15 Men’s Hairstyles for Long Faces That Balance Features

Struggling to find a hairstyle that complements your long face? You’re in the right place! A long face shape benefits immensely from styles that add width and volume to the sides, creating the illusion of a more balanced, oval shape. The key is to avoid styles that pull hair back tightly or add excessive height on top, which can further elongate your face. Instead, focus on cuts with texture, fringe, and strategic layers that draw the eye horizontally. This Men’s Hairstyles for Long Faces guide is curated to solve that exact problem, offering 15 flattering and stylish haircuts designed to bring your features into perfect harmony. Get ready to discover your next signature look that not only looks great but is strategically chosen to enhance your bone structure.

1. The Textured Crop

The textured crop is a top-tier choice for elongating faces, as it adds crucial volume at the crown while keeping the sides neat. This contrast creates a beautifully balanced oval illusion, making your facial structure appear more proportionate. By asking your stylist for choppy, piece-y layers on top and using a matte product like clay or paste, you can create a lived-in, modern look that’s effortlessly cool. This style draws the eye upwards, away from the length of the face, and towards your eyes and smile, providing a fresh and youthful aesthetic that’s incredibly versatile for any occasion.

Maintaining this cut is refreshingly straightforward, which is perfect for a low-maintenance grooming routine. A regular trim every 4-6 weeks will keep the shape sharp. To style, simply work a small amount of product through damp or dry hair, focusing on the roots for lift. Use your fingers to create separation and texture, avoiding a slick, uniform look. The beauty of this hairstyle lies in its intentional imperfection, making it a go-to for guys who want a polished appearance without spending a lot of time in front of the mirror each morning.

2. The Classic Side-Part

A timeless side-part is a masterclass in creating horizontal balance for long face shapes. The strong, diagonal line created by the part immediately breaks up the verticality of your face, adding width and structure. This style works exceptionally well with slightly longer hair on top, which is then swept over to one side. Whether you opt for a sharp, defined look with a pomade or a softer, more natural finish, the side-part introduces a sophisticated and classic element to your appearance, proving that some trends never truly go out of style.

For the modern twist, consider a low fade on the sides to make the voluminous top appear even more pronounced. This contrast is key to achieving the perfect balance. Use a quality comb and a strong-hold pomade or cream to create a clean parting line and keep everything in place throughout the day. This hairstyle transitions seamlessly from a professional office environment to a formal evening event, offering a reliable and dapper option that always makes a strong, positive impression.

3. The Textured Pompadour

The pompadour, with its iconic volume and height, is a powerful tool for countering a long facial structure. However, the key for longer faces is to focus on a textured, less rigid version rather than a slick, vintage one. By building volume at the front and allowing for movement and texture through the top, you effectively shorten the appearance of your face. This style commands attention and exudes confidence, making it a fantastic choice for those who want a bold, statement-making look that is also strategically flattering.

To achieve this, you’ll need a blow dryer and a round brush to lift the hair at the roots while directing it slightly back. Follow up with a high-hold, low-shine product like a volumizing powder or strong clay to lock in the height without making the hair look greasy. The goal is a full, textured quiff rather than a perfectly smooth wave. This modern pompadour is both edgy and calculated, ensuring your features are harmoniously balanced while you showcase your personal style.

4. The Long and Layered Look

Embracing length doesn’t have to accentuate a long face; in fact, shoulder-length hair with strategic layers can be incredibly balancing. The layers add body, movement, and width around the cheekbones and jawline, which are key areas for creating the illusion of a shorter, fuller face. This style offers a romantic, effortless vibe that works wonderfully for wavy or curly hair textures. It’s a look that says you’re confident and comfortable in your own skin, perfect for making a bold, stylish statement.

The crucial element here is maintenance. Regular trims are essential to prevent split ends and maintain the shape of the layers, preventing the hair from becoming stringy and further elongating the face. Use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner to keep hair healthy, and consider a sea salt spray or light texturizing cream to enhance your natural waves and add definition. This hairstyle celebrates length while using its own structure to visually widen your face, proving that rules are made to be broken with the right technique.

5. The Messy Fringe:Men’s Hairstyles for Long Faces

A fringe (or bangs) is one of the most direct ways to shorten the appearance of a long forehead and, by extension, a long face. Opting for a messy, textured fringe rather than a blunt, heavy one keeps the look modern and approachable. By allowing pieces of hair to fall across the forehead, you create a strong horizontal line that interrupts the face’s vertical length. This style is youthful, on-trend, and incredibly effective at bringing your features into a more balanced and proportionate alignment.

Styling is all about creating controlled chaos. After blow-drying your hair for volume, apply a texturizing paste or wax through the ends, focusing on separating the strands. Use your fingers to tousle the front section, allowing it to fall naturally over your brow without completely covering it. This approach maintains an element of lightness and avoids a bulky, helmet-like effect. It’s a low-fuss, high-impact hairstyle that’s perfect for casual outings and creative workplaces alike.

6. The French Crop

The French crop, often associated with the timeless barber shop style, is a minimalist’s dream for balancing a long face. Its signature short, textured top and heavy, straight-across fringe create a dominant horizontal line that visually cuts the length of the face. This draws attention to the eyes and upper features. Paired with tight faded or tapered sides, the style emphasizes the top section in a way that is both sharp and effortlessly cool, offering a clean, modern aesthetic that requires very little daily styling effort.

This cut’s maintenance is incredibly simple. A trip to the barber every few weeks is all that’s needed to keep the fringe crisp and the sides sharp. There’s no need for complex styling routines—often, just a dab of matte product to enhance texture is sufficient. The French crop is a testament to the idea that less is more, providing a rugged, no-nonsense look that is strategically designed to make a long face shape appear stronger and more square.

7. The Slicked-Back Undercut

The slicked-back undercut creates a powerful silhouette that works wonders for long faces. The sharp contrast between the very short or faded sides and the longer, voluminous hair on top adds significant width, which is the primary goal. When the hair is slicked back, it creates horizontal lines that flow across the head, rather than vertical ones that elongate it. This style is bold, confident, and polished, making it ideal for gentlemen who want a look that is both classic and commanding.

To achieve this style, start with damp hair and apply a high-shine pomade or gel from roots to tips. Use a comb to smoothly direct your hair back, but avoid plastering it flat to your scalp—allowing for a little body on top is crucial. The finished look should have a sleek, uniform appearance that emphasizes the strong contrast between the top and sides. This hairstyle is perfect for formal events or for anyone looking to project an air of sophisticated authority.

8. The Curly Quiff

For men with naturally curly or wavy hair, a curly quiff is a fantastic way to harness your texture for a flattering shape. The volume generated at the front and crown of the head adds much-needed height, which helps to balance the face’s vertical length. Unlike a straight-haired quiff, the curls introduce organic volume and body that naturally expands the sides of the head, creating a well-rounded and dynamic look that feels both intentional and easy-going.

Styling involves using a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer to enhance your natural curl pattern while adding lift at the roots. Apply a curl-defining cream or a light-hold mousse to damp hair to control frizz and define ringlets before diffusing. Once dry, you can use your fingers to gently lift the front for extra quiff-like height. This style celebrates your natural texture while strategically using it to create a harmonious and attractive facial balance.

9. The Brushed-Up Fringe with Tapered Sides

This contemporary style combines the forehead-coverage of a fringe with the height-building power of an up-swept style. The hair is brushed up and away from the face at the front, creating volume that counteracts the long face shape, while the tapered sides keep the look clean and modern. This vertical element at the front is cleverly balanced by the width created from the brushed-up texture, making it a sophisticated and highly effective choice for creating the illusion of a more oval face.

Achieving this look requires a blow dryer to pre-style and build volume. Once you have the base height, use a strong-hold, matte finish product like a paste or fiber to piece out the ends and create a textured, “broken-up” fringe. The result is a stylish, architectural look that has plenty of movement and edge. It’s a versatile style that can be dressed up or down, perfect for the modern man who wants a look that is both fashion-forward and functionally flattering.

10. The Shoulder-Length Shag

The shag cut, with its rock-and-roll roots, is unexpectedly perfect for long faces. Its defining characteristic—multiple layers of varying lengths—creates a cascade of volume and texture that surrounds the face, adding width at the temples and jawline. This “frame” effectively shortens the visual length of the face. The shag is inherently messy and artistic, offering a carefree, bohemian vibe that’s perfect for those with a bold personal style and thicker hair textures.

Maintenance for this look is more about embracing the chaos than achieving a precise shape. Use texturizing sprays and dry shampoos to add grit and volume at the roots, and avoid heavy products that can weigh the hair down. Let your hair air dry or use a diffuser to enhance its natural wave. The shag is a statement that you don’t take grooming too seriously, yet its layered structure works diligently to balance your features in a uniquely stylish way.

11. The Modern Mullet

The modern mullet has made a triumphant return, and its unique structure can be brilliantly adapted for long faces. The contemporary version features a textured, often shorter top that blends into longer, layered hair at the back. The volume and weight around the nape of the neck and ears add visual mass to the lower half of the head, which helps to balance out a long chin and jawline. It’s a bold, rebellious look that’s both business in the front and a calculated party in the back.

The key to making this style work is the transition. The top should have enough texture and volume to avoid looking flat, while the back should be layered to remove bulk, not just left long and heavy. Styling involves using a texturizing product throughout to create separation and a lived-in feel. This haircut is for the style maverick who wants to make a statement while using an edgy silhouette to create a more harmonious facial proportion.

12. The Textured Comb-Over with a Hard Part

A textured comb-over elevates the classic side-part with a sharp, defined hard part shaved into the hair. This clear, clean line is a powerful horizontal element that immediately breaks up the long lines of the face. Combined with the volume of the combed-over top, this style creates a sharp, angular look that adds structure and width. It’s a polished yet modern cut that shows attention to detail and a keen sense of style, perfect for making a professional and personal statement.

Maintaining this look requires regular barber visits to keep the hard part sharp and the fade clean. For daily styling, use a blow dryer to add volume and direct the hair over, then finish with a medium-hold product to define the texture without sacrificing the clean part. This hairstyle is a confident choice that leaves no room for error, but when executed well, it delivers a perfectly balanced and incredibly sharp appearance.

13. The Medium-Length Wavy Cut

If you have naturally wavy hair, a medium-length cut that hits just above the shoulders is your best friend. The natural volume and body of wavy hair create a soft, full frame around your face, which visually widens it. This style avoids the “curtain effect” of very long, straight hair by using the wave pattern to push hair outward. It’s a look that is both sophisticated and effortlessly sexy, offering a perfect balance between being well-groomed and naturally relaxed.

To maximize this style’s potential, focus on hair health. Use a curl-enhancing shampoo and conditioner, and scrunch in a defining cream or mousse while hair is damp to encourage uniform waves. Air dry or use a diffuser to prevent frizz. The goal is to create a cohesive, bouncy wave pattern that adds body and width. This hairstyle leverages your natural texture in the most flattering way possible, creating a soft, attractive frame for your features.

14. The Fohawk

The fohawk (faux hawk) offers the edgy appeal of a mohawk without the dramatic shaved sides. The hair on the sides is kept short, often faded, while the hair on top is left long and styled into a strip of textured volume down the center of the head. This central column of height effectively shortens the appearance of the face, while the short sides ensure the look remains wearable and modern. It’s a versatile style that can be toned down for the office or amped up for a night out.

Styling involves using a strong-hold product like a paste or fiber to coax the hair in the center upward and slightly inward, creating a textured ridge. The sides can be faded or simply scissor-cut short for contrast. The beauty of the fohawk is its adaptability; you can make it subtle and textured for day or more defined and dramatic for evening, all while benefiting from its face-shortening vertical structure.

15. The Tousled Bed Head

The ultimate in effortless style, the tousled bed head look is a master of disguise for long faces. Its success lies in the multi-directional texture and volume it creates. Unlike styles that are combed in one direction, this look has hair going every which way, creating a sense of overall fullness and width that perfectly counteracts a narrow face shape. It’s a youthful, energetic style that looks like you just rolled out of bed looking incredibly cool, and it’s surprisingly easy to achieve.

To get this look, work a texturizing paste or sea salt spray through towel-dried or dry hair. Then, simply use your fingers to tousle, twist, and lift sections of hair randomly, focusing on creating separation and piece-y texture. The more chaotic, the better. Avoid using a brush or comb, as the goal is an artfully disheveled appearance. This low-effort, high-reward hairstyle is perfect for casual settings and adds a playful, modern twist to any wardrobe.