Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: 13 Attractive Haircuts for Balding Men
Discover the best ways to embrace or mask your spot with these hairstyles for balding men.
Hair loss is a bummer, no question. It’s a usually inevitable occurrence that plagues most people at one point in their lives. Perhaps some earlier than others, but still. What’s worse, premature balding has also become an issue for scores of men and women these days due to numerous factors. Genetics, illness, life events and even stress come into play, making balding one of the most ubiquitous and frustrating hair issues to deal with.
Dealing with hair loss is not for the faint of the heart, especially when it comes to styling. Do I embrace it? Do I cover it up? Do I try one of these hair loss shampoos for men? These questions are probably what you’ve asked yourself the minute you realized your scalp was becoming more and more prominent over time. There are definitely stylish ways to get around this, and good news: It may be much easier than you’ve ever thought. Whether your hair is beginning to recede at the temples or thinning at the crown, trying a new hairstyle is a quick fix that gives a major confidence boost.
While we are coming along in the science of fully understanding (and, crossing fingers, reversing) hair loss, there are some ways we can hack our way around Mother Nature. Although not quite the revolutionary solution, finding hairstyles that work with what you have is better than not leaving the house at all or worse—desperately clinging on to those sad little vestiges! Scroll down for some haircuts for balding men hat are actually, dare we say, kinda hot.
Top Hairstyles for Balding Men
The Buzzcut for Overall Thinning Hair
If your hair is beginning to thin out, why not cut your hair into a buzz cut? We love this look with its sleek cut and easy maintenance. On shorter hair, make sure to grow your hair long enough to take your balding area away from being the center of attraction. The short stubble blends in nicely with thinning hair.
Short Layered Cut for Crown Balding
With the help of a blowdryer, give your bald spot the illusion of thicker hair. Using a concentration nozzle, blow-dry your wet hair in the direction it grows. Pick up your strands with your hands or comb and concentrate the airflow at the root to add volume to your hair. With the help of a styler like Dove Men+Care Defining Pomade, rake the product through to keep your hair in place and mask the balding area at your crown.
Short Comb-Over Cut for Receding Hairline
Guys, no man buns allowed, at least not for a while. If you fancy this hairstyle, it may be the reason you have this hairline in the first place. Give it a rest. Mask the weakened corners of your hairline with a short comb-over-inspired cut. Ask your barber to taper your sides but leave enough hair at the front corners of your hairline for room to hide the receding area. To style use Dove Men + Care Sculpting Paste so you can reshape or style throughout the day making sure your corners are covered at all times.
Textured Haircut for Thinning Hair
On wavy or curly textured hair, you can opt for a shorter crop. This haircut is ideal for guys who just started to notice thinning of their hair. The layers of this short crop work with your texture to camouflage the appearance of thin hair by allowing it to look fuller. Work in some gel-like Dove Men + Care Control Gel to give your layers a strong hold.
The Clean Shave for Guys Balding from Front Hairline to Crown
It may be time to own your new look. The clean shave is one of the hairstyles for balding men that many end up going for. Blending or masking may not work this time around. Try out a clean shave— you can gradually work your way into getting acclimated to this look by going lower and lower during each of your haircut sessions. No need to go for the plunge right away! Your scalp will be exposed more often now, be sure to employ a function wash and care routine. Improve overall scalp health with Dove Men + Care Anti- Dandruff Fortifying 2-In-1 Shampoo + Conditioner.
Mohawk or Faux-hawk for Severe to Mildly Receding Hairline
Whichever works best for your personal style, go for it. The mohawk haircut helps mask or hide the thinning edges of your hairline. Style the hair forward and work in some holding paste-like Dove Men + Care Sculpting Paste to keep the hair intact.
Slicked-back Undercut
Whether you wear this as a preppy side comb-over version, or go full gangsta and slick it back, the high undercut is an ingenious way to hide a growing bald spot in the middle of your head via the longer hair you still have. Ask your barber for a high taper on the sides in order to make it look deliberate. Style with a high-shine pomade, such as AXE Signature Smooth Look: Shine Pomade, for the coolest results.
Close Scissor Crop
As the name suggests, this look entails just cutting hair with an all-over taper, keeping the sides tight and the tops gentlemanly brushed to one side. Best for dudes who have an allover thinning problem, this is a cool, classic way to settle into your new, larger hairline without any jarring edges.
Baby Caesar
A spinoff on the ’90s favorite, the baby Caesar haircut retains the short, straight hairline of the original—this works especially well on receding hairlines—and the front micro fringe. The difference is in the length, which in this case, is shorter and thinner, but deliberately so.
Punk Mullet
If you’ve still got some rockstar left in you because who hasn’t (or okay, are relatively young and beset with early-onset baldness), why not take a stand with a punky, edgy mullet? The latest, coolest variations feature more natural texture at the front and subtle, less rednecky layering at the back. A soft styling cream, such as AXE Natural Hold: Understated Cream, can help give control to longer layers but still keep this cut’s fun details pretty obvious.
Temple Fade
If your “devil’s horns” (a.k.a. the two receding bumps above each temple) are coming in, try out a temple fade. This haircut thins out specifically where the tip of each “horn” starts, blending it more seamlessly into the rest of your hair—it evens out the hairline, making the recessed areas less obvious. It also actually makes the thinning look deliberate and kinda stylish too, which is always the goal. Bonus: It’s wash and wear!
Close Crop
If your hair is too straight for a textured look, and you’re not quite ready for a buzzcut or a fade, try the gentleman’s option: the close crop. Like the curled combover, it uses around a #3 to #4 clipper guard on the sides and back, with the top trimmed using a point-cutting method (where your barber holds the scissors at an angle while snipping), which is a technique that helps add fullness. This is another wash-and-wear look that’s also spiffy enough for the office. Ed’s note: It’s also super-sexy with facial hair, just saying.
Buzzcut Fade
It may sound like an oxymoron, but a super-short fade that starts off as a longer buzzcut on top, then blends into a skin fade at your neckline, is actually really flattering. Guys who are experiencing an allover thinning of hair (and no actual patches of obvious balding) can mimic some fullness with a buzzcut fade. Want to take the extra step? Dyeing hair a lighter color can lessen the contrast between your hair and your forehead, making any receding hairlines less harsh.
Best Shampoos for Balding Men
Now that you have a new haircut selected, you’ll need a shampoo for balding hair that helps keep your fresh cut in shape and that also combats hair loss. Look for ones that are sulfate-free and have scalp stimulating additives like peppermint and citrus—this will reinvigorate your hair follicles and assist them in goring strong, thick, and healthy.
Dove Men + Care Cooling Relief Cleansing Shampoo with Menthol
Wake up your scalp with this refreshing shampoo. It has menthol, which cools the scalp and calms any irritation and inflation that your scalp experiences.
Bed Head for Men by TIGI Charge Up Thickening Shampoo
If you’re experiencing thinning hair, stop it in its tracks with this shampoo. The Bed Head for Men by TIGI Charge Up Thickening Shampoo adds volume to your hair and prevents breakage that damages hair. With consistent use, you will notice your hair looking healthier and feeling full of volume.
Dove Men+Care Complete Care Fortifying 2-In-1 Shampoo + Conditioner
When you’re experiencing hair loss and balding, you need to rebuild your hair starting from the inside out—this means that you need to start cleansing your hair with a shampoo that supports it: this shampoo fortifies your hair and the follicles where growth begins. Cleanse your hair daily or as needed with this shampoo to notice your hair looking resilient.
Bottom Line on Haircuts For Balding Men
A good haircut will help to conceal your balding hair or show it off depending on what you’re going for. If you’re not sure if you’re ready for a new haircut, take inspiration from this list. When you find one that works best for you, follow it up with a specialized hair loss shampoo for men.
