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28 Best Haircuts for Men with Thinning Hair That Still Look Great

Best Haircuts for Men with Thinning

Many of us will experience a time where we start to notice our hair is thinning in places that it should not.

However, that doesn’t mean that you should give up hope. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. You can find plenty of hairstyles and cuts that are going to suit you.

To be frank, finding the best haircuts for men with thin hair could provide you with the changeup that you’ve so desperately needed.

So buckle in, because this article is about to teach you what trims will look best on people with thinning hair. Not only that, but we’ve tried to list all of the haircuts that we could find, covering as many of the primary thinning issues that we could.

Whether you need haircuts for men with a receded hairline, or you need your thinning crown looked after, we’ve got you covered.

For the most part, we won’t be using pictures of men with actual thinning hair sporting these hairstyles (because they are tough to find), but as long as your hair is not too far gone, they should work.

The 28 Best Haircuts for Men with Thinning Hair

1. The Hot Mess

Brad Pitt messy hairstyle
Brad Pitt

The messy look is one that can be pulled off by anyone with thinning hair. Popular among models and celebrities alike, the messy haircut has the unique ability to be able to combine style with confidence.

With a messy style, you can just scruff up the front and the top of the hair and get a look that everyone loves. With that being said, it’s a great pick for sorting out any insecurities that come from having thinning hair.

The magic of this look is that it is pretty universal in terms of who it treats. If we had to pick one, we would suggest that this works great as a thinning crown haircut.

Having said that, you will be able to hide a receding hairline or general frontal thin hair with a style that’s messy.

The key with this haircut is to get something that isn’t too rigid. You’ll want to be able to move things around as you please, and that quite often involves growing it out a bit.

Once it’s been grown out, you can style it how you please, and that’ll allow you to cover many different areas of your thinning head. When you compare this to other haircuts, it’s quite clear how much of a difference this makes.

A quiff, for example, only can be styled that way, but this is different.

What we consider the best thing about this haircut is that you can look great without much effort. If you tidy the back and sides up but keep the top messy, then you’ll look like you’ve just made a conscious effort to get a modern trim.

2. Spikes

Adam Levine spiky hair
Adam Levine

We expect that the majority of people have been through a period in life where they have decided to go with the spiked hairstyle. It’s wildly popular in the school teenage years, as you first discover a pot of gel or wax and decide to go crazy with it.

Even though there are connotations with being a young kid, that is not to say that you shouldn’t consider it as an option as an adult.

The spikey haircut is perfect for men with thinning hair, as you are able to pull it all off as a style, rather than something that’s inherently more upsetting.

We feel that this style is best suited to a thinning crown because you are able to use the spikes to hide that fact. It’ll all seem like it’s part of the act, and that’s the aim. It’s all about illusions.

3. Gelled Down

Neymar gelled down hairstyle
Neymar
Source: https://menhairstylist.com

Gel gets a bad rap because it can look greasy and cheap. However, if done right, it can be one of the best haircuts for men with thinning hair.

The gelled-down style is perfect for men with all issues – from the receding hairline to a thinning crown. This haircut hides all of your flaws but doesn’t look out of place or stupid, either.

A gelled-down style can be experimented with. For example, if you get a high and tight cut on the back and sides, then you can turn it into something that’s contemporary and more than stylish.

Even though having thinning hair can feel like the end of the world. Fortunately, there are products like hair gel that make it possible to change things up in an instant.

4. The Fringe

the fringe male hairstyle
Source: https://www.menshairstylestoday.com

The fringe is one of the most popular and growing hairstyles across the United States and Europe, and that is why we just had to include it on this list. Thanks to the growing popularity, it is now one of the best choices that we can think of for thinning hair.

Not only will you be helping your own insecurities and flaws, but you will also be getting a hairstyle that many see as looking great.

For the fringe hairstyle, you just need to look at getting the top of your hair scissor cut and then pushed forwards. This’ll provide a fringe look whilst retaining many of the hair features that we are too scared to lose.

This is one of the most perfect styles for men with a receded hairline. This is because the fringe obviously gets pushed forward towards the forehead.

If you think about how a quiff goes up and reveals the full hairline, the fringe does the opposite and therefore hides it from sight.

5. Classic Combover

ryan gosling classic combover hairstyle
Ryan Gosling

The classic combover just had to make our list, because it is one of the classic hairstyles that is most famous among men with thinning hair.

Although it is one of the most used styles, we feel that you should not shy away from it, as it is also a style that many men without thinning hair use.

Choosing a classic combover does not make it blatantly obvious that your hair is thinning.

We suggest that this combover is the perfect option if you have a thinning crown. The reason for this is that you are likely to be missing some hair from the center of your head, getting a bit of a bald patch.

Using a combover allows you to take from the areas of your head where you are rich in hair and cover the areas where you aren’t.

Not only that, many celebrities and athletes don the combover on a regular basis, so you’re certainly in good company.

6. Short back and sides with a longer top

cristiano ronaldo short back and sides with a longer top
Cristiano Ronaldo
Source: https://www.express.co.uk

When you’re suffering from thinning hair, it is massively important to keep things stylish and not let your haircuts slip.

We see this option as one of the most perfect haircuts for men with thinning hair, because it is one of the most stylish options, regardless of your hair thickness.

If you get your back and sides done high and tight and then keep your top long, you are benefitting from a combination of one of the most stylish haircuts this year while keeping yourself looking great, regardless of your thinning hair.

This is a great choice for someone with a receding hairline or front thinning. This is because you are able to keep things long on top and then push it forward to cover any of the areas that have thinned out massively.

Due to the nature of the hairstyle, it is probably not one of the greatest options for men with a thinning crown.

7. Man-bun

Orlando Bloom Man Bun
Orlando Bloom

The man-bun is one of the most controversial hairstyles of this generation, and that is because it involves long hair and a ponytail.

If you can get over the controversy and strange looks during the growth process, you can actually get a style that’s perfect for your needs.

Even though it seems like there wouldn’t be, there are plenty of celebrities that you can look up to with man buns. One key example would have to be David Beckham.

Even though he’s had plenty of questionable hairstyles over the years, his man-bun has been one that has survived, and now plenty of men wear them worldwide.

If you’ve got middle or crown thinning or balding, then we would genuinely suggest a man-bun for you. The lengthier hair will provide you with more to hide the thinning, and at the same time, once it’s all pinned back into a man-bun, you will have no problems hiding it all.

On the other hand, if you’ve got front thinning or a receded hairline, we recommend that you stay away from a man-bun. That’s because you will just be pulling at it more and more.

8. Long Locks

johnny depp long locks
Johnny Depp

Taking the man-bun one step further is the long lock hairstyle. Having long locks is another one of those things that is coming more and more into style as time goes on.

More celebrities are growing long hair, and men like Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp have popularized the style over the past few years.

They are proof that you can rock the style and look great, so you shouldn’t shy away from it.

The rules here are pretty similar to the man-bun: we feel that you should be careful if you have a front thinning hairline. But, if you’ve just got a receded one, then you could make the most of a middle-parted hairstyle that will hide the hairline itself and give you a great look.

9. Military Cut

john cena military cut
John Cena

Going from one extreme to the other, we are now looking at the military cut hairstyle.

For those who are unaware, the military cut stemmed from the US army and refers to the short, almost bald, style that they have to get once enrolled. This keeps things tight and clean and looks great at the same time.

It is truly a timeless style, and that is what makes it such an attractive option for men who have thinning hair.

One thing to note with the military style haircut is that you will not be hiding parts of your hair but embracing it.

This is something that many men with thinning hair need to do more, and getting that military cut in early can allow everyone – including yourself – to get used to you with very short hair, ready for when the hair gets worse.

10. Bald and Beardy

bruce willis bald and bearded
Bruce Willis

More and more barbershops across the world are now offering full shaves and beard trims. That is because they are the newest craze (hell, we even named our site after this style).

When your hair starts thinning, just grow it where it’s not thinning: namely, your beard.

If you can grow yourself a great-looking beard, then you probably can take the leap and get rid of the head hair. If it’s causing you too much stress and too many problems, just shave it as your beard is growing.

This is a style that has become increasingly popular over the past decade, and it is one that we do not see running out anytime soon.

11. Buzz Cut

zayn malik buzz cut
Zayn Malik

The buzz cut is a style that is slightly different from the military cut but follows the same premise: short hair. A buzz cut involves just sitting down in a barber chair and allowing them to use the clippers across the entire head (hence the buzz in the name).

The buzz cut is one of the most popular haircuts for guys with thinning hair as it’s incredibly short, easy to style and will make your hair appear thicker than it is. Although you can usually style this cut using your hands only, a small amount of pomade will create a more textured finish.

Even though this sounds like a risky option, it isn’t. It’s been used for hundreds of years without any controversy, and more recently men like Zayn Malik have gone ahead and repped the buzz cut.

We don’t want to mention him too much throughout this article, but the buzz cut is also something that David Beckham has successfully pulled off.

Regardless of where your hair is thinning, this will even everything out, and it is a good option for you, no matter where your issues lie.

12. Long, swept-back quiff

harry styles quiff
Harry Styles

If we think about the most popular hairstyles over the past decade, we will be looking at the ones that boy bands like One Direction have made popular. The long, swept-back quiff made a resurgent rise, and we feel like they are partly to blame.

This style is one that is great for men with thinning hair, because it allows you to sweep over plenty of hair from one side of your head, and that makes it easier to manipulate and control the areas you have thinning hair.

In terms of who this is suitable for, we will have to look at men with a thinning crown or thinning middle. If you have either of these, then the long, swept-back quiff will most likely be perfect for you, because the sweep will hide and/or cover the problem areas.

13. Modern side parting

modern side parting haircut

The modern side parting is a style that is very popular at the moment. It involves getting the barber to either make or shave a part in the side of your head, creating a natural part that will be the same day after day.

This haircut is stylish and looks great, giving you the confidence boost that you’re looking for. On top of that, you’ll be covering your thinning hair by sweeping over the rest.

The only thing you need to be worried about is the side part accentuating a receded hairline. Other than that, you can look at covering a thinning crown or frontal thinning easily.

14. The brush-back

brush back hairstyle
Source: https://www.liveabout.com

The brushed-back hairstyle is particularly easy and pretty understated. If it’s thinning hair towards the back of your head that you suffer from, then you will find this hairstyle is perfect for you.

To achieve this look, you’ll just need to grow the top out and then use a comb and hair product to brush it back.

This is a style that is popular among young people, but perhaps it could be hard to pull off if you are older and don’t get that length on top of your head easily.

15. Messy quiff

Messy quiff hairstyle
Source: https://menhairstylesworld.com

The messy quiff hairstyle is a great combination of flair and effortlessness. If you choose to go with this style, then you can expect to look great on a daily basis.

One of the things that we love with this hairstyle is that you can get away with changing things up on an almost daily basis. With a messy quaff, you are not going to have the same style every single day, because it’s never going to fall, dry, or style the exact same way.

To make this look individual to you, you can play around with your back and side length. Some people choose to couple their quiff with short back and sides, whereas some others like to go for the Harry Styles and keep their sides long and messy, too.

Regardless, this hairstyle is ideal for men with thinning hair, because it provides them with the opportunity to cover their receded hairline or a thinning crown. It can do all of the above because it gives you so much versatility.

16. Longer scissor cut

Longer scissor cut
Source: https://www.menshairstyletrends.com

What many men forget is that they can go to a hairdresser who is qualified in scissor cuts and leave the clippers behind. By going for a scissor-only cut, you can be really particular about what style you go for and therefore look after your thinning hair much easier.

The best thing about a longer scissor cut is that you can style it in any way that you want. This means that, even if you’ve got a receded hairline, this is a great cut for it.

Yeah, it could look like you’re hiding something, but it’s never going to look like it’s out of control, because you’re getting a regular clean up and cut.

We think that this is a great option for men who are insecure about their thinning hair but don’t fancy going for anything that could be high risk.

17. Parted Central Combover

parted central combover

Fortunately, it means something completely different. A parted central combover actually refers to the combover style, but one that starts closer to the center than the side.

The side parting can be risky, as we discussed earlier because it can accentuate any flaws in the hairline. This combover parting style can be the complete opposite because it allows you to keep hair over the hairline.

The style either can be shaved in or naturally styled. We recommend that you go for the natural style where you can, as this will allow for the rest of your hair to be manipulated in the ways that you wish.

However, if you want to get your barber to shave the parting in, then you’ll look great regardless.

As a result, we feel that this style is best suited for men who have thinning hair at the front or a receded hairline. Hairstyles for men with thin hair in front are hard to come by, but this one allows for your hair to be longer and manipulated in ways that hide that.

18. Mohawk

david beckham mohawk
David Beckham

Staying along the central lines, we have decided to include the Mohawk in our list.

David Beckham was one of the most famous to rock a mohawk (we promise this is the last time that we’re mentioning him), and even though he was notoriously asked by his manager to shave it off, he set a trend whilst it was there.

It is something that can only be worn or tried if you are extremely brave. For many men, it is a step too far, but if you have ever wanted to do something daring, then perhaps this could be the ideal option for you.

The reason it is a good choice for thinning hair is that you actually can get rid of the problem areas altogether in many cases. If you suffer from a poor hairline, then the mohawk will just avoid it altogether and attract attention to your hair for a different reason.

19. The mop

zac efron the mop hairstyle
Zac Efron

The mop hairstyle is a messy one that comes in and out of popularity all of the time. Most recently, Justin Bieber and Zac Efron wore it in their teenage years, and they looked great doing so.

Obviously, for the majority of us, we are much older than teenagers, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to be able to pull this style off. The mop hairstyle can be worn for plenty of years and suits all facial shapes.

The best thing about it is that it suits anyone, regardless of what is thinning.

20. Voluminous style

voluminous hairstyle

Throughout this article, we have mentioned different hair products – from gel to wax.

Another thing is the large amount of powders that you can buy. If you’ve got a Mrs., then look through her makeup bags, as she will probably have one. If not, then get down the local store and grab one for yourself.

They are generally very cheap, but they add a layer of thickness and voluminous style that is faux yet looks incredibly realistic. You just need to use a little sprinkle over your hair whilst it’s drying/newly dried, and you’ll gain quite a bit of thickness in your hair.

This means that you will be able to give a lot of height to your quiff or the top of your hair in general. This will hide and make your thinning hair look impossible.

21. Middle Parting

leonardo dicaprio middle parting hairstyle
Leonardo DiCaprio

The middle parting is a timeless style that has never gone out of style. From Leonardo Di Caprio to Johnny Depp, the middle parting is a style that really adds a distinctive feature to your look and adds some extra points.

The middle parting is a perfect choice if you have a receding hairline. This is because you’re not accentuating it at all.

Having a middle parting can be worked in all sorts of different lengths.

A short middle parting, like one that Ryan Gosling wears, can hide the hairline and front thinning.

A slightly longer one is where you can begin to experiment with styles, and then you can take it a step further by going for a long, shoulder-length middle parting, and this is a popular option among elderly men these days.

22. Slicked back undercut

Slicked back undercut

The undercut hairstyle is where you get short back and sides yet leave the top longer, allowing you to manipulate the style that you rep on top.

A slicked back undercut is a style that incorporates a pushed-back quiff with the undercut style. Not only will this manage to hide many of your issues, but it’ll also look brilliant.

It’s the epitome of a thinning crown haircut and one that is also stylish and looks great at the same time.

23. Fringe with undercut

Fringe with undercut

On the other hand, you can get a forward-pushed fringe with your undercut. The idea behind this is that you can get a messy fade between the top and the sides, and this gives you an additional benefit.

The reason we think that this is a great option if you have thinning hair is that you’ll be able to wear the top over the sides, and that’ll do anything you need it to do.

Need to hide your receding hairline? Done. Need to cover a thinning crown? Done.

24. Experimental facial hair

Brad Pitt experimental facial hair
Brad Pitt

Even though this isn’t explicitly a hairstyle, experimental facial hair is a method of spicing things up and taking some attention away from your thinning hairstyle.

For example, if you decide to try out something like a handlebar mustache or a goatee, then you’ll probably have done enough to take away from your head hair.

You can create an interesting look by letting your beard grow longer than normal and allowing the hairs to become thick. This works especially well if you have a mustache that grows outwards instead of down.

Of course, you’ll need to find a facial hair style that suits you, but you’ll benefit from utilizing facial hair styles to take the focus away from your head hairstyle.

This means that, on top, you can pretty much go for whatever you like, and it’ll erase some of your insecurities.

25. Longer top and pushed forward sides

Longer top and pushed forward sides

If you’ve been on the hunt for hairstyles for men with thin hair in front, then you’re in the right place. This hairstyle uses longer styled hair and manipulates it in such a way that you’re able to hide and protect all of your hair at the front.

The barber has given this man a longer top and pushed forward sides. The hair is a little messy, but it still looks trendy.

To do this, it involves wax or gel to push forward and keep things pointing back towards your face. This is an easy process and does a lot more than you think.

For example, you can stick down the sides so that they cover your hairline, and make it look a lot better than it actually is.

26. Highlights

man with highlights

As with the experimental facial hair style, highlights can be a method of taking a lot of attention away from your struggles, instead of pointing towards something a bit more stylish.

By getting your hair highlighted, you’ll just get people complimenting the change and giving you respect, rather than pointing out the problems that you’ve got with your thinning crown, for example.

It’s all a game of illusions and confidence, and we feel that utilizing highlights can be a great choice for you.

27. Low Fade

Low fade haircut
Source: https://www.menshairstylestoday.com

The low fade is a new style that has been gaining popularity for a few years. It looks particularly clean and stylish, yet it has an added bonus for men with thinning hair: it starts low.

Many of the issues with a typical skin fade is that it’ll go up quite high and therefore accentuate problems with the hairline. A low fade avoids this, as it blends into the longer sides at a much lower point.

This style allows men to retain full control over their hairline. With the low fade, you can couple it with almost any longer style top.

From the fringe to the slicked back quiff, it’ll all work beautifully well, and it will allow you to focus your efforts on what matters the most to you.

28. Bald

dwayne johnson bald
Dwayne Johnson

Finally, you can just get on with things with a bald head. The earlier you come to terms with it, the better, and more often than not, you’ll actually look better.

You either can do it yourself or get a barber to do it, but you’ll be able to join the likes of Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel, and they look unreal.

Ultimately, this is an option for men who just want to get things over and done with. It’s a look that can be coupled with a beard, long or short, and it is something that is becoming popular, even among men who don’t have thinning hair issues.

As far as haircuts for men with thin hair go, bald is going to get rid of all of them. Rather than having areas or patches that are bald, you can just confidently wear no hair at all.

Conclusion

When your hair begins thinning, you are easily forgiven for feeling like everything is going against you. However, there are plenty of hairstyles that you can use to manipulate the way your hair looks and hide the issues that you’ve been having.

In this article, we have tried to include as many of the haircuts that we could think of. Among them, we have included those that are suitable for men with thinning crowns, receded hairlines, and with thinning fronts.

Despite that, we know that we have probably accidentally left out a couple of haircuts that are perfect for thinning hair. If you are a man with thinning hair, then perhaps you’ll be able to give us a suggestion.

Let us know in the comments below if we’ve forgotten your favorite haircut, and we’ll get back to you about adding it to the list!

About The Author

Domen Hrovatin
Domen Hrovatin

Domen—a self-confessed facial hair addict—is a grooming professional, style enthusiast, and someone with deep personal experience and knowledge about male pattern baldness. His work was mentioned in countless notable men's grooming and style publications, including Beardbrand and AskMen.

  • I like these options, they are very suitable for such types. But when choosing a haircut for yourself, you should take into account exactly your face shape, so that the haircut suits you, and not just choose any trendy haircut 🙂

  • Hmmm hairstyle fo thinning hair?? All the hairstyle examples you gave looks like they are great for people with thick and full hair..just like the celebrities in the pictures.

    • It’s hard to find pictures of people with actual thinning hair because hair models are usually NW1’s. But the pictures will nonetheless illustrate the idea.

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