If your hair is on the thinner side, this guide is for you. Read on to discover our favorite hairstyles for men with thin hair.
Having thin hair can sometimes feel like a curse. While there’s nothing inherently wrong or ugly about thin hair, there are huge roadblocks for guys with thin hair.
That’s because the majority of men’s hair content is aimed at guys with thicker hair. Most of the guides and tutorials out there lean heavily toward thicker hairstyles, which presents a big problem for guys with thin hair.
I’m speaking from experience here. I have thin, straight hair, which means I can’t achieve a lot of styles. If I try to get a ton of volume, my hair just flops down in defeat.
For a long time, I was trying to get the high-volume styles I was seeing on social media, slathering product into my hair in the hopes of getting at least something resembling a quiff. After a lot of trial and error, I realized that I needed to change my hairstyle to complement my hair type and not the other way around.
So if you’ve struggled with getting a great haircut that suits your personality and style, look no further. Here are our top hairstyles for men with straight, thin hair.
3 Important Tips
But first, let’s go over some important hair tips.
Since so much men’s hair content is geared toward thick-haired fellows, a lot of the advice out there doesn’t apply to us. If we try to follow a thick hairstyle tutorial, we usually end up with hairstyle disasters.
Here are 3 important tips for men with thin hair:
#1: Thin Hair 101
It’s important to understand that thin and thinning hair are not the same thing.
Thin or fine hair refers to the diameter of the hair follicles. Someone with thin hair will have a shorter follicle diameter than someone with thick hair, meaning the strands of hair are physically smaller and finer.
Thinning or balding hair refers to hair density, or the concentration of follicles on your head. It’s possible to have thick hair that’s thinning out, and it’s also possible to have thin hair that’s really dense.
If you’re experiencing hair loss or thinning, then your hair will be less dense, but not all men with thin hair have thinning hair.
The big takeaway here is that thin hair doesn’t mean thinning hair. Knowing this will eliminate a lot of the confusion that most guys encounter when talking about thin hair.
#2: Find a Great Barber or Stylist Who Understands Thin Hair
For years, I’d go to run-of-the-mill barbershops to get my hair cut, and I was never really happy with how it turned out. The haircuts were fine but boring, and I wanted something more stylish.
After years of being unhappy, I finally started going to a trained stylist, and he helped me find a style that suited my hair type. It made a world of difference, and I’m finally happy with my hair (though I still have some frustrating days).
It’s important that the person who cuts your hair understands all kinds of hair and can make recommendations for your unique hair type. To get a great haircut, you need to start from your hair type and find a style that suits it instead of trying to force a style onto your hair.
#3: Know Your Hair Products
As a man with thin hair, you’ll benefit a ton from using the right styling products. At the same time, it’s easy to misuse product and end up with stiff-yet-somehow-flimsy hair.
The most important thing to know is to use small amounts of product. For example, if you use the normally recommended amount of pomade, your hair will get weighed down. (And trust me, that doesn’t look good.) So start small and add more if you need to.
When it comes to the types of product you should use, you want to look for products that add volume, body and texture.
Since your hair type is unique to you, you’ll need to try a bunch of different products and see what works for you. If you’re using the wrong type of product, your hair can look even thinner. The search for the right products can take some time, but in the end, you’ll be glad you went through it.
The type of product you get will depend on the hairstyle you want, but there are a few general product types that work well with thin hair:
Light hold pomade/clay/wax. If you’re looking for a product that will hold up your hair and give it some body, then you want a pomade, clay or wax.
These all basically do the same thing, but they differ in terms of texture, strength and effectiveness. Your hair may react really well to clays but really poorly to waxes.
No matter what type you get, make sure it’s light hold. Thin hair crumbles under too much weight, so a light hold is the way to go.
American Crew Fiber is a good starting point for a styling product. It’s much lighter than other styling products, but remember, you’ll want to start with a tiny amount so that your hair doesn’t collapse.
If your hair is on the thicker side of fine, a product like Hanz de Fuko Claymation might give you better results. Claymation is heavier and provides a higher hold, so take it really easy with this one.
Sea salt sprays. For maximum texture, a good sea salt spray is the way to go. These sprays are lightweight but add tons of texture. (This is my personal secret weapon for getting great-looking hair.)
Beardbrand’s sea salt spray is an excellent choice. It’s infused with kaolinite clay to add a touch of grittiness to your hair for that beachy, windswept look.
Styling powders. Powders are great for adding volume and body without weighing down your hair. These aren’t too common, but they’re many a fine-haired man’s secret weapon.
For a good powder, we recommend American Crew’s Boost Powder. In addition to giving you lots of volume, it also has a matte finish, so your hair will retain its natural look instead of looking shinier than a waxed car.
Top Hairstyles for Men with Thin Hair
Now that you know how to get the most out of your hair, let’s look at the best styles for men with thin hair.
#1: Short Quiff
If you’ve ever tried to get one of those tall quiffs that’s all over YouTube and Instagram, you know that it can be tricky. But that doesn’t mean you can’t rock the quiff; you just have to style it right.
This short quiff is actually a breeze to style, and it’s one of the most versatile hairstyles for thin hair.
The trick is to carefully apply some product to fluff up your hair a bit, blow drying it for maximum volume. Keep the sides and back short and tight, and bam, you’re rocking a quiff!
#2: Undercut
The tried and true undercut is also a great hairstyle for men with fine hair. Typically, guys with thin hair will get shorter lengths on top, although you can certainly add more volume with the right products.
If you keep the top short, like the style shown here, brushing it back will help create a bit more volume and movement.
Overall, the undercut is a solid bet if you want something trendy without needing to put a ton of time into your hair. Even in 2025, it’s still a fashionable choice that works with practically any outfit.
#3: Side Swept
This is hands down one of our favorite short hairstyles for men with thin hair. The side swept is a great look that’s classy, versatile and easy to achieve.
If you want a low-maintenance hairstyle that doesn’t require a lot of styling, then you need to consider this cut. It can be worn casually without product, but you can also style it up if you want a little more volume and body.
#4: Short and Tousled
Another short and simple haircut, this tousled style is wild on top and tidy on the back and sides.
This hairstyle is extremely short, but teasing the hair adds volume and texture, making the hair seem longer than it really is. You can also brush this style into place if you’re in need of something more formal.
#5: Hard Part
The hard part is a contemporary twist on the timeless side part hairstyle. Instead of simply parting the hair by brushing it, the hard part features a shaved line that acts as the part.
It’s an eye-catching update to the side part that can be classically styled, as shown here, or incorporated into other styles.
#6: Subtle Spikes
For a laid-back look, you can keep your hair quite short and spike it straight up. We’re not talking those big 90s spikes here; these are subtle, understated spikes that almost form a mini quiff.
This is a great haircut for creating lots of body and volume. Like some of the other styles on this list, this spiked style will require a bit of product to achieve, but all things considered, it’s pretty straightforward.
#7: Tall Quiff with Length
If your hair has high density, you can pull off a much taller quiff. Denser hair retains body fairly well, so with the right products, you can achieve surprisingly voluminous styles.
This quiff looks taller than it really is due to the careful styling of the hair. It’s brushed straight up and then back for that trademark quiff look, and it’s tousled to add volume and create texture.
#8: Long and Flowing
One of the best long hairstyles for men with thin hair is this natural wavy style. Aside from a simple side part and some brushing, this hairstyle doesn’t require much styling. The sheer length of this cut makes the hair look thick and full.
And while you don’t need a beard to accompany this style, it doesn’t hurt! A medium-length beard will add more balance and creates a stunning focal point that further misdirects from the thinness of your hair.
The long and flowing hairstyle exudes elegance and timeless charm, making it a versatile choice for various occasions. It enhances natural beauty by adding movement and a sense of sophistication to any look. With proper care and styling, it can be both glamorous and effortlessly chic.
Conclusion
Now that you have a ton of knowledge about thin hair, you’re well on your way to choosing your next hairstyle. From short and formal to long and laid-back, there’s something for everyone on this list, and we hope you’ve found your next cut here.
Which one of these hairstyles for men with thin hair was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
