The 10 Best (and Worst) Haircuts for Balding Men

Choosing the right haircut makes a world of difference if you’ve got bald spots, a receding hairline or thinning hair. Balding and thinning is normal and can be caused by various factors – for example, male pattern hair loss is typically genetic. 

Still, it can be a common cause of stress and anxiety for lots of men. Whether you want a sleek buzz cut or a cool faux hawk, our guide to the 10 best and worst haircuts for balding men will help you select the best style and have confidence in your look.

What Causes Male Pattern Baldness?

Male pattern baldness, also called androgenetic alopecia, is caused by your genes and male sex hormones. A hormone called DHT shrinks your hair follicles and if you’re sensitive to it you can experience hair loss. Normally it follows a pattern of a receding hairline and crown thinning, then eventually the shrunken hair follicles stop growing new hair. 

Male pattern baldness is progressive, but that doesn’t mean it’s not manageable. There are many treatments that can stop hair loss, reduce hair thinning and encourage new growth. There are also plenty of cuts that can mask hair loss and create a distinguished appearance.

Best Haircuts For Balding Men

Haircuts for balding men can cover bald spots and blend thinning areas. If you have uneven hair, a widow’s peak, fine hair or significant hair loss these cuts are great for making use of your remaining hair and hiding any parts you’re unhappy with. Check out our top haircuts for balding men!

1. Buzz Cut

The military-inspired haircut is the perfect cut to mask thinning hair or an annoying bald spot. It’s rocked by lots of famous actors like Channing Tatum and Jason Statham, and it’s so easy to style and maintain. A high fade is your best bet but it also works well with a flat top and you can experiment with hair length. 

We recommend sticking with a shorter top if you’re balding at the crown so you don’t draw attention to sparser areas. A close-cropped buzz cut with a skin fade is great for making temple hair loss less noticeable and creating a natural hair texture.

2. Soft Crew Cut

Receding hairline hairstyles don’t get much better than the soft crew cut. If you’ve noticed less hair growth, opt for this cut for the illusion of an even hairline. 

You can choose a high and tight cut that’s slightly longer on top for thicker hair, or a taper fade that balances out thinning hair on the scalp. It’s pretty similar to a buzz cut, but with shorter hair on the back and sides of the head.

3. Faux Hawk

A faux hawk can be a great choice depending on the the level of thinning. If you’ve got mild to moderate hair loss or a receding hairline, this style compliments the “M” shape of receding hairlines and volumises thinning hair. 

It features short hair on the sides and a thick strip of longer hair that runs from the back to front of the head. However, the styling product you’ll use to keep the cut in shape could make hair look thinner if there’s significant thinning on top.

4. French Crop

If balding is not too pronounced and you’ve still got plenty of hair at the back of your head, a french crop is the ultimate haircut to mask thinning hair. It’s low-maintenance and comes in many variations with curls, fades and undercuts. 

The french crop works with lots of face shapes and hair textures and can be styled with a fade and longer hair on top. You could create a fringe that suits your face shape – like a straight, messy or choppy type. Also, adding some hair gel or combing your hair forward gives off an edgy or sleek look depending on your preferences.

5. Clean Shave

Ready to embrace the bald look? When done right, a clean shave exudes confidence and removes the hassle of constantly trying to hide thinning hair and bald spots. This is a great haircut for men that have oval or square facial structures and athletic builds. 

For an even cooler look, why not match your clean shave with some facial hair? Strangely if you have male pattern hair loss, you have a strong chance of being able to grow a full beard. This is because an excess of DHT may lead to balding on the scalp, but it actually boosts facial hair growth and reduces the chances of patchy spots.

6. Slicked Back Hairstyle

A slicked back hairstyle is better if you’re not experiencing balding at the front of your scalp and prefer a slightly longer looking style. It’s also great for complementing a widow’s peak. With this style, you use hair gel on longer strands and comb them towards the back of your head. 

If you’ve got medium length hair, this style works particularly well for covering thinning areas and masking temple hair loss. Pair it with a high fade for a more masculine aesthethic.

Worst Haircuts For Balding Men

Men with receding hairlines or balding spots should make smart haircut choices if they want to give off the appearance of thicker, healthier hair. The worst thing you can do is opt for haircuts that draw attention to parts of your hair that lower your confidence. Let’s take a look at some of the worst haircuts for balding men.

1. Long Hair & Balding Crown

This is a recipe for disaster – a balding crown and long hair creates an unusual and confusing look. Usually unless you’re going bold with a clean shave, men with thinning hair should opt for a shorter fade haircut, crew cut or faux hawk kind of style. 

Or you could go for a hair transplant on your scalp which would allow you to keep growing your hair long without the puzzling contrast.

2. Braided Styles

Braids, dreadlocks and cornrows might look impressive when you’ve got a full afro or thick wavy hair, but if you’ve got a receding hairline or a bald spot on your crown – this style will make your hair look even thinner. 

Also, tight hairstyles like braids can cause traction alopecia, which increases hair loss by putting constant tension on the hair follicles.

3. Spiked Hair

You might think spiked hair will give your hair more texture and volume, but this is only really true if you have thicker, longer hair and not if you’ve got a lot of thinning on the top of your head. 

Sparse spikes draw attention to empty spots between each spike and can make hair loss look more pronounced. You’re better off choosing a classic crew cut, a sleek fade haircut, or a trendy faux hawk.

4. The Combover

Combovers are not the best receding hairline hairstyle. They might work for mild or moderate hair loss, but for men with very thin hair or significant balding it’s a bad decision. Men try to mask a large bald spot on the crown with a few strands of hair, but more often than not these accentuate the bald spot rather than cover it. They also don’t tend to stay in place – especially when it’s a windy day!

Products That Can Mask Thinning Hair

You can use several products to hide thinning hair when a hairstyle is not enough. Here are some of the top options:

• Hair Thickening Spray – Contains small fibres that bind to natural hair strands and give the appearence of increased hair density. The fibres use electrostatic charge to bind to your hair which means they move naturally with it instead of lying flat.
• Spray-on Hair – Contains a temporary pigment that’s the same colour as your hair and can be sprayed onto thinning areas. This reduces the contrast between balding spots and gives the illusion of more hair volume.
• Micropigmentation – A type of hair tattoo. Similar to spray-on hair but permanent, small dots of pigment are injected into the skin on your scalp with a tattoo gun.

Treatments For Balding Hair

Several treatments exist that can fight hair loss and improve a receded hairline or balding spots. You can use lifestyle and haircare changes, as well as more long-term solutions like medications and hair transplant surgery. Take a look at some of the most effective treatments for balding hair:

Lifestyle Changes

Some instances of hair loss are caused by certain hairstyles or haircare routines. For example, traction alopecia generally comes from tight hairstyles like braids and cornrows. 

This means that simply changing your hairstyle to something that lets your hair fall freely can reverse thinning hair. Using gentle shampoos and natural products, as well as staying healthy by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly can all lead to healthier, thicker hair.

Hair Transplants

Hair transplants provide a permanent solution for men with thinning hair. The procedure involves moving hair follicles from a donor area with longer hair to balding areas of the scalp. The new hair follicles mean hair growth continues as normal.

Laser Therapy

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive hair loss treatment that uses lasers to stimulate hair growth. The specific wavelength used in this therapy boosts blood flow to the scalp to restore hair follicles and stop further hair loss.

Hair Loss Medications

Medications are a great long-term solution to hair loss. Finasteride or minoxidil are recommended as the best medications for balding men, as they target a hormone called DHT which shrinks hair follicles. 

If you’re looking for a convenient and private alternative to visiting the doctor’s for medication, the HairyHair treatment plan is perfect – it combines finasteride and minoxidil with other ingredients and is scientifically proven to stop you losing hair and promote hair growth.

Final Thoughts

If you’re experiencing balding, you’re not alone. Around 50% of men struggle with hair loss from male pattern baldness and other causes. Aside from the usual treatments like medications and lifestyle adjustments, there are some great hair cuts out there that can hide thinning areas and mask balding. Whether you prefer the classic style of a buzz cut or a modern faux hawk – choose a cut from our list and enjoy rocking your new hairstyle!