Having a prominent forehead doesn’t always mean you have to pick a hairstyle with a full-frontal fringe. There are some phenomenal hairstyles for big foreheads that can take the attention off your front and divert it to your amazing features like beautiful eyes, high cheekbones, sensual lips, or chiseled jawline. Big forehead hairstyles can include various options such as bangs, layers, side-swept styles, and updos. This article lists some hairstyles that can conceal a large forehead, so you never have to hear lame jokes or snide remarks again. Keep reading to check out our top picks and get ready to head to the salon. Scroll down for more info!
Before You Get Started
Maintenance: Bangs that cover your forehead are high maintenance. Wash them regularly and trim them every 2 to 3 weeks to maintain their shape and length.
Face Shape: Forehead-masking hairstyles are suitable for all face shapes. But they are especially great for longer faces as they balance out their proportions.
Hair Texture: These hairstyles are versatile but may require some styling gels or creams to tame the flyaways if your hair is super curly or frizzy.
33 Fabulous Hairstyles For Big Foreheads
In This Article
- Curtain Bangs
- Messy Pixie
- Side Knot Bun
- Pin Up Curly Bangs
- Fake Bang Top Knot
- Faux Side Swept Bangs Curly Bun
- Wavy Side Swept Bangs
- Super Messy Half Bun
- Super Swept Faux Bangs
- Shaggy Bob And Bangs
- Center Parted Layered Bun
- Ultra Sharp Bangs Top Knot
- Others: various celebrity-inspired looks and practical tips
For those looking to make a high forehead appear smaller, styles like bangs, whether blunt, side-swept, or curtain, can help create a framing effect that draws attention downward. You can pair them with different hairstyles to accentuate your cheekbones and jawline. Layered hairstyles with volume around the temples can also balance proportions by adding width to the face. Those who want to elongate a shorter forehead can opt for center-parted hairstyles, slicked-back looks, or high ponytails, which expose more of the forehead and create an illusion of added length. Strategic styling, combined with factors like texture and volume, allows for effective modifications to facial balance.
Jessica Shults offers expert advice on handling bangs: “Bangs are such a classic way to get a makeover. The Bardot bangs are currently my favorite go-to when my clients want a transformational style. The Bardot bangs look great on every face shape, and compliment all the facial features. They are typically parted in the middle, opening up the face, while leaving a beautiful veil over any unwanted forehead. I always use a volumizing spray on damp hair before I blowdry. I then use a texture spray on dry hair to help hold and fluff the hair without it looking sticky.”
All that expert styling advice deserves to be experimented with! Scroll down for our list of the best haircuts for big foreheads, and try them out.
1. Curtain Bangs
Need a style that hides your forehead and does a lot more? Curtain bangs are for you. Along with covering up your forehead, this trendy hairstyle highlights your gorgeous cheekbones and brings out your best facial features. What’s more? It looks flattering on all face types!
What You Need: Volumizing mousse, Round brush, Blow dryer, Texturizing spray.
How To Style: Get a haircut with curtain bangs. Prep your washed hair with some volumizing mousse. Divide your hair from the center part and separate the bangs. Blow dry the rest of your hair while brushing it outwards with a round brush. Take the bangs and blow dry them while brushing them upwards. Release the bangs from the brush and let them fall freely at the sides. Spritz on some texturizing spray to complete the look.
2. Messy Pixie
If you have a pixie cut, your forehead will never stop you from being the gorgeous queen you are! The best part about this hairstyle is that you can cover up your large forehead within minutes. You could pair this hairstyle with undercuts for a unique look.
What You Need: Volumizing mousse, Round brush, Blow dryer, Shine spray.
How To Style: Get a layered pixie haircut. Prep your washed and damp hair with a dollop of volumizing mousse. Blow dry your hair while brushing it out with a round brush. Let the front hair fall on your forehead. Gently run your fingers through the front hair. Finish off the look with some shine spray.
3. Side Knot Bun
With clever positioning of your front hair, you can create an elegant updo that can even be worn by a bride on her wedding day!
What You Need: Round brush, Blow dryer, Texturizing spray, Teasing brush, Hair elastics, Bobby pins, Smoothing serum, Fine-toothed comb.
How To Style: Blow dry your washed hair while brushing it down. Part your hair on one side. Leaving out the front section, tie all your hair in a side ponytail. Wrap a thin section of hair from the base of your ponytail to hide the hair elastic and secure with a bobby pin. Spray texturizing spray over the ponytail. Tease down all the hair in the ponytail. Smooth with a fine-toothed comb. Create a loop with your ponytail and pull its tail through the loop to form a knot bun. Pin the front section over the forehead on the opposite side of the ponytail. Roll the tail of your ponytail around the bun and secure with pins. Apply smoothing serum for a neat finish.
Quick Tip: If you have a broad forehead with medium to long straight hair, a side-parted ponytail will be the right choice for you.
4. Pin Up Curly Bangs
This retro-inspired style uses a curling iron to create round faux bangs that cover the top half of your forehead.
What You Need: Heat protectant, Sectioning clip, 1 inch curling iron, Hair elastics, Teasing brush, Hair pins, Cloth headband, Medium hold hairspray.
How To Style: Prep with heat protectant. Section away the hair at the front. Tie all hair at the back into 3 ponytails. Curl sections of the ponytails, tease the base for volume, brush knots away, curl the front hair around the iron, secure with pins, and finish with a headband over the faux bangs. Set with hairspray. Jessica Shults notes on heat: keep the iron between 200-300 degrees and wrap hair carefully.
5. Fake Bang Top Knot
Creating fake bangs offers bangs coverage without commitment.
What You Need: Heat protectant, Straightening iron, Hair elastic, Bobby pins, Smoothing serum.
How To Style: Apply heat protectant. Straighten hair, tie into high ponytail. Take 1/3 of hair, fan and place over the forehead as faux bangs. Pin at the top. Roll the rest of the ponytail into a bun and secure with pins. Straighten bangs again and apply smoothing serum.
6. Faux Side Swept Bangs Curly Bun
Curly top bun with faux side swept bangs creates a stunning prom-ready look.
What You Need: Heat protectant, 1 inch curling iron, Hair elastics, Bobby pins, Light hold hairspray.
How To Style: Curl all hair after prepping. Tie a side ponytail and make a faux side swept bang by pinning the front section behind the other hair. Create a mid-level ponytail, split into two, form two buns and pin. Tease for volume and spray to set.
7. Wavy Side Swept Bangs
Emma Stone-style side swept bangs with relaxed waves offer a chic approach to a big forehead.
What You Need: Heat protectant, 2 inch curling iron, Straightening iron, Wide-toothed comb, Bobby pins, Light hold hairspray.
How To Style: Cut side swept bangs. Prep with heat protectant. Curl lower halves of hair, straighten bangs, sweep to the side. Comb for texture, pull back opposite side, pin, and finish with hairspray.
8. Super Messy Half Bun
Zooey Deschanel’s signature look demonstrates a high-volume half-bun that hides a large forehead.
What You Need: Texturizing spray, Hair elastic, Bobby pins.
How To Style: Long straight asymmetrical bangs that reach past the eyes. Apply texturizing spray. Tie half of hair into a top knot and secure. Part bangs slightly to prevent eye contact, finish with volume.
9. Super Swept Faux Bangs
Gigi Hadid’s look-beehive texture with front hair swept to the side-works well for round faces with big foreheads.
What You Need: Texturizing spray, Teasing brush, Fine-toothed comb, Bobby pins.
How To Style: Texturize, tease crown, smooth front, pin behind ear, and set with light hairspray.
10. Shaggy Bob And Bangs
Shaggy bob with straight bangs creates a chic statement and flatters large foreheads, especially on oval faces.
What You Need: Heat protectant, Straightening iron, Texturizing spray.
How To Style: Cut into a shaggy bob with bangs. Straighten, apply texture spray, and let bangs fall to one side for a messy, textured finish.
11. Center Parted Layered Bun
Diamond or heart-shaped faces benefit from layering and center parts to frame the face and minimize forehead appearance.
What You Need: Heat protectant, 1 inch curling iron, Hair elastic, Bobby pins, Light hold hairspray.
How To Style: Layer hair, curl lower half, part down the middle, leave shortest front layer to frame face, tie ponytail, roll into a messy bun, pin, and spritz.
12. Ultra Sharp Bangs Top Knot
Kendall Jenner’s sharp bangs with a vertical top knot adds edge while concealing the forehead.
What You Need: Heat protectant, Straightening iron, Hair elastics, Bobby pins, Hairspray.
How To Style: As per previous top knot methods, ensuring the front is covered with sharp, straight bangs, pinned neatly behind the knot.
Try These Tips for Different Face Shapes and Textures
If you are a girl with a large forehead, you will know how hard it’s to find a hairstyle that is flattering and stylish, and one which also cleverly hides your forehead. A side fringe or bangs can dramatically change the gaze line, while textured layers or waves add volume on the sides to balance a longer face. A mid-length lob is versatile and can create enviable volume without weighing down the face. A slicked-back bun is a bold choice that can be balanced with added texture around the face. For those who prefer not to commit to bangs, a high ponytail or top knot can still be paired with side pieces to frame the face. Wispy bangs provide a softer concealment compared to full bangs, and side-swept variations offer a flattering option with less maintenance. Accessories like headbands, bows, or clips can accentuate confidence while drawing eyes toward the eyes or lips rather than the hairline.
Wander the most hip neighborhoods and you’ll probably see a wolf cut or two. This hairstyle is a touch rebellious while still looking pretty, often comes with bangs, which complete its severely layered aesthetic. A close cousin of the wolf cut is the shag cut, which is a little less choppy. If a wolf cut feels like too much of a snip, but you want to play with serious layers, a shag cut is a good choice. With bangs, it can create the look of a smaller forehead. There’s something about a large forehead that looks waifish and high-fashion. Really lean into that feeling with a very short and cropped haircut.
Practical Notes for Everyday Styling
- Keep your hair products lightweight to avoid weighing hair down and emphasizing the forehead.
- Experiment with a center or side part to create visual balance and frame the face.
- Use volume at the sides of the face to offset a longer forehead.
- Consider a mid-length lob or layered cut to add movement and width.
