Finding a flattering hairstyle for a receding hairline isn’t easy. However, since 85% of men experience male pattern baldness at some point in life [1], stylists have come up with many good options to conceal your hair loss when you can tell your hairline is receding. Choosing the right style depends on lots of factors, including how much hair you have left, your face shape, and your personal preferences.
There are lots of hairstyles that can work with an M-shaped hairline. However, they work best on mild to moderate hair loss. If your androgenetic alopecia is advanced, you may be better off with a hairline transplant surgery, which will allow you to choose any haircut you want in the future.
From buzzcuts to fringes, short styles to longer looks, here are the top 19 hairstyles for receding hairlines. Keep reading this article to discover all you need to know about:
Don’t let a receded hairline keep you from looking your best. Here are 15 hairstyles that can leverage your hair’s strengths, while at the same time masking your frontal balding. Choose the one that is best suited to your face shape, hair and body type and most of all, your personal style:
A high fade helps your hairline blend into the rest of your hair, opening up more styling options. Bald fades achieve the best blend, as they make your temple hair loss virtually inconspicuous. This style is modern, youthful, and leaves plenty of room for creativity on top
It can be very easy for an experienced hairdresser to style a fade since all you need is skilled use of clippers. However, if you are hoping to do it yourself, you might need some practice to get it just right.
It is a good idea to start by trimming your hair a few millimetres longer and lower than your desired results. This will leave room for adjustments and will help you achieve better hair blending. When the fade’s cut in, use your preferred pomade to style your hair forward or slick it back.
Slicked-back styles are popular right now — and they can look great with a receding hairline or widow’s peak. It works best if you have fairly limited hair thinning. The advantage this style presents is that it can also cover a bald spot on your crown, but only if you have enough frontal hair left.
A slicked-back look can hide hair loss well if styled properly. Using a little pomade or gel, comb your hair back and slightly to the side, over your temples. Wear with a neat beard or shadow for an ultra-modern look.
Brushing your hair forward is a surefire way to hide frontal thinning. It works best if you still have good density across your mid-scalp. If your hair is textured, it provides the illusion of volume, and going for a messier style can give you a rebel vibe.
Trim the back and sides of the hair, leaving a good crop on top. Using pomade or wax, use your fingertips to push the hair forward, leaving it tousled and messy.
If your hair is too straight and it looks flat, a layered haircut can help provide additional texture. You can also use a blowout for additional volume, just make sure to avoid a high heat setting.
Men with naturally curly hair (such as 3A type hair) may find that mid-length hairstyles effectively hide their receding hairline. The curls fall around the face, disguising any thinning hair.
This style may not work as well for men with naturally straight or fine hair, as you won’t get as much natural coverage.
Grow your hair out to your preferred length. Use a salt spray to create a textured, tousled effect. Get regular haircuts to keep your hair neat and light. The weight of longer hair can reduce density around the forehead.
If you are going for a classic and masculine hairstyle, you can always choose one of the best buzz cuts for a receding hairline. The short hair length can mask frontal thinning, while at the same time emphasising your facial features.
If you are fond of wearing facial hair, your beard will become the focal point of attention, drawing eyes away from your dwindling hairline.
When styling a new buzz cut yourself, it is wise to take things gradually and leave room for error. Since all you need is hair clippers, there isn’t a lot that can go wrong besides trimming your hair shorter than you’d like (even so, it will simply grow out in a short while).
Opt for a number 2 while you’re getting used to your new look. Then experiment with shorter styles when you’re ready.
A quiff provides a confident, dynamic look that can distract from any thinning or recession around your hairline. Choose a simple spiky style (right) or a bold bouffant (left). It works great with a beard for a more masculine vibe, but also with a naked face for a more youthful appearance.
Use your preferred styling product to push the hair forward over your hairline and upwards at the front. Longer hair will probably require more product.
A fringe is the ideal hairstyle for a receding hairline. It works with curly or straight hair textures and hides any hair loss around your temples. However, if your hair is thinning in front, your fringe may be dwindling as well. If you don’t have sufficient density, it is best to opt for sideswept, airy, or curtain bangs rather than the blunt variety.
Modern male fringes tend to finish a little way above the eyebrows. Visit your barber every 4 to 6 weeks to keep it tidy and out of your eyes. Men with curly hair can use wax or pomade to create a tousled effect.
The beard trend isn’t going anywhere, and it’s a great way to detract from hair loss on your head. If you want to get rid of your hair troubles once and for all, you can always join the bald with a beard trend. It is manly, exudes confidence and self-acceptance and works well for more athletic body types.
This look works best with thicker, longer beards. Keep your hairstyle short and simple, in a style you’re comfortable with (buzzcuts and crew cuts work well).
Trim your beard regularly to keep it neat. Use beard oil to keep your hair soft and manageable.
This style looks modern and unconventional and gives you a fresh and artistic vibe. It is daring, but it also pays off, because its asymmetry is a perfect way to disguise your receding hairline. You can cover part of your forehead or its entirety, depending on the variety you choose. And it can be worn with straight or textured hair alike.
To achieve this hairstyle, you need to sweep part of your hair to the other side of your head. Then, you need to leave the front part of the hair longer, then cut it progressively shorter towards the back, creating an uneven appearance.
The side-swept look is a modern favourite. It’s easy to style on a daily basis, and looks great with or without a beard. It works well neat or tousled, making this a versatile style that suits men of all ages.
However, you’ll need good hair density across your mid-scalp to wear this look well. That is because if you are balding on the crown, it can end up looking like a bad combover.
See more popular older men’s hairstyles for thinning hair.
Part your hair at the tip of your temple. Then, using pomade or wax, comb your hair back and to the side for a sleek look. If you’re going for a more messy appearance, simply tousle your hair a bit by hand or with a blow dryer
Having an M-shaped hairline gives you the option to cut in a new, straighter one altogether. Shaving your hairline back a few extra millimetres can make any recession almost unnoticeable.
You can easily achieve this look at home if you are experienced with hair clippers. However, if it’s the first time you are designing your own hairline, it is best to use a black cosmetic pencil to draw the desired hairline shape on your scalp before shaping it.
Use the edging accessory to create a sleek, straight hairline. Get a regular trim to keep your hairline razor-sharp.
Shaving down the sides of your hair with a stylish undercut can disguise your receding hairline, while a thick, tousled crop on top is the ideal distraction. You’ll need good coverage across the crown and mid-scalp to pull off this look.
Choose a close fade that undercuts the hair on top. Use wax or pomade to style your hair forward, covering the temples.
You can opt for a full mohawk, which is higher, narrower and more rebellious, or you can choose a faux hawk. This style is wider, shorter and merely raises up the hair on your mid-scalp towards the centre in a slightly pointed fashion.
The high and tight (sometimes known as a military cut) is a simple, classic style. While it won’t disguise your receding hairline, this shorter cut can be a good segue from long or mid-length hair to a buzzcut.
This low-maintenance style just needs a regular trim now and then. Apply a small amount of wax to create a mini quiff or slightly slicked-back look.
Bleaching your hair is a bold move and it is not for everyone. However, it can provide a vibrant look which distracts attention from your hairline.
If you have a lighter skin tone, it can also make your hair appear less visible. On the flip side, this hairstyle will stand out more against darker skin tones.
Bleach your hair to a gold or silver tone, making sure not to leave the bleach on too long, to avoid hair damage and chemical burns This bold look works best with a stylised modern cut, such as a quiff or brushed forward style. However, avoid bleaching your hair too frequently, lest it becomes dry and brittle.
This look is as easy to achieve and maintain as it is masculine. And while it is now the signature look of action star Jason Statham, many other Hollywood bad-boy types have rocked it over the years (such as Bruce Willis and Woody Harrelson).
Wearing this style will give you an air of confidence and it won’t matter how far back your hairline has receded.
Getting that seductive Statham look is as simple as trimming your hair and bead very short. All that needs to be left is some rugged stubble. The beard only needs to be grown out for a few days for excellent results.
If you have a fun-loving, laid-back nature, the surfer style might be just what you need. Its shaggy layers frame your face and forehead, keeping your hairline concealed. And at the same time, it gives you a care-free, summer vibe.
The surfer look requires medium-length hair and a layered cut, which gives it depth and volume. It is normally worn with highlights, which give it a summery, sun-kissed appearance.
Your hair will be styled to frame your face and some messy bangs on the forehead will help cover your hairline. Finally, the key ingredient is messiness, so make sure to give your hair a good tousling once you’ve completed your haircut.
This is a fresh, easy-to-maintain style which can provide you with excellent frontal coverage. It resembles a brush forward combined with a fade, but it also has an extra bit of fringe.
The French crop works best with textured hair or a layered cut. If you want to make it more exciting, you can embellish it with a unique design on your fade, with highlights on top or with an asymmetrical fringe.
Clip the hair on the back and sides of your head shorter, preferably with a fade, while leaving the top longer. Create a straight, choppy or messy fringe, whichever suits your face shape the best. Finish the look off by adding hair wax or pomade and tousling the top for a messy vibe or by combing it forward for a slick, elegant appearance.
This daring style brings out your warrior spirit and dissipates all concerns regarding the shape of your hairline. It is rugged, dynamic and particularly impressive when worn with a full beard.
You can accessorise it with beads or braids or keep it simple. And the best part of this manly style is that it covers most types of frontal and crown thinning.
The first thing you need to do is grab a pair of clippers and shave an undercut, leaving only a swathe of hair in the top-middle portion of your scalp. Depending on your hair length, you can slick it back, braid it or tie it in a knot.
However, if you choose to tie or braid it, make sure not to do so tightly or not to wear the braids for prolonged amounts of time, to avoid hair follicle damage. You can use hair products to slick your hair back and keep it looking sharp.
While it can be worn by well all men with an oval or triangular face, the wolf cut is particularly popular in Asian countries.
It can be styled with a central parting, but curtain bangs are recommended if you are trying to mask an uneven hairline or temple hair loss. The delicate softness of this style and the elegance with which it frames your face makes it perfect for artistic, bohemian types.
It can be tricky to try to style a wolf cut at home, you may be better off leaving it up to a hairstylist, as you will need to layer your locks in a specific way.
In the front, you will have short, choppy layers, while the ones at the back will be longer, reaching almost down to your shoulders. The fringe also needs to be cut carefully, at various lengths, to provide a good framing.
While the flat top started out as a military hairstyle, it has been refashioned into a modern, trendy look. However, it preserves much of its original tough, no-nonsense vibe.
It is often styled with an undercut, disguising your temple thinning completely. And if you are feeling daring, you can use a razor line to give this cut a fresh vibe.
The first thing you need to do to achieve a modern flat top is to get an undercut, leaving only the hair on the middle of your head longer (5-7 cm). Then, you can choose to cut it all the same length, giving it the typical flat top appearance or to angle it, trimming it shorter towards the back (you can even give it a fade).
At a glance, the Caesar hairstyle may appear very similar to the French crop. However, there are significant differences. The Caesar has longer hair on the sides of the head, as well as a shorter and blunter fringe. So if your receding hairline is not too advanced, this timeless classic may be the best choice for you.
Trim the hair on the back and sides of your head just a touch shorter than the top of your head. Then comb your hair forward and style a short, blunt fringe. If you want to try a trendier version, you can go for some choppy bangs instead.
Popularised by the Beatles, the mop top is making a splashing return. This style looks natural, it is easy to maintain and it covers your frontal area very well. It can be worn both with straight and textured hair to vastly different looks, but without losing any of its flavour.
For a perfect mop top, you need to keep the hair on your crown longer and cut the sides and back a bit shorter. Then, you simply tousle the hair on top for a messy appearance and let it hang over your forehead in some shaggy bangs.
A military favourite, the regulation cut is clean, elegant and spells responsibility. While it has a natural aura of authority, it can also be seductive and highlight your eyes. Many servicemen prefer it since it is one of the longer army hairstyles, but it has also become increasingly trendy among civilians for its manly vibe.
This hairstyle is achieved by trimming down the hair on the top of your head (often with a number 3) and tapering the sides off completely. Shaving the lowest portions of your side hair will give it that true regulation look.
Then, you need to create a side parting with a hard line and either slick the larger portion of your hair back with some product or bring it up in a small quiff or faux hawk for a trendier look.
If you have Afro hair, the best way to disguise hairline thinning may be simply letting it grow out a little longer, until it becomes a short Afro style. Your natural curly texture can do a good job of covering thinning spots or temple hair loss. And it can give you a cool, retro look.
Letting your hair grow out and trimming it into the shape you prefer may be all you need to do. You can also choose to create a hard hairline a few millimetres higher than where it normally would be, so it appears straighter and masks your temple thinning. If you are feeling adventurous, you can feel free to experiment with some fades and line designs.
This hairstyle is a timeless classic, synonymous with discipline and confidence. It started out in the army but was soon popular among men from all walks of life, as it is masculine, neat and very easy to style and maintain. Its short length makes it ideal to disguise frontal thinning and it works excellently with a well-trimmed beard.
It is quite simple to give yourself a crew cut, all you need to do is to trim the sides tightly (preferably with a 0 setting around the ears and the nape, then fade to a slightly longer length).
If you have temple hair loss, you may want to try a higher fade. The hair on top will also be short, normally up to an inch, but you can have it a bit longer at the mid-scalp and progressively shorter towards the sides. You can use products such as wax for added texture.
If your hair is wavy or curly, a quiff can provide even more possibilities for covering your hairline than if you have straight hair. It is an elegant, romantic hairstyle, best suited for the more pensive and artistic natures.
Since this style is versatile, you can also pull down a strand or two over one side of your forehead. This will not only make your look more sensual, but it will also mask an M-shaped hairline better.
A wavy quiff is styled pretty much the same way as a regular one. You need to have slightly longer hair in the front, which you will brush upwards. However, the wavy texture may require using more styling products to hold it in place.
If you are going for the pulled-down strands, you can simply pick one or two with your fingers, add some product to them, gently pull them downwards and arrange them in a slightly unruly fashion.
While a mohawk will mostly appeal to the more rebel souls, a faux hawk is elegant and temperate (but also modern and youthful). It is very trendy and at the same time, it can draw attention away from your hairline, to the centre of your scalp. It is an excellent look to try if you are of a dynamic, athletic nature.
You can easily create your own faux hawk by adding some styling product to your hair and using your fingers or a comb to lift up the hair from the sides of your crown towards the centre. This works best with 2-3 inch length on top. If you want, you can wear it with a fade on the sides of your head.
Shaving half your head and combing over the remaining mid-length hair can provide a daring, rebellious look. This hairstyle is mostly for young, adventurous spirits who enjoy being seen as non-conformists. You can wear it with a beard for a more rugged look or with a clean shave for a more artsy vibe.
First, create a side parting in your hair. Then, shave (or trim really short) the smaller side. Comb the hair over to the other side and tousle it for a wilder look. You can try a layered cut for more depth and texture and if you want to make the style more vibrant, you can add highlights. ‘
A central parting is normally not the first thing that comes to mind when trying to mask a receding hairline. However, wearing your hair mid-short length with a central part and some curtain bangs can soften your look and fully cover your temples. This works best with textured hair, or at least layered, messy straight hair.
For this look, you need your hair to be slightly longer on top and in the frontal area. Wash and blow-dry (on a low-heat setting) your hair for extra volume. Then, carefully part your hair in the middle. Once the central parting is achieved, use a styling product to create the curtain bangs. You can pull individual strands down and set them in the right position manually.
Here are four no-go hairstyles for men with a receding hairline, which will not only fail to mask your hair loss but can often highlight it:
The thinning combover isn’t seen much these days, and for good reason. If your hair is thinning along your hairline or mid-scalp, this hairstyle can make it much more obvious.
A combover can draw attention to the fact that you are trying to conceal your balding, making you seem self-conscious. That’s why slicked-back and side-swept styles require good density across the scalp, even if you have hair loss around your temples.
Pompadour styles are on-trend, but they draw a lot of attention to the hairline — especially if it’s receding. You need a lot of hair for this bouffant style, so those with thinner frontal coverage may find a pompadour hard to pull off. It is best to try a shorter, less flamboyant style if your frontal density is dwindling.
Man buns and tight updos can tug at the hair follicles and damage them, causing traction alopecia. So if you want to make your existing hair last as long as possible, treat your follicles with care and avoid tying your hair back too tightly. While the condition is normally reversible if you stop applying tension to your hair, it can significantly add to your receding hairline problems.
Dreadlocks put repeated stress and strain on the hair follicles, causing further hair loss. The longer and heavier your hair, the more your follicles are likely to be affected. This can impact hair across the scalp, not just at the hairline.
Moreover, this hairstyle looks good on full, luxurious hair. If your hairline is already dwindling, feeble, sparse locs will only make it more conspicuous.
Here are some helpful tips about what you should do and what you may want to avoid in order to achieve the best results when styling your hair:
While choosing the right hairstyle for your receding hairline can be very important, there are also other things you can do to mask your frontal hair thinning. Here are some of the best options available:
If you are experiencing a receding hairline, do not hesitate to consult one of our top-tier trichologists. They will examine your hair and scalp carefully and recommend the best, personalised solutions that can help curb your androgenetic alopecia and restore your hairline, such as:
If your male pattern baldness is too advanced or does not respond to medication, you may still be a good candidate for a permanent hair transplant. Regardless of whether you opt for a FUE or FUT type surgery, the best hair clinics in the UK have an almost 100% success rate. See for yourself how you can expect your hair transplant to look after 10 years.
More and more movie stars and footballers are getting hair transplants, as it is fast, safe and convenient. If you are considering joining their ranks, book a free hair transplant consultation with a world-class surgeon, at one of our easy-to-reach clinic locations.
Seeing all these hairstyles for a receding hairline may have inspired you, but it may have also left you with some unanswered questions. You might find the insight you need by reading the answers to these frequently asked questions:
You can wear any hairstyle that makes you feel comfortable, even if your hairline is no longer what it used to be. However, while there are many good options for short and medium hair, not many long haircuts go well with frontal thinning.
Something about the abundance of the long strands makes the scarcity of your temple and hairline area stand out. If you must wear long hair, you may want to try a side-swept or asymmetrical style.
If your male pattern baldness is left untreated, your hairline will likely recede further, and you may also develop a bald spot on the crown. This means you may need to change your hairstyle again and have fewer options to choose from.
However, seeing a hair doctor and following their recommendations can help curb your hair loss and even achieve regrowth.
While you are free to curl your hair if you are so inclined, choosing a style that compliments your natural hair texture is best. It is easier to maintain and has a more natural look.
A layered haircut can give you additional texture if your hair feels too straight. However, if you do choose to curl your hair, it is a good idea to use a heat-free technique, as heat-damaged hair can be difficult to fix.
In many cases, a well-trimmed and carefully groomed beard will indeed help balance your look and draw attention away from your hairline. However, there is no general rule to this.
If you enjoy wearing facial hair and are able to grow a beard, then you can, by all means, give it a try. Any style from stubble to a Garibaldi may work, as long as it fits the shape of your face and the haircut you have chosen.
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