At a glance
- Face shape
- Heart
- Hair type
- Curly
- What curly hair adds
- volume and width wherever it is left long
- Aim for
- Fullness at chin level and a fringe, little volume at the crown
- Styling tip
- the sides decide the outline: short sides keep width off the cheeks, longer sides add it
- Top picks
- Messy fringe, French crop, Curtain fringe
| Style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Messy fringe | Good | It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face. |
| French crop | Good | It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face. |
| Curtain fringe | Good | It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face. |
| Textured crop | Good | It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face. Watch one thing: it adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Buzz cut | Neutral | It changes little about the outline either way. |
| Taper fade | Neutral | It changes little about the outline either way. |
| Skin fade | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Curly top fade | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. On the plus side it adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw. |
| Man bun | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Afro | With a tweak | It adds volume at the top, where this face is already widest. On the plus side it adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw. |
| Crew cut | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Side part | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Undercut | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Quiff | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. On the plus side it adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw. |
Put fullness below the broad forehead
A heart-shaped face tapers from its widest line at the forehead to its narrowest point at the chin. Fullness near the chin adds width where the lower face lacks it. Volume at the crown or temples pushes the balance upward instead.
Curly texture has a neutral effect here: its soft lines offset the extra height it adds to an already long outline. Where you leave length decides which effect stands out.
Choose a fringe that keeps the crown low
The best curly haircuts for a heart-shaped face keep some forehead coverage to narrow its widest line.
- A messy fringe is a good fit because the curls cover part of the forehead and shorten the visible face. Let them fall forward. Keep the crown low.
- A French crop is a good fit because its fringe also shortens the visible face through forehead coverage. Keep that coverage when adapting the cut to your curls.
- A curtain fringe is a good fit when it leaves enough hair across the forehead to narrow its visible width.
Check height before choosing a fade or longer style
Compare curly styles for a heart face by their finished height, rather than by the cut's name alone.
- A textured crop is a good fit because the fringe covers part of the forehead and shortens the visible face. Watch the height it adds to an already long outline.
- A buzz cut and a taper fade are neutral because they change little about the outline either way.
- A skin fade, man bun, crew cut, side part or undercut works with a tweak to limit added height.
- A curly top fade or quiff works with a tweak because its softer lines come with extra height. Both can soften strong jaw angles, but the top still needs restraint.
- An afro works with a tweak to avoid top volume where the face is already widest. Its broken-up lines can soften strong jaw angles without needing extra height at the crown.
Tell your barber where to keep the curls
With curly hairstyles for men, the sides decide the outline: short sides keep width off the cheeks, while longer sides add it. Ask for forehead coverage, little crown height and no extra bulk at the temples.
Don't choose a cut designed for another hair type and expect your barber to force it with product. Compare men's cuts for heart faces by their shape, then adapt the length to your curls.
The free face-shape finder names the closest prototype from one selfie, on your device. It doesn't read hair type, so choose that yourself from how your hair dries naturally.
Questions people ask
- Can I wear a curly top fade with a heart face?
- A curly top fade works with a tweak that keeps the curls from adding more height to an already long outline. Ask your barber to keep the top low rather than building the curls upward.
- Should I leave the sides long?
- Short sides keep width off the cheeks, while longer sides add it wherever you leave the curls long. Avoid concentrating that extra volume at the temples, where it widens the upper face.
- Is a buzz cut a good match?
- A buzz cut is a neutral fit because it changes little about the outline of a heart face. It doesn't provide the forehead coverage of a messy fringe, French crop or curtain fringe.
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.
- men's hairstyles for a diamond face with curly hairCompare men's hairstyles for a diamond face with curly hair, including crops and fringes, and learn where to keep volume or remove side bulk
- men's hairstyles for a heart face with thick hairCompare men's hairstyles for a heart face with thick hair: messy fringe, French crop and curtain fringe, with advice on side bulk and crown
- men's hairstyles for a heart face with thin hairCompare men's hairstyles for a heart face with thin hair: French crop, buzz cut and taper fade, with blunt ends and little crown volume.
- women's hairstyles for a heart face with curly hairCompare women's hairstyles for a heart face with curly hair: lobs, textured bobs and side-swept bangs that place fullness near your chin.
- The best men's hairstyles for an oblong face with curly hairCompare men's hairstyles for an oblong face with curly hair. Choose a messy fringe, curtain fringe or afro for side width without extra heig
- The best men's hairstyles for an oval face with curly hairCompare men's hairstyles for an oval face with curly hair, from skin fades to undercuts. Choose side length, fringe and height to suit your
- Best men's hairstyles for a round face with curly hairFor men's hairstyles for a round face with curly hair, start with a quiff, side part or curly top fade. Keep width away from the cheeks.
