You sit down, the stylist asks what you're doing today, and your mind goes blank. So you ask for "just a trim" and walk out looking exactly the same. If you've been asking yourself what haircut to get, five taps give you a cut and the words to ask for it.
How do I know what haircut suits me?
The haircut that suits you comes down to four things, in this order: length, hair type, face shape and how much time you'll spend styling it. Length comes first because it is the hardest thing to undo. Hair type decides whether a cut still works on day three. Fine hair looks fullest with a blunt line and few layers, thick hair needs layers to lose weight, wavy hair suits a shag, and curly hair is best cut dry, curl by curl. Face shape is the finishing touch. Round faces gain from height on top and length past the chin, square faces from soft layers, heart-shaped faces from a side-swept fringe, long faces from width at the sides, and oval faces can wear almost anything. Then be honest about styling, because a cut that needs a daily blow-dry is wrong for you if you won't do it.
How does the quiz pick my haircut?
It scores every cut in the pool against your answers. Length counts most, then hair type, then upkeep and face shape.
Every result is a photographed cut from one of our guides, with its stylist or barber credited there. If the lead pick isn't quite you, the next three are the closest matches.
What face shape do I have?
Pull your hair back and stand square to a mirror. Trace your outline with a dry-erase marker, step back, and compare its length, hairline to chin, with its width across the cheekbones. Tap the shape that looks closest.
Oval face
- Spot it
- Longer than it is wide, with the jaw a little narrower than the forehead.
- Try
- Almost anything, so let your hair type decide.
- Skip
- Very little. Too much height on top, like a tall quiff, stretches it further than it needs.
Round face
- Spot it
- About as wide as it is long, with a soft jaw and full cheeks.
- Try
- Height on top, side parts, and length that falls past the chin.
- Skip
- A blunt cut that ends right at the chin, and short, heavy bangs.
Square face
- Spot it
- A strong, angular jaw about as wide as the forehead.
- Try
- Soft layers, wispy ends and curtain bangs that round off the corners. Men can go close instead: a crew cut or buzz cut puts the jaw on show.
- Skip
- Hard, blunt lines at the jaw.
Heart face
- Spot it
- A wide forehead tapering to a narrow, pointed chin.
- Try
- A long, side-swept fringe or curtain bangs to balance the forehead, and fullness around the jaw.
- Skip
- Big volume at the crown. A controlled top suits you better.
Long face
- Spot it
- Clearly longer than it is wide, often with a high forehead.
- Try
- A fringe and width at the sides, with layers that frame the face.
- Skip
- Height on top, and very long, straight hair. Both make the face look longer.
If you land between two shapes, choose "Not sure" in the quiz and we'll leave face shape out of it.
Does hair type matter more than face shape?
For most cuts it does, because texture decides whether a haircut still works on day three. Fine, straight hair looks fuller with a blunt line and only a few layers, and our guide to bob haircuts for fine hair shows how. Thick hair needs layers to take the weight out. Wavy hair loves a shag, because the layers give each wave room to form.
Curly hair should be cut dry, curl by curl. Our guide to curly hairstyles for men has the cuts. Coily hair has its own rules, and our guides to Black women's hairstyles and Black men's haircuts go through them cut by cut. If your hair is thinning, the shape of the front matters most, so our guide to haircuts for a receding hairline starts there.
What do I say to my stylist?
Show the photo first, then say the words. A photo shows your stylist the finish and the words tell them how to get there, and every result gives you both. For a low fade, the line from our fade guide reads: "Low fade starting just above the ear, number 1 at the bottom blended up to a 3, and leave the top as it is." Read it out, then ask how the cut will grow out before the scissors come out.
Where can I see more haircuts?
Start with our guides to women's haircuts and men's haircuts, or go straight to a length: short, shoulder-length or long for women, and short, medium or long for men. Over 60? Try our hairstyles for women over 60.
Haircut questions, answered
What haircut suits my face shape?
Oval faces suit almost anything. Round faces look longer with height on top, a side part and length past the chin. Square faces soften with layers and curtain bangs. Heart-shaped faces balance out with a side-swept fringe and fullness at the jaw. Long faces shorten with a fringe and width at the sides, and do better without height on top.
Can ChatGPT suggest a haircut?
Yes, it can list the cuts that usually suit a face shape. This quiz differs in one way: every result is a real, photographed cut from our guides, with the words to ask for it. Neither can feel how dense your hair is or spot a cowlick at the crown, so take any suggestion to a stylist with a photo.
How do I know my hair type?
Let it air-dry with no product. Hair that falls flat is straight, and loose S-shaped bends mean wavy. Spirals mean curly, while tight coils or zigzags that shrink a lot as they dry mean coily. Then roll a single strand between your fingers. If you can barely feel it, your hair is fine.
How often should I get a haircut?
It depends on the cut. A low or mid fade needs a touch-up every two to three weeks to stay sharp, as our fade guide explains. Layers need a trim every six to eight weeks, and curly hair 12 weeks or more.
Should I go short?
If you're unsure, take one step down rather than three: a long cut to a lob, a lob to a bob. A short cut can't be undone in a hurry, and our guides to short haircuts for women and men show every step in between.
Compiled by Luxe Digital from our hairstyle guides, where every look is credited.