The 6 Best Men’s Haircuts for Receding Hairlines

Got a receding hairline? Believe it or not, you have more hairstyle options than you think.

When most guys see the first signs of balding, they throw up their hands in defeat. Some even reach for the clippers, figuring they just need to embrace their newfound egghead.

And I get it––no man wants to have a receding hairline. But it’s also not as big of a deal as some people make it out to be.

Let’s face it. Most of us are going to get receding hairlines. (Specifically, about two-thirds.) And you know what? It’s not the end of the world.

It’s all about what you do with what you’ve got. You can have a full, lush head of hair, but if you choose an ugly hairstyle, it’s not going to look good. (Rat tail, anyone?)

But the flip side is that even if you’ve got a receding hairline, you can still get a fantastic looking hairstyle.

Don’t believe me? Then read on to learn more about how to make the most of a receding hairline.

Understanding Your Options

If you have a receding hairline, you basically have three options:

1) Shave it all off and go bald.
2) Hide the receding hairline.
3) Accentuate the receding hairline.

Let’s go through the pros and cons of each one by one.

First of all, going bald. This is a perfectly fine option, but many men think of this as a last resort. If you’re thinking of going bald just because your hairline is receding a bit, you should reconsider before saying goodbye to your hair.

Second, you can pick a hairstyle that hides the receding hairline. There are various tonsorial tricks that work for this, but the general idea is to either cover up or draw attention away from the hairline.

Third, you can go for a hairstyle that accentuates your hairline. And I know what you’re thinking: “Who would want to show off a receding hairline?” It sounds silly, but sometimes, accentuating a receding hairline can look best.

At this point, you’re probably wondering about treatments like hair transplants, microneedling or products like Rogaine.

These aren’t bad options per se, but the problem is that many guys immediately go to one of these options when they should really be your Plan B. These treatments can be expensive, time-consuming and even ineffective.

You’ll be surprised at what you can do with nothing more than your natural hair and some smart styling. It’s at least worth trying out different hairstyles before giving up and seeking more extreme treatment options.

Types of Receding Hairlines

Another important factor is the type of receding hairline you have and the degree to which you’re balding.

First, let’s talk about the difference between having thin or thinning hair and actually having a receding hairline.

Lots of guys who experience thinning hair automatically assume they’re going bald, but this isn’t always the case. It’s possible to have thinning hair without having any balding whatsoever.

In order to tell if you’re actually going bald, it’s important to understand what male pattern baldness looks like. The Hamilton-Norwood scale (also known as simply the Norwood scale) breaks down male hair loss into seven distinct stages.

You can read more about the Hamilton-Norwood scale here.

Basically, male pattern baldness is marked by a gradual recession of the hair from the hairline toward the temples. The hair loss then continues at the crown of the head and eventually works its way down.

Men will progress through these stages at different rates. Your hair could be at Stage 3 for years, or you could zip from Stages 1 to 5 within months. So if you’re noticing some hair recession, don’t freak out and assume you’ll go bald by the end of the year.

Stage 4 is usually when the hair loss becomes really noticeable. If you’re at Stage 4 or later, you may need more advanced treatment.

The bottom line here: If you’re seeing the actual boundaries of your hair receding, then you probably have male pattern baldness.

On the other hand, if you’re not seeing any significant recession, you may simply be suffering from thinning hair.

Thinning hair is less severe hair loss that can be marked by either thinning in particular spots or a decrease in hair density.

There are lots of reasons why your hair might be thinning. Lifestyle habits and genetics both play a role. For example, if you’re using tons of harsh hair products (like high hold hairsprays or hair dye), you might experience some thinning.

If your hair is simply thinning, then it’s possible to figure out the culprit and treat the hair loss.

But if you’re genuinely balding, there’s no need to panic, because we’ve picked out some hairstyles that will amaze you. Let’s begin!

Men’s Short Haircuts for Receding Hairlines

It often makes sense for balding men to adopt a shorter hairstyle. If that’s what you’re looking for, then check out the options below.

#1: Short Brush Up

We’re kicking off the list with this brushed up hairstyle that will work well for the majority of men with receding hairlines.

Keeping the sides tight and accentuating the hair on top is one of the best techniques for drawing attention away from a receding hairline. With this haircut, you don’t even notice the hairline.

This hairstyle isn’t too different from the styles you’ll see on a lot of men’s heads, and that’s exactly the idea. You don’t have to sacrifice style just because you’re losing your hair.

This is an excellent low maintenance hairstyle for all seasons and situations. It’s also easy to style, so you won’t need to spend 20 minutes in front of your mirror every morning.

#2: Brushed Texture

Here’s another short style that distracts from a receding hairline. This one uses strategic combing to brush the hair forward, creating an angular fringe.

Another focal point is the gradual medium fade. This helps the hair to transition smoothly between the top and sides, and this also helps to take the spotlight off your hairline.

Like the last haircut, this is really versatile. If you need a hairstyle that’s good for both days in the office and nights out on the town, this cut won’t let you down.

#3: Small Pompadour

If you want to go a little retro with your hairstyle, then the pompadour might be a good match for you. Modern pompadours have been taken to new heights (literally) but you don’t need a ton of volume to get a suave pomp.

By now, you’ve probably noticed a pattern: Do something to the hair on top of the head to distract from the hairline.

That’s exactly what’s happening here. The swirl of the pompadour blends into the rest of the hair, which puts the focus on the actual hairstyle and not your hairline.

#4: Kinky Medium Fade

Got kinky hair? This medium fade is a rock solid option. Kinky hair is naturally thick and lush, so as long as you’ve got a good bed of hair on top, you can still do a lot with it.

The fade is important here. It packs a one-two punch of tidying up the haircut and drawing the eye toward it (and––you guessed it––away from a mature hairline). A nice even fade is best for maximum neatness.

#5: Widow’s Peak Brush Up

Characterized by its trademark V shape, the widow’s peak is one of the most common types of receding hairlines. This usually happens in stages 1 through 3, when the hair is receding toward the temples.

Some widow’s peaks are sharp and prominent while others are more gently curved. Either way, you should consider choosing a hairstyle that actually highlights your hairline.

Yes, a widow’s peak is technically an uneven hairline, but it doesn’t look bad at all if you style it well.

This style is a simple brush up that’s a bit long on the sides to create more fullness and body. Although this model has a more subtle widow’s peak, this hairstyle will also work with a more pronounced peak.

Notice how the hair is fairly tousled here. That texture adds movement to the haircut and complements the widow’s peak. Of course, you can brush it into place for a more formal hairstyle if you need to.

#6: Thin Brushed Back

If you have thin hair and a receding hairline, you might have written off your ability to be fashionable. It’s true that thin hair is a bit harder to work with, but again, it’s still possible to find an amazing style that works for you.

This brushed back style is a testament to simplicity. This is a longer style, but the length adds a lot of body to the hair. It’s also convenient since many guys with hair loss can still grow lots of hair (just not all over their head).

The model here actually has quite advanced hair loss, as you can see from his hairline. He’s likely in Stage 3 or 4 at this point, yet his hair still looks good because of how it’s styled. This is proof that even seriously balding guys can rock a sweet hairstyle.

Conclusion

There’s absolutely no need to give up hope just because you’re losing your hair. As these styles have shown, you can still be just as fashionable as guys with thick heads of hair.

Which styles here stood out to you? Will you be getting one of these soon? We want to hear from you in the comments!