How do I know what haircut will suit me?
The right haircut usually comes down to three things: your hair type, your face shape, and your lifestyle.
- Your hair type matters because fine, thick, straight, wavy, and curly hair all behave differently once cut. A style that works beautifully on one person may sit completely differently on you.
- Face shape can help guide balance and proportion, but it shouldn’t feel like a strict rulebook. The aim is to find a shape that works with your features, not against them.
- Lifestyle matters too. If you usually air dry your hair or prefer low-maintenance styling, your haircut needs to work with that routine.
The best way to know what will genuinely suit you is through a consultation. A stylist can look at your texture, growth patterns, face shape, and maintenance comfort, then recommend a cut that still feels right weeks after your appointment.
Choosing a haircut
Choosing a haircut shouldn’t feel complicated, but for most people, it is.
You might have a few screenshots saved on your phone of style you like, and a good idea of what you don’t want. But that still doesn’t answer the age-old question: “what haircut will suit me best?”
A truly great haircut isn’t about following trends or copying someone else’s look. It’s about finding a style that suits you; in terms of proportion, texture, movement, and how your hair works with your face shape, lifestyle, and confidence.
When those things align, a haircut feels effortless. When they don’t, even the ‘best’ haircut can feel wrong.
At Aaron Jones Hairdressing, we’re serious about finding you a hair style that suits you down to a tee. But before we talk about restyles, dry cuts, or wash and cut appointments, it’s worth understanding how professionals decide what will, and what won’t, work for someone in the chair.
Why finding a haircut that suits you is harder than it sounds
Most people don’t struggle with choosing a haircut because they don’t know what they like. They struggle because haircuts have to work in the real world. That’s what this guide is here to explain. However, if you’d like to see the haircut services we offer, you can explore our hair cut and styling services here.
A style that looks great in a photo doesn’t always translate once it’s on a different head of hair. Texture, density, growth patterns, and natural movement all play a part, as does how you actually live with your hair day to day.
That’s why advice online can often feel confusing. If you Google “what haircut will suit me?” or “which haircut is best for my face shape?”, you might get completely contradictory results. People aren’t necessarily right or wrong; they’re just talking about different hair.
In practice, a haircut that genuinely suits you usually comes down to a few different factors lining up.
The 5 things that matter most when choosing a haircut
When people ask “what kind of haircut will suit me?”, they’re often hoping for a simple answer. In reality, the best haircuts come from weighing up a few key factors together.
These are the five things that make the biggest difference.
Your hair type and texture
Fine, thick, straight, wavy, or curly hair all respond differently to cutting. A shape that adds movement to thick hair can remove too much structure from finer hair. Likewise, a cut that works beautifully on waves can sit flat on straighter textures.
Rather than focusing on length alone, a good hairdresser looks at:
- how dense your hair is
- how coarse or soft it feels
- how it behaves once it’s dry
Growth patterns and natural movement
Hair doesn’t grow evenly, and it doesn’t sit still.
Cowlicks, strong front growth, flat crowns, and natural partings all affect how a haircut behaves between appointments. When growth patterns are ignored, hair often only looks right when styled a very specific way, (usually for those first couple of hours out of the salon).
Balance and proportion
Face shape matters when choosing a hairstyle, but it shouldn’t feel like there’s a strict set of ‘rules’ you need to follow.
The goal isn’t to “correct” your features, it’s to create natural balance. Small adjustments, like where length sits, how weight is distributed, or how a fringe is shaped, can subtly change how a haircut frames your face.
The best results come from adapting the cut to you, rather than forcing your hair into a predefined style.
How the haircut will grow out
A great haircut isn’t just about day one.
Shape, weight placement, and internal balance all affect how a cut evolves over time. When done well, a haircut softens and adapts as it grows, rather than losing its structure entirely.
This is especially crucial if you don’t tend to book frequent appointments.
Your lifestyle and maintenance comfort
A style that needs regular heat styling won’t feel like a success if you usually air-dry. An ultra low-maintenance cut is perfect if you’re constantly rushed off your feet, but might feel underwhelming if you enjoy styling and changing your look.
A haircut should fit your real life:
- how often you wash your hair
- whether you style it or tie it up
- how frequently you want to book appointments
The best haircut is the one that works without demanding effort you don’t want to give.
Different types of haircuts (and who they actually suit)
When people look for haircut inspiration, they’re usually shown categories: bobs, layers, crops, shags, long hair, short hair. Helpful, but only as a starting point.
It’s not really the name of a cut that matters, but rather how that type of haircut is adapted to your hair, proportions, and lifestyle.
Still, understanding the broad families of haircuts can help you narrow down what might genuinely work for you, so here’s a brief rundown.
Short haircuts
Short hair can feel liberating, but it’s also one of the most personal choices you can make.
Short cuts tend to work best for people who:
- enjoy structure and visible shape
- are comfortable with more regular maintenance
- want to highlight facial features, bone structure, or natural texture
Pixie cuts, crops, and short layered styles rely heavily on growth patterns and head shape. When done well, they grow out with intention. When rushed or poorly planned, they can feel awkward very quickly.
Mid-length haircuts
Mid-length hair is popular because it offers flexibility, without commitment.
These cuts often suit people who:
- want hair they can wear up or down
- like shape without going very short
- prefer styles that soften as they grow
The success of mid-length hair comes down to weight placement. Too blunt and it can feel heavy. Too layered and it can lose structure. A well-balanced mid-length cut should move naturally and behave with minimal styling.
Long haircuts
Long hair still needs considered cutting, often more so than people expect.
Long styles tend to suit those who:
- prefer softer, lower-contrast changes
- enjoy movement rather than strong shape
- want length with intention, not bulk
Internal layers, face-framing, and subtle shaping are what stop long hair feeling flat or grown-out. The goal with a long-haircut isn’t necessarily removing length, but making what’s already there work better.
Layered vs blunt cuts
This is one of the most misunderstood distinctions:
- Blunt cuts create strength, density, and clean lines. They often work beautifully on finer hair, or for those who like a polished finish.
- Layered cuts add movement and softness. They’re usually better suited to thicker hair, or anyone wanting texture and flexibility.
Neither is ‘better’. The right choice depends on how your hair naturally behaves, and how you want it to feel day to day.
Alternative and expressive haircuts
Alternative haircuts shouldn’t be about being alternative for the sake of it. They should be about alignment. They work best when a haircut feels like an extension of who you already are, not something you’re trying on for effect.
That might mean texture instead of polish, asymmetry instead of balance, or a shape that grows out with character.
These styles often suit people who:
- want to experiment with colour
- value individuality over trends
- like texture, contrast, or movement
- want hair to reflect personality, not templates
Many people exploring alternative styles also choose to experiment with colour, whether that’s subtle tonal shifts or something more expressive, which is why our professional hair colouring services are often part of the conversation during consultation. A common misconception is that alternative hair has to be extreme. In reality, it’s often subtle choices that make a haircut feel personal: softer edges, intentional imbalance, or movement that adapts as it grows.
“How do I know it’s time to restyle my hair?”
Most people don’t wake up one morning and decide they need a restyle. It tends to creep up.
Your hair probably still looks ‘fine’, it just doesn’t excite you any more. A restyle isn’t about change for the sake of it. It’s about recognising when your current haircut no longer fits how you look, feel, or live.
Your haircut no longer suits your lifestyle
One of the clearest signs is when your routine has changed, but your hair hasn’t.
If you’re styling less, wearing your hair up because it won’t sit right, or feeling frustrated rather than confident when you get ready, your haircut may be working against you instead of with you.
It only looks good on the day it’s cut
A well-planned haircut should grow out with intention. If your hair quickly loses shape, feels heavy in the wrong places, or needs constant heat to behave, it’s often a sign the structure no longer suits your hair’s natural behaviour.
You’ve outgrown it, even if it still “works”
Sometimes the haircut itself isn’t bad, it’s just no longer *you*. This often follows a lifestyle shift, confidence change, or simply wanting something that feels more current, softer, or more expressive. A restyle doesn’t have to be dramatic; often it’s about refining what’s already there.
What makes a good hairdresser (and why it matters for your chosen hairstyle)
Have you ever asked your friends for a hairdresser recommendation, or maybe even Googled “best haircut near me”? You’re not alone. But how do you know for sure that the ‘best’ hairdresser is actually going to do a good job at cutting your hair in particular?
A good hairdresser isn’t defined by how busy they are, how quickly they work, or how polished their Instagram looks. It’s defined by how consistently they deliver haircuts that suit the person in the chair.
Here’s what actually separates a good hairdresser from an average one.
They listen before they cut
A good haircut starts with understanding. That means taking time to ask the right questions, clarify what you want, and understand what hasn’t worked for you before.
They explain their thinking
The best hairdressers explain why a certain length, shape, or technique will (or won’t) work for your hair, how it will behave day to day, and how it’s likely to grow out.
They cut for real life, not just the salon chair
Anyone can make hair look good with a blow-dry. The best haircuts still work when you style them yourself. That’s why experienced hairdressers consider how your hair dries naturally, how often you style it, and how much time you realistically want to spend on it.
They’re confident enough to say no
A good hairdresser isn’t afraid to gently steer you away from something that won’t suit your hair type, face shape, or lifestyle.
That doesn’t mean shutting ideas down. It means adapting them into something that will actually work. That might mean recommending a different cut, or occasionally suggesting something else entirely, like hair extensions, if that would achieve your goal more safely or realistically.
They think beyond today’s appointment
The best hairdressers cut with the future in mind. They consider how the shape will soften as it grows, how long it will stay wearable, and when you’ll realistically need your next appointment.
What to expect from a haircut appointment at Aaron Jones
Whether you’re booking a haircut in our Wirral salon, or a dry cut in our Crosby location, the Aaron Jones experience is designed to feel considered, calm, and collaborative.
Here’s what that looks like in practice.
A proper consultation
Every haircut begins with a conversation. This is where we take the time to understand you, not just your hair.
We’ll talk about what you like, what you find frustrating, how you usually style your hair, how often you want to maintain it, and what you’re hoping to feel when you leave.
Photos are always welcome, but they’re a reference point, not a blueprint. Our job is to translate inspiration into something that works for your hair type, face shape, and lifestyle.
Choosing the right type of cut for you
Some clients are best suited to a dry cut to refine shape exactly as the hair sits naturally. Others benefit from a wash and cut to reset balance and movement. And sometimes a restyle makes sense when shape, length, or direction needs rethinking.
We’ll recommend what fits your hair and goals, not what sounds more impressive. The aim is longevity and wearability, not just a good first impression.
Styling that shows how the cut actually wears
We don’t style hair to hide the cut; we style it to reveal it.
That means showing you how the shape works with minimal effort, how it behaves when worn naturally, and simple ways to enhance it at home.
Honest advice for between appointments
Before you leave, we’ll talk through how to keep your haircut working for you. That usually includes when you’re likely to need your next trim, how the shape will grow out, and a few realistic styling or drying tips. Product advice is only offered if it genuinely adds value.
Speaking of products, in our salons we use premium, low-tox products from O&M and CENTRED throughout our appointments, chosen specially for their performance and hair health benefits.
Types of haircuts we offer
We offer a range of haircut services at both our Wirral (Birkenhead) and Crosby (Waterloo) salons, including wash and cuts, dry cuts, restyles, trims, and reshaping appointments. Each one is tailored to your hair type, routine, and the kind of result you want. You can explore the full range on our hair cut and styling services page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What haircut should I get?
Start by thinking about your face shape, lifestyle, and hair texture. I usually ask clients about how much daily styling they want to do. Sometimes a low-maintenance cut looks amazing and suits them better than a trendier style.
How do I know what haircut suits me?
Look at your face shape and hair type, then consider your personal style. We often suggest bringing photos of styles you like and discussing what works for your hair’s natural movement. That way, the cut feels effortless.
Which haircut suits me?
It’s all about balance. For example, layered cuts can soften strong jawlines, while blunt cuts can sharpen delicate features. We guide each client based on what complements their features and lifestyle.
What hairstyle suits my face shape?
Round faces often suit longer layers or angled cuts, square faces benefit from softness around the jaw, and heart-shaped faces can carry fringe or volume at the chin. The key is enhancing your natural shape, not forcing it.
What hair cut will suit me if I have thick/fine hair?
Thick hair often works well with layers to remove bulk and add movement, while fine hair can benefit from blunt ends or texturing to add body. We always tailor cuts to make hair feel lighter or fuller where needed.
How to choose a style that actually works?
Focus on your hair’s natural behaviour and your lifestyle. Even the trendiest cut won’t work if it’s high-maintenance and doesn’t suit your hair type. We always recommend a style that’s flattering and manageable.
What’s the difference between a wash and cut and a dry cut?
A wash and cut includes cleansing, cutting, and finishing; ideal if you want reshaping, movement, or a fresh overall feel. A dry cut is usually best for tidy-ups or maintaining an existing style. If you’re unsure which to book, we’re happy to advise.
How often should I get my hair cut?
It depends on your haircut and how you like it to look. Some styles hold their shape for months, while others benefit from more regular maintenance. During your appointment, we’ll suggest a realistic schedule that suits your cut and your routine.
I’ve had bad haircuts before, how do you avoid that?
We take time. That means a proper consultation, clear communication, and no rushing. If something doesn’t feel right during the appointment, we encourage you to say so. A good haircut is a collaboration, not a one-man show.