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What’s This About
This gallery uses ten celebrities often cited as examples of a round face shape to show what different hair and beard choices do to a compact outline with curved jaw corners.
Each profile shows a look you can adapt, such as:
Height at the crown with shorter sides
Quiffs, side partings and textured crops
Beards that define the jaw rather than fill the cheeks
Natural curls and the effect of shrinkage
and many more!
We also cover how to brief your barber and check the cut once it is dry.
Key Points
01The VOU describes a round face as a compact outline with curved jaw corners; it is a description, not a measurement.
02If you want the face to read longer, add height at the crown and keep the sides shorter.
03Keeping beard fullness off the cheeks and adding a little chin length makes the outline read longer, within the limits of your growth coverage.
04Echoing the curved outline, or simply wearing a style you like, is equally valid.
Understanding your face shape can help you describe what you see in the mirror and choose a haircut or beard with a clearer goal in mind.
The round face shape is The VOU’s name for a relatively compact outline with curved jaw transitions; fullness alone does not establish bone shape.
It is a description, not a diagnosis: many faces mix features, and a beard or hairline can hide the jaw or forehead, in which case it is fine to record that observation as unknown.
No styling is required: you can add height or definition, echo the curved outline, or simply wear what you like.
In this article, we use 10 male celebrities often cited as examples of a round face shape to offer styling inspiration for your hairstyle or beard.
Before we start, if you would like a starting point, take our quick and face shape quiz for men to check your face shape and get styling ideas to try.
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape, and his looks over the years show how strategic grooming can add definition if you want it.
He has often been photographed with swept-back hair that has some height at the crown, which makes the outline read longer.
A short to medium beard with clean cheek lines and a little more length at the chin adds definition and some length to a curved jaw outline, where your growth allows.
2. Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape.
The Lord of the Rings star has often been photographed with side-parted styles that have volume on top; height on top adds length, while closer sides keep width down.
Clean-shaven with neatly cut sideburns and edges, the outline stays visible and the crisp lines add a little structure, if that is the effect you want.
3. Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape, and is often photographed with textured, layered ginger hair.
A fuller beard kept neat at the cheek line and neckline can make the lower outline read more angular, if you prefer that to echoing the curve.
Length on top with shorter sides puts the emphasis on height, which makes the outline read longer.
4. Aaron Paul
Aaron Paul, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape, and is often photographed with short haircuts.
Slightly longer hair on top with faded sides keeps width down at the temples; the fade is a graduated transition that your barber maintains as it grows.
Light stubble defines the jaw a little without adding bulk to the lower face.
5. James Corden
James Corden, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape.
A quiff like the one he has often worn adds visible height at the front and crown, which makes the outline read longer; how much height your hair holds depends on its density and texture.
Neat, trimmed facial hair that follows the jaw contour adds subtle definition without changing the outline much.
6. John Bradley
Game of Thrones actor John Bradley, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape, and is often photographed with a full beard.
A full beard groomed to a defined cheek line and neckline adds structure along the jaw; how sharp those lines can be depends on your growth coverage.
Volume on top with closer sides makes the outline read longer, if that is your aim.
7. Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape.
The Avengers star has often been photographed with short, textured cuts with some height; height on top adds length, while short sides keep width down.
He has also worn a goatee; chin length without cheek fullness gives a more pointed lower outline that contrasts with a curved jaw, if contrast is what you want.
8. Alfred Enoch
Alfred Enoch, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape, and is often photographed with his natural curls.
Curly hair kept longer on top and slightly shorter at the sides adds height; remember that curl shrinkage means the dry length can be much shorter than the cut length.
A clean-shaven face is a perfectly valid choice; no face needs extra definition from facial hair.
9. Ronny Chieng
Ronny Chieng, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape.
The comedian has often been photographed with volume on top and shorter sides, which puts the emphasis on height and makes the outline read longer.
Clean-shaven, the natural outline stays fully visible, which is as valid a choice as adding facial hair.
Short, tidy sides and a neat top are also easy to keep looking professional between barber visits.
10. Usher
Usher, pictured above, is often cited as an example of a round face shape.
The R&B singer has often been photographed with very short sides and some height on top, which adds length to the outline while keeping width down.
Facial hair kept to clean, sharply edged lines adds structure and defines the jaw, within the limits of your growth coverage.
Sharp edges like these need frequent touch-ups at the barber or at home to stay crisp, so factor in the upkeep.
Key Styling Tips for Round Faces
These celebrities show that many hairstyles work well for round-face shapes, so treat them as examples rather than rules.
Start by choosing your goal: add height at the crown with shorter sides if you want the face to read longer, keep fullness at the sides if you like the rounded outline, or simply wear a style you enjoy.
Tell your barber where you want length, height, weight and movement, and mention your hair density, texture, curl, growth direction and hairline, because the same cut sits very differently on fine straight hair and on dense coily hair.
For a beard, describe side fullness, chin length, cheek line and neckline separately: keeping fullness off the cheeks and adding a little chin length makes the outline read longer, while full sides echo its width, and your growth coverage sets what is achievable.
Check the result dry-styled in the mirror, from the front and both sides, before deciding whether to keep it.
If your features look mixed, or a beard or hairline hides your jaw or forehead, compare neighbouring face-shape guides rather than forcing a single label.
Style Like A True Gentleman
Before you go, here is a simple order to follow, whether you work alone or with an image consultant.
Professional styling usually starts with knowing your body shape and seasonal colour palette, which help you choose well-fitting clothes in colours that suit your skin, eyes and hair.
Then you can plan outfits for each occasion, location, season and time of day, with garments, footwear, and accessories from heritage fashion brands that fit the way you want to look.
Take our three quizzes below, then book a paid consultation if you would like personal help:
1. Find Your Body Shape
Different garments flatter different silhouettes, so knowing your body shape is a useful first step.
To check your body shape, take our body shape quiz for men.
Next, take the second quiz to check your colour palette.
2. Find Your Seasonal Colours
Remember, the garments that compose your outfits come in various colours, and it helps to choose shades that suit your natural colouring.
To do that, find your seasonal colour palette by taking our seasonal colour quiz for men.
3. Find Your Fashion Style
Once you know your body shape and colour palette, the next step is to find your personal fashion style.
You can start with our fashion style quiz for men; it gives style suggestions, outfit ideas, relevant fashion brands, and much more.
Professional Image Consultancy with The VOU
If you would like personal help, you can book a paid consultation with our expert image consultants and fashion stylists.
Our styling services for men are paid consultations; the shop page lists what each one includes.
Remember, wearing luxury brands isn’t enough (see logo-heavy luxury brands and how to wear them); it also helps to know your body shape, colour palette, and ideal personal style, and then to dress by occasion, location, season, and time of day.
Contact us if you would like to book a paid consultation.