At a glance
- Face shape
- Square
- Hair type
- Coily
- What coily hair adds
- dense volume that grows outward and upward
- Aim for
- Soft texture, a little height, nothing cut dead level with the jaw
- Styling tip
- shape is cut into the hair itself, so ask for the outline you want rather than a length
- Top picks
- Curly top fade, Afro, Buzz cut
| Style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Curly top fade | Good | It shows the whole outline, which suits a balanced face. |
| Afro | Good | It adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw. |
| Buzz cut | Good | It shows the whole outline, which suits a balanced face. |
| Slick back | Good | It shows the whole outline, which suits a balanced face. Watch one thing: it adds hard lines to a jaw that already has them. |
| Skin fade | Good | It shows the whole outline, which suits a balanced face. Watch one thing: it adds hard lines to a jaw that already has them. |
| Messy fringe | Good | It adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw. |
| Textured crop | Good | It adds soft, broken-up lines that take the edge off a strong jaw. |
| Man bun | Good | It shows the whole outline, which suits a balanced face. |
| Crew cut | Good | It shows the whole outline, which suits a balanced face. Watch one thing: it adds hard lines to a jaw that already has them. |
| Taper fade | Neutral | It shows the whole outline, which suits a balanced face, but it also adds hard lines to a jaw that already has them. |
| Undercut | Neutral | It shows the whole outline, which suits a balanced face, but it also adds hard lines to a jaw that already has them. |
Work with the jaw's shape
A square face has a forehead, cheekbones and jaw close to the same width, with a sharp jaw angle. Soft, textured ends break up that straight lower edge. A blunt line at jaw level repeats it and makes the face look wider.
You don't have to hide your jaw. Showing the whole outline works well with these balanced proportions. The square face guide explains the shape behind that choice.
Top coily haircuts for square faces
- Curly top fade β Good. It exposes the face's outline, which suits balanced proportions. Choose it when you want coily texture above an open face.
- Afro β Good. Its soft, broken-up lines take the edge off a strong jaw. Ask for an outline with a little height.
- Buzz cut β Good. It shows the whole outline rather than using volume to soften it. Choose it when you want your jaw on show.
How the other styles compare
Other square-face hairstyles for men can work, but their edges change how strongly the jaw stands out.
- Slick back β Good. It exposes balanced proportions, though its hard lines repeat the jaw's angles.
- Skin fade β Good. It shows the whole outline, but adds hard lines beside an already angular jaw.
- Messy fringe β Good. Its soft, broken-up lines take the edge off the jaw.
- Textured crop β Good. Broken-up texture softens the straight lines around a strong jaw.
- Man bun β Good. It exposes the whole outline, which suits the face's balanced proportions.
- Crew cut β Good. It shows the outline, though its hard lines can reinforce the jaw's angles.
- Taper fade β Neutral. It exposes balanced proportions, but also adds hard lines to an angular face.
- Undercut β Neutral. The open outline works here, while the hard lines repeat the jaw's shape.
Ask your barber for an outline
With coily hair, the shape is cut into the hair itself. Ask for the outline you want rather than just a length. Say whether you want soft edges, some height or an exposed jaw.
The common mistake is choosing a cut written for another hair type and expecting the barber to force it with product. Start with how your coils naturally grow. Product shouldn't have to create the cut's basic shape.
Check your hair type separately
The free face-shape finder names the closest prototype from one selfie, on your device. It doesn't read hair type. Pick that yourself from how your hair dries naturally.
For men's coily hairstyles, outward and upward volume is part of the starting point. If that doesn't describe your hair, use the hairstyle guide to choose the matching hair type.
Questions people ask
- Does a buzz cut suit a square face with coily hair?
- Yes. A buzz cut exposes the whole outline, which suits a square face's balanced proportions. It puts the jaw on show rather than softening it with texture.
- Should I choose an afro or a curly top fade?
- Choose an afro for soft, broken-up lines around a strong jaw. A curly top fade keeps texture above the face while exposing its outline.
- What should I avoid in short coily hairstyles?
- Avoid a hard horizontal edge cut dead level with the jaw if you want less width. That line repeats the jaw instead of breaking it up.
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 coily hairCompare men's hairstyles for a diamond face with coily hair, from fringes to fades. Shape width at the forehead without bulk at the cheeks.
- Men's hairstyles for an oblong face with coily hairCompare men's hairstyles for an oblong face with coily hair. See when to choose a messy fringe, an Afro or a textured crop, and what to ask
- Men's hairstyles for an oval face with coily hairCompare men's hairstyles for an oval face with coily hair, including skin fades, curly top fades and slick backs. Choose the outline you wan
- men's hairstyles for a round face with coily hairCompare men's hairstyles for a round face with coily hair, including curly top fades and undercuts. Ask for height, tight sides and a define
- men's hairstyles for a square face with curly hairCompare men's hairstyles for a square face with curly hair, from a curly top fade to an afro or buzz cut. See how side length changes width.
- Choosing men's hairstyles for a square face with straight hairCompare men's hairstyles for a square face with straight hair: buzz cuts, quiffs and slick backs, plus ways to soften edges without hiding y
- men's hairstyles for a square face with thick hairCompare men's hairstyles for a square face with thick hair, from buzz cuts to quiffs, with clear advice on side weight and softer texture.
- men's hairstyles for a square face with thin hairCompare men's hairstyles for a square face with thin hair, including buzz cuts, crew cuts and skin fades, with tips on shape and fuller ends
- men's hairstyles for a square face with wavy hairCompare men's hairstyles for a square face with wavy hair, from buzz cuts to quiffs and slick backs, with clear advice for your barber.
