Haircut for a Big Forehead: 6 Cuts for Women and Men

The best haircut for a big forehead covers part of it with a soft fringe and keeps height off the top of the head: bottleneck bangs or a French bob for women, a French crop or a textured Caesar for men.

See these cuts on your own face. CutMuse turns a front and a profile photo into five haircuts rendered on your own face, along with hair colors for your skin tone, glasses that suit you and instructions for your barber or stylist.

How to tell if your forehead is actually big

• Split your face into thirds: hairline to brows, brows to the base of the nose, nose to chin. If the top third is clearly the longest, your forehead is tall.
• Check width too: a forehead wider than your cheekbones points to a heart shape, which changes the best cut.
• Look at the temples. A hairline that recedes at the corners makes the forehead look bigger, and that needs its own approach.
• Judge from a photo taken at eye level. Photos from below make every forehead look bigger.

The best haircuts for a big forehead

1. Bottleneck bangs (women)

Narrow at the part and widening toward the outer corners of the eyes, bottleneck bangs cover the center of the forehead and blend into face-framing pieces at the cheekbone. They take height off a tall forehead without the commitment of a blunt fringe and grow out gracefully. Best on straight to wavy hair of medium density; on fine hair, ask for a slightly deeper section so they don't split.

2. French bob with wispy bangs (women)

A French bob sits between the cheekbone and the jaw, with a soft fringe at eyebrow length. The fringe covers the upper third and the short length puts the visual weight at mid-face, so the proportions shift down and the forehead stops dominating. Keep it wispy, not heavy. Suits straight or slightly wavy hair on oval and heart-leaning faces; on a round face, go a little longer.

3. Curly bangs on a layered curly cut (women)

Curls can cover a big forehead beautifully when the fringe is cut dry, curl by curl, so it springs to brow length instead of shrinking up to the hairline. The volume of curly bangs also widens the top visually, which suits a tall, narrow forehead better than a wide one. Pair them with layers that keep length at the shoulders. For wavy-curly to coily hair.

4. French crop with a mid fade (men)

A French crop pushes the top forward into a short textured fringe that sits across the upper forehead and cuts its height in one move. The sides go to a mid fade; the top stays around one and a half to two inches, point cut for texture so it doesn't look like a helmet. Works on straight and wavy hair, and it's the go-to if the temples are starting to recede.

5. Textured Caesar cut (men)

Shorter than a French crop, the Caesar has a short, straight fringe brushed forward all around. It covers the forehead line with almost no styling and suits men who want short hair without the full exposure of a buzz cut. Ask for about an inch on top with texture and the sides at a #2 or #3. Good for thick, coarse hair and for curly hair cut close.

6. Curtains with a middle part (men)

The '90s curtain cut is back: a middle part with eyebrow-length pieces falling to each side. It covers the outer corners of the forehead and frames the eyes, so the upper third looks shorter and narrower. It needs three to five inches on top and sides left long enough (a #4 or scissor cut) to blend. Best on straight or wavy hair with good density at the front hairline.

What to avoid

• Slicked-back hair and high pompadours: they add height and put the whole forehead on display.
• Micro bangs that stop halfway up the forehead: they draw a line across its middle and leave a band of skin showing.

• Scraped-back high ponytails or buns as an everyday look: nothing breaks up the upper third.
• A buzz cut or skin fade with a very short top (men): it exposes the full hairline and makes the forehead the focal point.

What to ask your stylist or barber

Use this whether you're getting bangs or a short men's cut:

I want this cut to make my forehead look shorter. Please cut a fringe that sits at brow level once it's dry, point cut so it's soft rather than one solid line. Keep volume off the top of my head and put any fullness at the sides instead. If it's a short cut, leave about an inch and a half on top pushed forward, with a mid fade or a #3 on the sides.

Related guides

• What haircut suits me: the best cut for every face shape
• A 5-step face shape test to find your shape before choosing bangs
• Haircuts for a heart-shaped face, where the forehead is the widest part
• Haircuts for an oblong face (men)
• Haircuts for a receding hairline
• How to choose bangs for your face shape

FAQ

What bangs are best for a big forehead?

Bottleneck bangs and wispy eyebrow-length bangs are the most forgiving. Curtain bangs work too if the center pieces are long enough to cover the middle of the forehead.

Can you hide a big forehead without bangs?

Partly. A deep side part that sweeps hair across one side of the forehead, plus volume at the sides instead of the crown, shortens the upper third without a fringe.

What haircut makes a big forehead look smaller for men?

A French crop or a textured Caesar, because both bring a fringe forward over the forehead.

Does a middle part make your forehead look bigger?

A flat middle part on straight hair draws a vertical line up the forehead and can make it look taller. With curtain bangs or face-framing pieces, it's fine.

Is a big forehead the same as a receding hairline?

No. A tall forehead is about proportions; a receding hairline is hair loss at the temples. The cuts overlap, but a receding hairline needs shorter sides and less length on top.

If you're torn between bangs and no bangs, try both on your own photos and bring five rendered options, plus instructions, to your appointment.