Facial Contouring for Men

It is generally recognized that the most attractive facial shape for men and women is the oval face shape. Most women's hairstyles are selected to help their faces appear more oval. Women can also use makeup and accessories to further contour their face to help it appear more oval. Men, on the other hand, unless they are a celebrity, really don't have the option of wearing makeup in most communities in the United States. Men who don't have an oval face shape can use their hair style and their facial hair to help their face appear more oval.

An oval face can pretty much wear any style without too much effort. It's easier for men and women with oval shapes to stay current with the trends because they all look attractive on them. For the rest of the face shapes, a little planning and a little input from a professional stylist will go a long way towards helping the client achieve a more attractive look. Also for men, an angular jaw and a prominent forehead are attractive, masculine traits.
If a man has a round face, he may want to make his face appear a little slimmer and a little more angular in the jaw area. To achieve this, he needs to wear a hairstyle with a little volume on the top but tapered in on the sides of the head. A classic men's cut works great for this - a short clippered style on the sides faded into a little more length on the top, which is usually cut with scissors. This look can be texturized and worn messy for an updated look, or neatly combed for a more serious look. To add definition to the jaw area, wear a very thin, well trimmed and angular beard and goatee. This is a very clean, well groomed look and can look professional when done well. Ice Cube has a nice example of this style of beard.

A gentleman with a long, thin face should avoid any hairstyle that lengthens the face more. A hairstyle that is flatter on the top with some fullness in the sides will help accomplish this. A beard that does not extend below the chin can also help visually shorten this face shape, or even a wide mustache can visually cut the face in half. Keiffer Sutherland is a great example of this style.

Men with square faces are a little bit of an exception to the rule here, as the angular bone structure is very attractive with the right look. David Beckham is a great example of a square face shape and an appropriate t hairstyle, as is Arnold Schwartzenegger. Keeping the hair cropped close at the sides and a little fuller on top will bring out the face shape in a very handsome and attractive way.

A man with a pear shaped face should add a little volume to the sides above the ears and to the top of his hair, but avoid adding width at the chin. Keith Urban's layered look is a great example of how to achieve this look.

There are a few other considerations to keep in mind when contouring the male face. A slightly receding hair line can be disguised with hair that is combed forward in a heavy bang, but if the hair is thinning too much this will just look like the dreaded comb-over. Instead, thinning hair can be made to look a little bit fuller with a buzz cut and even some hair color. Shaving the head completely will hide extremely thinning hair, but not everyone has the symmetrical and smooth head that is needed to pull this off. Someone with large protruding ears, probably does not want to have the hair shaved off or cut around the ears. It should at least be kept a little fuller on the sides and crown area to minimize the look of the ears. A large nose can be minimized with a heavy bang. Also, it is becoming increasingly acceptable for men to wax their eyebrows, so if a unibrow or heavy, overgrown eyebrows are a problem, a professional stylist can help with this.

See your hair stylist to learn about the best styles that suit your hair, face, and lifestyle. He or she can help you look your very best so that you like the person you see in the mirror. A little bit of facial contouring can help you feel great about yourself.