Let us start with the obvious: a big forehead is not a problem. Plenty of men have one, and plenty of famously good-looking men have one. It is just proportion — and haircuts are the easiest tool there is for changing how proportions look.
The same goes for a long face. The rules for both are nearly identical, so this guide covers them together.
The two principles
- Bring something forward. Hair that comes forward over part of the forehead makes it look shorter.
- Do not add height; add a little width. Tall styles make a long face look longer. A touch more fullness at the sides balances it.
Almost every recommendation below is one of those two ideas in practice.
Is your forehead big, or is your face long?
- Big forehead: the distance from your eyebrows to your hairline is noticeably larger than the distance from your eyebrows to the bottom of your nose.
- Long face: your face is clearly longer than it is wide, with the forehead, cheeks and jaw at similar widths.
- Receding hairline: the forehead looks bigger because the temples have moved back. That is slightly different; our receding hairline guide covers it specifically.
The cuts that help
1. French crop
Short sides, a textured top pushed forward into short bangs. One of the best choices for a big forehead, because it covers part of it on purpose. Our French crop guide has the details.
2. Textured crop with forward bangs
Similar to the French crop, a bit longer and messier. The choppy bangs break up the forehead.
3. Side part with a swept front
A side part with the front swept diagonally across the forehead. The diagonal line covers part of the forehead without looking like you are hiding anything.
4. No bangs: the messy medium cut
If you do not want bangs, a medium-length, textured cut that falls loosely around the forehead and ears softens everything. Keep it relaxed rather than slicked.
5. Caesar cut
Very short all over with a short, straight line of bangs. Clean, minimal and good for big foreheads.
6. Low taper with some fullness at the sides
For a long face, avoid very tight sides. A low taper keeps the sides neat but leaves a little fullness, which balances the length.
The cuts to avoid
- Tall quiffs and pompadours. More height makes a long face longer and puts the forehead on display. A shorter, textured version is fine. Our quiff guide covers the short quiff.
- Slicked-back styles. They pull everything off the forehead.
- High skin fades with a tall top. Very tight sides plus height exaggerates length. A mid taper or low taper is kinder.
- Very short buzz cuts on a very long face. Not a disaster, but they remove the forward hair that helps most.
- Center parts with flat sides. They draw a vertical line down the middle of the face.
Cuts by face shape, quickly
- Big forehead, average face length: French crop, textured crop, Caesar.
- Long face, average forehead: low taper with fuller sides, side-swept top, medium textured cut.
- Big forehead and long face: forward styles with fuller sides — a textured crop with a low taper is a great all-rounder.
- Big forehead with a receding hairline: short and textured, pushed forward. See our receding hairline guide.
How beards help
A beard changes the lower half of the face, which changes the overall proportion.
- For a long face: keep the beard fuller at the sides and shorter at the chin. This adds width and shortens the face.
- For a big forehead: a short, full beard adds weight to the lower face, balancing the top.
- Avoid long, pointed beards on a long face; they add length.
Our beard trim styles guide shows which shapes add width. At our shops, beard sculpting comes with Classic & Beard (from $35).
Glasses help too
Thicker or bolder frames, especially with a strong top line, visually break up a big forehead. On a long face, wider frames add horizontal width.
By hair type
- Thick hair: easy to bring forward and texture. French crops and textured crops are ideal.
- Fine hair: forward styles work, but keep them short so they do not separate. A little texture spray helps.
- Wavy or curly hair: natural volume at the sides is a bonus for a long face. Let curls fall forward. Our curly hair guide has more.
- Thinning hair: keep it short and textured, pushed forward. Avoid length that separates.
Styling tips
- Style forward or diagonally, not straight up.
- Use matte products; shine highlights the forehead.
- Do not over-volumize the top. A little lift is fine; a tower is not.
- Keep the bangs textured rather than heavy and straight, unless you want a deliberately blunt look.
Our guide on how to style short hair compares every product.
Small tricks that make a difference
- A slightly lower part. Moving a side part a little lower creates a longer diagonal sweep across the forehead.
- Texture at the front. Choppy bangs break up the visual space of a big forehead better than a solid line.
- A softer hairline. Ask your barber not to square off the front line too sharply. A natural edge draws less attention to the forehead.
- Tidy brows. Well-kept brows frame the top of the face. Our Williamsville shop offers brow, ear and nose waxing.
- Regular cuts. Forward styles lose their effect when they grow out. Every three to five weeks keeps them working.
Myths
- “You need long hair to cover a big forehead.” No. Short forward styles often work better.
- “Slicking it back makes you look confident.” It can, but it also maximizes forehead. If that is not the goal, bring something forward.
- “A big forehead means your hair is thinning.” Not necessarily. It is often just your natural hairline.
How to ask your barber
- “I want something that brings the hair forward a bit — I have a big forehead.”
- “Not too much height on top; my face is long.”
- “Keep the sides a bit fuller, not skin.”
A good barber will see this anyway, but saying it makes the goal clear.
How often to get it cut
Forward styles and side sweeps only work when the hair sits where it should. As they grow, the bangs drop into your eyes or the sweep goes flat. Most people find every three to five weeks keeps a forward cut working; longer, medium styles can go five to eight. Our post on how often to get a haircut has the full schedule.
For teens and young men
A lot of teenagers worry about their foreheads, and a lot of them have foreheads that will look completely different in five years as their faces fill out. A French crop or textured crop is a great choice in the meantime: easy, current and very forgiving. Kids’ and teens’ cuts at our shops are the same price as an adult cut, about thirty minutes. We do not cut girls’ hair at the barbershop; for girls, Three Palms Salon is in our building at 6100 Main St.
A word on confidence
The men who look best with big foreheads are the ones who are not trying to hide them. A cut that softens the proportion is great. A cut that is obviously working hard to cover something rarely is. Get a good cut, wear it with confidence, and stop checking the mirror.
The cheat sheet
- Bring it forward: French crop, textured crop, Caesar, side-swept front.
- Skip the height: no tall quiffs or slick-backs.
- Keep some width: low or mid taper rather than a high skin fade.
- Beard: fuller at the sides, shorter at the chin.
- Styling: matte products, forward or diagonal.
- Upkeep: every three to five weeks so forward styles keep working.
At the Williamsville shop
Every cut on this list is a Classic at our shops — clippers, scissors, edger and straight razor, about thirty minutes, from $25. Jon Palmeri, Dave Scolla, Michael Falzone and Bryan Castronova will tell you honestly what suits your face. We are at 6100 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221, open Tuesday through Friday 9AM to 6PM and Saturday 8AM to noon, closed Sunday and Monday. Walk-ins are welcome when there is an open chair — appointments are encouraged, so call 716-389-0192 to confirm someone is free.
Book online. All four of our Williamsville barbers are licensed through the New York Department of State.
