Does a slick back need extra height on an oval face?

No. Your proportions don't need added height for balance, so choose it because you like the look. Keeping the top flatter is also a choice.

Should men with oval faces avoid a fringe?

A fringe isn't banned. A heavy fringe can make your outline look rounder by hiding its length. Decide how much forehead you want to show.

A slick back for an oval face (men): Cut and upkeep

At a glance

Style: Slick back
Face shape: Oval
Verdict: Good match
Why: It shows the whole outline, which suits a balanced face.
Ask your barber to: ask for it as it is

What to ask your barber

Ask your barber to ask for it as it is. Describe medium-length hair combed straight back off your forehead, keeping the full outline of your face visible.

Use the slick back guide to keep the style itself clear during that conversation. You don't need a face-shape adjustment just because your jaw has a soft taper. Explain whether you want the top close to your head or with more height.

Choose height without treating it as a correction

Height, width and fringe are choices on an oval face because nothing needs balancing. A flatter swept-back style and a higher version can both start from the same balanced outline.

The choice changes what you emphasise. If you like seeing your full face, keep the hair directed back and away from your forehead. You don't have to add height simply because a styling guide recommends it for another shape.

A heavy fringe can make an oval outline look rounder by hiding some of its visible length. That's useful to remember if you're comparing slicked-back hair with a cut that covers your forehead.

Plan for daily styling

Upkeep means daily product and a trim every five to six weeks. Decide whether that routine suits you before choosing the cut, even though the shape match is good.

The haircut and the styling go together: this look calls for hair combed back off your forehead. At your next trim, describe how you actually wear it so the discussion stays tied to your daily routine.

Check the outline on your own photo

The free face-shape finder confirms the prototype from one selfie; the hairstyle try-on then shows this cut on your own photo.

Compare the exposed forehead and the amount of height you prefer. If you browse other looks in the hairstyle hub, treat a caution as an adjustment cue. Nearly every cut works on every shape once one thing is adjusted; the verdict tells you which thing.

Questions people ask

Does a slick back need extra height on an oval face?: No. Your proportions don't need added height for balance, so choose it because you like the look. Keeping the top flatter is also a choice.
Should men with oval faces avoid a fringe?: A fringe isn't banned. A heavy fringe can make your outline look rounder by hiding its length. Decide how much forehead you want to show.

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.

Browse all Hairstyles, beards and glasses by face shape

A slick back for an oval face (men): What works