7 Epic Buzz Cuts For Receding Hairlines, Thinning Hair, Balding Crown

It can be tough to watch your hair falling so in this post, I’ll give it to you straight. Some of us are not that lucky to have thick and strong hair. In fact, most men after a certain age will have to deal with receding hairlines and thinning hair.

However, the good news is that short haircuts are perfect for this specific situation. Well, you know, if you are not cutting your side hair short you will definitely look older.

In short, various types of buzz cuts for receding hairlines and thinning hair are amazing. The best buzz cut, if you are losing hair, is a short buzz cut such as buzz cut number 2 with a skin fade because it is very modern and badass. For those of you that want a longer buzz cut, I would recommend the number 4 buzz cut which is a very safe option. It is not very short but not very long either.

You’ve seen these old men over 60-70 years old that are mostly bald with long side hair. Some of them, even try to cover the rest of their head with hair from the sides.

This is one of the worst things a man can EVER do! What should we do if we are losing hair?

Get a buzz cut or shave it all! That’s it!

In this article, we’ll go over many more buzz cut ideas that work perfectly fine for men with a receding hairline, how to do them yourself, a comparison between bald men and men with buzz cuts, and much more.

Without further ado, let’s get straight into it!

Are Buzz Cuts Good For Receding Hairline?

buzz cuts for receding hairlines

Buzz cuts are essentially a group of hairstyles that all fall under one category. They’re pretty short and simple when it comes to hairstyles and they are the perfect option for many different types of men.

For example:

  • Men With Thinning Hair
  • Men Who Don’t Want To Style Their Hair With Hair Products
  • Men In The Military
  • Men That Have Angular Faces

These are just some categories of men that want and should get short hairstyles.

Buzz cuts are easy to do haircuts and you can get one yourself if you choose a simple buzz cut style.

Traditionally when we see a man with hair on the side or very little long hair on the top of his head we speculate that he is old. But, this is not the case.

In fact, I have a friend (who is an exception though) that lost most of his hair by the age of 20. Is he old?

Obviously, no. To make things worse, most of my friends have lost half of their hair by the age of 30. Are they old too?

Of course, no. But people seeing them think that they are older than they are really are because they don’t have hair.

But, how can a short haircut help?

  1. Cutting your side hair is crucial.
  2. If you have cut your hair short it is not that easy for people to know that you can’t actually grow hair.
  3. Buzz cuts are very stylish and badass styles.
  4. Studies have shown that men with shaved head or buzz cuts are 13% more dominant and 10% more masculine than other men.

Of course, that’s not the only good part. Buzz cuts can be styled to make you look very handsome and you just have to find the style that fits you the best.

At this point, I want to make something clear. I don’t think that buzz cuts are perfect for everyone and that this haircut is the best one or anything like that.

Cause, I honestly do not think so. I prefer medium-length hair with a medium (not too high, not too low) skin fade.

However, if you are losing hair you don’t really have this option unless you decide to use Minoxidil for your whole life (which would be too tiring for me) or if you get a successful hair transplant.

If you losing hair and you don’t want to use these 2 recommendations then, in my opinion, you should get a buzz cut as soon as possible.

Best Buzz Cut Length If You Are Losing Your Hair

buzz cut for thinning hair

If you’re trying to cut your hair short for the first time, you might not want to do it all at once.

Some people won’t like the idea of that big of a difference it can make. It will just feel weird if you had a long hairstyle for a good period of time and just cut it down to 2-clipper length.

Right?

We recommend trying out the 3 or 4 clippers lengths if you’re trying out buzz cuts for the first time, but if your hairstyle wasn’t that long in general, you can try the number 2 as well.

If you accept your hair as it is, and try to work with what you’re dealt with, you’re ahead of most people out there. Understanding how to make the best hairstyle out of your options will definitely help you.

Remember buzz cuts are amazing as they don’t require any styling, making them very easy to manage.

If you don’t have any problem with cutting your hair very short, my final take on this is that you should get the number 2 buzz cut. Your hair won’t be long (so we are safe you won’t look like your grandpa!), but also you won’t be completely bald as well.

The number 2 buzz cut leaves the door wide open for you to ask your barber to give you a skin fade along with the buzz cut 2 on the top.

If you choose the number 1 buzz cut or even worse the buzz cut without a guard it will be much tougher for your barber to give you a faded look.

Here is a helpful table to give you an idea of the actual length of the most common guards.

GuardsNumber 1Number 2Number 3Number 4
Size (Inches)1/8”1/4”3/8”1/2”
Size (mm)3,175mm6,35mm9,525mm12,7mm

Best Buzz Cuts For Receding Hairlines

There are quite a few buzz cuts for balding crown out there that you can make work. Look carefully, and we know that you’ll find the one that suits you best.

Crew Cut

This type of hairstyle isn’t that optimal for balding men but can work extremely well with receding hairlines.

The reason it’s not that good for balding men is that the length on the top isn’t as short as you’d want it to be. But, it’s a manly and stylish hairstyle if you can make it work. The sides are short and will usually be cut with the #1 guard on the clippers.

You can test the waters with this haircut if you have never cut your hair short. It is one of the safest options and I like it because the sides will be short.

Burr Cut

burr cut

The Burr Cut is definitely one of the best options for thinning hair. Such hairstyles will make you look badass without needing any hair management, as it’s always pretty much the same with little to no effort.

This style will require either the 1, 2, or 3 guard on the clippers, and they can all work in an excellent manner.

If you have thinning hair, the 1 or 2 guard will be the best ones, but if you haven’t done it before, do the 3 first and see if you like it.

Remember you can always cut more hair later on but you can never put back the hair you have already cut. So, play it safe!

Buzz Cut Number 0

number 0 buzz cut

This is also known as the “military cut” and is perfect for thinning hair and a receding hairline. I guess you could say that the buzz cut with no guard is just a more extreme version of the “Burr”.

The Induction cut was named that way because new army recruits got that hairstyle upon arrival.

It’s essentially the shortest buzz cut out there as there’s no guard being used on the clippers at all.

The best thing about this haircut is that it is extremely easy to do. You can definitely do it yourself and you don’t need to go to a barber and pay for it.

You just need a high-quality hair trimmer and a mirror! That’s it!

High & Tight

High & Tight is another one that works well in various situations.

It’s also pretty simple to do, just as most hairstyles on this list. This style is known for its very short sides and back of the head, while there’ll be about an inch and a half on top. 

Nothing too crazy, but it can be made to look very stylish. Ryan Reynolds is one of the best examples when it comes to a good High & Tight hairstyle.

Mid Fade Buzz Cut

mid fade buzz cut

The fade buzz cut is probably the most popular amongst young people. It’s very trendy and will make you stand out from the crowd. This one makes of a classical buzz cut that we all know and love with an added mid fade.

It’s a great cut if you aren’t really ready to shave everything off your head. The faded buzz is perfect if you want something to make you ready to get to the endpoint.

It is also my favorite buzzcut if you want my humble opinion.

Butch Cut

Butch Cut

Butch Cut is one of the longest buzz cuts out there. It’s basically a step you’d want to take before the Burr. The length would be from 4 to 6 guards on the clippers, although there are quite a few variables you can do.

You don’t have to keep it the same length everywhere, getting the sides to be a little shorter than that can prove to be an excellent choice.

Brad Pitt is the perfect example of an amazing Butch Cut.

High Fade Buzz Cut

A high fade buzz cut is a haircut that consists of a traditional buzz cut with a high fade.

A high fade means that the line which connects the longer with the shorter hair (the line that we want to fade/hide) is very high (approximately where the side hair ends and the hair on the top starts).

Obviously, the faded area doesn’t have to be cut with the same guard. For example, it can be guard 0 around the ears and increasing as we are moving towards the top of the side hair.

This is difficult to describe through text though. I really hope you got a good idea of what I am talking about.

As a tip here, if you want to get a haircut with a fade, better visit a barber otherwise you may mess this up very easily.

Buzz Cut Or Shaved Head? Which One To Choose?

buzz cut vs bald

This is one of the main questions people with thinning hair or receding hairline ask themselves. It’s very important to know what the best move for you is.

Don’t start panicking if you’re just starting to lose hair, that’s perfectly normal. And, as we’ve already mentioned, it’s super important to deal with what we’ve got in general. And, looking confident while pulling it off will definitely give you bonus points, that’s not even a question.

Now, the two choices that you have are either buzz cut or shaved head. The choice you will go for will mainly depend on:

  • How severe your balding issue is
  • Your head shape
  • Which style do you prefer the most. 
  • Maintainence

So, what’s the best choice you want to take?

You should first know that buzz cuts can’t hide everything, and in some cases, you will just look better off with a shaved head.

Buzz cuts will usually be the transition after your head starts balding, but it’s not always the case. Maybe you realized just now that getting a good buzz cut is the best thing you could do and that your hairstyle right now isn’t optimal.

Read Also: How Long Does A Buzz Cut Last?

If you’re starting to go bald or just trying to conceal that receding hairline, you’ll want to opt for a buzz cut first. There’s nothing wrong with a shaved head, but it might be too much to handle at the beginning.

Maybe a buzz cut will do the job for you and you won’t have to shave everything off just yet, but, on the other hand, it could just be something that you use as a step so that the process, later on, doesn’t come as that much of a shock.

You literally might not believe that it’s you in the mirror after you shave your head, that’s why a buzz cut will be the perfect transition in helping you grasp the process much easier.

Maintenance is another factor you might want to consider when choosing between a buzz cut or a bald head.

You might think that a buzz cut will require more maintenance, but that’s not quite the case. A bald head will require careful shaving each time, and you need to do it very consistently otherwise it won’t take long until you start seeing stubble.

Read Also: Bald Head Waxing For A Shiny Head

Of course, the most important thing that will affect the choice is your personal taste. It’s always crucial to go after what you believe is right, and listening to others won’t get you anywhere.

Obviously, maintenance and the shape of your head will have some effect on your final choice but always do what you think is right. Listening to me or anybody else even your parents won’t take you anywhere.

I want you to go out and feel confident and happy about yourself.

If you want to read our full article on this debate feel free to click here.

How To Give Yourself A Buzz Cut?

This isn’t that difficult of a process, but there’s a couple of things you should know about.

The first thing is that you should have a good set of clippers.

Definitely opt for quality when you’re purchasing them as it does make quite a big difference. Keep in mind that you don’t have to change clippers or trimmers very often if they are high-quality ones. Some of them last for decades.

The Process

Here is how you can get a simple buzz cut at home:

Step 1: Wash your hair

Step 2: Go Grab Your Clippers

Step 3: Prepare the area that hair will fall (make sure you don’t make a mess or your girlfriend/wife will get mad at you!)

Step 4: Start Trimming From the Sides and Move Towards The Top

Step 5: Check The Result and Go Shower

Step 6: Final Check

It’s a pretty simple process but you should be careful if it’s your first time doing so. Test out the range of guards you have and always start with the highest one.

Play it safe. Start with guards 4-5-6 or even more to get an idea of how your hair clippers work.

Try working against the grain of the hair as the clippers will do a much better job that way.

Smooth motions will be required and you should definitely pay attention to the back of the head. That’s the place where lots of stray hairs could be found, and using a mirror behind your head might just help you and see if you left anything out.

Styles that require different guards are probably too much to handle if you DIY this thing.

If you don’t have experience and you don’t wanna risk it It’s probably best to let the barber handle hairstyles such as High and Tight or styles with a regular fade.

Best 3 Hair Clippers (To Do Buzz Cuts For Thinning Hair)

A great set of clippers will have both an adjustable blade and detachable combs, a powerful motor, should also be easy to grasp, quiet, not heavy, maybe waterproof (optional), have a long-lasting battery, various attachments, low maintenance requirements, affordable price and more.

Best On The Market – Panasonic ER-GP80 K Professional Hair Clipper

Panasonic ER-GP80 K Professional Hair Clipper comes with 45 cutting angles, a new powerful motor, it is very light and easy to handle. It also allows you to change the blades very easily. Having tested dozens and dozens of trimmers and hair clippers this product is amazingly good but also pricey.

If you want to invest in a tool that will probably last you forever, this is the best in the market.

Pros

  • Its battery lasts 110 minutes which is huge.
  • It cuts very precisely
  • Good for personal and professional use. 
  • Light and easy to use.
  • Amazing Design

Cons

  • Price

Runner-Up BaBylissPRO Barberology MetalFX Series

This one is also an outstanding trimmer. Having said that it is also my personal favorite. This is a very successful product that both professionals and amateur men use daily.

More specifically, it has a nice battery that lasts for at least 2 hours, amazing grip, outstanding design but also a powerful Ferrari motor. It is cord/cordless and has an exposed T-blade with 360-degree views and high torque. It helps you cut your hair with spectacular detail.

This product doesn’t have a huge variety of guards but you can buy them separately or use Wahl premium cut blades if you already have them because they fit.

Of course, as for everything good in life, you get what you pay and this product is not an exception. But, imagine being able to cut your hair at home forever without the need of visiting the barber again?

How much money would you save?

Pros

  • Professional trimmer
  • Very easy to use 
  • Portable
  • Very precise
  • Durable

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Not many guards

Best Budget Option – Wahl Professional 5-Star Detailer with Adjustable T Blade

Wahl Professional 5-Star Detailer with Adjustable T Blade will cut your hair precisely. It comes with multiple blades and it is light and easy to use. However, it can’t cut as amazingly as the first option.

It also has a good motor but way worse than Panasonic’s. Overall, this is a great tool for everyday use without requiring a great investment.

Quality product. Even better than Andis for those of you that are a bit knowledgeable.

Pros

  • A value for money hair clipper
  • Amazingly designed and lightweight
  • Versatile 
  • Quiet

Cons 

  • The battery is not great
  • It doesn’t have many guards. (but of course, it includes all you need, I wouldn’t recommend this to a barber)

Keep in mind that all of these products are professional and extremely good products. We would never recommend any products that don’t serve you and we haven’t already tested them.

We would also never recommend a $10 crap product that can harm your head just to make you buy. (unless there is something good at this price range)

No, thanks. We don’t want to lose your trust.

Conclusion

If you have a bad receding hairline, in my opinion, it is time to cut your hair short or shave it all. That depends on your preferences.

My take is to choose a buzz cut first before going completely bald.

At the end of the day, if you don’t like your buzz cut, you can always take your clippers and shave your hair off. But, you cannot do the opposite!

Both options are better than letting your side hair be long. That’s 100%. It is not debatable.

I forgot to mention that men with buzz cuts and bald-headed men look epic when they exercise. Therefore, my advice is to hit the gym when you have a short haircut.

It will really elevate your style, you will feel more confident and you be healthier.

What else can someone ask for?

Gentlemen, this is it for today’s article. I really hope you liked it cause I tried my best to give you EVERYTHING I know.

If you have any comments or questions feel free to write them in the comment section below and we will be more than happy to reply.

Until next time,

Stay safe,

Tasos

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