Dealing with thin hair can be challenging, but the right haircut can make a world of difference. Whether you’re looking to add volume, create the illusion of fullness, or simply embrace your hair’s natural texture, there’s a perfect style for you.
Here are the 20 best haircuts for men with thin hair, each designed to maximize your look and boost your confidence.
1. The Classic Crew Cut
The crew cut is a timeless choice for men with thin hair. This short, low-maintenance style involves hair that’s cut short on the sides and back, with slightly longer hair on top. The top is typically styled upward and slightly forward, creating the illusion of fullness and volume.
To achieve this look, ask your barber for a gradual fade on the sides and back, keeping the top about an inch long. Style it with a small amount of matte pomade or clay, working the product through damp hair and brushing it upward and slightly forward. The crew cut works well for most face shapes and can be adapted to suit your personal style.
2. The Textured Crop
The textured crop is an excellent choice for men with thin hair who want a modern, edgy look. This style features short sides and back with a longer, textured top that’s typically styled forward.
To get this cut, ask your barber for a high fade on the sides and back, leaving the top about 2-3 inches long. The key to this style is the textured, choppy cut on top, which adds volume and disguises thinning areas. Style it by applying a small amount of sea salt spray to damp hair, then use your fingers to tousle and push the hair forward. This look works particularly well for men with oval or square face shapes.
3. The Side Part
A classic side part can be an excellent option for men with thin hair, as it creates the illusion of volume and can be styled to cover thinning areas. This versatile cut can be adapted to suit various face shapes and personal styles.
For this look, ask your barber to keep the sides and back short, with a gradual fade. The top should be left longer, typically 2-4 inches, to allow for styling. To style, apply a small amount of pomade to damp hair, then use a comb to create a deep side part. Brush the hair to one side, smoothing it down for a sleek look or adding some volume for a more relaxed appearance. This style works well for professional settings and can be easily dressed up or down.
4. The Buzz Cut
For those who prefer a low-maintenance option or have significant thinning, the buzz cut can be an excellent choice. This ultra-short style involves cutting the hair to a uniform length all over the head, typically between 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch.
The buzz cut is easy to maintain and can actually make thinning hair less noticeable by creating a uniform appearance across the scalp. It’s a bold choice that exudes confidence and works well for men with strong facial features. To maintain this style, you’ll need regular trims every 2-3 weeks to keep it looking sharp.
5. The Textured Quiff
The textured quiff is a stylish option for men with thin hair who want to add height and volume to their look. This style features shorter sides and back with longer hair on top that’s styled upward and backward.
Ask your barber for a fade on the sides and back, leaving the top 3-4 inches long. The key to this style is the textured cut on top, which adds volume and movement. To style, apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair, then blow-dry the top section upward and backward using a round brush. Finish with a light-hold hairspray to maintain the shape. This style works particularly well for men with oval or oblong face shapes.
6. The French Crop
The French crop is a sophisticated yet low-maintenance option for men with thin hair. This style features very short sides and back with a slightly longer top that’s cut with a straight fringe.
Ask your barber for a high fade on the sides and back, leaving the top about 1-2 inches long with a blunt fringe. The short length on top helps to disguise thinning areas, while the fringe can be styled to cover a receding hairline. To style, apply a small amount of matte clay to damp hair, then use your fingers to push the fringe forward slightly. This look works well for most face shapes and is particularly flattering for men with high foreheads.
7. The Slick Back
The slick back is a classic style that can work well for men with thin hair, especially when combined with a fade on the sides and back. This sleek look can create the illusion of fuller hair and works well in both casual and formal settings.
For this style, ask your barber to keep the sides and back short with a fade, while leaving the top 3-4 inches long. To style, apply a strong-hold pomade to damp hair, then use a comb to brush all the hair backward. For added volume, you can blow-dry the hair while brushing it back. This style works best for men with oval, square, or diamond face shapes.
8. The Messy Texture
For a more relaxed, effortless look, the messy texture cut is an excellent option for men with thin hair. This style involves keeping the hair relatively short all over, with slightly more length on top to allow for tousled styling.
Ask your barber for a textured cut with the sides and back kept short (about 1/2 inch) and the top left slightly longer (1-2 inches). The key to this style is the choppy, textured cut, which adds volume and disguises thinning areas. To style, apply a small amount of texturizing paste to dry hair, then use your fingers to tousle and piece out the hair for a messy, lived-in look. This style works well for most face shapes and is perfect for a casual, youthful appearance.
9. The Faux Hawk
The faux hawk is a bold choice for men with thin hair who want to add height and drama to their look. This style features short sides and back with a longer strip of hair down the center of the head, styled upward to create a mohawk-like appearance.
Ask your barber for a high fade on the sides and back, leaving a strip of longer hair (2-3 inches) down the center of the head. To style, apply a strong-hold gel or pomade to damp hair, then use a comb to brush the center strip upward and slightly backward. You can use a blow-dryer for added volume and hold. This edgy style works best for men with oval or oblong face shapes and is perfect for those who want to make a statement with their hair.
10. The Ivy League
The Ivy League, also known as the Harvard Clip, is a sophisticated and timeless choice for men with thin hair. This style is essentially a longer version of the crew cut, featuring short sides and back with slightly more length on top.
Ask your barber for a tapered cut on the sides and back, leaving the top about 1-2 inches long. The hair on top should be longest at the front, gradually getting shorter towards the crown. To style, apply a small amount of pomade to damp hair, then use a comb to brush the top hair to one side or slightly back. This versatile style works well for most face shapes and is appropriate for both casual and formal settings.
11. The Textured Pompadour
The textured pompadour is a modern take on a classic style that can work wonders for men with thin hair. This style features short sides and back with longer hair on top that’s styled upward and backward to create height and volume.
Ask your barber for a fade on the sides and back, leaving the top 3-4 inches long. The key to this style is the textured cut on top, which adds volume and movement. To style, apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair, then use a round brush and blow-dryer to lift the hair upward and backward. Finish with a texturizing powder for added volume and a light-hold hairspray to maintain the shape. This bold style works particularly well for men with oval or rectangular face shapes.
12. The Comb Over Fade
The comb over fade is a versatile style that can be adapted to suit various hair types and face shapes. For men with thin hair, this style can help create the illusion of fullness while providing a polished, put-together look.
Ask your barber for a high fade on the sides and back, leaving the top longer (2-3 inches). The key to this style is the gradual fade, which creates contrast with the longer top section. To style, apply a medium-hold pomade to damp hair, then use a comb to create a side part and brush the longer top section over to one side. This style works well for most face shapes and can be adjusted to be more or less dramatic depending on your preference.
13. The Textured Fringe
The textured fringe is a youthful, trendy style that works well for men with thin hair, especially those with a receding hairline. This cut features short sides and back with longer hair on top that’s styled forward to create a fringe.
Ask your barber for a fade on the sides and back, leaving the top 2-3 inches long. The fringe should be cut in a textured, choppy manner to add volume and movement. To style, apply a small amount of texturizing cream to damp hair, then use your fingers to push the fringe forward and piece it out for a messy, lived-in look. This style works particularly well for men with oval or heart-shaped faces.
14. The Short Spiky Look
The short spiky look is a great option for men with thin hair who want to add texture and the appearance of fullness to their style. This cut features short sides and back with slightly longer hair on top that’s styled into spikes.
Ask your barber for a high fade on the sides and back, leaving the top about 1-2 inches long. To style, apply a small amount of texturizing paste or clay to dry hair, then use your fingers to create small spikes all over the top of your head. This style works well for most face shapes and is perfect for a casual, edgy look.
15. The Caesar Cut
The Caesar cut is a classic style that works well for men with thin hair, particularly those with receding hairlines. This cut features short, layered hair all over the head with a short, straight fringe.
Ask your barber for an all-over short cut (about 1-2 inches) with textured layers. The fringe should be cut straight across the forehead. To style, apply a small amount of matte paste to damp hair, then use your fingers to push the fringe forward slightly and tousle the rest of the hair for a textured look. This low-maintenance style works well for most face shapes and is particularly flattering for men with strong facial features.
16. The Brush Up
The brush up is a stylish option for men with thin hair who want to add height and volume to their look. This style features short sides and back with longer hair on top that’s styled upward and slightly backward.
Ask your barber for a fade on the sides and back, leaving the top 2-3 inches long. To style, apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair, then use a brush and blow-dryer to lift the hair upward and slightly backward. Finish with a light-hold hairspray to maintain the shape. This style works particularly well for men with round or square face shapes.
17. The Textured Taper
The textured taper is a versatile style that works well for men with thin hair. This cut features gradually shortened sides and back with slightly longer, textured hair on top.
Ask your barber for a tapered cut on the sides and back, leaving the top 1-2 inches long. The key to this style is the textured cut on top, which adds volume and disguises thinning areas. To style, apply a small amount of sea salt spray to damp hair, then use your fingers to tousle and add texture. This low-maintenance style works well for most face shapes and is perfect for a casual, effortless look.
18. The Short Swept Back
The short swept back style is an elegant option for men with thin hair who want a polished, professional look. This cut features short sides and back with slightly longer hair on top that’s styled backward.
Ask your barber for a fade on the sides and back, leaving the top 2-3 inches long. To style, apply a small amount of pomade to damp hair, then use a comb to brush all the hair backward. For added volume, you can use a blow-dryer while brushing the hair back. This versatile style works well for most face shapes and is suitable for both casual and formal settings.
19. The Textured Undercut
The textured undercut is a bold choice for men with thin hair who want to create the illusion of fullness and volume. This style features very short sides and back with significantly longer hair on top.
Ask your barber for an undercut on the sides and back (typically a #1 or #2 clipper guard), leaving the top 3-4 inches long. The key to this style is the textured cut on top, which adds volume and movement. To style, apply a texturizing powder to dry hair, then use your fingers to tousle and piece out the top section. This edgy style works particularly well for men with oval or diamond face shapes.
20. The Modern Bowl Cut
The modern bowl cut is a trendy, updated version of the classic style that can work surprisingly well for men with thin hair. This cut features short sides and back with longer hair on top that’s cut in a curved line around the head.
Ask your barber for a fade on the sides and back, leaving the top 2-3 inches long. The key to this style is the curved line that connects the longer top section to the shorter sides. To style, apply a small amount of texturizing cream to damp hair, then use your fingers to tousle and add texture to the top section. This bold style works best for men with oval or heart-shaped faces and is perfect for those who want a unique, fashion-forward look.
In conclusion, there are numerous stylish options for men with thin hair. The key is to work with your natural hair texture and choose a cut that adds volume, creates the illusion of fullness, and suits your face shape and personal style. Regular trims and proper styling techniques can help maintain the appearance of thicker, fuller hair. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles to find the one that makes you feel most confident and comfortable.