In 2022, a TikTok rumour that Harry Styles was balding spread like wildfire. This was only fueled by his decision to try a buzz cut in 2023. So, is the singer truly facing hair loss?
Photos of him sporting his luxurious signature quiffs once more in early 2024 have likely put the online chatter to rest: the star shows no indication of advanced male pattern baldness. While his hairline may have slightly receded from his teenage days, Harry doesn’t seem to need a hair transplant in the near future.
Keep reading this article to find out more about Harry Styles’ hair transformations and how to pull off his look, such as:
Harry Edward Styles is a British singer, songwriter and actor. He was born in 1994 in Worcestershire, England. Harry started his musical career at the young age of 16 when he auditioned for The X Factor.
At one of the judges’ recommendations, Harry was joined by 4 other boys of similar ages, who went on to perform as a band. While they only won 3rd place in the competition, the newly founded One Direction received a record deal from Simon Cowell and soon became an international pop phenomenon.
Six years and five hit albums later, in 2016, Harry signed his first solo album deal while the band was on a hiatus. In 2017, he made his acting debut playing alongside Hollywood star Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.
Since then, both his acting and solo music careers have taken off, and he has won many prestigious awards and nominations, such as the American Music Awards (2020, 2022) and the TIFF Tribute Awards (2022).
Unfounded rumours about Harry being bald and wearing a hairpiece started around 2022, when a popular TikTok account asserted that an unnamed famous musician was, in fact, bald. However, the singer made light of this gossip, denying any baldness for Rolling Stone [3]:
“What is it with baldness? … It skips a generation or something, right? If your grandad’s bald then you’ll be bald? Well, my granddad wasn’t bald, so fingers crossed.”
Despite all the internet chatter, in 2023, Harry decided to get a brand new buzz cut and presented it to the world. This set the internet ablaze with criticism and speculations regarding the alleged hair loss that led to this drastic look change:
There are two main arguments supporting the theory that the 30-year-old singer is experiencing androgenetic alopecia. The first is what is perceived as an M-shaped hairline, while the second rests with his decision to get a buzz cut in 2023. However, while it is true that the first signs of hair thinning and balding in men with male pattern baldness often manifest as a messed-up hairline, Harry’s doesn’t seem to have receded substantially.
The confusion rests with the fact that the artist has always had a widow’s peak, which differs from an M-shaped hairline. While the former is a natural hair growth pattern which occurs in some people from birth or early childhood, the latter is, indeed, a sign of abnormal hair shedding.
As for choosing to get a buzz cut, it is true that it is one of the best male hairstyles for a receding hairline. However, it is also a very popular masculine haircut. The singer may very well have grown weary of the locks he has worn for decades and may have been seeking a change that fits his more mature age.
Of course, since he turned 30, Harry now has a matured or slightly receding hairline in comparison to the way it was when he was a teenager. However, his hair still looks mostly healthy and with no advanced signs of balding at this time.
While Harry did not comment on his style choice, his mother, Anne Twist, expressed her disappointment with the unkind reactions some fans had to his new look:
His full, luxurious locks have been one of Harry’s best appearance assets ever since he was very young. Here is how his hair has evolved throughout the years:
As a small child, Harry alternated between wearing the typical Edgar cut so popular with kids in those days and short, messy hairdos. What is most interesting to notice is that he has always had a widow’s peak, which may have fueled later speculations regarding his supposed hair thinning.
Harry was already sporting the full, wavy mane that won many female fans’ hearts in his early teenage years. He preferred a side-swept part which obscured most of his hairline and his voluminous, blow-dried, textured curls were enough to make him look fabulous.
The young singer experimented often with his look during his time with One Direction. He started out with messy, sometimes combed back mid-length hair, taking advantage of his natural curls and full texture.
At first, a blow dryer and some hair product seemed to be the only things Harry needed to have an excellent hair day. He moved effortlessly between a look of boyish charm and a more rebellious teen vibe.
However, in a few years, the singer got tired of the same old look and felt the need for some change. He started by accessorising with hats and headgear but eventually went for a more substantial transformation.
In 2015, Harry went full heart-throb by growing out long, romantic curls, which he simply combed back and tucked behind one ear. This made him look more grown up and gave him a rockstar vibe
By 2017, Harry had taken his first steps towards solo fame and embraced a new, mature look. He cut off his curls and went for some neat, simple quiffs, leaving behind the poofy messiness of his childhood hairdos.
The 2020s found him with slightly longer, combed-back, soft waves and sensual stubble, driving home the point that the boy was now all grown up. While he recovered some of the messiness of the early days, it no longer carried an impish vibe but an artsy, bohemian look.
The singer maintained this appearance all the way through 2022, softening it up a bit, but keeping it simple and romantic. This whole time, his widow’s peak was still clearly visible, but there was no evident sign of hairline recession compared to his younger days.
In 2023, the artist searched for something new, perhaps to redefine himself or break out of a style rut. In November, Harry shocked his fans and gave the media a field day by posting a photo of himself on Instagram sporting a brand new buzz cut. Since audiences were very accustomed to his luscious locks, this reveal had an overwhelmingly negative reception and led to speculations that the singer had gone bald.
While the buzz cut photos show some irregularities in the 30-year-old’s hairline, as well as some light recession, it is unlikely that a type of alopecia was behind this style choice.
The best evidence that Harry was not, in fact, trying to hide his thinning hair by trimming it short rests in his spectacular 2024 hair regrowth. Full waves, a decent-looking hairline and perky quiffs once more adorned the artist’s head, hopefully putting chatter about his baldness at rest.
It is true that many celebrities had hair transplants and successfully changed their appearance (e.g. Robbie Williams or Boy George). However, Harry Styles seems still to be a few years away from needing one.
While Harry’s signature looks usually require fuller hair, his more recent transformations make them available to men with dwindling locks. Whether you are experiencing frontal balding, a bald spot on the crown or a receding hairline, you can still try your hand at a Harry Styles vibe. Here are some of his best hairstyles for men with thin hair:
If you have medium-length wavy or curly hair, a messy style can help cover up any thinning spots in the frontal area, as well as a receding hairline. Simply comb your hair forward and sweep it to the side, giving it a dishevelled look. If you would like more volume, you can blow dry it (on a low heat setting, as it is hard to fix heat-damaged hair) or use a hair-thickening spray.
Popularised by stars such as Matthew McConaughey, this style Harry rocked works great if you have long or medium, wavy hair. All you need to do is to comb your locks back and let them flow or tuck them behind your ears. This is one of the best haircuts for men who are balding on top, because the combed-back, textured strands can mask crown thinning.
If you are struggling with a receded or uneven hairline, you can always try this smouldering, side-swept, longer fringe that Harry seems to have borrowed from Johhny Depp’s playbook. It looks sexy, mysterious and draws attention away from your temple hair loss.
Due to its height and volume, a quiff can be an excellent way to cover top thinning. It can be obtained easily by leaving your hair a bit longer in the front, combing it up, and then backwards with a round brush. A bit of hairspray can be a good finishing touch to lock it in place (don’t worry, hairspray does not cause hair loss).
While the internet mostly rejected Harry’s new, short-trimmed look, this was because they were used to him with full locks, not because a buzz cut isn’t stylish. In fact, it is one of the most popular men’s styles, and it can give you a bad-boy vibe, especially when worn with rugged stubble. At the same time, it can make your hair thinning less conspicuous. Check out the best buzz cuts for a receding hairline.
Harry’s hairline has not changed substantially over the years, but he may be experiencing some receding. If that is the case, starting hair growth treatment early could be the key to maintaining his luxurious mane. Since a star of his calibre has access to the top trichologists in the UK, he would be recommended the best hair loss treatments for men, such as:
If you are worried about excessive hair shedding, it is important to determine the reason your hair is falling out. A hair doctor can examine you and perform specific diagnostic trichology tests to provide personalised treatment recommendations. If, like Harry, you are displaying incipient signs of male pattern baldness, you may be prescribed one or more of the treatments listed above.
However, if your balding is more advanced than Harry’s, you might be a good candidate for a natural looking hair transplant. Regardless of whether you opt for a FUE or FUT-type surgery, the best hair transplant clinics in the UK have excellent success rates. However, FUE leaves virtually no scarring, so you can get a hair transplant without anyone knowing.
While hair transplant costs can be higher than those of other treatments, you can consider them a long-term investment in your appearance. That is because medications and therapies only work while you’re using them, while a hair transplant is permanent. Basically, while there is no cure for baldness now, hair restoration surgery is as close as it gets, as you can enjoy a hair transplant after 10 years or more.
If you want to learn more about this procedure and whether you can benefit from having your hair surgically restored, book a free hair transplant consultation today. Our surgeons will patiently walk you through the entire process and provide you with the best, personalised recommendations. Check out our results in our before and after hair transplant photo gallery.
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