For the modern man, no grooming affliction is more visceral than the slow retreat of a receding hairline. It’s an experience shared by many; two-thirds of all men will be affected by male pattern baldness at some point in their lives.
The key to styling it out, says former British Barber of the Year, Guray Kesman, is to make sure your face fits.
Here are his best tips.
TRIANGULAR FACE
Profile: If your jawline is more prominent than your cheekbones, and you boast a relatively broad forehead with a more pointed chin, you’re in the right place.
As typified by: Hey girl, it’s Ryan Gosling.
Do ask your barber to…keep plenty of length and volume on top and as much texture as possible. Consider a swept-back quiff or a side part to reveal the forehead.
But avoid… going for too much softness on top – this can look flat. High fades risk narrowing the forehead, too.
ROUND FACE
Profile: Wide, circular cheekbones, a full forehead and a tapered jaw can give the face a moon-like effect. The trick is to pick a style that undoes this sense of volume.
As typified by: Leonardo DiCaprio. Could be worse, TBF.
Do ask your barber to… aim for height and volume, while going tight on the back and sides. Opt for hard-textured cuts to lend more structure to your facial appearance.
But avoid… styling it flat on top. You’ll want to steer clear of fringes, too. Both will serve only to increase the perception of facial fullness.
SQUARE FACE
Profile: Your face is wide at all points: broad forehead, strong cheekbones and an angular jaw. You have presence.
As typified by: None other than Superman, Henry Cavill.
Do ask your barber to… administer a tight back and sides. Feel free to go with any length on top, but perhaps consider layering to help accent your features. In general, enjoy nature’s gift and go with what you’ve got.
But avoid… a precision-defined hairline if you’re receding. This will undermine the strength of your profile.
OVAL FACE
Profile: Broad forehead, softer, less notable cheekbones and a generous, round jawline.
As typified by: The never knowingly un-handsome George Clooney.
Do ask your barber to… style your hair how you like, as long as it creates volume and angles on top. You want to balance the roundness of your face, not squash it.
But avoid… fringes. These make an oval face rounder. Short, stubbly beards are fine but beware fuller growth. Think George Clooney on the pies with chips.
DIAMOND FACE
Profile: Narrow forehead, cheekbones you could cut yourself on and a tapered chin = rock star potential.
As typified by: Cillian Murphy – who, incidentally, fronted a rock band before becoming a heart-throb actor.
Do ask your barber to…soften your angular features with a textured scissor cut.
But avoid… aggressive cuts and short sides. (Yes, we know that this was Cillian’s Peaky Blinders look. Say no more?)
OBLONG FACE
Profile: A tall, rectangular visage with rounded corners will inevitably meet the question: why the long face?
As typified by: Ben Affleck. J-Lo evidently has a thing for right angles.
Do ask your barber to…apply even cuts and styles that work well with gravity. Insist on a scissor cut, too – shorn sides extend the face.
But avoid… too much height on top and too little length on the back and sides. You want to soften, not accentuate.
