It’s no secret that all men – and humans as a whole – are unique. We each rock different facial features that make us unique. But for some men, they’re dealt the unfortunate hand of a big forehead. Some men are born with one, while some others have theirs revealed in later life as their hairline recedes. Either way, it can cause some guys great issues, and so they’ll do everything in their power to cover it up.
The easiest way for men with big foreheads to cover up their excess facial real estate is by taking advantage of the hair on their heads. However, some men may think their hairstyle options are limited – this can be true for men with receding hairlines, unfortunately – but the opposite couldn’t be more true. As barbers improve their skill sets and hairstyle trends regularly change, men with big foreheads actually have a huge choice when it comes to suitable haircuts.
Celebrities such Ryan Reynolds, Adam Levine, and Aaron Paul all fall into the camp of men with big foreheads, and know only too well the struggle of having to make some hairstyle changes in order to counterbalance their facial proportions.
How Do You Style A Big Forehead Haircut At Home?
Guys with big foreheads will want to hide it, disguise it, or draw attention away from it. You can do this by covering yours with a fringe or brushing your hair out and away from it. Experiment with various styles to find one that you feel more comfortable and confident with.
When it comes to styling and maintenance, always ensure that your hair is clean and the products are well-suited for your hair type (you wouldn’t want to gain a dry, flaky scalp to go with a big forehead, would you?).
If your hair is straight, you can style it using almost any product. You should only need to worry about the hold and shine you want. As a general rule, high-shine pomade is probably best avoided, as this product is often associated with slicked back or side-part hairstyles, both of which move the hair away from your forehead, which will only serve to accentuate it.
Instead, you’ll want to invest in a quality matte-effect styling paste or something similar. These products can be used to style great looking French crops and Caesar haircuts, which incorporate fringes, a big forehead’s best friend.
If you have curls, you can leave it alone for a natural look, as the natural weight and volume will draw attention away from your forehead. You could also experiment with styling creams for a little control of the shape. You might also add a mousse for texture, definition, and a healthy appearance.
For those with thick hair, a pomade or clay is your best friend. On the other hand, thin hair requires a lighter, water-based styling product such as a gel, cream, lotion, mousse, or hair spray.
Consider your face shape and hair type when deciding how to cover up your forehead. Some haircuts may not be as flattering. Talk to your barber to get the one that works for you. But, for a little bit of help, here are a few hairstyles that will work best.
Buzz Cut
Hailing from military days, the buzz cut is the shortest and most drastic men’s haircut anyone can get. Back in those military days, the buzz cut – also called the induction cut – was given to new recruits to essentially remove their individuality and act as a sort of uniform… as well as not giving enemy soldiers something to grab on to during battle.
This popular men’s haircut doesn’t require much explanation when sitting in the barber’s chair, as its notoriety will mean any barber will quickly whip out their hair clippers, remove the guard – or at least set it to a number 1 – and remove all your hair. You can’t get much more low maintenance than that.
If you want to introduce a little extra flair, you can combine your buzz cut with faded sides by way of having a number 2 on top, with the hair on the sides and back of the head gradually cut down to a skin fade. What you will find with the buzz cut haircut, however, is that you’ll need to make regular visits to the barber to keep it looking its absolute best.
Caesar Cut
The Caesar cut is a great men’s haircut that’s been around for a long old time. It’s got short hair that’s all the same length and combed forward, and it’s named after Julius Caesar who used to wear his hair like that.
Nowadays, the Caesar cut is usually about 1-2 inches long and has a natural, textured look that’s created with some hair product. It’s a versatile style that can work well on different types of faces and hair, and it’s super easy to take care of and style. That’s why a lot of guys like it!
French Crop
Stylish and timeless, the French crop haircut has managed to hold its position as one of the most popular haircuts for men. Featuring a cropped fringe and a prime candidate for pairing with a range of fade hairstyles, this style offers an excellent option for guys who want to look elegant but don’t have the time to commit to hairstyling and maintenance. The French crop haircut has become such a popular haircut for men due to its versatility, as it can work for virtually everyone, regardless of face shape.
It is also a men’s hairstyle that can work with a variety of hair types, including thick hair and curly hair – it can look the absolute business with wavy hair – and while the French crop haircut will work without any product or styling applied, you can work in a matte paste or some wax to give it a little bit of movement.
Crew Cut
A perfect haircut for virtually all scenarios, the crew cut blends in perfectly at both the office and the bar (and everywhere in between). Undeniably masculine, many believe it originated in the military, but its history stretches back much further.
Contrary to belief, its history can be traced back to 18th century England (where it was actually known as a short pompadour, taking inspiration from the pompadour that originated in France around the same time).
A crew cut is technically defined as having hair that graduates in length from the front to the back and the crown. It’s this difference in length that caused it to be called a short pompadour many years ago. The longer section at the front can be rounded or flattened, with each style suiting particular face and head shapes, and the sides and back of the head are usually tapered (but as we’ve previously mentioned, the length of taper or fade you introduce is up to you).
Brushed Up
For the modern man who wants to look sharp and stylish, the brushed up men’s haircut is a must-try. This trendy cut features short to medium-length hair that is expertly layered for added volume and texture. To style, simply brush the hair upwards and away from the forehead for a spiky, tousled look that exudes confidence and charisma.
But achieving the perfect brushed up hairstyle requires the right tools and techniques. Start by choosing a high-quality styling product that suits your hair type and desired hold level, such as pomade, wax, or gel. Apply the product evenly through damp hair, using your fingers or a comb to distribute it evenly.
Next, use a brush or comb to lift the hair at the roots and brush it upwards and away from the forehead. For added volume and texture, use your fingers to tousle the hair and create a messy, bedhead look. Finish with a spritz of hairspray or texturizing spray to lock in the style and keep it looking fresh all day.
If you want to achieve this hairstyle, your hair should be medium-length or longer.
Short And Messy
If you are ok with your fivehead and do not feel the need to hide it, try out this cool ‘just got out of bed’ look. Short and messy hairstyles use texture to create a youthful and unique tousled finish. The movement and direction of the hair keep the focus away from the forehead.
Side Part
As its name implies, this classy and trendy hairstyle requires your hair to be parted on one side. It is a favourite businessman haircut. The side part can have a fade or undercut on the sides, and long, medium, or short hair at the top. For a strongly defined part, ask your barber to give you a hard part.
Bowl Cut
Also called the mushroom cut, the bowl cut is a simple haircut that fixes all forehead issues. The hairstyle, which dates back to the 12th and 15th centuries, was achieved using a bowl as a guide to cut hair.
Bowl cut involves a full and straight fringe that extends back around the head. For a fresh and modern touch, pair it with an undercut or taper fade.
Spiky Hairstyle
Spiky hairstyles can also be a good option for guys with generously-sized foreheads, as they see short to medium-length hair on top being styled up in spikes, which helps to elongate the face, drawing attentionupwards. This illusion will work best for guys with hair that is full and thick.
Blowout Fade
The blowout fade haircut is a cool and common variation of standard blowout haircuts. To achieve a blowout, the hair needs to be styled in a similar way to the pompadour: pushed back and then up. This particular variation sees the sides shaved in a graduated fade, resulting in more focus being placed on the hair on top and less attention given to the forehead.
Clean Shave
Similar to the buzz cut, a clean shave is a straightforward solution to a large forehead. Why keep worrying about a hairline when you can get rid of it. This will also work for men who have thin hair or bald spots. Grow a full beard or moustache to draw the eyes down. If you wear glasses, this can also be a good look for you.
Fringe
A fringe cut is a great look whereby a section of hair is cut and styled over the front hairline. The look is ideal for men with a large forehead and medium to long hair, as it hides part or all of the forehead. The fringe cut can work with straight, wavy, or curly hair.
Short Pompadour
The short pompadour haircut features shorter hair on the back and side and longer hair at the top, although, not as long as a fully-fledged pompadour (the kind you’d see Elvis Presley rocking). Compared to its longer cousin, the short pompadour offers a neater, stylish and more streamlined hairstyle that looks good on men with large foreheads because it shifts attention upwards.
Comb Over
A comb-over haircut is a classic cut that is perfect for men with large foreheads. The hair is left long at the top and brushed over the hairline, making the forehead appear smaller. To get a more contemporary look, add a fade into the mix, or even combine it with a side-part. You can get a low-fade, mid-fade, or high-fade, but your overall face shape will help determine which one works best for you.
High Undercut
Source @chadius_maximus via Instagram
You don’t have to stay away from undercuts just because you have a big forehead. On the contrary, this hairstyle will draw attention from your forehead so that you can look as cool and confident as you want.
The high undercut hairstyle is perfect. It involved shaving the sides of your head a little higher. Then, the top hair portion will be kept longer. To make it work, a bit of the top can fall down over your forehead. This way, it can hide part of this area and make it look smaller, so it’s a great solution.
Medium Length Hair with Fringe
Source thetrendspotter.net
Some men can rock their long hair perfectly. If you’re one of them, then you can use this to your advantage if you have a big forehead. Medium-length hair will make you look rebellious and masculine, and what’s great is that you can also add a fringe to it.
The fringe will hang over your forehead, which can create the illusion that it’s much smaller. There’s no need to feel insecure anymore because medium-length hair with a fringe hairstyle will frame your face properly. It will enhance your features and make you more attractive to ladies.
Choppy Crop Top Fade
Source @iisakkinummi via Instagram
Another great option for men with big foreheads is the choppy crop top fade. You may have seen a lot of men showing off this hairstyle lately, and that is because it’s very popular. In fact, it’s not only men with big foreheads who use it.
This hairstyle can make any man look stylish and confident. The longer top fades into shorter and shorter hair along the sides of your head, evidencing your jawline and other nice features. Besides, it can hide a big forehead, which is a great advantage. The choppy crop top fade also looks good with any outfit.
Side-Swept Fringe
Source @andrewdoeshair via Instagram
If you don’t want to keep your hair long but don’t want it too short either, the side-swept fringe can be a great solution for a big forehead. The great thing about this hairstyle is that it can hide your forehead while making you look like the coolest guy in the group.
When your forehead stands out, you want something that can conceal it. The side-swept fringe will do just that, whether it’s straight or not. You can go for this stylish haircut if you want to draw some compliments and escape insecurities.
Curly Taper
Source fashionisk.com
Have you been blessed with angelic curls? In this case, you can use them to your advantage. Not all men have curly hair, and those who do can opt for one-of-a-kind haircuts. Aside from giving you the chance to create many great hairstyles, it also lets you hide a large forehead. Another plus is that ladies love men with curly hair.
So, you can consider a curly taper hairstyle if you want to hide your forehead. You don’t even have to use a fringe to cover the top part of the face, because the volume of the curls will be enough to exceed the size of the forehead.
Rocker Mop
Source @david_ford via Instagram
You’re very lucky if you can show off a rocker mop hairstyle as it doesn’t suit everyone. Not to mention that it’s not the type of hairstyle you want to wear in the workplace, especially if it’s a more serious environment.
But if it suits you, then you will look like a rockstar. You’ll also be able to hide your forehead more easily. The style involves longer hair that you style over one side of your head. The key here is to take advantage of layers, as these can easily serve as camouflage for your big forehead. Just keep in mind that this hairstyle requires a lot of styling, so you need special products to take care of it.
Spikey Quiff
Source: @midou.hdm3
This pick might surprise you as many assume that having any kind of brushed-back haircut can have the effect of making your forehead look larger. In Some instances, this is true. However, if you have thick or weighty enough hair — as the model above certainly does — you can use a quiff to your advantage.
The key is to bring the hair forward before scooping it upwards. If done right, you can use the forward-facing brushed hair to disguise your large forehead, offering it some much-needed coverage for shading, before the upward-brushed hair adds length to your face and statement style to your look.
With this one, you’ll need a hairdryer, a decent brush and, most importantly, some strong but lightweight product that will keep your quiff in good nick all day long. Go for a matt finish or things might get a little Johhny Bravo…
E-Boy Haircut
Source: Getty Images
This haircut has become the trim du jour with TikTokkers and K-Pop stars in recent years. While it’s definitely a look more suited to the Gen-Z aesthetic and requires textured if not full-on curly hair to achieve the look, it can be a perfect option for those looking to draw attention away from their larger foreheads.
Not only does it cover your forehead by design, but the messy look across the sides and back of your head can serve to make your hair look significantly larger than your head, overall diminishing the appearance of your dome.
This is also a great option for those who like to rep a slightly more androgynous look, as is becoming increasingly popular in haircuts, grooming, and style alike.
Modern Mullet
With the 70s and 80s hairstyles returning, the modern mullet is definitely one of the most ingenious ways to cover up a big forehead.
Also known as the lion’s mane, it works best when you have a lot of volume with your hair and want it to look stylish, without having to put in too much effort. What’s really great about it is that the mullet is a great way to show off your individuality since there are many different ways to play around with it, depending on your hair texture.
The traditional mullet is known for having more hair at the back, but with the modern versions, you can have just as much hair up top and work it into a normal, curtain or side fringe. With a normal fringe, you can embrace the full modern style by having fades on the sides. But you may have to preserve the sides if you want a curtain or side fringe with your mullet.