find your ideal haircut

Claire Davies speaks to a leading men’s stylist to learn about the best haircuts

Your clothes aren’t a one-size-fits-all affair, and neither is your hair. According to Denis Robinson, creative director for Ruffians ( ruffians.co.uk), an award-winning barbershop and men’s lifestyle destination, knowing your face shape is key to discovering your ideal hairstyle. “Look at the dimensions of your face to figure out the shape, using your spread hand to give rough measurements,” says Denis.

“If your spread hand measures the same length and width, you have either a square or round face shape. If the length is longer than the width, you’re oval. A narrow forehead with wide cheekbones and a narrow chin is a diamond shape, while a wide forehead and narrow chin is a heart-shaped face.”

For square face shapes, Denis recommends soft tailoring. “Ask your barber for a rounder style, swept away from the face. Avoid fringes and square cuts that make your face look angular. Diamond face shapes work best with styles that have a good balance throughout. So if you want the sides short, keep the top short too. Round faces, meanwhile, look best with angular styles.”

Receding hairlines are an issue for many, but growing your hair may make this look worse. “It means there’s more hair to separate in the wind and the scalp shines through,” explains Denis. “Shorter hair is easier to blend, providing more volume for thinning hair.”

As for greys, the only way to truly blend them in is by using a colour that’s slightly lighter than your natural hair colour. “You could also loosen up your hairstyle with a cut that has more texture, helping greys disappear into the hair for a while longer.”