Hairstyles You Should Try If You Have A Larger Forehead

Some of the most stunning celebrities in the world have large foreheads: Rihanna, Tyra Banks, Angelina Jolie, and Rachel McAdams are just a few examples. A larger forehead isn't something to hide, but you might not always want it to be the star of the show either. Just as we like playing with our makeup looks and hair color, there are options if you want to draw emphasis away from your forehead and to other parts of your face. One place to start? Your hairstyle.

Some hairstyles create the illusion of a smaller forehead, while others don't make your forehead look smaller but can draw attention to other parts of your face instead. For the former, bangs are a popular pick since they cover up  your forehead, hiding part or all of your hairline. Otherwise, styles with lots of texture, layers, or volume are a good choice to draw attention away from the forehead area. If you have a large forehead, it might give you the appearance of a longer face, so adding some width with your hair can help balance your face shape. We've included a range of hairstyles on this list — some to cover up a larger forehead and others to keep it on proud display.

A slicked-back bun is a style anyone can rock — don't be intimidated if you have a larger forehead! This sleek type of style really puts the focus on your face, so it's a stunning look for when you want to show off your facial features (or a killer makeup look), forehead and all.

Not ready to commit to a full bang? Curtain bangs are a stunning alternative that will frame any face shape beautifully, while also providing a bit of forehead coverage. Compared to other bang styles, one bonus of curtain bangs is that you can choose your ideal length. Snip them to your cheekbones and use a round brush to get a lovely swooped look that makes the bangs more obvious. Or if you like a bit of flexibility, keep them longer (about mid-cheek length) so that you can tuck them behind your ears when you don't feel like styling them.

Hairstyles for larger foreheads aren't always designed to conceal. Wear your features loud and proud! You can adorn a prominent forehead by adding some cute accessories to the front of your hairstyle. Bows, barrettes, and clips can all make you feel a little more trendy and confident. Choose an accessory that matches your outfit for an overall cohesive look.

A fully slicked-back look can feel intimidating if you're used to covering up your forehead. Pulling out some strands at the front offers a good in-between. You can still take advantage of the sleek look (and conceal any greasy roots), but you won't feel like your forehead is on full display. This type of style works best with layered or short hair, and it looks nicest if the wispy front strands are shorter than your chin.

A thick bang looks stunning on natural curls. When nicely layered, it creates a face-framing effect that exudes grace. Just like the previous example, the bangs cover up your forehead, keeping people guessing at its size. Long or short, big curls give your hair lots of volume, which adds width to your facial features.

A slicked-back ponytail looks chic, but it does put the spotlight on your forehead. To balance out the look, you can boost the volume around your face by curling or teasing the rest of your hair. Natural curls look stunning with this type of ponytail, and it's a low-effort way to style your hair.

Wispy bangs look delicate and are a pretty alternative to full bangs. They won't cover as much of your forehead, but they'll still give you the illusion of a lower hairline. If a full bang feels too severe but you want something more obvious than a curtain bang, wispy bangs are the in-between style to try.

Give a slicked-back hairstyle more structure by adding an obvious part at the front — a middle baby part is one stylish option. A baby part lets you keep more of your forehead covered, creating the appearance of a lower hairline. Use hairspray or gel to keep it in place and contribute to the slick look.

Why hide behind your hair? A pixie cut strips it all back and puts your best facial features on display. If you want the focus to be on other areas of your face, and not your forehead, add a bang to the front. To keep the shaggy and waifish pixie look, cut your bangs on the shorter side. Texture really adds to this haircut, making it look perfectly tousled.

We can argue about side parts versus middle parts all we want, but one fact remains: They both have a place in our hairstyling repertoire. Side parts can help you achieve an Old Hollywood glam look. When you want to cover a larger forehead, that's often easier to accomplish with a swooped side part. A side-swept updo can give you the illusion of a forehead-covering side bang, but without the need to chop any hair away.

A sleek bob screams chic — it's neat and comes across as powerful. Who cares about your forehead when you look this confident? While a straight bob doesn't add much volume around your face, if you end it around or above your shoulders, it still adds some interest to the face area, which can offset the appearance of a larger forehead.

Pigtails are a great choice for when you want to tie your hair back, but don't want to go for a classic ponytail, which sometimes doesn't feel comfortable for those with larger foreheads. Pigtails keep more of your hair at the front, which can help with the appearance of a fuller hairline. If regular pigtails feel too childish, try braided pigtails instead for a trendier look.

Cotton headbands aren't your thing? They can feel too sporty for some outfits. As an alternative, you can also cover your hairline with a hat or a hair scarf. There are more options compared to cotton headbands (which usually just vary in color and thickness). There's a hat or hair scarf for every season, ranging from a plush knitted hat for the winter to silky patterned scarves for summer.

Sometimes, it's necessary to wear your hair up, and a ponytail or bun may be the most appropriate style, particularly on hot days or in professional settings. That can give some people with big foreheads pause — but don't worry, there are ways to balance out a longer face. One way is with a high ponytail, which adds more interest to your look from the front. Even better, pull out some front pieces. You can play with how much hair you want out, ranging from wispy strands to thicker, bang-like front pieces.

Maybe you love slicked, low buns, but feel like your head is a bit egg-shaped when you try to do this style (it happens to the best of us). The solution? Give your hairstyle more dimension with an obvious part. A middle part feels modern, but a side part is a classic, too (and can give more Old Hollywood vibes). 

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. It often comes with bangs, which complete its severely layered aesthetic. This is welcome news for those who prefer to have their foreheads covered, and best of all, you can play with the bang length to suit your style.

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. Androgynous and striking, this super cropped hairdo looks like it belongs on the cover of a fashion magazine.