The haircut that makes you more attractive
Quick answer
The haircut that suits a man best isn't the trendy one, it's the one that balances his face shape. Round face: short sides and a bit of height on top. Long face: not much height and sides that aren't shaved. Square face: fewer straight lines and a fringe with some movement. Oval face: a cut without harsh contrasts. Thin hair: light products instead of wax. Receding hairline: short all over instead of covering it. Grey hair: no exaggerated contrasts. And no haircut holds up if your hair isn't in good shape: a shampoo that suits your hair, one styling product and, if you want to go further, a treatment that works from the root.
Spoiler: if you're after the broccoli cut, going through an experimental phase with your hair or in the middle of a midlife crisis with bleach included… good for you, but this isn't your blog.
Today we're talking about the haircuts to ask your barber for if you want to look hegemonically masculine and attractive. Don't shoot the messenger: we didn't write the rules.
What makes a men's haircut attractive
For a haircut to make you more attractive, look for 3 things:
- Your face looks balanced. Yes, we said face. People look at the whole picture first and the details later, even if you do the exact opposite in front of the mirror, inspecting your fringe hair by hair.
- Your features look defined. A few angles, a few straight lines, a bit of Nordic He-Man… without overdoing it. More on that in a second.
- The overall look feels natural. Like you didn't put too much work or thought into it (note the word "like").
With that in mind, what you ask your barber for depends mainly on the shape of your face:
The haircut that suits your face shape
Round face
GoalElongate, i.e. add "length" on top more than on the sides.
Ask your barber forShorter sides and a bit more length on top, without overdoing it, so your face doesn't look "wide".
AvoidVolume on the sides. It also means more frequent trips to the barber.
Long face
GoalBalance things out "on the sides".
Ask your barber forNot too much height on top and sides that aren't shaved right down, so your face doesn't look even longer.
AvoidVery tall hairstyles.
Angular / square face
GoalIf you were born with the face of a Greek god, you can "soften" things slightly.
Ask your barber forNot too many straight, military-style lines: better a bit of length that lets your fringe move…
AvoidVery "geometric" cuts.
Oval / balanced face
GoalThe most common one. It's about "tidying up" and making the most of it.
Ask your barber forA cut without contrasts (if it's long on top, don't shave the sides; if the sides are short, no giant quiff on top).
AvoidExtreme trends that work in a photo but not in everyday life.
How to tell what face shape you have
No apps, no tape measure. Hair pushed back, face the mirror and check two things:
- Length vs. width. If your face is clearly longer than it is wide: long. If they're roughly the same: round or square.
- Your jaw. If it ends in a sharp angle: square. If it's rounded and your face is as wide as it is long: round. If it narrows gently towards the chin: oval.
If you're torn between two, you're almost certainly oval. It's the most common shape and the one that suits the most haircuts, so no excuses.
Right, with the basics sorted, on to level 2, where we bust the myths about things we "do" to "hide" something that end up having the opposite effect:
What not to do with your hair (and what to do instead)
➡ If you have thin hair
❌ Don't: try to "make up for" the lack of density with wax, gel and the like. Fine hair goes flat, loses movement, ends up looking like a "stiff" helmet and, at that point, doesn't look "natural" any more.
✅ Do this instead: use light styling creams, styling lotions or very light pastes that give hold without making it stiff. The goal is for your hair to move and look more natural. And in the shower, a shampoo that adds body instead of weighing it down: Hairicane is designed for exactly that, with volume and a feeling of density that lasts until your next wash.
➡ If you have a receding hairline
❌ Don't: try to cover your receding temples with "long" hair, a forced fringe or overly strategic strands. It usually draws attention, and long hair tends to split into strands, leave your hairline even more exposed and break up the overall look.
✅ Do this instead: short all over usually works better (remember: it's the overall impression that counts). Clean sides and controlled length on top too, styled in the direction your hair naturally grows. The eye takes in the whole before the detail.
Heads-up: a haircut hides a receding hairline, it doesn't stop it. If it isn't just pronounced but keeps moving back, what you're looking at is almost always male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), and that's not your barber's call. We explain it all in our guide to hair loss in men.
➡ If you have grey hair
❌ Don't: try to "look younger" with exaggerated contrasts (very short shaved sides and too much volume on top), because it usually looks artificial.
✅ Do this instead: either shave it all short (on the sides) and keep it very short on top if you want to play it down… or wear it proudly, full silver fox, plus the odd bit of grey coverage now and then, as long as it doesn't look like you went over it with a Sharpie.
The maintenance that makes everything work better
Finally: a good haircut helps, but the condition of your hair is what holds it up day after day. There's no need to overcomplicate things or fill your bathroom with products, but you'll notice the difference if you invest in:
- A good shampoo that suits your hair type. If yours is fine or starting to thin, it also shouldn't be harsh on your scalp: here's what a hair loss shampoo should (and shouldn't) do.
- One (one's enough) styling product that works for you (light if your hair is fine, more hold if it's thick).
- And, if you want to go a step further, a treatment that strengthens your hair from the root.
That's why at SIWON we formulated Follicool: a smart way to keep your hair strong so that everything else - cut, styling, look - works better. 😉
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Follicool
Advanced topical treatment to help reduce hair fall and support hair growth. Intensive spray serum for topical use, designed for men over 18 dealing with thinning or hair loss. Formulated with biomimetic peptides, botanical extracts and key vitamins backed by clinical research on their active ingredients, to stimulate the growth (anagen) phase, improve microcirculation around the follicles and strengthen hair anchoring. Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture: leaves no residue.
- Straight onto the scalp, no rinsing
- Not greasy: style your hair on top as usual
- Compatible with medical treatments
FAQ about men's haircuts
Which haircut suits men best?
There's no one-size-fits-all cut: the one that suits you best is the one that balances your face shape. As a rule of thumb, clean sides, a bit more length on top and no harsh contrasts work for most faces (oval ones). Other shapes need a tweak: more height for a round face, less for a long one, fewer straight lines for a square one.
What haircut suits a man with a round face?
Shorter sides and a bit more length on top, without overdoing it, to make your face look longer. What you want to avoid is volume on the sides, because it adds width. It also means more frequent trips to the barber to keep the sides tidy.
What haircut hides a receding hairline?
A short cut all over, with clean sides and controlled length on top, styled in the direction your hair naturally grows. Covering a receding hairline with long hair or a forced fringe usually does the opposite: the hair splits into strands and leaves your hairline even more exposed. If it keeps receding, it's worth looking at the cause, not just the cut.
How do I style thin hair so it looks thicker?
With light products (styling creams, styling lotions or light pastes) that hold without making it stiff, so your hair keeps its movement. Wax and gel flatten fine hair and give it that helmet look. A shampoo that adds body, like Hairicane, helps the result last until your next wash.
Is short hair better if you have grey hair?
It depends on what you want. To play it down: shaved sides and very short on top. To show it off: any cut without exaggerated contrasts; what usually looks artificial is trying to "look younger" with very short sides and lots of volume on top. Occasional grey coverage can help, as long as it doesn't look like you coloured it in with a marker.
Can a haircut stop hair loss?
No. A haircut changes how the hair you have is perceived, not how much you have or how much you lose. If you notice you're losing density or your hairline is moving back, what helps is looking after your scalp and, depending on the case, a topical treatment or seeing a dermatologist. You'll find the full explanation in our guide to hair loss in men.
Now what?
Stand in front of the mirror, work out your face shape and show your barber the three lines on your card. And if what's bothering you isn't the cut but what's underneath, start at the root.
Try Follicool