The 20 Best Men’s Haircuts That Can Make You Look 10 Years Younger (Hairstyle Do’s And Don’ts)

Karyn Bailey | November 7, 2024 8:00 am

There are plenty of options when it comes to men's haircuts, even for those who are experiencing hair thinning. Some styles can even appear to turn back the hands of time by covering up bald spots, hiding receding hairlines, and increasing volume. Keep reading to see the best haircuts for men who are going for a younger look. Which style will you try next?

Combed Up And To The Side

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Stuart Wilson/Getty Images
Stuart Wilson/Getty Images

This haircut is one of many that Tom Cruise has sported on the red carpet. What's unique about this one is that it doesn't rely on a fade to add dimension. Instead, the hair is styled using some thickening cream and a blowdryer.

The hair part is way over on one side, which causes the locks on top to stand taller, adding volume. A blowdryer trains the hair to stay in place, so you don't have to weigh the strands down with too much cream.

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Fluffy With A Curl

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Rich Fury/Getty Images
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John Slattery looks like a young Santa Claus thanks to his white hair and playful haircut. The 'do features lengthy locks all around that are just barely shorter on the sides.

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This way, Slattery can get ample volume on top without being obvious about it. The added length covers up any thinning and allows for that timeless curl to hang over his hairline. The fluffy haircut does wonders for bald spots and looks practically effortless.

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Mid-Length, Stick-Straight Locks

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Larry Busacca/Getty Images
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Guy Pearce is an example of someone who doesn't have the thickest hair in the world, but can still pull-off relatively long hair. Moreover, his long locks help to cover up that receding hairline.

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His playful hairdo consists of long hair all around that's parted to one side. Use a texturizing cream to add a little volume and to add a bit of playfulness to the look. The tousled strands make the haircut look both effortless and stylish.

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The Faded Silver Fox

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Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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Have you ever wondered how Anderson Cooper looks so young despite having nearly white hair? The answer is his haircut, which has been a popular one among younger men for decades.

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His 'do consists of longer hair on top and a fade along the sides. The longer hair is brushed to one side, which downplays a receding hairline. The shorter hair is what keeps the look youthful and helps to emphasize how much hair is still there.

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A Blunt Top Layer

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Vincent Sandoval/Getty Images
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Sam Elliott's hairstyle is almost childish in that it features a blunt top layer that playfully hits mid-forehead. The haircut could even form bangs if it weren't parted slightly to one side.

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This fun-loving look may be casual, but it looks sophisticated on an older gentleman such as Elliott. Part of what makes the top layer stand out so much is the buzzed hair beneath, which creates a clean look that contrasts with the messy top.

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A Mature Undercut

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Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for GQ Style
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The undercut has been in and out of style for more than a century, meaning it's probably here to stay. The haircut consists of buzzed sides and a noticeably longer top.

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Ricky Martin is one celebrity who knows how to pull off the fun style while keeping it classy. He keeps enough hair on the sides to fill in his scalp and finger-combs the hair on top with a bit of gel so it doesn't fall into his eyes.

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The Super-Tight Fade

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Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
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Idris Elba is living proof that you don't need long, luscious locks to pull off a youthful haircut. If your hair is thin or doesn't have much volume, emphasize what you do have with a tight fade.

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The sides are nearly shaved entirely off, which makes the hair on top really pop despite being super short. It's a far cry from a completely shaved head, even though there's only a bit of peach fuzz making the difference.

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Long Hair Combed Back

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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It may seem counterintuitive to grow out thinning hair, but Harrison Ford illustrates why doing so can cut off years. Here the actor is sporting a longer hairdo than usual, and it works.

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He styled the longer haircut by combing all of the hair straight back, getting rid of his natural part. As a result, the hair covers up the parts that are thinning and adds volume all around. The top looks classic while the hair peeking out at the bottom gives a bit of youthful edge.

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A Modest Pompadour

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The pompadour is one of those hairstyles that is a timeless classic, especially when you play it modest like Ryan Reynolds does. The key is to have a lot of hair on top near the front that you can comb back.

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Use a blowdryer and a curved brush to achieve that characteristic bump on top, adding plenty of volume to your hair and covering any bald spots. Hold it all together with a light-hold hairspray and voila!

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Beachy Waves Can Work Wonders

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Henry S. Dziekan III/Getty Images
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If you're lucky enough to have luscious locks for decades, then it may be worthwhile to try the Jeff Bridges look. The actor has had the same haircut for so long that it's practically his trademark style.

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The haircut consists of long layers that frame Bridges' face and emphasize his naturally wavy locks. His hair goes down to a little past his collar, creating a look that is youthful but is also still professional.

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Pushed Forward And Messy

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Angela Weiss/Getty Images
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Matt Damon's hair may not be what it was in the '90s, but it's hard to tell thanks to his messy hairdo. What makes this haircut work on the red carpet is the sides are all combed down and tamed.

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Then on top, he has locks that are pushed forward and tousled with gel. The look covers up any areas that may be thinning and downplays a receding hairline. At the same time, it looks as effortless as rolling out of bed!

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The Low-Maintenance Barber Cut

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Those who don't have thinning hair and are embracing the salt and pepper look may enjoy trying George Clooney's simple barber cut. The style is extremely low-maintenance since it's short and sticks to the head.

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Clooney's haircut is all one length but is shaped in such a way that it naturally parts to one side. The hair sweeps over to showcase how full his hair is without complicating the 'do with layers and fades.

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The Slicked-Back Undercut

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Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images
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One person who knows how to break all of the cardinal rules of haircuts is Brad Pitt. For those looking for a more daring style, try this slicked-back undercut. It features hair that's buzzed on either side for an undoubtedly youthful look.

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The longer hair on top is pulled straight back with enough gel to hold it in place without weighing down the volume. The cut could help cover up crown balding so long as there's enough thickness in the front.

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The Gray Spiked Look

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At some point during Friends, the character Joey adopted a spiky hairstyle. Actor Matt LeBlanc hasn't looked back since. LeBlanc has proved that spiky hair can be timeless, even when the spikes go gray.

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As with any haircut on this list, the key is to avoid using too much gel, as doing so can cause clumpiness that emphasizes thinning hair. Opt for shorter spikes that won't need as much reinforcement for a youthful look.

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Just A Little Bit Of Side-Sweeping

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Ryan Gosling's hair looks like little waves mid-crash, and there's only one way to make them look so perfect. The key is a very subtle fade paired with a light-hold pomade.

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Keep the hair long on top and very gradually fade toward the bottom. Then, part it to one side and comb the hair over and back. Be sure to use a very light pomade to hold it in place as heavier gels can cause the hair to clump together, emphasizing balding spots.

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Combed Back And Casual

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Liam Neeson has worn a variety of hairstyles over the years, but this one shows that thinning hair can still look great. Here, he's combed his hair back and away from his face in a style that's cool and casual but would look good in many different settings.

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This cut and style also match the facial hair Neeson is sporting, making it an excellent choice for anyone with thinning hair who prefers to keep a face that's not always clean-shaven.

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The Buzz Cut

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If all else fails, the buzz cut is a staple that is age ambiguous enough to be more youthful than certain alternatives. Especially for those who don't want to deal with thinning or gray hair, buzz cuts are a great way to go.

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Buzzcuts are such a solid option that even James Marsden shaved off his shaggy locks to give the look a try. The shorter cut complemented his incoming salt and pepper hair for a sophisticated yet youthful look.

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Slick But Floppy

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a characteristically floppy haircut that is ideal for those with hair that's begun thinning near the crown. That's because the style draws the eye to the longer hair toward the front of the scalp.

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The floppy 'do can also help hide any thinning near the back since the longer locks curve toward the back, covering balding spots. The sides are longer than a fade but are still trimmed, keeping the look slick but also voluminous.

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Tousled Yet Sophisticated

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Jeff Goldblum's hair in this photo features long, soft locks that stay in place without being too stiff. His haircut is slightly longer on top, but not enough for the sides to require a fade.

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His hair is then blow-dried back and to the side to add volume that looks effortless. What makes this haircut stand out is the way the strands are tousled to add a carefree feel to the sophisticated do.

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Wavy And Blown Back

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TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images
TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images
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Whether Matthew McConaughey is letting his hair grow out or just chopped it off, his style remains more or less the same. He achieves his signature look by brushing and blowdrying his wavy locks straight back.

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This look keeps the hair looking fuller and more voluminous. Not having a defined part in the hair makes it easier for locks to effortlessly fall where they may and mask any thinning areas. The beachy look is both charismatic and youthful and will complement a variety of different faces.