What should I ask for if I want a short haircut?

Start by discussing a French crop with a fringe and some width at the sides. Ask your barber to keep the top low.

Can I wear a quiff with an oblong face?

Yes, with a tweak: keep its height down. The soft, broken-up lines can soften a strong jaw, but extra height makes the face look longer.

Should men's cuts for a long face have tight sides?

If your aim is to balance face length, keep some width at the sides. A tight fade exposes the outline, so discuss that tradeoff with your barber.

men's hairstyles for an oblong face with straight hair

At a glance

Face shape: Oblong
Hair type: Straight
What straight hair adds: lies flat and shows every line of the cut, so the shape comes from the cut itself
Aim for: Width at the sides and a fringe, no extra height
Styling tip: a matte paste or texture spray gives it the lift it does not have on its own
Top picks: Messy fringe, Curtain fringe, French crop

Straight hair on an oblong face (men)
Style	Fit	Why
Messy fringe	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.
French crop	Good	It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face.
Textured crop	Neutral	It covers part of the forehead, which shortens the visible face, but it also adds height on top, and this face is already long.
Taper fade	With a tweak	It exposes the full outline, which puts its width on show.
Buzz cut	With a tweak	It exposes the full outline, which puts its width on show.
Crew cut	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.
Undercut	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.
Pompadour	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.
Slick back	With a tweak	It exposes the full outline, which puts its width on show.
Skin fade	With a tweak	It exposes the full outline, which puts its width on show.

Start with a fringe and keep some side width

An oblong face is clearly longer than it is wide, with fairly straight sides. Cheek-level volume helps balance that length. A fringe covers part of your forehead, which shortens the visible face.

These straight haircuts for an oblong face are good starting points:

Messy fringe: Good. Its forehead coverage helps shorten the visible outline.
Curtain fringe: Good. Keep some coverage across the forehead when choosing its shape.
French crop: Good. The fringe breaks up the length between your hairline and chin.

Compare the cuts that need adjustments

A style name doesn't tell you where all its volume will sit. For straight hairstyles for long faces, check the forehead coverage, side width and top height together.

Textured crop: Neutral. It covers part of the forehead but also adds height on top, where this face doesn't need more length.
Crew cut, undercut, man bun, pompadour and side part: With a tweak. Each adds height on top, which can lengthen the outline.
Quiff: With a tweak. It adds height, though its soft, broken-up lines can take the edge off a strong jaw.
Taper fade, buzz cut, slick back and skin fade: With a tweak. Each exposes the full outline and puts its width on show.

If you prefer one of these cuts, explain the shape you want instead of asking for the name alone.

Ask the barber to build the shape into the cut

Tell your barber: “I'd like width at the sides, a fringe and no added height.” Straight hair makes the cut's lines visible, so that request matters more than a product choice.

A matte paste or texture spray gives straight hair the lift it doesn't have on its own. Use that lift to support side width without building a tall top.

The common mistake is choosing a cut meant for another hair type and expecting your barber to force it with product. Compare cuts for wavy hair only if your hair naturally dries with a wave.

Check your face shape separately from your hair type

The free face-shape finder names the closest prototype from one selfie, on your device. It doesn't read hair type. Choose straight hair yourself from how your hair dries naturally.

Use the men's oblong-face hairstyle guide to compare the broader options. The hairstyle hub lets you compare other combinations when your shape or hair type is uncertain.

Questions people ask

What should I ask for if I want a short haircut?: Start by discussing a French crop with a fringe and some width at the sides. Ask your barber to keep the top low.
Can I wear a quiff with an oblong face?: Yes, with a tweak: keep its height down. The soft, broken-up lines can soften a strong jaw, but extra height makes the face look longer.
Should men's cuts for a long face have tight sides?: If your aim is to balance face length, keep some width at the sides. A tight fade exposes the outline, so discuss that tradeoff with your barber.

Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.

The closest pages in this section, picked by topic rather than by date.

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