A bald spot on the crown can significantly impact self-confidence, with some men feeling that hair loss affects both their social and professional lives. If you’re concerned about male pattern baldness, this guide will help you find a haircut that suits you. We’ve compiled the best and worst haircuts for balding men, focusing on those with thinning on top or a balding crown. In this article, you’ll discover the most flattering hairstyles for balding men, haircuts to avoid, hair products that can help conceal a thinning crown, and effective treatments to slow hair loss and encourage regrowth.
The Best Hairstyles for Balding Men
Hair thinning, particularly on the crown or top of the head, doesn’t mean you have to compromise style. The right haircut can enhance your look, complement your face shape, and even disguise thinning areas. Below is a guide to the top hairstyles for balding men, organised by length, style, and personality type.
Short and Low-Maintenance Styles
Clean-Shaven Head
Shaving your head completely removes the need to hide thinning hair. A bald head exudes confidence and masculinity, working especially well for square or oval faces and athletic builds. Pairing a shaved head with a beard enhances the rugged look. Interestingly, men with male pattern baldness may find it easier to grow a full beard because DHT, the hormone linked to scalp hair loss, promotes facial hair growth.
Buzz Cut
A buzz cut is one of the simplest, low-maintenance options. It keeps hair short and uniform, reducing contrast between thinning and fuller areas. Slightly longer hair on top can subtly mask the
crown without requiring much styling.
Crew Cut
Similar to the buzz cut but slightly longer on top, the crew cut adds texture to disguise thinning hair. The clean sides and back give a youthful, polished appearance while still being easy to maintain.
Statham Stubble
For men who want a short but textured look, the Statham stubble (named after Jason Statham) keeps the crown very short while pairing with light facial hair for a masculine, rugged style. This works particularly well for mature men looking to minimize crown thinning.
Medium-Length Styles for Coverage and Volume
Classic Quiff
The quiff adds height and volume to the front, drawing attention away from thinning areas. Best suited for men with a mostly intact hairline, it creates a stylish and polished look. Men with frontal thinning should approach this cut cautiously, as it can expose sparse areas.
Slicked-Back Style
If you have thinning at the crown but healthy hair in the front, the slicked-back style can work well. Apply gel or mousse and comb the hair backwards; adding a high fade helps reduce contrast at the temples and crown, creating a clean, masculine silhouette.
Bro Flow
For wavy or curly hair, the bro flow allows longer hair to fall naturally while sweeping back from the face. It’s youthful and casual, best paired with sufficient frontal hair coverage. Styling products can help maintain shape without causing damage.
Pompadour
The pompadour creates dramatic height and volume at the front, ideal for those with a full frontal hairline. Blow-dry and roll the hair back with a round brush, then lock it in place with hairspray. Pair with short or faded sides for maximum contrast and a stylish finish.
Creative and Trendy Styles
Asymmetrical Side-Part
An asymmetrical side-part is perfect for covering uneven hairlines or a central bald spot. One side is longer and swept over, while the other is short or shaved. This artistic cut works well for non-conformist personalities and draws attention away from thinning areas.
Faux Hawk
A faux hawk offers a modern, edgy look while masking crown thinning. Unlike a full mohawk, it’s less extreme and works best with healthy side hair to pull towards the center.
Top Knot / Man Bun
The top knot can conceal mild to moderate thinning while creating a youthful, athletic look. Avoid wearing it too tightly or frequently to prevent traction alopecia. Alternating with looser styles helps protect hair health.
Short-Fringe and Face-Focused Styles
Caesar Cut
The Caesar cut features a short, choppy fringe that draws attention to your face and beard rather than thinning hair. Simple and classic, it works well for mild to moderate crown hair loss and is low maintenance.
Business Cut
Ideal for mature men, the business cut is a neat, side-parted style that looks professional. Works best if there is moderate hair density on the crown; otherwise, it may resemble a comb-over. Pairing with greying temples adds sophistication.
Cover-Up Options
Beanie or Hat
For men with advanced thinning, a hat or beanie is a practical and fashionable solution. It covers bald spots while highlighting remaining hair, creating a casual, artsy vibe. Popular among celebrities, this style is versatile but may not be suitable for all formal settings.
Hairstyles to Avoid if You’re Balding
While the right haircut can boost confidence and disguise thinning hair, some styles can draw attention to bald spots or make hair loss more noticeable. Here’s a guide to the hairstyles that generally don’t work well for men experiencing crown or top-of-the-head balding.
The Power Doughnut
This classic “ring of hair” style, where a bald spot on the crown is surrounded by a puff of hair, has been famously sported by Danny DeVito and Larry David. While iconic on them, for most men, it can look outdated and prematurely age you. Instead, consider shaving your head completely or opting for a short buzz cut to create a cleaner, more intentional look.
The See-Through Combover
Attempting to cover a large bald spot by combing hair from the sides over the top rarely works when hair loss is advanced. A “see-through” combover often exposes the thinning areas, especially in wind or movement, drawing more attention to hair loss. For extensive baldness, hairpieces, scalp micropigmentation, or a clean shave are usually more effective solutions.
Braids, Cornrows, and Dreadlocks
While these styles can look striking on full, healthy hair, they highlight thinning or sparse areas when hair is patchy. Bald spots on the crown become more visible, leaving gaps between braids or locs. Additionally, tight braided styles can cause traction alopecia, worsening hair loss over time. If your hair is thinning, it’s better to choose styles that work with your natural texture rather than against it.
Long Hair with a Bald Crown
Long hair can be stylish, but when paired with a bald or thinning crown, it often creates a confusing or unbalanced appearance. Hair on the sides and back may look healthy, while the top appears sparse. If you want to keep length, consider wearing a beanie or bandana to conceal the crown, or explore a natural-looking hair transplant to restore density.
Sparse, Spiky Hair
Spiky hair can add texture and style, but when the top is thinning, sparse spikes emphasize gaps instead of concealing them. Instead of attempting feeble spikes, short, textured cuts like a buzz cut or crew cut are typically more flattering, creating a uniform look that downplays thinning areas.
Hair Products That Can Help Conceal Thinning at the Crown
Even with the right haircut, some men may want extra help disguising thinning hair at the crown. A variety of hair products and treatments can add density, reduce contrast between bald spots and fuller areas, and create the illusion of thicker hair. Here are some of the most effective options:
1. Hair Thickening Sprays
Hair thickening sprays use tiny fibres that attach to your natural hair strands, creating instant volume and density. Thanks to an electrostatic charge, these fibres cling to hair without lying flat, giving a natural, full appearance that moves with your hair. These sprays work best on short to medium-length hairstyles and can help camouflage mild to moderate crown thinning.
2. Spray-On Hair Pigments
Spray-on hair products are temporary solutions that deposit a pigment matching your hair colour directly onto thinning areas. By reducing the contrast between the scalp and remaining hair, they make bald spots less noticeable. This approach works particularly well for men with short hair or minor thinning. It’s quick, easy, and washes out with shampoo.
3. Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP)
For a longer-lasting solution, scalp micropigmentation involves tattooing tiny dots of pigment onto the scalp to mimic the look of hair follicles. SMP works on the principle of lowering scalp contrast, similar to spray-on pigments, but the results are permanent. This technique requires an experienced practitioner to ensure natural-looking results and avoid unnatural patterns or density. SMP is ideal for men with advanced crown thinning or bald spots who want a low-maintenance, realistic hairline effect.
4. Hair Thickening Shampoos
While not as immediate as sprays or SMP, hair thickening shampoos can improve hair appearance over time. Many formulas contain keratin or protein-based ingredients to add lift, volume, and the illusion of density. Some shampoos also include active compounds like caffeine or saw palmetto, which may stimulate follicles and support hair health. Research supports caffeine shampoo’s potential to reduce hair loss in male pattern baldness, though natural DHT blockers like saw palmetto require more study for effectiveness in shampoo form.
Using one or a combination of these products can help you camouflage thinning areas and boost confidence while you explore long-term solutions like medical treatments or hair transplants.
The Most Effective Treatments for Crown Hair Loss
If you’re noticing thinning or balding at the crown, there are several proven treatments that can help slow hair loss, stimulate regrowth, and restore density. The right option will depend on the cause and severity of your hair loss.
Finasteride – A leading oral medication for men with androgenetic alopecia, Finasteride works by lowering levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness.
Minoxidil – This topical solution increases blood flow to hair follicles, delivering essential oxygen and nutrients to encourage growth. It’s versatile, easy to apply, and effective for many men and women.
Corticosteroids – Steroid creams or injections can reduce inflammation in autoimmune-related hair loss conditions such as alopecia areata, scalp psoriasis, and certain types of scarring alopecia.
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy – PRP involves extracting growth-factor-rich plasma from your own blood and injecting it into thinning areas. This stimulates new hair production and encourages blood vessel growth in the scalp.
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) – Also called red light therapy, LLLT energizes cells in the scalp to stimulate hair follicles and promote growth.
Dermarolling – Using a derma roller creates tiny micro-punctures in the scalp, triggering natural healing responses. When combined with Minoxidil, absorption and effectiveness can be enhanced.
Hair Transplants – Unlike other treatments, hair transplants provide a permanent solution. Healthy follicles are taken from the back or sides of the head and transplanted to thinning or bald areas on the crown. Advanced techniques like FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) ensure natural-looking results that can last for decades.
Restore Your Hair and Confidence at Berkeley Hair Clinic
At Berkeley Hair Clinic, we offer expert solutions for crown hair loss and male pattern baldness, including advanced hair transplants and medically supported hair restoration treatments. Our experienced team will guide you through your options and create a plan tailored to your needs.
Book a no-obligation consultation today to explore how we can help you regain a fuller, natural-looking hairline and restore your confidence.
