At a glance
- Face shape
- Heart
- Hair type
- Thick
- What thick hair adds
- weight and width, so it usually needs thinning or layering to hold a shape
- Aim for
- Fullness at chin level and a fringe, little volume at the crown
- Styling tip
- ask for weight taken out of the sides so the shape comes from the cut, not the bulk
- 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. |
| Slick back | Neutral | It changes little about the outline either way. |
| Taper fade | Neutral | It changes little about the outline either way. |
| Crew cut | 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. |
| Skin fade | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
| Man bun | 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. |
| 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. |
| Pompadour | With a tweak | It adds height on top, and this face is already long. |
Put fullness below the forehead
A heart face has its widest line at the forehead and its narrowest at the chin. The outline tapers downward. Fullness at chin level adds the width the lower face lacks, while a fringe narrows the visible forehead.
Aim for fullness at chin level and a fringe, with little volume at the crown. Keep temple bulk down too, since it widens the upper outline. The men's heart-face hairstyle guide compares cuts across hair types.
Start with a fringe or crop
For thick hair on a heart-shaped face, these picks put forehead coverage ahead of height:
- Messy fringe: a good fit because it covers part of the forehead and shortens the visible face.
- French crop: another good fit for the same reason. Keep the fringe as part of the cut's shape.
- Curtain fringe: a good option when you want forehead coverage with a parted fringe.
- Textured crop: a good fit, but watch the top. Its forehead coverage helps, while added height lengthens an already long outline.
Texture doesn't need to mean height. Ask for a shape that sits low enough to keep the fringe doing its job.
Know which alternatives need adjusting
Other heart-face haircuts for men either leave the outline much as it is or need their height controlled.
- Buzz cut, slick back and taper fade: neutral fits. Each changes little about the outline either way.
- Crew cut, undercut and skin fade: work with a tweak because they add height above an already long face.
- Man bun, side part and pompadour: also need a tweak to limit the height they add on top.
- Quiff: needs its height controlled too. Its soft, broken-up lines can soften a strong jaw, but that benefit doesn't cancel the extra height.
Give your barber a shape to cut
Ask for weight taken out of the sides so the shape comes from the cut, not the bulk. Thick hair usually needs thinning or layering to hold a shape. Point out where you want forehead coverage and where you don't want width.
The common mistake is choosing a cut meant for another hair type and expecting product to force it into place. Bring a reference, then discuss how your thick hair changes that outline.
Check shape and hair type separately
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.
Use the hairstyle hub to compare face-shape and hair-type combinations before choosing your reference cut.
Questions people ask
- Should I thin thick hair for a heart face?
- Thick hair usually needs thinning or layering to hold a shape. Ask your barber to remove side weight while keeping your chosen fringe.
- Is a skin fade a good fit?
- It works with a tweak. Control the height on top so the cut doesn't lengthen an already long outline.
- Does a fringe help a heart-shaped face?
- Yes. It covers part of the forehead, narrowing the widest visible line and shortening the visible face.
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 thick hairCompare men's hairstyles for a diamond face with thick hair, including crops and fringes, with advice on removing side weight and placing wi
- men's hairstyles for a heart face with curly hairCompare men's hairstyles for a heart face with curly hair: messy fringe, French crop and curtain fringe, with less crown height and controll
- 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 thick hairCompare women's hairstyles for a heart face with thick hair: lobs and bobs that add chin-level fullness while keeping upper-side bulk in che
- The best men's hairstyles for an oblong face with thick hairFor men's hairstyles for an oblong face with thick hair, choose a messy fringe, curtain fringe or French crop. Keep side width without extra
- The best men's hairstyles for an oval face with thick hairCompare men's hairstyles for an oval face with thick hair, from skin fades to slick backs. Choose a cut that controls bulk and suits your up
- The best men's hairstyles for a round face with thick hairCompare men's hairstyles for a round face with thick hair, including pompadours, quiffs and side parts. Keep height on top and bulk off the
