How to Style Hair with a
Low Hairline or Small Forehead
The opposite problem to a high forehead — and the fix is the opposite too. Here's how to open up your face.
By Jessica Hamilton — Master Stylist & Creative Director
A low hairline sits close to the eyebrows, leaving a small forehead. It's often seen as lucky (plenty of hair!) but it can make the face look compressed if you wear hair forward. The fix is the exact opposite of the high-forehead playbook: lift and sweep hair up and back to open the face.
Lift, Don't Cover
Anything worn forward — a fringe, a caesar, a French crop — drops the visual hairline even lower and shrinks the forehead further. Styles with height and backward direction do the reverse: they reveal forehead and lengthen the face. This is one of the clearest style rules there is.
The Best Cuts
- Quiff: lift at the front opens the face — the top pick.
- Pompadour: maximum height and backward sweep.
- Slick back: takes everything off the face cleanly.
- Side part: opens one side and adds structure.
- A higher fade to keep the sides tight and emphasise the vertical.
What to Avoid
- Blunt forward fringes — they cover an already-small forehead entirely.
- Caesar and French crop styles worn forward.
- Heavy, low-sitting texture across the brow.
- Very long hair worn down over the face — compresses the features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What haircut is best for a low hairline?+
Styles with lift and backward direction — a quiff, pompadour, slick back, or side part. They reveal forehead and open up the face, which is exactly what a low hairline and small forehead need.
Q2: Should I have a fringe with a low hairline?+
Generally no. A fringe drops the visual hairline even lower and shrinks an already-small forehead, making the face look compressed. Sweep hair up and back instead.
Q3: Is a low hairline good or bad?+
Neither — it just means plenty of hair close to the brow, which many men are happy to have. It only becomes a styling issue if you wear hair forward, which compresses the face. Lift and sweep back and it's a non-issue.
Q4: How do I make my forehead look bigger?+
Wear your hair up and back — a quiff, pompadour, or slick back all reveal forehead and lengthen the face. Keeping the sides tighter with a higher fade emphasises the vertical line too.
Q5: What's the difference in styling a low vs high hairline?+
They're opposites. A high forehead is balanced by bringing hair forward with a fringe; a low hairline is balanced by lifting and sweeping hair up and back. Apply the wrong one and the effect is exaggerated rather than balanced.