Quick Answer:
The broccoli cut suits most face shapes if you adjust the version: add height for round faces, keep curls low for long faces, and soften the fringe for heart faces.
By Muhammad Rehan Iqbal, Founder and Developer of OvalFaceShape.com.
The broccoli haircut works on most face shapes, but the version decides the result. Tall, full curls balance round and wide-jaw faces, while long and heart-shaped faces look better with a lower, fringe-forward top.
Who this guide is for:
This guide is for young men, parents of boys, and women with curly hair who want to pick a broccoli cut by face shape before they book. It is styling guidance, not a medical or diagnostic tool.
What Is the Broccoli Haircut?
A broccoli haircut has short, faded or tapered sides and layered curls on top, brushed forward like the florets of a broccoli head. Wikipedia’s summary lists the nicknames “Zoomer perm” and “bird’s nest” and notes that the curls are usually permed. Actor David Corenswet’s 2024 photo from the Superman set, which went viral for the haircut, is the example it cites. At the barber, “curly textured fringe” describes the same shape.
Broccoli Cut by Face Shape for Men
The cut adds volume on top and removes width from the sides, so it lengthens and narrows the outline. That helps round, square and wide-jaw faces. It challenges long and heart-shaped faces.
| Face shape | Best version | Fade | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oval | Any version, with some forehead showing | Low or mid taper | A heavy fringe covering the forehead |
| Round | Tall curls pushed up and forward | Mid or high fade | A wide, flat top |
| Square | Rounded, medium-length curls to soften angles | Low or mid taper | Boxy, flat-topped shapes |
| Oblong | Shorter top, curls brought into a fringe | Low taper, to keep side width | A tall, piled-up top |
| Heart | Medium-height top, soft forward fringe | Low taper | Tall volume on an already wide forehead |
| Diamond | Fuller curls across the forehead | Low taper or burst fade | Tight skin fade that exposes wide cheekbones |
| Triangle/Pear | Tall, full curls to add top width | Mid or high fade | A flat, low top |
These pairings are proportion-based guidance, not rules. If your face sits between two shapes, follow the row whose “Avoid” cell worries you more.
How to Check Your Face Shape First?
- Measure four things. Use forehead width, cheekbone width, jaw width and face length (hairline to chin). These are standard landmarks in Farkas’s anthropometry text. Pull curls back first, since they hide the hairline.
- Find the widest point. Widest at the cheekbones points to diamond. Widest at the forehead points to heart. Widest at the jaw points to triangle. Near-equal widths on a long face point to oblong. Near-equal widths on a shorter face point to round (soft jaw) or square (angular jaw).
- Skip the tape. The Face Shape Detector reads your shape from a photo.
Straight, Wavy or Curly: Does Hair Type Matter More?
Hair type decides how much work the cut takes. Face shape decides the proportions.
- Curly and coily hair gives the shape naturally. Curls shrink as they dry, so ask the barber to check the length dry.
- Wavy hair gives a looser, softer version.
- Straight hair usually needs a perm for the full look. The AAD advises people to “use caution when perming hair” to avoid long-lasting damage, and warns that chemical treatments can leave hair dry and brittle. A textured crop with sea salt spray gets part of the look without chemicals.
- Fine or thin hair: keep the top shorter, because a skin fade next to thin curls can make the top look sparser.
Broccoli Haircut for Boys
For a school-age boy, a shorter curly top over a low taper, with the fringe kept off the eyes, is the easiest version to maintain. If the curls would come from a perm, involve a parent and a stylist first, given the AAD’s caution. Check the school’s grooming rules before choosing a high skin fade.
Broccoli Cut for Women and Girls by Face Shape
The female version is usually a short, layered curly crop with volume on top. The sides are tapered at most, not faded. Stylist Raph R. told Real Simple that curly hair types benefit most from this cut.
- Round: build height at the crown with a side-swept fringe.
- Square: rounded layers soften the jaw.
- Long or oblong: add a fringe and keep width at the sides.
- Heart: a side-swept fringe and fuller curls at chin level balance the forehead.
- Oval: any version works.
Broccoli Head Gym: Stereotype and Practical Care
The cut picked up a “gym bro” reputation online, and the nickname “broccoli head” stuck. The stereotype says nothing about whether it suits your face. For workouts, rinse sweat out and refresh curls with water and a leave-in conditioner. Heavy wax and shiny pomade weigh curls down and flatten the shape.
How to Ask Your Barber for a Broccoli Cut
Say the name, then give four details:
- Top: “Keep the curls in layers, with the front long enough to fall forward.” Add a length if you want it shorter.
- Sides: name the fade type and height (“low taper”, “mid fade”) and how short at the bottom.
- Back: “Blend into the neckline.”
- Edges: line-up or natural edge.
Bring two photos, one from the front and one from the side. They show fringe length and fade height. For a perm, get the cut first and book the perm at a salon.
Key Takeaways
- Round, square and triangle faces gain from tall curls and a mid or high fade.
- Oblong and heart faces need a lower top and a softer fringe.
- Oval faces suit nearly every version.
- Straight hair needs a perm for the full look, so weigh the upkeep and the AAD’s caution.
- The same cut works for boys and women with adjustments.
FAQ’s
How do broccoli cuts look?
From the front, a round mass of curls over the forehead and short sides. From the side, curls stand up over a clean fade.
Which haircut fits my face shape?
Round and square faces suit tall, rounded curls. Long and heart faces suit lower curls with a fringe. Use the table above, or the Face Shape Detector.
What is the Gen Z broccoli haircut?
It is the same cut, named by TikTok-era teens. Wikipedia notes earlier K-pop precedents, and “Zoomer perm” is the generational nickname.
Is the broccoli cut still in style?
GQ writer Alex Nino Gheciu argued it peaked in 2024. The shape itself remains a curly textured fringe over a taper.
Is a broccoli cut a perm?
No. The cut is the shape, and the perm is a separate chemical step for straight hair. Natural curls need only the cut.
How is it different from a textured crop?
A textured crop has a shorter, choppier top. The broccoli cut is fuller and rounder, with curls that stand up as well as forward.
How often do I need a trim?
Fades soften within a few weeks, so plan trims regularly. The curly top can wait longer between visits.
Next step: Not sure which row you fit? Browse the Hairstyles by Face Shape guide to compare cuts across all seven shapes.