Is Harry Styles Balding? The Scoop on Harry’s Hair Journey

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In 2022, a TikTok rumour that Harry Styles was balding spread like wildfire. This was only fueled by his decision to try a buzz cut in 2023. So, is the singer truly facing hair loss?

Photos of him sporting his luxurious signature quiffs once more in early 2024 have likely put the online chatter to rest: the star shows no indication of advanced male pattern baldness. While his hairline may have slightly receded from his teenage days, Harry Styles doesn’t yet have true signs of serious hair loss.

Keep reading this article to find out more about Harry Styles’s hair transformations, such as:

Is Harry Styles truly balding?
Harry’s hair journey through the years
Best Harry hairstyles for a receding hairline
The most effective hair loss treatments Harry could start using

Table of Contents

Harry Styles: a short bio
Is Harry Styles going bald?
Harry’s hair journey
The best Harry Styles looks for thinning hair
Are you concerned about hair loss?

Harry Styles: a short bio

Harry Styles is a British singer, songwriter and actor. Born in 1994, he started his musical career at the age of 16 when he auditioned for The X Factor, eventually becoming one-fifth of One Direction.

Six years and five hit albums later, in 2016, Harry signed his first solo album deal while the band was on hiatus. In 2017, he made his acting debut in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.

Is Harry Styles going bald?

Unfounded rumours about Harry being bald and wearing a hairpiece started around 2022. But Harry made light of this gossip, denying the baldness rumours in an interview with Rolling Stone [13]:

“What is it with baldness? … It skips a generation or something, right? If your grandad’s bald then you’ll be bald? Well, my granddad wasn’t bald, so fingers crossed.”

Despite all the internet chatter, in 2023, Harry decided to get a brand new buzz cut and present it to the world. This set the internet ablaze with speculation regarding the alleged hair loss that led to this drastic look change:

There are two main arguments supporting the theory that the 30-year-old singer is experiencing androgenetic alopecia. The first is his M-shaped hairline, while the second rests with his decision to get a buzz cut in 2023.

The first signs of hair thinning and balding in men often start with gradual recession, and Harry Styles does have some light thinning around his temples. But aside from this, Harry’s hairline is relatively intact.

As for choosing to get a buzz cut, it is true that a shaved head is one of the best male hairstyles for a receding hairline. However, it is also a very popular masculine haircut. And as Harry Styles isn’t shy about experimenting with new looks, it’s certainly possible he just fancied a change.

Of course, since he turned 30, Harry now has a matured or slightly receding hairline in comparison to the way it was when he was a teenager. However, his hair still looks mostly healthy with no advanced signs of balding at this time.

While Harry did not comment on his style choice, his mother, Anne Twist, expressed her disappointment with the reaction of some fans to his new look:

Harry’s hair journey

Harry Styles’s hair has been one of his most famous appearance assets since he first came into the spotlight. Here is how his hair has evolved throughout the years.:

Teenage years and One Direction

Harry was already sporting the full, wavy mane that won many fans’ hearts in his teenage years. He preferred a side-swept part which obscured most of his hairline with voluminous, textured curls.

The young singer experimented often with his look during his time with One Direction. He started out with messy mid-length hair, taking advantage of his natural curls and full texture. Combing this back revealed a fairly straight hairline, with minimal temple hair loss and full scalp coverage.

Not all teenagers are lucky enough to retain their hair into their 20s and beyond. It’s why many seek to find out how to stop hair loss in teenage guys.

However, a few years later, the singer began to experiment with his hair. He started by accessorising with hats and headgear but eventually went for a more substantial transformation.

Growing his hair out and sweeping it back off his face shows slight temple hair loss and a developing M-shaped hairline.

The solo career Styles

By 2017, Harry had taken his first steps towards solo fame and embraced a new, mature look. He cut off his curls and opted for a neat, simple quiff, leaving behind the messier looks of his One Direction days.

Another swept-back style, the quiff exposes some of the thinning around Harry’s temples. But many men start to see the first signs of a receding hairline in their 20s, and Harry’s hair is still mostly thick and full. So Harry Styles isn’t seriously balding at this point.

The 2020s found him with slightly longer, combed-back, soft waves and stubble. Recovering some of the messiness of the early days, this style carried an artsy, bohemian look.

The buzz cut that rocked the world

In November 2023, Harry shocked his fans and gave the media a field day by posting a photo of himself on Instagram sporting a brand new buzz cut. Since audiences were accustomed to his iconic longer styles, this reveal had an overwhelmingly negative reception and led to speculations that the singer had gone bald.

The buzz cut does show some further recession that was concealed by his longer hairstyles His left temple, in particular, shows some early signs of recession, putting him around late stage 2/early stage 3 on the Norwood Scale.

Present day Harry

Whether due to the backlash over his buzz cut or his personal hair preferences, Harry’s longer hair was back with a bang in 2024. Full waves, a strong hairline and the return of the quiff put speculation about hair loss and balding behind him.

Many celebrities have hair transplants to tackle balding, change their appearance, and boost their confidence. Ben Stokes’s hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic transformed his mental health, while Rob Holding’s hair transplant gave him a fuller, straighter hairline that restored his self-esteem.

However, Harry Styles seems still to be a few years away from needing a hair transplant. Even into his 30s, Harry Styles has a full head of hair — the light thinning around his temples is giving way to a more mature hairline befitting his age and style.

The best Harry Styles looks for thinning hair

While Harry’s signature looks usually require fuller hair, his more recent transformations make them available to men with dwindling locks. Whether you are experiencing frontal balding, a bald spot on the crown or a receding hairline, you can still glean some inspiration from Harry Styles. Here are some of his best hairstyles for men with thin hair:

1. A messy, medium-length, textured style

If you have medium-length wavy or curly hair, a messy style can help cover up any thinning spots in the frontal area, as well as a receding hairline. Simply comb your hair forward and sweep it to the side, giving it a dishevelled look. If you would like more volume, you can blow dry it (on a low heat setting, as it is hard to fix heat-damaged hair) or use a hair -thickening spray.

2. The bro flow

Popularised by stars such as Matthew McConaughey as well as Harry Styles, this look works well if you have long or medium, wavy hair. Comb your locks back and let them flow or tuck them behind your ears. This is one of the best haircuts for men who are balding on top, because the combed-back, textured strands can mask crown thinning.

3. A side-swept asymmetric fringe

If you are struggling with a receding or uneven hairline, try this smouldering, side-swept, longer fringe that Harry seems to have borrowed from Johnny Depp’s playbook. With a playful, mysterious vibe, this style can also draw attention away from your temple hair loss.

4. A mid-length quiff

Due to its height and volume, a quiff can be an excellent way to cover mid-scalp thinning. It can be obtained easily by leaving your hair a bit longer in the front, combing it up, and then backwards with a round brush. A bit of hairspray can be a good finishing touch to lock it in place (don’t worry, hairspray does not cause hair loss).

Note that quiffs aren’t the best hairstyles for a receding hairline, as they expose your temples and any frontal thinning.

5. A masculine buzz cut

Despite the reaction to Harry Styles’s buzz cut, this is actually one of the most popular men’s styles. A buzz cut gives you an edgy vibe, especially when worn with rugged stubble. At the same time, it can make your hair thinning less conspicuous, especially if you buzz your hair right down to the scalp. Check out the best buzz cuts for a receding hairline.

Are you concerned about hair loss?

Not all men are as lucky as Harry Styles when it comes to their hair. Many start to see substantial thinning in their 20s, 30s, or even earlier.

If this sounds like you, and you’re worried about developing a receding hairline or crown hair loss, the Wimpole Clinic can help. Whether you’re looking for early-stage treatments like Finasteride or a hair transplant to reverse more advanced balding, our specialists can devise a personal hair loss treatment plan for you.

Get the best hair loss treatment for men at the Wimpole Clinic. Book a no-obligation consultation to get started.