What Haircut Should I Get? A Five-Question Decision Guide

Question 1: what does your hair naturally want to do?

Hair type narrows the field more than anything else, because a cut that fights your texture looks good for a day and then collapses. Let your hair dry without product and look at what it does before choosing.

• Straight and thick: holds crops, side parts, quiffs and slick backs. Needs texture work to avoid looking blocky.
• Straight and fine: shorter, blunter cuts look fuller; see haircuts for thin hair.
• Wavy: medium lengths show the wave. Curtains, flow and textured tops work well.
• Curly: keep length on top and clean the sides with a fade or taper so the shape stays round rather than triangular.
• Coily: fades, tapers, high tops, waves and twists, with a sharp lineup framing the shape.

Question 2: how many minutes will you give it each morning?

Be honest here, because it rules out more cuts than people expect. A pompadour needs a blow-dryer and product every day; a buzz needs nothing. Somewhere in the middle, a textured crop takes a minute with clay and your fingers.

Question 3: what shape is your face?

Face shape is about balance: add height where the face is short or wide, keep it off where the face is already long. A round face benefits from volume on top and shorter sides; an oblong face looks better with a little width and a fringe rather than extra height.

Square and oval faces suit nearly everything, which is why so many of the classic cuts look good on them. If you are not sure which you have, our guide on how to find your face shape takes about two minutes with a mirror.

Question 4: where do you wear it?

Your workplace and your weekends both count. A conservative office still allows plenty of choice: a low fade with a side part, a short back and sides, or a neat crop all pass anywhere. A high skin fade with a disconnected top is sharp, but in some roles it draws comments.

Think about the rest of your life too. Hockey and bike helmets flatten longer tops, while toques all winter make short sides and a textured top the easiest combination. Hot, humid Ontario summers push many people shorter from June to September, and grad or wedding season calls for a cut that photographs well a few days after it is done. Our page on professional haircuts for men goes deeper on offices.

Question 5: how often can you come back?

Upkeep is the last filter. High skin fades look their best for about two weeks, so they suit people who can rebook often. Tapers and scissor cuts grow out gently and can stretch to four or five weeks.

If your schedule is unpredictable, choose a cut that still looks intentional on week five: a low taper, a crew cut or a medium-length scissor cut. Our low maintenance haircuts page lists the most forgiving options.

Bringing your answers to the consultation

Every appointment at Markcutit starts with a consultation, and it works best when you arrive with a direction rather than a blank slate. You do not need the vocabulary; the answers above and a couple of photos are enough for us to suggest what will suit your head shape, growth patterns and routine.

1. Save two or three photos of cuts you like, ideally on hair similar to yours.
2. Note one thing you definitely do not want, such as a fringe or very short sides.
3. Tell us how long you style in the morning and what product you own.
4. Mention anything about your head we should know: cowlicks, a double crown, scars.
5. Book a Haircut Only and decide the details with your barber in the chair.