At a glance
- Face shape
- Oblong
- Jaw
- straight-sided and about as wide as the cheeks
- Aim for
- Width at the sides, kept short at the chin
- Avoid
- Length at the chin
- Top picks
- Full beard
| Beard | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Full beard | Good | It adds width at the jaw, which the lower face lacks. Watch one thing: it lengthens a chin that is already long or pointed. |
| Stubble | Neutral | It changes little about the outline either way. |
| Short boxed beard | Neutral | It adds width at the jaw, which the lower face lacks, but it also lengthens a chin that is already long or pointed. |
| Balbo | Neutral | It adds width at the jaw, which the lower face lacks, but it also lengthens a chin that is already long or pointed. |
| Chin strap | Neutral | It changes little about the outline either way. |
| Circle beard | With a tweak | It lengthens a chin that is already long or pointed. |
| Goatee | With a tweak | It lengthens a chin that is already long or pointed. |
| Van Dyke | With a tweak | It lengthens a chin that is already long or pointed. |
Add width without extending the chin
An oblong face is clearly longer than it is wide, with fairly straight sides. Its jaw can match the cheeks in width while the whole outline still looks narrow relative to its length.
A beard changes only the lower third: it can widen the jaw, lengthen the chin or fill the cheeks. For beards on long faces, put that added fullness at the sides. Keep the chin close.
The free face-shape finder reads jaw width against cheekbone width from one selfie, the ratio a beard changes most. The oblong face guide explains the longer outline.
Beard styles ranked for an oblong face
- Full beard: Good. It adds width at the jaw, where the lower face needs more breadth relative to its length. Watch the chin: growth there adds unwanted length.
- Stubble: Neutral. It changes little about the outline either way.
- Short boxed beard: Neutral. It adds useful jaw width but can also lengthen an already long or pointed chin.
- Balbo: Neutral. It adds jaw width but can also extend an already long or pointed chin.
- Chin strap: Neutral. It changes little about the outline either way.
- Circle beard: With a tweak. Keep it short because it lengthens an already long or pointed chin.
- Goatee: With a tweak. Limit chin length so it doesn't extend the face further.
- Van Dyke: With a tweak. Keep the chin section short to avoid adding length.
Shape the edges as well as the chin
Don't let the cheek and neck lines grow wherever they want. Those lines decide the shape; length alone doesn't give a beard a clear outline.
For an oblong-face beard, ask your barber to keep fullness at the sides and shorten the chin. Check where the beard ends as well as how much hair remains. A lower edge that drops at the centre adds the length you're trying to avoid.
Make your haircut support the same aim
Width at the sides and a fringe help an oblong outline look shorter. Height on top and long, straight lengths make it look longer.
When choosing a beard for a long face, consider that combined outline. A short chin won't change the height added by your haircut. Use the hairstyle guide to compare options that support the same aim.
Questions people ask
- Is a full beard better than stubble for an oblong face?
- A full beard is the top pick when you want added width at the jaw. Stubble changes little about the outline, so it suits a smaller change.
- Can an oblong face wear a goatee?
- Yes, with a short chin section. A long goatee adds length where an oblong face already has plenty.
- How does beard shaping differ for oval and oblong faces?
- An oval face suits lengths that keep its softly tapering jaw visible. An oblong face calls for width at the sides and a short chin.
Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.