A widow’s peak can be subtle or deep, but your v-shaped hairline can still look good with many hairstyles. While most men have a widow’s peak because of their genetics, some develop a receding hairline widow’s peak through balding and hair loss. Whether you like your widow’s peak or not, guys should find a way to work it into a hairstyle or hide it. Fortunately, there are many haircuts for men that look stylish with a widow’s peak.
From short hair like the buzz cut and crew cut to longer styles like the comb over and slick back, men with widow’s peaks can choose from all the most popular hairstyles. If you’re looking for inspiration and ideas, check out our list of the best widow’s peak hairstyles to get right now!
What Is A Widow’s Peak?
A widow’s peak is a type of hairline characterized by a v-shape. Often, a widow’s peak hairline recedes from the center of the forehead to the sides. While a widow’s peak is genetic, it does look similar to a receding hairline that is caused by hair loss or male pattern baldness. Some men have a deep widow’s peak, while others have a small or shallow one that doesn’t go too far back.
In simple cases, guys just ask their barbers to shave the protruding part of the peak or “V”. In more extreme cases, you must find a men’s haircut and hairstyle that will cover up the hairline and forehead area.
Receding Hairline vs Widow’s Peak
There are many different types of hairlines, and knowing the difference between a receding hairline and a widow’s peak can help you find the right solution. For starters, the main difference is that a widow’s peak is a genetic trait, while a receding hairline is the result of balding and hair loss.
Naturally thinning hair and bald spots can be fixed with hair loss products that stimulate regrowth and increased density. A hair growth product can not fix a widow’s peak; only a hair transplant can solve the issue.
Similarly, guys should think about how to handle a mature hairline. A widow’s peak is a hairline you’ve had all your life and is just how your hair grows on your head. A mature hairline occurs when your hairline starts to push back as you age. Older men who develop a v-shaped hairline as part of the natural aging process should simply start cutting and styling their hair differently to cover up the balding.
How To Fix A Widow’s Peak
Fixing a widow’s peak is only possible with surgery or a hair transplant. The good news is that there are many great hairstyles for men with widow’s peaks that can cover up and hide a genetic v-shaped hairline. As always, picking a cut that suits your hair type and face shape will take the emphasis away from the area. Some guys shave their heads to remove it altogether, while others try a buzz cut or crew cut to minimize the contrast.
Most style experts agree that it’s wise to find a trendy hairstyle that works with your widow’s peak. Whether you choose to style a modern comb over, fringe, slick back, or messy hair, all you need to do is pick from our list of widow’s peak haircuts.
Widow Peak Hairstyles
Crew Cut
A crew cut helps to disguise the V-shape on the sides of your head because it’s shorter and limits the contrast. Plus, the cut is often styled so that the fringe sits up while the rest of the hair is pushed forward, making it useful for covering up gaps in your hairline. For a modern version, the sides should be shorter and tapered mid to low down your head to offer a subtle contrast that’s a sleek twist on a classic.
Buzz Cut
A buzz cut removes the majority of your hair so that a widow’s peak is less visible. Don’t fret if you’re not ready to go for the fully-shaved look because a buzz cut leaves growth on top. However, the length should be pretty short and uniform all over to take attention away from your hairline. A manly option involves growing a thick beard or facial hair to add volume and draw people’s gaze.
Long Hair
Long hair is a daring choice that helps cover half of your peak by sweeping the strands to a side and wearing it down your shoulder and back. It does open up the opposite side of your V, yet this is an opportunity to show off your flattering face shape and manly features.
Short Hair
Most men prefer short hair when choosing popular widow’s peak haircuts. Short haircuts are easy to get, low-maintenance to style, and look universally flattering. When picking cool short men’s hairstyles, most guys opt to get a fade, undercut or shaved sides for a masculine cut on the sides and back.
The shorter the sides, the shorter you can trim the top. From the quiff to the comb over, all types of hairstyles can work with a widow’s peak hairline if your barber cuts your hair to fit your face and style.
Fade Haircut
The fade can be a trendy and modern complement to most widow’s peak haircuts. While there are several different types of fades to get, the right choice for a receding hairline is often a mid to high skin fade. By cutting the sides and back very short, guys can minimize the contrast between the sides and top.
Combined with medium length and longer hair on top that covers the forehead and hides the widow’s peak, you effectively draw attention away while hiding your hairline. A taper fade can be high, mid or low based on your hairstyle, so make sure to talk to your barber about the right look.
Slicked Back Hair
Slicked back hair for men with v-shaped hairlines isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re going to need a can-do attitude, plenty of confidence and the right cut. Start with a fade or undercut on the sides and back for a trendy haircut. Like famous celebrities that have a widow’s peak, you’ll need to slick your hair back to embrace your receding hairline and adopt a classy and elegant appearance.
Use a light to medium hold pomade and comb it back thoroughly to achieve the iconic style that’s a favorite of Wall Street bankers. Grow out a beard and wear this masculine hairstyle with style.
Side Part Haircut
The side part haircut involves placing a part in line with your hairline. By doing this, you can move the hair to one side so that your widow’s peak seems less conspicuous. Guys with a thick fringe should use wax and a comb to brush it up and back so that it isn’t deconstructed. This will enable you to create a balanced style that’s suave and sophisticated.
Short Spiky Hairstyle
Short spikes will instantly catch people’s attention as they are directly in the eye-line. Also, sharp spikes offer plenty of texture and volume if your widow’s peak is getting larger. Leave the hair on top longer and cut the sides down to size with a mid fade or undercut. Then, a low-hold wax or a gel should help your hair to stick up, highlighting your bold style choice.
Undercut
An undercut paired with a widow’s peak provides you with options. Typically, the V-shape means that you require your hair to appear fuller, which means a short undercut can be a good choice. You need the hair to sit back for the ultimate effect, so you should consider a quiff or a forward-swept style. Another option to add volume is to leave your hair slightly damp after a shower and blow dry it into position with a styling clay and a rounded brush. You can apply the product with your fingers to accentuate your hair’s natural texture if you have curls or kinks.
Taper Cut
The taper haircut is a scissor cut that leaves the back and sides longer than a fade. The look is more traditional and clean-cut, and works well with longer hair on top that flows. For tapered sides, ask your barber to shorten the length of your hair with scissors or to cut a #8 with clippers. The extra length will give your hair a thicker look and feel, and is perfect for styling a classic long hairstyle. The hair on top should look fuller, especially if the taper is a low one, and you can push the front hair back for a sexy bro flow reminiscent of Chris Hemsworth or Bradley Cooper.
Curly Hair
The curly hair trend is the first cut on this list that works by using your lock’s natural texture and weight to balance out a widow’s peak. This is because short and medium length curly hair is heavy, allowing the tresses to fall organically forward. You can use wax to create a chic messy style that looks cool and casual without being disheveled.
Pompadour
A pompadour is one of the few hairstyles that works with a widow’s peak as it’s cut for longer hair and naturally styled forward and up to maximize volume and fullness. A smart move is to brush the pompadour up rather than back as this lets you use height to take the emphasis off a V-shape hairline. For more contrast, you can twin it with a neat fade. If you opt for the latter, you should slick or sweep your hair back so that it’s tight and heavy.
Wavy Hairstyle
Men with wavy hair have a unique texture they should use to style a cool look that will distract from their widow’s peak. Whether you brush your hair back or comb your wavy hair to the side, you’ll achieve a seriously handsome hairstyle that will pull attention away from your hairline. If you have thick wavy hair, use a strong pomade to control and style. Otherwise, a light hair styling product is ideal to get flowing waves with movement. Ultimately, short to medium length wavy haircuts can be on-point and fashionable if you leverage your hair type to create volume and fullness.
Short Forward Style
The crop top fade with a fringe is a short forward style that works handsomely for men with receding hairlines. You can leave more growth on the top, back, and sides, but the central part of your hair should be combed forward to conceal bald spots. The short forward cut is incredibly sharp and a fantastic way to lose your hair with grace.
Curly Fringe
A curly fringe is a stylish haircut that can offer the perfect feature for a widow’s peak because it hides the height of your hairline, while your dense curls naturally fall forward, adding to the camouflage. A modern twist involves a sharp high fade on the sides that will complement your curly hairstyle. Explore all the different types of curly hair fades to discover the cool haircut styles you may want to experiment with.
Bro Flow
A bro flow works well for men with medium-length hair to pull focus. Comb it back to create an effortless look that makes your high hairline less noticeable. You can try the style with long hair, too, yet be careful not to ruin the balance by overgrowing it at the back.
Comb Back with Beard
A slick back cut with a beard is just one option to remove the focus from your widow’s peak. Pretty much every short hairstyle combines with facial hair for fantastic results.
Widow’s Peak Haircuts
- Start with a fade haircut or undercut on the back and sides to achieve a stylish look.
- If you want short hair, ask your barber for a high bald fade that tapers down to the skin.
- Medium length and long hair can hide a widow’s peak.
- If you have a small peak, get a buzz cut or crew cut and talk to your barber about fixing the hairline by shaving it off.
- If you have a deep widow’s peak, keep your hair longer and comb it forward to create a fringe.
- The best haircuts for a receding hairline or widow’s peak depends on how you want to style your hair.
- Grow a full beard if you want to draw attention away.
- Use matte hair products to give your hairstyle more volume and a thickening effect.