To take advantage of the oblong face shape’s features, the objective is to create broadness whilst downplaying its length. The following sections will assess the face shape’s styling objectives and then propose suitable styling recommendations.
In this men’s guide, you will discover the ways to properly style an oblong face shape. Furthermore, we feature recommendations on the best haircuts, beards, moustache styles and glasses for its characteristics.
Scroll down to read each section or jump directly to what interests you the most:
- Hairstyles For Oblong Face Shapes
- Beards For Oblong Face Shapes
- Moustaches For Oblong Face Shapes
- Glasses For Oblong Face Shapes
Each section features stylised graphics that lead onto individual guides. These will feature more specific advice on how to customise the style for your own face shape.
See The Best Places To Buy Glasses Online
Oblong face shapes usually consist of the following features:
Your face length is the largest whilst your forehead, cheekbones and jawline are all similar in length. Your chin may be pointed and it’s likely that your cheek line and the sides are your face are straight.
If this sounds about right, scroll down. Nevertheless, you might not be sure. If this is the case, know that we identify 7 different face shapes. Be sure to discover your own face shape with our easy guide.
Remember that also the above narrative generalises face shapes, which means that there are subtle difference between individuals. You may fit under the description of several face shapes so it’s up to you to properly identify your own using the tools we provide.
Knowing your face shape has its uses and is worth knowing. You’ll fit that once you get to grasps with your own features, you’ll be able to make styling decisions for more easily.
Oblong Face Shape Specifications
The above graphic presents and breaks down the face shape’s own features. Take note of its relatively simple structure consisting of more-or-less equal widths down the sides. The forehead is likely the broadest part.
However, its most distinctive feature is the face length. In short, the oblong is very much like an oval face shape except that it’s taller. Therefore, a touch of attention to styling can help you achieve a more harmonious balance.
A tall and wide forehead complimented by a noble jawline and even cheekbones is what we’d expect from an Oblong face shape. With elongated yet balanced features, the oblong face structure is somewhere between the oval and square shapes.
Best Oblong Face Shape Hairstyles
With its tall structure but otherwise balanced features, the key to showcasing an oblong face is in controlling the hair’s proportions. Although most styles work well, too much length on top or to short on the sides will run the risk of elongating the face. The safest approach would be classic scissor cuts whilst avoiding extremes.
Styles should focus on the sides or across the forehead whilst staying relatively flat on top. A style that uses gravity to let the hair fall naturally will provide sufficient volume and accentuate the forehead’s breadth without elongating its length.
DO:
- Even or balanced cuts
- Styles that work with gravity
- Classic “scissor” cuts
DON’T:
- Too tight back and sides
- Too much height or length on top
- Avoid extreme styles
Recommended Hairstyles
Best Oblong Face Shape Beard Styles
Natural Full beards risk elongating the face even further so the objective here is to shorten it and square off the jawline. Applying volume to the sides whilst shortening the length on the chin is a safe way to go in order to create a more chiselled facial structure. This can be achieved with both a full beard or a natural circle beard. Voluminous Side Burns or moustaches are also very efficient is providing volume to the cheeks and shortening the face respectively. They’re also great for making a bold statement!
Recommended Beard Styles
Best Oblong Face Shape Moustache Styles
Like hairstyles and beards, the objective is to give the face more width and reduce height. Opt for large moustaches that go beyond the corners of the mouth. These will reiforce the cheekbones and take a little height away with hair growth.
Bear in mind also that small moustaches may look lost on the large surface area of an Oblong face shape.
Recommended Moustache Styles
Best Glasses For Oblong Face Shapes
With a tall face and more-or-less equal width at every level, the general objective is to decrease height whilst bringing out the features. As long as they aren’t too tall, either round or angular frames can do this quite well.
That said, if glasses are as wide as they are tall, this shouldn’t pose to much of a risk. For instance, square glasses can help increase the broadness of your forehead whilst adding some angularity to emphasise your cheekbones.
However, if the glasses are too small, they can appear lost on an oblong face shape. Similarly, frames that are intentionally oversized to be too wide may inadvertently backfire by making the face appear too tall. Therefore, it’s important that they fit well.
Nevertheless, naturally large frames tend to work well in restoring harmony. Furthermore, frames with an emphasis on width such as browlines, which feature bars that act as secondary eyebrows, help increase width without oversizing.
Recommended Glasses For An Oblong Face Shape
Acceptable Glasses For An Oblong Face Shape
What Next?
Now that you’ve learned about your oblong face shape, you can explore all your options throughout our guides. Each of the hairstyle, beard, moustache and glasses guides feature dedicated section that dissect how well they work for each face shape. This will help you find out the specifics for any particular style you may want. Head to one of the following topics to find the style that you want to learn about:
If you ever forget the basics, this page will always be here for a refresher!
"I searched on so many sites! This is the most informative and complete guide for any Oblong face shape male."Rating: 5.0 ★★★★★
Contents
I searched on so many sites to get the knowledge that what will be the best hairstyle for my face shape and found that this is the most informative and complete guide for any Oblong face shape male.
Thanks Junaid! We appreciate your support! Expect more to come soon and feel free to explore the other sections on our site. There’s plenty to be found!
Best,
Charles-Philippe
Really good information to make the right choice. Thank you very much!! What do say about color, color is important as well, right? I like stubble beard…but my beard is really dark and thick and I’m like Spanish color, tan but not that much and I wear a black frame glasses… sometimes.. makes my face really heavy…
Hi Luis,
These are topics that we also cover elsewhere on Bespoke Unit. We offer a full guide to colour and contrast. However, if you want to read about colour specifically for glasses, there’s a specific section for that in our choosing glasses guide.
All the best,
CP
Good info thanks. Some typos can be confusing such as a paragraph heading about heart shaped faces in the oblong section. After some discussion I think one is supposed to measure the jaw line straight down from the ear with an imaginary line across to connect the chin tip and not across from below ear and to the chin tip. The wording and graphics are at odds.
Hi Asher,
Good spot on that typo! It’s been corrected, thanks.
As for measuring your jawline, you start from the corner of the bone (about an inch under the ear) and then down to the chin. Afterwards, you multiply it by two.
Best,
CP
I’m a 29 year old black man who just did an image consultation and was told i have traits of both oblong and oval. I’ve decided i’m going switch up my hairstyle from a even haircut (google : dark Caesar) to a Medium Fade with more on the top, and decided to retire my pencil mustache and alternate between a short squared beard or circle beard.
Would you say that’s a wise approach?
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the comment.
Yes, those sound like pretty solid choices for your face shape. A Caesar haircut will help reduce face length by lowering your forehead. Meanwhile, take care with a fade as it may actually accentuate face length. Make sure it isn’t too tight or somewhat low to prevent this from happening.
Finally, a box beard is great and very universal. Otherwise, a circle beard can look great but make sure that you focus on its width rather than length to help square off your jawline.
Hope this helps! You can learn more details for working these styles as we have face shape guides in each of their respective pages.
If you wear prescription glasses (or even sunglasses), check out our choosing guide for more face shape, skin tone and contrast inspiration!
Best,
CP
Yeah i think he’s trying to steer me towards a mid or high fade with more length on top because i’m only 5’5. I actually prefer a dark Caesar but willing to give a Mid Fade a try.
Going get my haircut like this next time and see what type of receptions i get.
Hi Michael,
Ah, if you’re looking to appear taller, he’s right that high fades are better. A dark Caesar and mid-fade aren’t incompatible. You’ll likely be able to get both with some good contouring around the forehead.
Let us know how it goes!
Best,
CP
Thanks for the info mate. I think I have a oblong shape head, but even with all great info that you shared, I still have a hard time finding my haircut and mustache style. I have long receding hairline, curly brown hair, and my mustache grows dark blonde lol… as funny as it sounds, it’s a dilemma. I’m currently growing a handle bar mustache for approximately 1 month. I know I look good bald, but my wife insisted in me letting my hair grow. Any good tips? PS I do rock the paperboy hat.
Hi David,
Interesting questions and it sounds like we have a few things in common! I am also slowly losing hair and would like to shave it but my wife prefers that I didn’t. Meanwhile, my beard is also a dark blond with hints of red and brown. Finally, I also regularly wear newsboy caps!
Therefore, I understand your frustrations in growing a moustache – early in the process it can look very blond – as well as being stuck with hair you can’t really do much with.
First, newsboy caps are great for long face shapes. They’re low and create width so it harmonises your proportions. So, good choice!
As an oblong face shape, handlebar moustaches are by far the best style. Thanks to their width, they help offset the face length. Any of the styles in our handlebar face shape guide would probably work quite well.
With regards to your hair, I understand that it’s tough as we’re quite limited on what to do. Furthermore, you’ll need to avoid creating height due to your oblong face shape. I’ve been experimenting with an undercut that’s swept to the side of late. It works relatively well when I take the time to style it. However, you’ll need to avoid shaving the sides.
Nevertheless, don’t let things get too long on the sides as it emphasises thinness on top. Meanwhile, brush or style to the side rather than towards the front or back as the hair will look and feel thicker. While hair loss is nothing to feel self-conscious about, we all feel a bit better when the style is deliberate.
If you can do a little fringe or quiff that curls to the side, that always looks good. Think Hugo Weaving or, since you have curly hair, Jude Law.
Unfortunately, I don’t know what stage of hair loss you’re at. If you refer to our bald page, there’s a handy infographic with each type and phase. If you tell me this, perhaps I can be more specific?
Best,
CP
Lol.. I found your instagram and we do have a similar style. Obviously, you are a lot more fancy than me. I just don’t rock the vest or suit because I’ll be definitely over dressed.
I’m a cop, and don’t know how long my mustache is going to be able to “ pass by “ the policy lol… I don’t wear hats on duty, so.. the haircut is being a trial and error fase.
I’ll give your recommendations a try and see what happens. Do you make any vlogs? If you do, you should definitely make one or growing a mustache from scratch (trimming, oiling, styling, etc). Thanks for taking the time to read my comments, I appreciate it!
Hi David,
We do have a YouTube channel, actually! However, we have yet to do any personal grooming coverage. So far, there are just the resources here.
As for the Police’s appearance standards, I imagine that they differ in every country and department. As I recall in the UK, the policy was that it was allowed as long as it was “neat and tidy”, which was vague to say the least. There was even a tolerance for stubble if it was during the growing period for a beard.
If your department is similar, you should have enough leverage to be able to experiment with different styles. I expect that you might be restricted to a moustache style that doesn’t go passed the top lip. Perhaps a Chevron style in our handlebar guide linked above?
Otherwise, maybe your department holds an annual event like Milford’s Pigs 4 Wigs? This would be a great opportunity to grow out your hair for a month then trim it until you find a style that you’re happy with!
By the way, thanks for finding me on Instagram. Give me a shout next time you’re there!
Best,
CP
Best ALL ROUND INFORMATION, I searched unlimited sites for this.
Hi Om,
Glad that we could be of service!
Best,
CP
Great article. Probably the most informative article I’ve found in regards to the oblong face shape.
Thanks, John! Happy to help!
Best,
CP
Can I do a #2 on the sides with a crew cut on the top with an oblong face shape?
Dear AJ,
I don’t see why that’s wouldn’t work.
Most good barbers, know how to help complement your face-shape too, so let them have a little creative freedom too!
Cheers Paul
Hi Aj,
As a further, I’d say that while it is theoretically possible, make sure that the difference in length between the top and bottom is too large. Very short back and sides can actually make an oblong face shape seem longer.
Best,
CP
I still couldn’t get what my face shape is can you help me out?
Hi Hassan,
Sure, give me your measurements or leave a link to a photo so I can get a proper look. I’ll delete the link before the comment is published to preserve your anonymity.
Best,
CP