At a glance
- Beard style
- Van Dyke
- Face shape
- Oblong
- Verdict
- Works with a tweak
- Why
- It lengthens a chin that is already long or pointed.
- Shape it
- keep the chin short and the sides fuller
- Upkeep
- shaving around it every two days
The point follows an already long outline
An oblong face is clearly longer than it is wide, and its sides run fairly straight. The jaw is about as wide as the cheeks. Adding a long beard point continues that length below the chin.
A Van Dyke for a long face needs more care at the bottom than its separate moustache might suggest. Clean cheeks leave the chin beard clearly outlined, so its length matters. Check the oblong face guide if you're still deciding which outline describes your face.
Leave width beside a short point
Shape it: keep the chin short and the sides fuller. Keep that fullness within the chin beard rather than growing hair across the cheeks. The moustache stays separate.
For an oblong face with a Van Dyke beard, shorten the point without cutting the sides into a narrow wedge. A compact point keeps the style's defining shape while limiting the length it adds.
Tell your barber you want a short pointed chin beard with fuller sides and a disconnected moustache. Check the outline from the front and side before asking them to narrow it further.
Maintain the gaps and outer edges
Upkeep: shaving around it every two days. Clear the cheeks and the gaps between the moustache and chin beard so those parts stay separate.
Don't grow the whole beard first and leave shaping until later. Set the cheek and neck lines from week two. Keep the neck line defined as the chin beard grows, so hair underneath doesn't add to its length.
Consider the haircut above it
Hair with width at the sides and a fringe helps shorten the face's outline. Height on top and long, straight lengths make it longer. The hairstyle guide can help you consider those choices alongside your beard.
The free face-shape finder reads jaw-to-cheekbone width from one selfie, on your device. Compare other outlines in the beard guide for oblong faces if you don't want a pointed chin beard.
Questions people ask
- Can I keep the Van Dyke's point on a long face?
- Yes, but keep it short. Growing a long point lengthens a chin that's already long or pointed.
- Where should I leave the sides fuller?
- Leave fullness at the sides of the chin beard. Keep the cheeks clean and the moustache separate.
- Does a Van Dyke connect to the moustache?
- The moustache and pointed chin beard stay separate. Shaving around them every two days keeps that separation clear.
Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.
Related pages
The closest pages in this section, picked by topic rather than by date.
- A balbo on an oblong face: keep the chin shortConsidering a balbo on an oblong face? The verdict is neutral: fuller sides add jaw width, but a longer chin can stretch the outline.
- A chin strap on an oblong face: a neutral choiceThinking about a chin strap on an oblong face? The verdict is neutral: it changes little about the outline and needs an edge-up every two da
- How to wear a circle beard on an oblong faceA circle beard on an oblong face works with a short chin and fuller sides. See how to shape the outline and keep the cheeks clean every two
- How should you shape a full beard on an oblong face?A full beard on an oblong face adds width at the jaw. Learn where to leave the sides fuller, how to trim the chin and when to set your cheek
- Does a goatee on an oblong face suit you?A goatee on an oblong face works with a tweak: keep the chin short and the chin patch wider. Learn the shaping approach, upkeep and common m
- Does a short boxed beard on an oblong face suit you?A short boxed beard on an oblong face adds jaw width but can add chin length. Learn how to shape the sides, trim the chin and maintain the l
- How does stubble on an oblong face change the outline?Wearing stubble on an oblong face leaves your jaw and chin much as they are. Here's what to ask your barber for and how often to trim it at
- A van dyke on an oval face: the neutral verdictA van dyke on an oval face adds a little definition. See what to ask your barber, where to set the edges and how often to shave.