These 10 Hairstyles Disguise Hair Loss and Thinning

People experience hair loss and thinning for a plethora of reasons. During the pandemic, for example, many noticed they were suffering from stress-related hair loss. Others experience traction alopecia, which can be caused from wearing wigs and extensions. Others have health issues that cause their hair to fall out en masse. Whatever the reason is, it can be scary to notice fewer strands on your head and more on your hair brush. Not to mention, it can cause insecurities.

We firmly believe that everyone is beautiful no matter how much hair they do or don't have, but if it's something you'd like to cover up, we're here to help you do that, too. Certain hairstyles can cover up balding spots, receding hairlines, widening parts, and overall thinning hair — it's just a matter of knowing what to do and how to do it.

To make this simpler, we tapped two experts and shared a few of the tips we've learned over the years as pros. From top knots and bangs to headbands and braids, see below for the 10 best hairstyles that can create the optical illusion of a fuller, thicker head of hair.

Side-Swept Bangs

To hide hairline thinning, opt for some side-swept bangs. (Yes, you can fake them if you're not ready to commit.)

"If you have bangs, pull hair into a loose, low ponytail and secure at the nape of neck. Next, dry bangs with a large round brush for volume and sweep them to either side," suggests Jerome Lordet, the Co-Director of Pierre Michel Salon. "If you do not have bangs, leave a small section out from left and right side after you make ponytail pull those sections back and secure behind ears."

Headbands

Using a headband to disguise thinning around the hairline is an age-old trick that works every time — and you can adjust the width and style of it depending on the look you're going for or how much you want to cover.

Lordet says to secure the headband about a 1/4 inch from your hairline or directly over the hairline, using a comb tease the hair starting from behind the headband brush back and spray a bit of hairspray for hold. "A scalp foundation, like this one from ME Cosmetics, is a great way to cover in where baby hair starts to thin normally at the temples, just style hair and then brush a bit of the foundation to either side and rub in," he adds.