Does a caution verdict mean I should avoid a quiff?

No. Nearly every cut works on every shape once you adjust the part that needs it. For a quiff on a long face, keep the top flatter and the sides fuller.

Can I keep the sides short?

Keep them a little fuller if you want to balance your face's length. Removing that width leaves the height on top more pronounced.

Will a quiff soften a strong jaw?

Its soft, broken-up lines can take the edge off a strong jaw. Keep the front low so that benefit doesn't come with extra height.

A quiff for an oblong face (men): What to change

At a glance

Style: Quiff
Face shape: Oblong
Verdict: Works with a tweak
Why: 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.
Ask your barber to: keep the top flatter and the sides a little fuller

Ask for a flatter top and fuller sides

Ask your barber to keep the top flatter and the sides a little fuller. You want the swept-back front of a quiff without making height its main feature. Keep some width beside your cheeks instead of concentrating all the volume above your forehead.

For a quiff on an oblong face, choose a reference photo with a lower front. Point out both the top and the sides when discussing it. A photo of a tall front with close-cut sides shows the proportions you're trying to adjust.

Daily styling should keep the front low

Upkeep means daily styling with a blow-dryer. Sweep the front up and back, but stop short of building a tall crest. Check the shape from the front and side as you style.

A flatter quiff still keeps the movement that defines the cut. You don't need to push every strand straight upwards to make it recognisable. If the finished shape looks too long, bring the front down before changing the whole haircut.

Choose how much forehead you want to show

A fringe is worth comparing if you want to shorten the visible face. A messy fringe for an oblong face brings hair forward rather than lifting it away from your forehead. The hairstyle guide lets you compare other outlines before choosing a cut.

The free face-shape finder checks your outline from one selfie to confirm the face-shape prototype. The hairstyle try-on then shows this cut on your own photo. Compare the height above your forehead and the width beside your cheeks.

Questions people ask

Does a caution verdict mean I should avoid a quiff?: No. Nearly every cut works on every shape once you adjust the part that needs it. For a quiff on a long face, keep the top flatter and the sides fuller.
Can I keep the sides short?: Keep them a little fuller if you want to balance your face's length. Removing that width leaves the height on top more pronounced.
Will a quiff soften a strong jaw?: Its soft, broken-up lines can take the edge off a strong jaw. Keep the front low so that benefit doesn't come with extra height.

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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A quiff for an oblong face (men): Works with a tweak