When my hair started to recede I looked around for hairstyles for receding hairlines and what I found wasn’t actually that useful.
What you get is lots of articles like this one “45 Best Hairstyles For A Receding Hairline”. This features celebrities, models, men with thick hair, or simply men who do not actually have a receding hairline…
None of these men have a receding hairline problem. Furthermore all of them are paid in part for their looks – and talent of course. So as a mere mortal looking for hairstyles that might suit me, this article and many like it weren’t actually that useful.
I’ll add a small caveat here that Daniel Craig does have a high hairline and thinner hair than the rest of the celebrities featured.
Bradley Cooper’s hair has got suspiciously better over the last few years, giving weight to the argument that he’s had a hair transplant. Check out this article about that “Has Bradley Cooper had a Hair Transplant” – he totally has!
So before we look at our top 5 hairstyles for receding hairlines let’s quickly highlight a couple of key issues articles like our “45 top hairstyles” raise.
Receding Hairline vs. Natural or High Hairlines
This is a receding hairline…
This is my hairline before I had a hair transplant, check it my day to day hair transplant. My hairline receded in the temples and my hair is thin, exposing my scalp and making my hairline very obvious.
I’m also committing a classic receding hairline mistake here – my hair too long! It has too much weight in it. Too much weight in your hair can pull it back or to the side exposing the worst view of your hairline.
Here’s another example of receding, actor Jude Law…
By contrast below we have 2 examples or hairlines often confused with receding hairlines. First we have a model with a V or peak hairline, which is the natural hairline for this model and just happens to be more V shaped. Then we have actor Aaron Paul, who’s hairline is flat, it just happens to be set higher or further back so you can see more of his forehead. Neither of these men have a hairline issue. Either therefore aren’t really restricted with the hairstyle they could choose.
Thick vs. Thin Hair
Just a quick note on this before we jump into our top 5 suggestions for receding hairline hairstyles.
If you have a receding hairline, but thick hair you have a huge advantage! Thick hair will hide your scalp, thin will expose it.
More hair styles will therefore be available to you, as your hair is of good quality and your hairline will be less obvious.
So you could go for a little more length without having any issues, or even have it forward with a little length in the fringe and it will still look good.
Here’s a picture of actor Jude Law earlier in his career. His hair is receding but it’s thick, so it looks great regardless.
This is the second time I’ve highlighted poor Jude, but i think it raises 2 good points. Firstly you can totally rock a receding hairline, and secondly your hair could recede further in the future.
Some men have a natural hairline that’s V shaped or naturally high, but doesn’t recede or move any more.
For some men like myself sadly it will recede further. Limiting your hairstyle options and either meaning you’ll have to go very short or shaved in the future, or possibly look at a hair transplant, which is what I did – and loved by the way!
Top 5 Hairstyles for Receding Hairlines
Let’s examine a few golden rules first:
- Keep it short
- A fringe may not be for you
- Embrace it – don’t try hiding it!
Too much weight or length can cause issues, so keeping it shorter will make your hairline less obvious. It’s tempting to grow it to try and hide the problem, but you’re not fooling anyone sadly.
I tried growing my hair longer at the front and sides and sweeping it to one side. With enough clay and hairspray I could get it to stay in position, but I lived in constant fear of the wind or rain, which is no life for anyone.
I think I was trying to keep my teenage emo style alive. But instead of looking like a young Justin Bieber, I looked more like Colin Farrell in the movie Horrible Bosses…
1. Slick it Back - Comb Over Fade
This classic look obeys all the rules of a good receding hairline haircut. It’s short, tidy and slick. It has just the right amount of weight in it, so although it’s combed back you can get a bit of body into it giving it height and volume too. You’re also embracing your natural hairline.
This is a really easy hairstyle to maintain. It will look good if you have thick or thin hair. And it’s in right now, so you’ll look on trend.
Tip! A good skin fade makes all the difference.
2. Keep it Short - Buzz Cut
The beauty of keeping it really short is you’ll have almost zero maintenance. Simply wake up in the morning and you’re good to go!
You also won’t need any styling products, although depending on just how short you go you could still use some clay to give it volume or texture.
This haircut is better if you have thicker or darker hair, it may not suit thin or fair hair.
3. A Slight Sweep - Side Part
A slight sweep to one side can mask your hairline quite well without looking like you’re trying to hide it. You have to keep on top of this hair cut though, getting it trimmed every few weeks and using styling products to give it some volume and keep it in shape.
If you wait too long between haircuts yo could end up with too much weight on one side pulling your hair over and making your receding hairline obvious on one side.
Another great and famous example of a slight sweep is football manager Jose Mourinho. Jose is thinning at the front, slightly more on his right hand side. You can see it below when his hair is short, or wet in the rain.
What Jose does is grow it to just the right length and sweep it to the right, combining a sweep or side part with our next hair style – the messy look.
Jose has quite thick hair, so when his hair is short to medium length it hides his receding hairline really well. So a slightly messy sweep to the side works really well for him.
4. Bed Head - The Messy Look
If you have thick hair and your receding hairline isn’t too bad the messy bed head look might work for you. All you need is a little bit of matt paste or powder and a quick ruffle in the morning.
The beauty of this look is that it’s quite easy to style your hair. The right product will give you volume and texture, and a casual, not trying to hard style. A look the multi-talented Hugh Laurie has rocked on occasion.
Tip! If you’re hair is thinner try some texturising powder. A small amount will add volume without making your hair greasy.
5. The Mohawk
There’s no denying a Mohawk can be a bold choice. But also a stylish one that could compliment your personal style well and make you stand out from the crowd.
It also hides your receding well purely because of it’s shape. This model is receding quite badly, but you don’t pick up on that immediately.
You can also choose to have a little more at the sides or a fade for a more subtle Mohawk.
Shave It! - The Wildcard Option
If you’re looking for a low maintenance, low cost option you can just shave your head. You’d be surprised how much this might suit you.
And you can do this yourself every few weeks from the comfort of your own home, costing you nothing – well aside from buying a cheap set of clippers.
Below we have the fantastically talented former footballer Zinedine Zidane looking amazing. If you need further proof take a look at Pep Guardiola, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham or The Rock Dwayne Johnson. All look great with shaved heads.
Tip! You don’t have to accept a hair style you don’t like. You can get a hair transplant! It’s a quick, affordable option that will give you your old hairline back.
Or... Have a Hair Transplant!
I tried all the hairstyles above. But I personally didn’t like any of them. Mostly because my hair is thin and I was really self-conscious that my receding hairline was obvious, and I didn’t want to settle for a hairstyle that I felt didn’t suit me.
So I looked at having a hair transplant. I was surprised how easy and affordable it was. I filled in the form below and spoke to a specialist in Budapest.
It was so simple and within a few weeks of speaking to an expert I was on a plane to Budapest.
My procedure took 1 day and cost £2000. Within weeks I had my hairline back. Now I can have whatever haircut I like again! It really has changed my life.
Causes of thinning hair
Thinning hair can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
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Genetics: Male and female pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss and is believed to be largely determined by genetics.
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Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy, menopause, or thyroid disorders, can cause hair loss.
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Medications: Certain medications, such as blood thinners, antidepressants, and birth control pills, can cause hair loss as a side effect.
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Nutritional deficiencies: A lack of certain vitamins and minerals, such as iron, zinc, and vitamin D, can lead to hair loss.
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Stress: Physical or emotional stress can cause hair loss due to a condition called telogen effluvium.
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Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, lupus, and autoimmune disorders, can cause hair loss.
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Steroids: The use of steroids, either through medication or illicit use, can cause hair loss. Steroids can affect the hair growth cycle and lead to hair thinning and hair loss. Check out this post, what steroids don’t cause hair loss.
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Traction alopecia: Constant pulling or tension on the hair, such as tight braids, ponytails, or hair extensions, can cause hair loss.
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Certain hairstyles and treatments: Chemical treatments such as bleaching, straightening, and hot oil treatments can cause hair damage and hair loss.
It’s important to note that hair loss may have more than one cause, and it’s recommended to consult a hair specialist or trichologist to understand the underlying cause of your hair loss, and to choose the best treatment.
