The Rule: Shorter Hides More
Hair loss is most visible as contrast: dense hair next to sparse hair, or hair next to scalp. The shorter the hair, the smaller that contrast. That's why almost every good cut for balding men is short, and why growing hair long to cover thinning usually makes it more obvious.
Male-pattern hair loss is very common, affecting around half of men by 50. Treatments exist and work best early; a doctor can advise. The cuts below are about looking sharp whatever you decide.
If the Crown Is Thinning
Short textured crop: keep the top short and messy so the crown doesn't show as a smooth patch. Buzz cut: a number 2 or 3 guard all over makes crown thinning hard to spot. Crew cut: short sides and a short top. Avoid slicking hair back, which parts at the crown.
If the Front Is Receding
Textured crop or French crop: a short fringe pushed forward covers the temples naturally. Caesar cut: a short, straight fringe. High and tight: very short sides make the top look fuller. More options in receding hairline haircuts.
If Hair Loss Is Advanced
Buzz cut: a very short guard keeps a shadow of hair. Shaved head: often the sharpest, most confident option. Keep it smooth with a regular shave, use moisturiser, and wear sunscreen on the scalp. A shaved head suits oval, square and oblong faces especially; round faces benefit from a beard.
Read more: Will a Buzz Cut Suit Your Face Shape?
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Add a Beard
A beard adds hair where you can grow it and shifts attention down the face. A short, well-shaped beard or heavy stubble with a defined neckline gives a shaved or buzzed head structure. Keep the beard a little longer than the hair on your head for balance. See beard styles for your face shape.
What Never Works
Comb-overs, long hair on top over a thinning crown, and a full head of length with a bald spot all draw the eye to what they're hiding. So does shiny, heavy product, which clumps hair and shows the scalp between clumps.
The free face scan in Ollie Stylist ranks short cuts and beards for your face shape, and Ollie Pro shows them on your own photo, which helps before a big change like shaving your head.