11 Best Haircuts for Balding Men (& 4 to Avoid)

It's that moment when you look in the mirror and say, Yep, I can see balding on top. Relax. Balding doesn't mean you're out of style.

In fact, you can turn that balding crown into a confident new look with the right hairstyle.

Are you ready to embrace a sleek look, or want to manage what you've got left? From buzz cuts and short Caesar cuts to slicked-back fade haircuts for balding men, we've got you covered.

The 11 Best Hairstyles for Balding Men

#1 Shave It All Off

Hiding thinning hair or your receding hairline may be the first thing you think about when you notice that balding crown in the mirror. Why not shave it all off instead? It's the best haircut for bald spot in back.

If your hair loss is caused by male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia, like many of us, welcome to the club!

Our club is growing daily, and there's no stopping it since 53% of males have male pattern baldness at ages 40 to 49. There's no cure for pattern hair loss, so don't waste time and money on hair growth solutions.

Bald is always better than balding. Shaving your head makes you look 5 to 10 years younger. On the flip side, bald on top with thick hair on the sides makes you look old and untidy. Here's a before and "after" of George Costanza to prove what we're saying:

Need more proof?

This study shows that bald men are seen as taller, more dominant, and more confident.

Maintenance Tips

• Shave regularly to maintain a clean look

• Use a high-quality razor or electric shaver for a smooth and comfortable shave

• Moisturize after every shave and exfoliate regularly

Styling Advice

• Wear the latest bald fashion clothes and shoes to accentuate your style

• Add a stylish hat for a new look

• Wearing glasses or sunglasses is a good fashion piece

Ready to shave?

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#2 Shaved with a Beard

A shaved dome paired with a beard is a good haircut for bald spot on top. It's a bold, confident look that exudes masculinity. Without hair on top, you remove the contrast between thinning hair and baldness.

Adding a beard creates character and draws attention away from crown balding, balancing your overall look. Maintaining a smooth dome and a well-groomed beard is important for this style.

The Freebird BeardSeries Trimmer is an excellent tool to add to your shaving collection if you plan to sport the bald and bearded look. You can use one tool to shave your head and groom your beard instead of two.

The Beard Series Trimmer has a powerful 5,200 RPM motor, sharp stainless steel blades, a 60-minute battery life, and a travel lock for grooming on the road.

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Maintenance Tips

• Trim your beard regularly for a polished appearance

• Use beard oil to keep your beard soft and well-groomed

• Completely buzz your bald head every few days to maintain a clean-shaven head

• Moisturize and exfoliate your head regularly.

• Use a good razor, electric shaver, clipper, or trimmer for maintenance work on your balding areas and thick beard

Styling Advice

• Consider the length of your beard. A longer beard or full beard can create balance to a shaved head, but can make you look older

For more beard styles, click the link to read our comprehensive guide.

#3 The Buzz Cut

The Buzz Cut is a classic haircut that works well for men with moderate hair loss and a receding hairline. 

It's easy to maintain and looks neat, making it perfect for a no-fuss approach to grooming. This is why among balding haircuts; Jason Statham rocks this style.  A buzz cut is also a good "transition hairstyle" for balding men who want to try out a shaved dome.

Maintenance Tips

• Aim for a trim every 2 to 4 weeks to keep your buzzed look

• Moisturize your scalp regularly, especially if you experience dryness

Styling Advice

• A buzz cut is low maintenance, but if you want to add some shine, use hair oil or a light pomade

• Try out different guard lengths to see what hair length looks good on you

#4 Crew Cut

The Crew Cut is another good option for men experiencing thinning hair. You'll have slightly longer hair on top than a buzz cut. It frames the face nicely with some texture and volume in front. Sides can be tapered or high fade for a clean, versatile look that works for any setting.

Maintenance Tips

• Frequent trims (every one to two weeks) are needed to keep the shape of your cut

• Use a mild shampoo and conditioner to keep hair healthy

• Take hair vitamins and supplements for healthier hair

Styling Advice

• Use a small amount of pomade or wax to add texture

• For added lift, blow dry and use a round brush to style short hair upwards

#5 Slicked Back and Fade Style

A Slicked-Back hairstyle with a Fade haircut is a modern take that adds sophistication to your look. Faded sides with slicked-back hair create a sharp contrast, drawing attention away from your generally thinning hair and frontal balding. It's perfect for those who want to maintain medium hair length to hide bald spots.

Maintenance Tips

• Regular barber visits or DIY haircuts every 2 weeks are needed to maintain the contrast between the top and sides

• Wash hair every other day to preserve natural oils

• Get a scalp massage regularly

Styling Advice

• Use a gel, mousse, or pomade for added volume

• Wear sunglasses and a leather jacket for a classic look

#6 Push Forward Crop

The Push-Forward Crop is another hairstyle you can choose if you have balding hair and lush locks at the back. This style keeps the hair short on the sides while leaving longer hair at the back styled forward.

This conceals bald spots while providing a trendy and youthful look. You can only get away with this if you're not in the advanced stages of hair loss. If you can see through the cropped hair, you must avoid it and opt for a clipper cut or clean-shaven head instead.

Maintenance Tips

• Regular trims every three to four weeks help maintain the shape of your cut

• Avoid heavy hair products that weigh down your thinning hair

Styling Advice

• Apply a texturizing spray on damp hair to add volume

• Use your fingers to push hair forward

#7 The Bro Flow

The Bro Flow is a long, wavy, and curly hairstyle that's one of the best haircuts for balding men with minimal thinning and wavy hair. This style can draw attention away from thinning areas by adding texture to bald patches. Just comb your hair backwards and keep it well-groomed with hair gel, mousse, or light moulding cream.

Maintenance Tips

• Regular trims every four to eight weeks are needed to keep the sides clean

• Shampoo your hair to avoid dryness

• Try products for thinning hair to add volume

Styling Advice

• Apply mousse to enhance volume without weighing down hair

• Stick to lightweight products to allow your natural hair texture to shine through

#8 Top Knot

Tying hair into a bun like a Top Knot is a trendy hairstyle that allows you to keep longer hair while covering a balding crown. Sides can be kept short or faded for contrast. If you look good with longer hair, this is a good style, as long as thinning isn't obvious.

If you have a significant bald spots, this isn't the best style. You'll end up with a Power Donut, which we'll discuss later.

Maintenance Tips

• Keep sides trimmed every two to four weeks

• Don't tie too tightly to avoid traction alopecia.

• Use conditioner regularly

• A scalp massage with essential oils will help keep hair healthy

Styling Advice

• Pick soft fabric hair ties to prevent hair damage

• Use styling products before tying up

#9 Short and Messy

A Short and Messy hairstyle is perfect for balding men with a receding hairline who want an effortless, casual vibe. This style keeps hair short with some texture. The "mess" creates an illusion of volume and fullness, which works in the early stages of male pattern baldness.

Maintenance Tips

• Trim every four weeks to prevent split ends

• Use a mild shampoo to keep hair healthy

Styling Advice

• Use fingers to mess up your hair

#10 Short Caesar

The Short Caesar is a timeless hairstyle with short hair all around and a slight front fringe. It's a good hairstyle for balding men as it creates fullness in front, drawing away attention from thinning hair on top.

Maintenance Tips

• A regular haircut every four weeks keeps the fringe looking sharp

• Use a gentle shampoo that won't dry your hair out

Styling Advice

• Try a matte finish clay or pomade to style fringe without adding shine

• Use fingers to push hair forward for a classic Caesar look

#11 Roger Sterling

For a clean and polished look, the Roger Sterling is one of the best hairstyles for balding men. It covers thinning hair by cutting the hair tight on the sides and leaving longer hair on top that you comb into a side part.

Maintenance Tips

• Schedule haircuts every four to six weeks to keep contrast

• Moisturize your scalp regularly

Styling Advice

• Use a pomade or gel for a slick back and parting to the sides

• Use a fine-toothed comb to part hair smoothly.

• Finish with styling products for extra hold

4 Haircuts to Avoid if You're Balding on Top

#1 Power Donut

The Power Donut features a large bald spot on your crown and thick hair on the sides, which makes you look older and untidy. Although Danny DeVito, Ed Harris, Jack Nicholson, and Sean Connery sport the power donut, shaving your head or buzzing it off is always better. Still unconvinced? Read our guide on bald on top hair on sides, for more information.

#2 Bald on Top with Long Hair

If you're in the late stages of male pattern baldness, a combover with long hair won't work. You'll only get embarrassed wearing this hairstyle, especially in windy weather.

#3 Braided Locks

The same goes for braided locks; they only look good with a full head of hair. If you are bald on top, the empty spaces stand out. Tight hairstyles like this can make you lose more hair due to traction alopecia.

#4 Power Donut Combover

As if the power donut isn't a bad enough haircut already, you can level up the cringe with a Power Donut Combover. You should avoid this style completely.

The Golden Rule of Haircuts for Balding Men

Here's a good rule of thumb on haircuts for balding men.

The shorter the hairstyle, the better. A short hairstyle looks neater and cleaner as it keeps the attention away from your balding crown. If you are in the late stages of pattern hair loss, shaving it all off, a buzz cut, or a short hairstyle are your best choices.

Hair Care Tips for Men with Thinning Hair

Avoid Heat Styling Products

Excessive heat from blow-drying or heat-styling tools can further damage thinning hair. Limit the use or avoid them altogether to take care of the locks you have left.

Avoid Tight Hairstyles

Wearing tight hats or tight hairstyles can cause hair loss. This is called traction alopecia, or hair loss caused by repeated pulling on hair. Don't tie it too tight if you're considering the Top Knot hairstyle.

Get Regular Scalp Massages

Adding scalp massages into your grooming routine feels good and promotes blood flow to hair follicles. A study shows that scalp massage can increase hair thickness.

Take Hair Supplements

If you didn't know yet, some vitamins and supplements help keep our scalps healthy. Some of them are:

• Vitamin C

• Biotin

• Omega 3

• Iron

• Protein

• Collagen

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin B

• Vitamin E

• Zinc

Read our article on scalp vitamins and supplements for more information.

The Bottom Line

Choosing the right haircut when dealing with a balding crown can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. You can embrace your unique look and feel confident with a new hairstyle.

You've got many options, from the clean and polished vibe of a Roger Sterling to the easy maintenance textured crop. The key is to select a stylish haircut that complements your features and reflects your personality.

Remember, if you have significant hair loss, shaving it all off or opting for a shorter hairstyle is the best option. Never consider combovers or long hairstyles if you're in the late stages of the Norwood scale. You don't want to highlight thinning hair but rather conceal it.

Lastly, adding a well-groomed full beard and sporting stylish hats, glasses, and sunglasses can surely add to your overall look.

FAQs

Can a Buzz Cut Help with Balding on Top?

Yes, it can! A buzz cut is one of our best haircuts for balding men with a thinning crown. Keeping hair short and uniform all around minimizes the contrast between thinning areas and remaining hair. Head shape matters, though. Ask your stylist if this cut suits you.

Can a Fade Haircut Complement a Balding Top?

Yes, a faded haircut can be an excellent choice for balding men with a balding crown. The gradual transition from short sides to longer hair on top creates a seamless look that draws attention away from thinning areas.

Are There Longer Hairstyles That Work for Balding Men?

While shorter hairstyles are generally more flattering for balding men, longer hairstyles can work if styled correctly. The Bro Flow and Slicked Back styles are examples of cuts that can add volume and texture, which helps distract from thinning areas on top.

Do Barbers Have Special Techniques for Cutting Hair for Balding Men?

Yes, barbers have seen it all and use specific techniques when cutting hair for men experiencing baldness. They may use texturizing methods to create volume in areas where hair is thinning or employ strategic layering to blend the remaining hair seamlessly with bald spots. A skilled barber will assess your hair type and scalp condition before recommending the best cut.

What Should Men with a Receding Hairline Avoid When Choosing a Haircut?

Men with a thinning crown and a receding hairline should steer clear of certain hairstyles that can magnify the appearance of thinning hair. Avoid long hairstyles that draw attention to bald spots, such as long bangs or ponytails and combovers.

Combover styles are also a no-no; they often look forced and can highlight areas of concern instead of concealing them. Instead, opt for shorter styles like buzz cuts or crew cuts that create balance and minimize the contrast between bald areas and remaining hair.

Better yet, shave it all off!

Can Facial Hair Balance Out the Look for Men Balding on Top?

Absolutely! Facial hair can be an excellent way to balance out your look if you're balding on top. A well-groomed beard or mustache draws attention away from thinning hair and adds character to your overall appearance. Facial hair creates visual interest and helps frame your face, making it feel fuller. Just be sure to maintain your facial hair regularly; a scruffy beard might detract from the polished look you're aiming for.

How Often Should I Trim My Hair if I'm Balding?

For men with hair thinning or bald spots, regular trims are essential to keep your hairstyle looking sharp. Generally, aim for a haircut every 4-6 weeks if you're maintaining shorter styles like buzz cuts or crew cuts. This helps prevent split ends and keeps your look fresh. If you're growing out longer styles, consider trimming every 8-12 weeks to maintain shape without sacrificing length too quickly.