16 Haircuts for Men With a Chubby Face That Add Shape

A fuller face can look rounder when the hair adds width at the sides. The fix is simple: keep the sides close, build height on top, and let the lines of the cut point up and down instead of across.

These 16 haircuts for men with a chubby face do exactly that. Each one shows what the cut looks like, what to ask your barber for and how to style it. If you're still deciding on a length, our list of haircuts for young men is a good place to compare.

1. Curly Top With a Low Fade and a Shaped Beard

Big curls on top add the height that a fuller face needs. The sides drop away in a fade, so there's no extra width at the temples. The beard comes to a soft point under the chin, which stretches the face downward.

Ask your barber for: a curly top with length on top and a low fade. Ask for the beard to be shaped to a point at the chin.

Style it: Scrunch in a curl cream while the hair is damp and let it dry without touching it.

Best for: dates, parties, casual work days.

Swap: if your curls are looser, ask for a bit less length so the top doesn't flop sideways.

2. High Skin Fade With a Full Beard

A high fade takes the sides almost down to the skin, so the head looks narrower from the front. The thick beard gives the lower face a strong edge. Together they make a clear, strong outline.

Ask your barber for: a high skin fade with a short top. Ask for a sharp line where the beard meets the cheek.

Style it: Almost nothing. Brush the top forward and keep the beard oiled.

Best for: the office, nights out, anyone who wants low upkeep on top.

Swap: if you're less sure about skin, a high taper keeps a shadow of hair on the sides.

3. Short Crop and Faded Sides, Seen From the Side

This is the same type of cut as the one above, viewed in profile. The curved line at the temple and the smooth fade behind the ear are what to point at when you talk to your barber. A short top with a clean back keeps the head looking tidy from every angle.

Ask your barber for: a curved temple line and a fade that blends into the beard. Say you want the neckline kept tidy, not squared off.

Style it: No product needed. A little beard balm is enough.

Best for: work, weekends, the gym.

Swap: ask for a straighter temple line if the curve feels too sharp.

4. Side-Swept Quiff With an Undercut

Here the top is swept up and to one side, and the sides are cut very short. The height on top makes the face look longer. The side sweep adds a diagonal line, which breaks up a round shape.

Ask your barber for: a side-swept quiff with a short undercut. Ask to keep enough length on top to sweep.

Style it: Blow-dry the hair up and back, then use a light matte paste to hold the shape.

Best for: school, the office, a first date.

Swap: if your hair is thin at the front, keep the sweep lower and shorter.

5. Short Crop With Tapered Sides

This is the easiest cut here. The sides are tapered short and the top is just long enough to brush forward. Short sides keep the head from looking wide, and you can wake up and leave the house.

Ask your barber for: a short crop with a taper and a little length left on top. Keep the sideburns short.

Style it: Towel dry and comb it forward. A dab of clay is optional.

Best for: a busy week, school, work.

Swap: ask for a longer top if you want to try a quiff later.

6. French Crop With a High Fade and a Full Beard

A French crop has a short fringe and very short sides. Cut short and textured, the fringe stays light on the forehead instead of sitting heavy across it. This one pairs it with a high fade and a rounded beard. Use it if you want a sharp look that still needs little work.

Ask your barber for: a French crop with a high fade. Ask for the fringe to be cut short and textured, not heavy.

Style it: Sea salt spray or a light clay, brushed forward.

Best for: nights out, creative jobs, a casual day.

Swap: keep the fringe a bit longer if your forehead is small.

7. Short Curls With a Taper and a Thick Beard

Short curls on top give a bit of lift without any fuss. The sides are tapered and neat, so the width stays in check. A thick beard gives a strong jaw line, and this one is kept full and rounded at the bottom.

Ask your barber for: short curls on top with a clean taper. Keep the cheek line natural and the bottom of the beard rounded.

Style it: A leave-in cream and a quick shake is all it takes.

Best for: everyday wear, work, weekends.

Swap: ask for a few more centimeters on top if you want more height.

8. Pompadour With a Short Taper and a Mustache

A swept-back pompadour gives a lot of height. The sides are short and tidy, so all the volume sits on top, which is the point. The mustache is a strong detail, and you can skip it if it isn't your style.

Ask your barber for: a pompadour with a short taper. Ask for the front to be cut longer than the back.

Style it: Blow-dry up and back, then use a medium-hold pomade.

Best for: dinners, weddings, nights out.

Swap: a lower, softer quiff gives you the same lift with less styling.

9. Buzz Cut With a Fade

A buzz cut is the simplest haircut there is. A slight fade at the back and sides keeps the shape from looking flat, and it pairs well with glasses.

Ask your barber for: a buzz cut with a fade. Ask for a longer guard on top and a shorter one on the sides.

Style it: None needed. Wash and go.

Best for: summer, the gym, low upkeep.

Swap: if you go for an even length all over, ask your barber whether a light fade would suit your head shape.

10. Messy Textured Top With Short Sides

A rough, spiky top adds height and breaks up the round shape of the head. The sides are short, and the beard is full and neat. This is a casual cut for a guy who doesn't want to comb his hair.

Ask your barber for: a textured top cut with scissors and short sides. Ask for the top to be left a bit longer.

Style it: Rub a little matte clay between your fingers and push the hair up.

Best for: the weekend, a night out, concerts.

Swap: if the messy look feels too much, ask for the texture to be softer.

11. Classic Side Part With a Skin Fade

The side part is the smartest cut on this list. The slicked top has a clean line and volume at the front, and the sides fade down. The trimmed beard follows the jaw, so there's no extra width at the cheeks.

Ask your barber for: a hard part with a skin fade. Ask for the top to be kept long enough to comb up at the front.

Style it: Use a pomade on damp hair and comb it over.

Best for: the office, interviews, weddings.

Swap: skip the hard part line if you want a softer side part.

12. Short Fringe With a Low Fade and Light Stubble

A short forward fringe and a low fade are a plain, easy pair. The light stubble gives the jaw a bit of shadow without adding width. It's a good cut if you've never had a fade before.

Ask your barber for: a short fringe with a low fade. Say you want a natural line at the forehead.

Style it: Comb it forward and let it dry.

Best for: college, casual work, everyday.

Swap: go to a mid fade if you'd like the head to look slimmer.

13. Hard Part Comb Over With a Skin Fade

A comb over with a shaved part line is a sharp, classic shape. The top is combed to one side, and the sides fade from short to skin. The short beard fades into the same line, so the whole cut looks like one piece.

Ask your barber for: a comb over with a razor-cut part and a skin fade. Ask for the beard to blend into the fade.

Style it: Comb the top over while it's damp, then add a light pomade.

Best for: work, dinners, formal events.

Swap: a natural part with no shaved line is the softer version.

14. Short Crop With a High Fade and a Full Beard

The hair on top is short and combed forward, and the sides are taken up high. A fuller beard adds weight under the chin, which helps balance the top. It's a good cut if you prefer your hair short and your beard to be the main feature.

Ask your barber for: a short crop with a high fade and a full beard. Ask for the beard length to stay even from ear to chin.

Style it: Brush the top forward. Oil the beard each morning.

Best for: everyday, work, weekends.

Swap: a mid fade is a gentler option if a high fade feels too strong.

15. Swept-Back Textured Top With a Long Beard

A textured top swept back and up gives length to the face. The long beard adds more, pulling the eye down. This one takes more care, but it works well if you want a bold, bearded look.

Ask your barber for: a textured top cut with scissors, short sides and a beard trimmed to a neat point.

Style it: Use a bit of paste and push the hair back with your fingers. Comb and oil the beard.

Best for: relaxed days, outdoor plans, weekends.

Swap: trim the beard shorter if it feels like too much to look after.

16. Shoulder Length Straight Hair With a Center Part

Long hair can work too, if it falls straight down the sides of the face. A center part adds a vertical line, and the length frames the face instead of widening it. Keep the hair sleek and avoid big volume at the sides.

Ask your barber for: long, straight layers that fall past the jaw. Say you don't want the ends to flick out.

Style it: Use a leave-in conditioner and let it hang. A flat iron helps if it gets frizzy.

Best for: creative jobs, casual days, cooler weather.

Swap: a shoulder-length cut can be tied back, which is useful on hot days.

How to Choose a Haircut for a Fuller Face

Add height on top. Length at the crown draws the eye up. Quiffs, pompadours, curly tops and textured crops all do this.

Keep the sides short. Fades and tapers take away the width at the temples and above the ears. Skin fades are the strongest version, and tapers are the softer one.

Think in lines, not shapes. Look for lines that run up and down or at an angle, like a side part or a swept quiff. Avoid a bowl shape or a long, heavy fringe that sits flat across the forehead, which can make the face look wider.

Use the beard. A beard that's shaped to a point, or kept slightly longer at the chin, makes the face look longer. A wide beard that's cut square at the cheeks adds width.

If you want	Try
No styling	Short crop with tapered sides, buzz cut with a fade
Something smart	Side part with a skin fade, comb over
Curls kept on top	Curly top with a low fade
Plenty of height	Quiff or pompadour
A beard focus	High fade with a full beard

What to avoid: hair that puffs out at the sides, a long heavy fringe, and a full beard with no shape at the cheeks.

Talking to your barber

• Bring a photo of a cut you like. It's the fastest way to be understood.
• Name the fade (low, mid or high) and say how long you want the top.
• Ask for your beard to be shaped as part of the cut.

For curls and coils, see our guide to hairstyles and haircuts for Black men. For beard and skin care, see men's grooming essentials.

FAQ

What is the best haircut for a man with a chubby face?

A cut with height on top and short sides, like a quiff, a pompadour or a textured crop with a fade. The height can make the face look longer, and the short sides remove extra width.

Should men with a round face have short or long hair?

Short sides work best. If you like longer hair, keep it straight and let it fall past the jaw so it frames the face, and avoid big volume at the sides.

Does a beard make a chubby face look thinner?

It can. A beard that's shaped at the chin and kept tidy along the jaw gives the face more length and a clearer edge. A very wide, square beard can do the opposite.

Which fade is best for a chubby face?

A mid or high fade is the most common choice, because it takes the width off the sides. A low fade works too if you want to keep a little more hair around the ears.