17 Hairstyles for High Foreheads That Create Coverage
Is a high forehead a sign of intelligence and beauty? Absolutely. Throughout history, it’s been celebrated. But if you feel your forehead is a bit more prominent than you’d like, you might be looking for ways to frame your face with a little extra coverage. The good news is that hair is one of the most powerful tools for balancing facial proportions. Instead of seeing it as a challenge, consider it an opportunity to experiment with stunning styles that enhance your overall look.
The Power of Bangs: Your Forehead’s Best Friend
When it comes to creating coverage for a high forehead, bangs are the most direct and effective solution. But not all bangs are created equal! The key is choosing the right type for your hair texture, face shape, and lifestyle.
1. Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs are the universally flattering hero of the bang world. Parted down the middle, they frame the face on both sides, creating a soft, face-focusing effect. They’re excellent for high foreheads because they provide coverage without being too heavy or blunt, offering a modern, retro-inspired look that grows out beautifully.
2. Blunt Bangs
For a bold, statement-making look, blunt bangs deliver maximum coverage and high-impact style. This style works wonderfully to visually lower the hairline and draw attention to the eyes. They look chic on straight hair but can also be tailored for wavy or curly textures with a slightly textured cut.
3. Wispy Bangs
If you’re bang-shy, wispy bangs are the perfect introduction. Feathery and light, they break up the forehead space without committing to a solid block of hair. They add a touch of softness and romance, are low-maintenance, and blend seamlessly with the rest of your hair.
4. Side-Swept Bangs
Side-swept bangs are a classic for a reason. They direct the eye diagonally across the face, which helps to minimize the vertical space of the forehead. This style is incredibly versatile, suits almost every face shape, and can be worn with everything from pixie cuts to long mermaid hair.
Strategic Cuts & Layers: The Art of Illusion
Not ready for bangs? No problem. The right cut and layering technique can create volume and dimension around your face, naturally drawing the eye away from the forehead and creating a balanced silhouette.
5. Long Layers with Face-Framing
Ask your stylist for long, cascading layers that start at the chin or jawline. These layers will curl or fall inward, framing your cheeks and jaw, which creates a visual “border” around your face and reduces the focus on the upper portion. It’s a soft, low-commitment strategy.
6. Shag Cut
The modern shag is a layered masterpiece for creating texture and movement. With its trademark choppy layers and often paired with curtain bangs, it distributes volume throughout the head, preventing the “top-heavy” look and bringing plenty of interest to the eye and cheek level.
7. Blunt Bob with Wispy Fringe
Combine two powerful ideas: the structure of a blunt bob that ends at the jawline draws a strong horizontal line, while a wispy fringe adds the necessary forehead coverage. This look is polished, contemporary, and incredibly balanced.
8. Pixie Cut with Textured Fringe
Short hair can absolutely work for high foreheads! The secret is to avoid a spiked-up or severely slicked-back style. Opt for a pixie with a longer, textured fringe that can be swept to the side or worn messily across the forehead for soft coverage.
Styling Tricks & Parting Ways
Sometimes, a simple change in how you style your existing hair can make a world of difference. These tricks require no cutting and can be tried immediately.
9. Deep Side Part
This is the quickest fix in the book. Switching from a center part to a deep side part instantly creates asymmetry and covers a portion of the forehead with the hair from the heavier side. It also adds volume at the roots, lifting the hair away from the face in a flattering way.
10. Voluminous Roots
Flat hair on top can emphasize the length of the forehead. Use a volumizing spray at the roots and a round brush while blow-drying to lift the hair at the crown. This added height creates a more proportional relationship between the top and bottom of your face.
11. Braided or Twisted Headband
Create a soft, romantic barrier along your hairline. By pulling a small section of hair from the front and braiding or twisting it, then sweeping it across your forehead like a headband and pinning it behind your ear, you get beautiful coverage and a boho-chic vibe.
12. Soft Waves & Curls
Straight hair can sometimes fall flat and create a stark line. Introducing soft waves or curls adds width and volume around the sides of your face. This outward movement balances vertical length and draws the eye outward, not upward.
Additional Flattering Styles to Consider
Let’s round out our list with more fantastic styles that naturally complement higher foreheads through clever design and placement.
13. Tousled Lob (Long Bob)
The lob is a timeless cut. When styled with a bit of texture and a side part, it perfectly hits at the collarbone, drawing attention there. The tousled ends break up lines and keep the look soft around the face.
14. Faux Hawk with Side Fringe
For the bold, a faux hawk where the sides are undercut or closely shaved, but the top is left long and styled into a fringe that covers the forehead, is an unexpected and edgy take on coverage.
15. Half-Up Hairstyles with Face Framing
When pulling hair back, never pull it all back tightly. Instead, opt for a half-up style. Leave all your face-framing layers and bangs down, and only pull back the crown section. This keeps coverage in front while managing hair.
16. Voluminous Afro or Curly Frohawk
Natural texture is a gift. For those with curly or coily hair, embracing the volume of a full Afro naturally balances proportions. A curly frohawk, where hair is styled upward but with curls falling forward at the front, also creates a stunning, coverage-friendly silhouette.
17. Retro Victory Rolls or 40s-Inspired Styles
Look to vintage inspiration! Hairstyles from the 1940s often featured rolls and curls that sat at the front of the hairline, creating a lower, decorative hairline and fabulous coverage.
Embrace Your Features with Confidence
The most important takeaway is that your high forehead is a beautiful part of what makes you, you. These hairstyles are tools for expression and experimentation, not requirements for hiding. We hope this list of 17 hairstyles has inspired you to see new possibilities. The best hairstyle is always the one that makes you feel the most confident and authentic.
When consulting with your hairstylist, bring photos of the styles you love and have an open conversation about your hair type, daily routine, and desired level of coverage. With the right cut and style, you can create a look that feels perfectly, wonderfully balanced.
