It’s normal for your hair to get thinner as you get older. But finding the right hairstyle to suit your age, style, and hair density isn’t always easy.
Here, you’ll find all the most flattering older men’s hairstyles for thinning hair. Whether your hairline is receding or you’re thinning on the crown, you’ll find a haircut here to suit you. Plus, you’ll learn:
Choosing a new hairstyle in your golden years can be intimidating, especially if you haven’t experimented much with various styles, or you feel self-conscious about your hair thinning.
But there are ultimately just five things to consider when getting a restyle:
Consider each of these factors when reviewing the list of hairstyles and haircuts for mature men below.
See all the best hairstyles for older men with thinning hair below.
Temple hair loss is a classic sign of a mature or receding hairline, but often looks distinguished on older men. So there’s no need to cover up your hairline. Instead, opt for an elegant brushed back crew cut as modelled here by Tom Hanks.
This classic style is ideal for men who favour a neat, stylish look, while lacking the hair density for a fuller style.
Top styling tip: This cut needs minimal daily styling, but you’ll need to visit the barber regularly to keep it looking neat.
For a casual, carefree hairstyle, cut your hair short then tousle the lengths gently with a little wax or gel. This look takes just a few seconds to achieve, while giving your hair effortless body and texture (so it won’t look like you’ve spent hours in front of the mirror).
This tousled yet tidy style masks hair that’s thin enough to see your scalp without adding years to your appearance.
Top styling tip: Use hair wax to achieve a more natural mussed-up look. Use any product sparingly to avoid a crunchy or crispy texture.
Simple short crops suit many older men with thinning Afro hair, especially if you’re starting to grey. This distinguished salt-and-pepper look is easy to maintain, and looks great at any stage of hair loss. Even men experiencing more advanced male pattern baldness will feel confident and stylish with this elegant crop.
Thinning along the frontal hairline? You can still wear a youthful, stylish cut as a mature man. Grow your hair longer on top while keeping the back and sides short. Then, using some light wax or gel, brush your hair upwards to get natural-looking volume and lift. This will disguise any balding through the mid-scalp and crown, too.
This textured style will expose any frontal balding, so it works best if you have light thinning around this area. It’s ideal if you have a full but uneven hairline with thinning towards the mid-scalp.
Top styling tip: This style requires some daily styling and regular trims to keep it looking sharp, so opt for this only if you’re committed to maintaining it.
George Clooney’s hair is still relatively thick and full, but he has started to show some of the first signs of balding in recent years. The photo below was taken ten years earlier than the one above, showing visible hair ageing:
To compensate for this thinning, he’s opted for a lighter shorter fringe that falls over his forehead, minimising the appearance of any hair loss around his temples. Cutting in a fringe is one of the best hairstyles for a receding hairline, as you can design it to suit you.
Top styling tip: Applying Minoxidil to your temples at the first signs of hair loss can help you maintain your hair, so you won’t need a drastic chop any time soon.
Tousled looks are on-trend right now among older and younger men alike. Mature men with an M-shaped hairline are likely to have visible recession with this style, but this is part and parcel of having a more mature, relaxed hairline.
To get this look, let your hair grow over your ears and through the top. If you have fine hair that lacks natural waves, add texture with hair gel or wax.
Top styling tip: Enhance this look’s craggy, no-maintenance appeal. Pair it with a few days’ stubble for a rugged variation on this hairstyle for older men with thinning hair.
Fades are popular among younger men right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage, too. Ask your barber for a classic short back and sides, but with some extra length on top. You can then style this however you choose — brushed up like Daniel Day-Lewis, or smoothed forward if you’re conscious of your hairline.
Additional volume through the lengths can detract from a receding hairline and cover up a bald spot on your crown.
Top styling tip: Not all mature men feel at ease with a style like this, so ask your barber or stylist for their opinion if you’re unsure on how well a style will suit you.
Older men with Afro hair can afford to leave their hair a little longer on the sides without it looking unkempt. Afro hair retains much of its natural volume as you get older, so you’re unlikely to experience any straggly or lank ends, even if you wear your hair slightly longer.
This is an extremely low-maintenance look that works with almost any level of balding.
Top styling tip: If you’re leaving your hair longer, make sure to take good care of it. As a minimum, use oils to keep hair hydrated and a wide-tooth comb to prevent tangling.
For those with light hair loss or thinning on one side, a simple side parting is a classic older men’s hairstyle for thinning hair. Your parting may start a little deeper than when you were younger, but with good coverage across the rest of the scalp, this is an effective way to make the most of your hair.
Modernise this look by trimming the back and sides shorter to achieve a deeper fade.
Top styling tip: Don’t set your parting too far to one side, as this can create an unwanted combover effect.
This classy hairstyle for older men with thinning hair is neat and modern, especially if you have significant recession along your hairline. Adding a little lift beneath the bulk of the hair creates volume that helps cover some of your forehead, disguising a more advanced receding hairline.
This look requires a little more daily styling than others, and you’ll need regular haircuts to keep it looking tidy. So it’s best for men with more time and inclination to tend to their hair.
Top styling tip: Gently backcomb your hair to add volume at the roots. A little gel, wax, or hairspray can keep your hair in place, but use it sparingly to avoid a crunchy finish.
Create the illusion of fullness by adding volume to your hair. Teasing or backcombing your hair on top can lift it away from the scalp, suggesting you have more hair than you really do.
Wear your backcombed style with a side parting so you can sweep your hair across the head, covering any thinning patches through the mid-scalp and crown.
Top styling tip: Keep the sides short to create contrast between the sides and lengths of your hair, boosting the appearance of density on top of your head.
Mop tops are associated with younger generations, but there’s a place for a sophisticated messy do among older men, too. A mature hairline complements curly mid-length hair, as your curls will naturally fall over the forehead, detracting from thinning temples.
This is a low-maintenance hairstyle for men with a receding hairline but full, textured coverage across the crown. Men with straight or fine hair need to add body, so expect some extra styling steps to achieve this look.
Top styling tip: Hair should be well-textured for this look to work. Straight hair can look lank and straggly if left long, so if your hair is naturally straight, add some product to texturise your hair first.
Covering thinning on the crown can be harder than hiding a receding hairline. But this mature brushed-back style is a sophisticated way to achieve it. Grow your hair longer on the sides and top, then gently brush the hair back behind your ears.
This hairstyle naturally exposes your hairline, so you’ll need to be comfortable with any recession. Rest assured, you’re in good company — this brushed-back look is also worn by King Charles III.
Top styling tip: If necessary, keep hair in place with a lightweight hairspray. Avoid gel or wax with this look, as too much product can look claggy and weigh the hair down.
Brushing the hair back creates a sophisticated look. But for a more casual hairstyle that suits many older men, consider brushing your hair forward instead. This unfussy look is very low-maintenance and easy to achieve. Just cut your hair to your desired length, then brush it forward towards your hairline.
Brushed forward styles work well for men with a receding hairline and thinning around the mid-scalp.
Top styling tip: This versatile style is best when it’s kept simple. Avoid using products or overbrushing, and stay on top of your haircuts to keep it looking neat.
Buzzing your hair can be very liberating, especially if you’ve been dealing with hair loss for decades. You’ll no longer need to worry about styling, brushing, or disguising your bald spot. This haircut for men who are balding on top is ideal for older men seeking a low maintenance look.
Opting for a buzzcut for a receding hairline can be a bit of a shock initially, but many men ultimately feel a sense of relief when they take the plunge. For inspiration, check out our list of bald celebrities who look great with a shaved head.
Top styling tip: No styling necessary. Just buzz your hair regularly to stop bald spots reappearing.
Looking for a style with a little more glamour? A subtle pompadour is a more showy look for older men with light hair thinning around the temples. Plus, if you’re losing hair around the crown, a pompadour can mask some of this hair loss.
This cut will highlight your hairline, so it’s not one for those who are concerned about exposing temple hair loss. But if you’re happy to trade some hairline exposure for a unique, sophisticated style, a mini pompadour is a great option.
Top styling tip: Keep this style age-appropriate by ensuring you don’t add too much lift beneath the pompadour. A flatter, more subtle approach works best for older men.
While many mature hairstyles for men with thin hair focus on keeping your hair short and unfussy, you may prefer to wear your hair a little longer to detract from any balding patches. A long back and sides cut gives you scope to experiment with different styles that mask thinning areas.
Here, Tommy Lee Jones’s hair is combed to one side, adding volume and sophistication without drawing too much attention to his thinning temples.
Top styling tip: Longer hair needs regular brushing and trimming to keep it looking tidy. Straggly or unkempt hair can make you look older and less refined, so take the time to care for your hair properly.
If a buzzcut doesn’t go far enough, consider shaving your head fully bald in the vein of Samuel L Jackson. Some men find shaving their head actually makes them look younger than wearing a hairstyle with visible bald spots.
Forget about covering up hair thinning and embrace your hair loss by going bald by choice.
Top styling tip: It takes confidence to shave your head, so pair your new look with clothes and accessories that make you feel great.
A close-cropped crew cut is a simple style that many men turn to in their golden years. It’s unfussy, easy to care for, and suits those with significantly receding hairlines.
This style is also a good transitional style for those with longer hair who are gradually working towards a buzzcut or fully shaved head.
Top styling tip: There’s no need to use products to complicate this unaffected hairstyle. Just practise good haircare with regular washing and trimming.
The bald with a beard trend has been picking up traction for several years, so it’s a great way for older men to embrace their hair loss while still looking stylish. A beard gives off strong masculine energy, so many men find it a great way to boost their self-confidence even while losing their hair.
Whether you opt for light stubble or a full length beard, growing out your facial hair to compensate for shaving your head is a great look for many mature men.
Top styling tip: If your beard could use a little TLC, check out our guides on how to fix a patchy beard and how to grow a beard.
A moustache adds a dapper touch to any look — but especially a neat brushed-back crop like Gene Hackman’s here. Though his hairline has receded substantially, he retains a smart, distinguished look thanks to his narrow moustache and tidy haircut.
Experiment with different moustache styles until you find one you’re comfortable with. A hipster handlebar moustache can suit men with a unique style, while others will be more at ease with a classic chevron moustache.
Top styling tip: You can wear your hair a little longer in this versatile style, or keep it trimmed and tidy. Longer hair gives you more scope for experimentation, while shorter hair is generally easier to maintain.
From stylish specs to statement neckwear, accessories are a great way to distract people from your bald patches and less-than-perfect hairline.
Take Jonathan Pryce: with on-trend browline glasses, a smart bowtie, and impressive facial hair, most people are looking at everything but his pate. That means you can wear whatever hairstyle you want without worrying too much about your thinning hair.
Top styling tip: Don’t overdo it. Accessorising is an art, and it’s easy to go too far; one or two statement items is usually enough to detract from a thinning hairline.
Some hairstyles should be avoided at all costs if you’re losing your hair. Let’s take a look at five hairstyles that rarely work for mature men with thinning hair.
As you get older, your hair is more prone to breakage and thinning [1]. And pulling your hair back into a ponytail, bun, or any other tight style is liable to make matters worse. Tying your hair back tugs on the hair follicles; over time, this can prevent hair regrowth. This is known as traction alopecia, and it’s likely to accelerate any hair thinning you have.
In addition, scraping your hair back off your forehead can make a receding hairline much more obvious. So it’s generally best to avoid ponytails and other excessively long hairstyles if you have thinning hair.
Alternative styles: If you want to keep your hair long, wear it loose or opt for a more structured style, such as the mature mop top or long back and sides.
Many tousled looks work well for mature men, but they need care, attention, and structure to look good (see Kevin Costner and Hugh Laurie above). Longer mussed-up looks that don’t have adequate structure can look a little kooky or offbeat, and make your hair appear thinner than it really is.
To avoid this, keep tousled or curly hair neatly trimmed, especially round the back and sides of your head.
Alternative styles: If you’re thinning through the mid-scalp, a brushed forward finish with shorter sides often works well.
Protective styles worn too long and/or too tight can cause traction alopecia, which worsens hair thinning. So consider limiting how often you wear these hairstyles if you’re concerned about hair loss. This includes tight braids, dreadlocks, and cornrows.
If you do want to wear these styles, make sure to take them out as often as you can (at least monthly) to give your follicles time to recover.
Alternative styles: Any style that doesn’t tug on your follicles will help you retain your hair for longer. But if you prefer to wear your hair in protective styles, micro braids and knotless box braids are generally less damaging than heavier or tighter braids.
Unlike more subtle side-swept looks (see Jason Isaacs and Ken Watanabe above), a combover involves growing thinning hair very long and carefully styling it to cover large bald patches.
While this sounds good in theory, in reality a combover is usually very obvious. It’s also the stereotypical look of a man who’s self-conscious about losing his hair, so it’s one to avoid if you can.
Alternative styles: A subtle pompadour is a good way to mask a thinning crown without compromising on style.
Hairpieces can help you hide hair thinning, but you need an extremely high quality wig or toupée to get away with it unnoticed. Your hairpiece should match your original hairline in colour, style, and texture — and you’ll need to start wearing it before your thinning is too visible.
For most men this is tough to achieve, so we generally recommend steering clear of wigs and finding a natural hairstyle that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
Alternative styles: Like John Travolta, consider ditching the toupée and embracing your hair loss with a bearded bald look. This is a great way to stay on-trend without worrying about wig visibility and security.
Tired of trying to find a cut or style that disguises your thinning hair? It may be time to consider hair restoration. With several non-surgical and surgical options available to stop your receding hairline, there are plenty of methods that can help maintain or even regrow your hair.
Take a look at our rundown of the best male hair loss treatments. These include medications like Minoxidil and Finasteride, as well as non-invasive procedures like platelet-rich plasma therapy. All these methods have excellent success rates for slowing and even reversing hair loss.
That said, they won’t work for everyone. If you’ve tried other hair loss treatments with limited success, a hair transplant may be the solution. The Wimpole Clinic has been named Hair Transplant Clinic of the Year for four years running, so you’re in safe hands with our experienced team. Find your nearest clinic location and book a consultation to discuss your hair restoration options.
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