Buzz Cuts And Big Foreheads: What You Need To Know

Should you or shouldn’t you? That is the question.

Trimming a buzz cut can be an extremely liberating experience for a man. But the lingering concern of whether that buzz cut would suit a big forehead is one that may prevent a man from proceeding.

This isn’t going to be an article giving you a straightforward “yes or no” answer. That wouldn’t actually be as helpful as you might have thought.  

Instead, what I wanted to do is show you some pictures, tell you some benefits, and help you come to a decision on your own. Men’s grooming is an incredibly subjective topic with a vast array of opinions. It’s definitely an art more than it’s a science. 

But at the risk of ruining the surprise – yes, a buzz cut can most definitely work for a big forehead. In fact, it can actually look quite phenomenal when done correctly. 

The reason it isn’t a straightforward “yes” answer is because having a “big forehead” can be quite a sensitive subject for a man. They may not want a hairstyle that seems to exaggerate it, even though the rest of the world may think it looks awesome. 

Because of this, it’s a pretty big decision to make. My job is to make that decision just a little bit easier. Let’s take it step by step, and start with the burning question. 

Is My Forehead Too Big For A Buzz Cut?

To determine whether your forehead is too big for a buzz cut, it’s important to first define what a “big forehead” actually is. 

Although it’s a useful exercise, it’s quite interesting how you’ll quickly determine that it’s an incredibly difficult thing to define. There’s no exact science behind it, and what may look like a big forehead to one man may look completely normal to another. 

A very crude, playground game people sometimes play is to see how many fingers they can fit between their eyebrows and their frontal hairline. Any more than four (hence “fore-head”) would be considered large, or a “five-head”. Childish – yes. 

As you can see, these measurements are hardly useful, and it does ultimately come down to personal opinion. 

To cut a long story short, what I’m getting at here is that a “big forehead” is a very subjective thing, and you’ll probably find that the people around you don’t find your forehead anywhere near as large as you may think they do. All imperfections do seem exaggerated when looking in the mirror – that’s a very natural phenomenon. 

Balding men will rapidly start to see their forehead increasing in size. In fact, it’s quite likely that many men reading this article will have receding hairlines and will want to know if a buzz cut would be the style to make things look better. 

But if a man were to ask me whether they should get a buzz cut if they have a big forehead, I usually swiftly tell them “I would”. I’m not telling them that they definitely should, because it’s all down to whether they can see themselves with it. 

However, for me, the main benefit of getting a buzz cut for a big forehead is that it often makes it less obvious, not more. This may seem odd and counter-intuitive, but hear me out. 

The reason for this is that a buzz cut reduces the contrast between the hair and the forehead. This is an interesting effect that’s created when hair is trimmed very short and very evenly. It can make receding temples seem less obvious, particularly when a high fade is incorporated – I’ll come onto that later. 

We’ll be talking about some other benefits of buzz cuts for big foreheads a bit later. But first, let’s talk about a specific type of buzz cut and why it may be the perfect solution. 

Why A Crew Cut Is A Great Compromise

The term “buzz cut” is actually an umbrella term that refers to a number of different styles. What they have in common is that they’re all short, and they’re all dependent on the use of a clipper. 

What many people think of when they hear the term “buzz cut” is the military-style induction cut with all of the hair trimmed down to the same length in all directions and dimensions. It’s the most simple one to trim and definitely the easiest one to DIY. 

But there are others. Two of the main ones are Burr Cuts and Crew Cuts. With Burr Cuts, the hair on top is very slightly longer than the sides – we’re talking one or maximum two clipper grades longer here. 

With a Crew Cut, the hair on top is significantly longer than the sides which are buzzed down short. 

The reason I feel that a Crew Cut is a great option for a man with a big forehead is that there’s enough hair on top to work with. Men with big foreheads may have clung onto longer hair because they had the benefit of covering it up with a fringe when they wanted to. 

They wouldn’t be able to do this with an Induction Cut or a Burr Cut. But with a Crew Cut, there’s enough hair on top to hide some of the forehead with a bit of a fringe if they wanted to. This is something you could work out together with your barber. They’re used to these types of requests. 

In short, the beauty of a Crew Cut is that it does have the usual benefits of a short buzz cut, but with the additional benefit of being able to style the hair on top. It can be spiked, slicked to the side, or pulled forward in a fringe to cover up if you so wished to. 

Although an Induction Cut can often make a big forehead look less obvious (as I explained above), a man that’s gotten used to covering it up with a fringe may not be willing to give up that benefit entirely just yet. For these men, a Crew Cut may be more appropriate than an Induction Cut. 

What Does A Buzz Cut Look Like With A Big Forehead?

The shorter and more even the hair, the less stark the contrast between the hair and the forehead. This makes receding temples, a receding hairline, or a big forehead seem less obvious overall. 

Some may not agree and may say that it makes it look more obvious if anything. But the general consensus is that buzz cuts are great for balding men. 

If it can make a receding hairline look less obvious, there’s no reason why it wouldn’t have the same effect for a naturally big forehead with or without a receding hairline. 

It also just looks incredibly masculine. Buzz cuts are great because they fall into that much sought after middle ground. Stylish enough to suggest you care about your appearance, but simple enough to suggest you don’t care too much. 

Other Benefits Of Buzz Cuts For Big Foreheads

I’ve already touched upon how they can counter-intuitively make a big forehead look less obvious. Here are a couple of other benefits you may not have thought of before. 

1. It’s a sign of embracing your “weaknesses”

The sad thing is, a man could go his whole life trying to cover up a big forehead with an endless range of different fringes. Sure, this could be frustrating, time-consuming, and possibly even lead a man to make some less than favorable style choices. 

But it becomes particularly sad when that same man starts to lose his hair and doesn’t have much fringe left to work with. This could actually be devastating to a man particularly sensitive about his forehead. 

This is all the more reason to consider a buzz cut early, before hair loss might start to play a role. You’ll get used to the look and see its benefits before you might be forced into it. 

A major benefit of trimming a buzz cut is that it’s a sign of embracing what you perceive to be your weakness. “Hiding” or “covering up” a big forehead immediately puts you in a position of weakness. The fact that you feel that you even have something to hide at all isn’t great for your self-esteem in the long run. 

Trimming a buzz cut can almost be considered an act of defiance. It’s a display of embracing what you’ve been given and making the most of it in an exceptionally stylish manner. 

There’s no hiding, there’s no covering up. What you see is what you get, and there is nothing more masculine than that. 

2. It’s incredibly easy to maintain 

Another problem with messing around with longer hairstyles to try and cover things up is that it’s very time-consuming. 

Pruning and preening in front of a mirror trying to make sure your forehead looks “normal” from every angle can be endlessly frustrating. Trust me, your time is worth more. 

Trimming a buzz cut, particularly an induction cut, is something you can quite comfortably DIY. Cutting out the need for trips to the barber can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. 

Sure, a Crew Cut may need a more technically experienced pair of hands. But once it’s trimmed, maintaining really isn’t much trouble at all. 

Washing and drying are beautifully simple with buzz cuts. This in itself is a significant time-saver in the long run. 

Time is the most valuable asset a man can hold. Simplicity and efficiency have been valuable assets when it comes to men’s grooming. If there’s anything you can do to incorporate these two things into your grooming regimen or routine, do them. 

Why Buzz Cuts With Fades Are Great For Big Foreheads

A fade is a gradual increase in the length of hair. It’s most commonly done on the sides and back and has been extremely popular over the last few years. 

It’s a phenomenal way to make what may otherwise be a pretty straightforward buzz cut just that little bit more unique and interesting. 

A fade can be high (around the level of the temples), low (just above the sideburns), or middle (between the other two). 

A high fade, in particular, can be great for a man with a big forehead. The reason for this is that principle I’ve mentioned a couple of times already – it reduces the contrast between the hair around the temples and the forehead. 

The fade can almost absorb the receding temples, making them look a lot less obvious. This effect is most impressive when the receding temples are mild or moderate. For more advanced receding temples, it may not work as well. 

However, regardless of whether you’re looking to make things look less obvious, a fade is a fantastic, thoroughly modern addition to a buzz cut that you should definitely consider. 

It doesn’t take long for an experienced barber to trim, and they’re usually very used to the request. Take a picture of a faded buzz cut you’d like to replicate, just to minimize the risk of any misunderstanding or confusion. 

Conclusion

This article aimed to do more than one thing. Sure, I wanted to show you some cool pictures to get a better idea of the look we’re talking about. 

I also wanted to give you a good idea of what different types of “buzz cut” were really available to you, and how some may be more flattering to big foreheads than others. 

But I also wanted to potentially change your mindset when it comes to your forehead and how you perceive it. There is an excellent chance that those around you don’t find your forehead anywhere near as large as you do. Bear this in mind as you make your decision. 

Ultimately, if you aren’t sure, there’s really no harm in trying it out. After all, it’ll all grow back. 

Try a longer buzz cut (Number 4 or above) if you want to play it safe and not go all the way. If you’re diggin’ the look, try going shorter. 

Experimentation is part of the fun.