Have you ever heard of the word visagism? Don’t worry if not, most of our clients have not, but luckily for you, we have.

Visagism is an art that aims to perfect the beauty of a person, transforming the face to help a client look their best. In general, this means different things to different industries. In dentistry, this means aligning a winning smile to the facial features. For beauticians, it is about facial treatments and make-up, and for barbers, like us, it’s about providing the right haircuts to suit each client’s self-image perfectly.

The word “visagism” is derived from the French “visage,” meaning “face.” The term was first used in 1936 by the hairdresser and make-up artist Fernand Aubry.

There is no one perfect haircut for everyone. Different face shapes require different haircuts to look their best. A barber who understands visagism can help their clients find the perfect haircut for their face shape. In this blog, we’ll discuss what visagism is, related to barbering, and getting the perfect haircut for your face shape.

 

1. What is visagism, and what does it mean for barbers

For a barber, it is vital that we can work in harmony with the client, making them feel that they are the centre of the experience. Anyone walking through the doors of Men’s Grooming Ireland will instantly feel this, as your experience means everything to us. Visagism is about seeing the client and interpreting the style and shape best suited to them to enhance their features. 

2. How to determine your face shape

When it comes to visagism, one of the most important things to consider is your haircut. A bad haircut can make you look older and tired and do your looks no justice. A good haircut, on the other hand, can make you look more handsome, youthful, and energetic.

So how do you find the right haircut for your face shape? It’s actually not as difficult as you might think. Here we will discuss  four basic face shapes: oval, round, square, and oblong. You may have heard this before but have been unaware that this results from visagism.

Once you know your face shape, finding a flattering haircut is pretty straightforward.

3. How we use visagism to get the perfect haircut for your face shape

If you have an oval face shape, then you’re in luck. Just about any haircut will look good on you. If you have a round face, you’ll want to avoid anything that adds width to your face. While a round face often looks great, go with a cut that adds volume, not bulk. Avoid centre partings or long hair to the temples. Buzzcuts are also out, as they emphasise the roundness of your shape.

If you have a square face, you’ve got the most masculine of face shapes. Square faces are often angular and sharp, so the key is to try and soften these features a little through the haircut. Buzzcuts are great to highlight your face, but long hair side swept is one of the most unique and visually pleasing hairstyles for men with a square face.

Finally, if you have an oblong face, you’ll want to avoid anything that makes your face look longer. That means no shaved sides. Think more classic shapes and scissor cuts.

These are the four most common face shapes, but our professional barbers can help visualise your perfect cut, whether you’re Square, round, oval, oblong, diamond, or triangular face shape.

So, there you have it! Discover the right haircut for your face shape, or simply ask one of our barbers for more information on haircuts and beards to enhance your face. We look forward to seeing you in the chair at Men’s Grooming Ireland.