
At a glance
- Face shape
- Heart
- Hair type
- Wavy
- What wavy hair adds
- soft movement and a little width at the sides
- Aim for
- Fullness at chin level and a fringe, little volume at the crown
- Styling tip
- cut it dry or with the wave in mind, or the length springs up shorter than planned
- 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 near the chin
A heart face is widest across the forehead and narrowest at the chin, so its outline tapers downward. Fullness near the jaw adds width where the lower face lacks it. A fringe partly covers the forehead and makes its visible width smaller.
Volume at the crown or temples adds bulk to the top, which is already the widest part. Extra height also lengthens the already long outline. For wavy haircuts on a heart face, think about where the wave sits before choosing how much to keep.
Waves also create soft, broken-up lines that can take the edge off a strong jaw. That effect is small. It doesn't replace the balance you get from forehead coverage and lower fullness.
Choose a fringe before adding height
Messy fringe, French crop, and curtain fringe are the strongest starting points. Each covers part of the forehead, shortening the visible face. Choose between them by how you want that coverage to sit.
- Messy fringe: a good fit when you want a broken-up line across the forehead.
- French crop: a good fit because its fringe covers part of the forehead.
- Curtain fringe: a good fit when the parted fringe still gives you forehead coverage.
- Textured crop: a good fit for its coverage, but watch the height it adds on top.
With these heart-face fringe styles, keep the crown low rather than building height behind the fringe. The useful feature is the coverage. More height doesn't improve that effect.
Know which other cuts need a tweak
A buzz cut, slick back, and taper fade have a neutral fit here. They change little about the outline either way. They're options, but they don't provide the same forehead coverage as the leading fringe choices.
A crew cut, side part, undercut, skin fade, man bun, quiff, or pompadour needs a tweak. Each adds height on top, where this outline doesn't need more length. Ask for less crown volume if you prefer one of these shapes.
A quiff also adds soft, broken-up lines that can soften a strong jaw. Keep that benefit in perspective when choosing a wavy hairstyle for a heart-shaped face. Its added height still needs managing.
Give your barber an outline to work toward
Ask your barber to cut it dry or account for the wave while cutting. Otherwise, the length can spring up shorter than planned. Explain that you want forehead coverage, little crown volume, and fullness near chin level where the length allows.
The common mistake is choosing a cut meant for another hair type and expecting product to force it into place. Use the hairstyle guides to choose a shape that works with your natural texture.
The free face-shape finder names the closest prototype from one selfie, on your device. It doesn't read hair type; choose that yourself from how your hair dries naturally. The heart face guide explains the outline separately from the haircut.
Questions people ask
- Should I keep volume at the sides?
- A little side width from waves is neutral here. Fullness near the jaw helps balance the narrow chin, while bulk at the temples widens the upper face.
- Can I wear a textured crop?
- Yes, its forehead coverage makes it a good fit. Ask your barber to limit its top height so the crop doesn't lengthen the outline further.
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 wavy hairChoose men's hairstyles for a diamond face with wavy hair: compare crops, fringes and fades, and place volume away from your cheekbones.
- men's hairstyles for a heart face with coily hairCompare men's hairstyles for a heart face with coily hair, including fringes, textured crops, and buzz cuts, with clear barber instructions.
- 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 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.
- men's hairstyles for an oblong face with wavy hairExplore men's hairstyles for an oblong face with wavy hair: messy fringe, curtain fringe and French crop, keeping side width without added h
- men's hairstyles for an oval face with wavy hairChoose men's hairstyles for an oval face with wavy hair, from skin fades to slick backs, with advice on side width, fringe and cutting aroun
- men's hairstyles for a round face with wavy hairCompare men's hairstyles for a round face with wavy hair, from quiffs to side parts. Keep height on top and plan the cut around your natural
