hair fashion

Just as there are different styles of men's jeans that are best suited to particular body types, there are facial hair styles that look best on certain face shapes. By altering your facial hair (and your hairstyle as well), you can seriously play up or de-emphasize the features on your face. Celebrities, of course, have access to an army of pros to assist them in hiding a multitude of flaws, helping them to create the best looks for their face shapes.

You, however, can make the most of your looks with a little help from us. Here we show you the facial hair styles that are most suited to five different face types. First, examine your facial structure and identify the category you fall into; then, get your sharpest, most effective razor ready to start grooming your way to a better-looking version of yourself.

Face type: Square

Facial hair styles: Men with square faces should opt for styles that make their faces appear less box-like and more slender.

The style: Light but all-over beard with complementary hairstyle.

Description: One look that works well for men with square faces is an all-over beard that’s clipped close to the face, like the one David Beckham has been seen sporting. Fortunately, mimicking Beckham’s cool style is fairly straightforward. Simply grow your facial hair out for several weeks and then use clippers to keep the length short. If you want to go all-out like Beckham, with slick styling around your mouth and chin area, your best bet is to visit a barber initially to get the sharp look you're after. Once the barber’s done his handiwork, you’ll find that this style is fairly low-maintenance and requires only a high-quality razor to keep its shape.

Face type: Rectangle/oblong

Facial hair styles: Rectangular or oblong faces tend to be quite slender and angular. If you have this face shape, a beard is one facial hair style that can balance your features out by visually shortening the length of your face while creating the illusion that your face is more oval.

The style: The 24/7 5-o’clock shadow.

Description: Take a cue from one of fashion’s leading men and grow a slightly scruffy beard to change the appearance of your face as well as conceal your not-so-favorite facial features. Tom Ford has a very long face as well as a slightly receding hairline, and when sporting a respectable amount of facial hair, his face seems less angular and his hairline less noticeable. All in all, it’s a very distinguished look. Copying his style won’t take too much effort on your part either. Simply let your facial hair grow out for about a week or so, depending on how fast your hair grows, and then shave every few days to maintain a cleaner shape.

Face type: Round

Facial hair styles: Individuals with round faces should try facial hair styles that have the effect of making faces appear masculine and oval-shaped. However, take care not to choose a style that will overwhelm your features, particularly if you have a round face and small features. Also, avoid strong sideburns.

The style: A highly stylized circle beard.

Description: Kanye West is a good example of a celebrity with a somewhat round face and delicate facial features. Cleverly, Kanye avoids sideburns and keeps his hair cropped close to his head. He also sports a circle beard, which is characterized by a mustache that continues along the sides of the mouth to meet up with facial hair on the chin. To get Kanye’s smooth style, grow your facial hair out as best you can while continuing to shave your jaw and neck. Once you’re satisfied with the length, visit a barber to get Kanye’s super-sharp lines, and then maintain the look with a clipper and razor at home. The key to this look is to make sure the rest of your face gets a smooth, close shave, thus, invest in a good razor and some high-quality shaving cream.