A long face shape can present certain challenges when it comes to styling hair. Men with long faces often seek haircuts and updos that can balance the length of their face, adding width and texture where needed. A good updo for men with long faces should create volume on the sides, soften the angular features, and provide a sense of proportion to the face. With the right hairstyle, long faces can look just as sharp and stylish as any other face shape.
In this article, we will discuss 8 updos that are perfect for men with long faces. These styles not only create balance but also elevate any look, from casual to formal, and add personality. Each updo is detailed with step-by-step instructions on how to achieve the style, including the tools needed and styling tips to make the look your own.
8 Stylish and Flattering Updos for Men with Long Faces
1. Classic Slicked-Back Updo: A Timeless, Sharp Look
The classic slicked-back updo is a versatile style that works well for men with long faces. This updo focuses on keeping the sides of the hair shorter and sleek while creating volume at the top. The added height gives the appearance of a more balanced face shape by drawing attention upwards rather than emphasizing the length of the face.
How to Achieve the Classic Slicked-Back Updo
- Start with clean, damp hair: Apply a leave-in conditioner or styling gel to damp hair. This will help add structure and hold.
- Blow-dry the hair: Use a round brush to lift the hair at the roots and blow-dry it backward. The goal is to give some volume to the hair at the crown.
- Slick back with pomade or gel: Once your hair is dry, apply a medium to strong-hold pomade or gel. Use a fine-tooth comb to smoothly slick the hair back from the forehead, keeping the sides close to the scalp.
- Finish with a light mist of hairspray: A finishing hairspray will keep the updo in place all day without making it stiff.
Why This Updo Works for Long Faces
The slicked-back updo minimizes the length of the face by focusing the eyes upward. By creating volume at the top, this style enhances the overall proportions of the face, giving a more balanced and clean-cut appearance.
2. Pompadour: Adding Volume for a Balanced Look
The pompadour is a bold, structured style that adds significant volume to the crown while keeping the sides neat and clean. This updo draws attention to the top of the head, which helps reduce the appearance of a longer face.
How to Achieve the Pompadour Updo
- Prepare the hair: Start with damp hair and apply a volumizing mousse or styling cream.
- Blow-dry the hair for lift: Using a blow dryer and a round brush, dry the hair while lifting it at the roots. Focus on creating volume at the top of your head.
- Use pomade or wax for structure: Apply a generous amount of pomade or styling wax to your hair to give it hold and structure.
- Shape the pompadour: Use a comb to gently lift the front section of the hair while pushing the rest of the hair back. You can choose to leave the sides shorter or fade them for a more clean-cut look.
- Set with hairspray: Lightly mist hairspray on the pompadour to maintain the shape throughout the day.
Why This Updo Works for Long Faces
The height created by the pompadour adds volume on top, helping to visually shorten the length of a long face. The structured, elevated look is perfect for those looking to add balance to their facial proportions.
3. High Bun with Tapered Sides: Modern and Clean
A high bun is a chic and modern updo that works well for long faces. It helps draw attention away from the length of the face and adds height and width to the top. When combined with tapered sides, the high bun creates an overall more balanced silhouette.
How to Achieve the High Bun with Tapered Sides
- Start with clean, dry hair: Brush your hair through to ensure there are no tangles.
- Taper the sides: Trim the sides with clippers, using a shorter guard to create a clean, tapered look.
- Gather the hair at the crown: Collect all of your hair on top of your head, securing it with a hair tie.
- Twist and wrap the hair into a bun: Twist the hair around the hair tie and secure it with bobby pins to form a tight, high bun.
- Finish with hairspray: Apply hairspray to keep the bun in place and to control any flyaways.
Why This Updo Works for Long Faces
The high bun creates a significant contrast between the top and sides of the head, visually shortening the face. By keeping the sides tapered, the hairstyle avoids adding unnecessary volume to the sides, ensuring a balanced look.
4. Low Ponytail with Loose Waves: Soft and Relaxed
A low ponytail with loose waves is a laid-back, yet flattering updo for men with long faces. The addition of waves helps add volume on the sides of the face, which can soften the sharpness of a long face shape.
How to Achieve the Low Ponytail with Loose Waves
- Start with damp hair: Apply a wave-enhancing styling cream or mousse to damp hair.
- Create loose waves: Use a curling iron or flat iron to add soft waves to the hair. Keep the waves loose for a natural, effortless look.
- Tie the hair into a low ponytail: Gather the hair at the nape of your neck and secure it with an elastic band.
- Pull out a few strands: Gently pull out a few strands around your face to soften the look.
- Finish with a texturizing spray: Apply a light texturizing spray to give the hair volume and a tousled finish.
Why This Updo Works for Long Faces
The loose waves create width around the sides of the face, helping to visually reduce the length. The low ponytail keeps the overall look simple and soft, ensuring that it complements the face without emphasizing its length.
5. Side Swept Updo with Volume: A Playful Twist
The side-swept updo with volume is perfect for adding dimension to a long face. By sweeping the hair to one side and creating volume, this look can add balance and flair while still maintaining a formal appearance.
How to Achieve the Side Swept Updo with Volume
- Start with damp hair: Apply a styling gel or mousse to damp hair to add texture and hold.
- Blow-dry for volume: Blow-dry the hair, lifting it at the roots to add volume.
- Create the side part: Using a comb, create a deep side part, sweeping the hair over to one side of your head.
- Pin the hair in place: Once you’ve swept the hair to one side, secure it with bobby pins.
- Finish with hairspray: Lightly mist hairspray to hold the style in place.
Why This Updo Works for Long Faces
The side-swept style helps break up the length of the face by drawing attention to the side, which can add visual width. The added volume at the crown of the head also helps balance out the facial proportions.
6. Top Knot: Sleek and Easy
The top knot is a trendy and practical updo that suits men with long faces. By pulling the hair into a compact, styled knot at the top of the head, the top knot adds height while keeping the look clean and effortless.
How to Achieve the Top Knot
- Gather hair into a ponytail: Collect the hair at the top of your head and secure it with an elastic band.
- Twist the ponytail: Twist the hair around itself to form a small, tight knot.
- Secure with bobby pins: Use bobby pins to secure the top knot in place, ensuring no loose strands escape.
- Add volume: Gently pull on the hair at the crown to add a bit of volume if desired.
- Finish with hairspray: Apply a light mist of hairspray to ensure the top knot stays in place throughout the day.
Why This Updo Works for Long Faces
The top knot adds volume at the crown, which helps balance the proportions of a long face. The compact nature of the knot helps reduce the overall length, creating a more symmetrical appearance.
7. The Braided Crown: Creative and Elegant
The braided crown is a unique updo that works wonderfully for men with long faces. By braiding the hair around the crown of the head, this look creates a sense of balance and visual interest.
How to Achieve the Braided Crown
- Start with clean hair: Brush the hair to remove tangles and section it into two parts.
- Create two braids: Braid each section of hair loosely, starting at the temple and working your way around the head.
- Wrap the braids around the crown: Once the braids are complete, wrap them around the top of your head, pinning them in place with bobby pins.
- Adjust the braids for fullness: Gently pull on the braids to add volume and make them appear fuller.
- Finish with hairspray: Set the style with a light mist of hairspray.
Why This Updo Works for Long Faces
The braided crown creates width around the head, balancing out the length of the face. It also adds texture and detail, making it a stylish and functional choice for long-faced men.
8. Messy Updo: Casual and Trendy
The messy updo is an easy, relaxed style that works well for men with long faces. It gives the appearance of more volume and width by adding texture and creating a tousled look.
How to Achieve the Messy Updo
- Start with dry hair: Apply a texturizing paste or pomade to dry hair to add texture.
- Create volume with a blow dryer: Blow-dry the hair using your fingers to create a messy, tousled look.
- Style the hair upward: Lift the hair at the crown and tousle it with your fingers to create volume.
- Secure with bobby pins: Pin back any stray sections of hair that need to stay in place.
- Finish with hairspray: Lightly mist the hair with hairspray for a natural, relaxed hold.
Why This Updo Works for Long Faces
The messy texture and volume on top draw attention away from the length of the face, while the disheveled look softens the sharp angles of a long face.
Conclusion
The key to flattering a long face with an updo is creating balance and proportion. By adding volume at the top, adding width to the sides, or drawing attention to specific areas of the face, these 8 updos are perfect for men who want to enhance their facial features. Whether you prefer something sleek and polished or casual and textured, there’s a hairstyle on this list for every occasion. By mastering these techniques, you’ll be able to create a wide range of stylish looks that perfectly complement a long face.
