimal styling, making it a practical choice for the busy man.

Styling is straightforward: apply a small amount of matte paste or wax to dry hair and messily sweep the front forward. The goal isn’t perfection but a textured, lived-in finish. The fringe should be blunt but not helmet-like. This cut looks best when it’s kept neat with regular trims to maintain the crisp lines of the fringe and the short back and sides. The French Crop is a testament to the idea that less is more, offering a sharp, urban aesthetic that is both timeless and on-trend.

10. The Messy Fringe

The messy fringe is the ultimate go-to for a youthful, relaxed, and approachable vibe. This style involves leaving the hair on top long enough to fall over the forehead in a casual, unstructured fringe. The overall cut is textured and layered to create a sense of effortless volume and movement. For oval faces, the fringe softens the forehead and adds a horizontal element that creates a wonderfully balanced appearance. It’s a deliberately “undone” look that suggests you didn’t try too hard, yet you still look impeccably stylish and modern.

Achieving this look is all about the right product and technique. Start with towel-dried hair and apply a texturizing spray or a light-hold matte cream. Use your fingers to tousle your hair as you blow-dry it, focusing on creating volume at the roots. Once dry, you can further mess it up with your fingers for that perfect piecey texture. The beauty of this style is its versatility; it works with straight, wavy, and slightly curly hair. It’s a low-maintenance, high-reward hairstyle that’s perfect for everyday life.