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15 Hair Loss Hairstyles for Thinning Hair on Crown in 2024

Sparse areas on your scalp getting harder to hide? These 15 hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown make it easy to fake fuller-looking locks with a few simple style tricks. 

From strategic volume and styling to perfectly placing buns, braids, and ponytails to camouflage thin hair at the crown, we’re excited to bring you a list of ready-to-rock hairstyles that help you feel and look your best. 

What Styles Work Best for Thinning Hair on the Crown?

  • Add extra root volume and lift with products and styling techniques
  • Direct longer hair over the crown with side parts or slicked-back looks
  • Place ponytails, buns, and braids at the right spot to cover a sparse crown

Noticing thinning hair on the crown can feel like a punch to the gut. Suddenly, some of your favorite go-to hairstyles aren’t working as well and may even be exaggerating the sparser areas on your scalp. 

What can you do to fix it? Chances are, you’re just not choosing the right styles to strategically cover or disguise a thinning crown. 

There’s a wide range of gorgeous and easily-attainable hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown.

You don’t have to be a hot-tool queen or a pseudo-professional stylist to make many of these pretty looks work. In fact, many of the most flattering hairstyles that hide a thinning crown can be done in under 5 minutes! 

We’ll show you 20 of our favorite hairstyles for hair loss and thinning crowns in just a moment. You’ll notice that these styles have a few important characteristics that help camouflage thin crown zones. 

Hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on the crown often feature extra volume and lift at the roots.

You can accomplish this with special styling products and techniques (like drying upside down or with a round brush) that we’ll cover in detail after the examples below. 

Many of the best hairstyles for thinning hair at the crown will involve directing longer hair over the sparse crown area. That might be a deep side part, slicking the hair back, or choosing a sleek low ponytail, braid, or bun. 

Style placement is also an important feature of flattering hairstyles for thin hair at the crown. Try high placement for ponytails and buns or go with a single braid down the back to physically cover the crown zone. 

You’ll see these style features in action next as we explore the 15 top hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on the crown! 

15 Hair Loss Hairstyles for Thinning Hair on Crown

From quick and easy styles that take mere minutes to all-out glam looks that are worthy of the swankiest soirée, you’ll feel confident in any of these hairstyles that cover thinning hair on the crown! 

1. Easy Updo With Statement Claw Clip

Back view of woman with hand on her shoulder turned to the side wearing one of the best hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown, a claw clip updo

Hazal Ak/Shutterstock

Part your hair on the side then brush it back and gather it at the nape of your neck. Twist it a few times before turning it vertically and securing with a cute, statement claw clip. 

It’s important to stop your side part before the thin area around the crown. Make sure you’re brushing your hair back and over the crown to make this look the most flattering – use a little hairspray to keep that area in place! 

2. Low Wrapped Curly Ponytail

Back view of blonde woman with long hair wearing a wrapped curly ponytail to show hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown

Anna Nahabed/Shutterstock

The beauty of a simplistic-yet-chic look like this is how versatile and easy it is to mix it up a little. Experiment with curly, wavy, or pin-straight texture in the length of the ponytail. 

Try a middle or side part for the front of the style. Just make sure to brush your hair back and over the crown for extra coverage. Finish by wrapping a thin piece of hair around the base of the ponytail and secure it with bobby pins. 

3. Half-Up Twist and Clip

Young woman wears a purple flower clip in her half-up hairstyle, one of the best hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown

Redumbrella Europe/Shutterstock

Fun, casual, and cute, this style is great at hiding hair loss at the crown with a nice little bump of volume in the thin area and an interesting twist secured with a colorful clip. 

Gentle backcombing at the crown will help you fill in space there while adding some lift. Tug a few strands loose around your face to complete the look. 

4. Side-Swept Voluminous Curls

Platinum blonde woman with bare shoulders models a pretty side-swept hairstyle with curls that works well for thinning hair at the crown

Olga Ekaterincheva/Shutterstock

A deep side part is an excellent way to camouflage a thinning crown. Add mega-volume and curls to the look, and you’ve got a style that’s ready for a night out on the town or a special event! 

Volumizing root spray and mousse are the basis of this look, then dry your hair with a round brush to lift the roots further.

Finish with hot rollers or a curling iron and part your hair far over to the side, ensuring your strands cover the crown in the top-back.

5. Low Tucked Messy Bun

Rear view of brunette woman with a fancy bun hairstyle to show examples of hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown

Evgenyrychko/Shutterstock

Crimping for texture is a unique and effective way to add a little more texture, grip, and volume to your hair if you’re nervous about teasing or backcombing thin areas. 

Gently crimp your hair all over, then spritz lightweight hairspray at the roots in front for extra lift. Gather your hair into a ponytail at the nape of your neck, then tuck and pin small sections to form this messy bun. 

6. Textured Messy High Bun With Bangs

Red-haired woman with a high messy bun shows the concept of hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown while walking in the city with a bag over her shoulder

stockfour/Shutterstock

This look is great if your hair has a little natural wavy or curly texture. Pull your hair up into a ponytail that sits at the crown, then loosely twist the length to form a coil.

Wrap the coil around the base of the ponytail, letting small pieces fall out and ensuring the coil is loose enough to show the hair’s texture. 

7. Half-Up Twin Twists and Inverted Ponytails

Back view of woman with blonde balayage wearing a twisted braid hairstyle for thinning hair at the crown in front of a hot pink wall

phototimedp/Shutterstock

Gentle teasing at the crown will really elevate this look and make it more effective for covering thin hair in the area. Take sections from each side and twist them into rope braids.

Bring the two twisted rope braids together in the back and secure with a clear elastic, adding another elastic a few inches down.

Make a “hole” between two elastics, then tuck the ends of the ponytail though it. Add another elastic and repeat the process. 

8. Chic Slicked Back Strands

Side view of smiling woman with her eyes closed with her long hair slicked back as an example of hairstyles for thinning hair at the crown

Kourdakova Alena/Shutterstock

It really doesn’t get much easier than this – especially if your hair’s natural texture is sleek and straight! Adding a little mousse or gel while your hair is damp will help your hair get enough hold to stay in position. 

Tuck small sections behind your ears on each side, using bobby pins to secure them in place if you want. Direct the hair in the center straight back to cover the crown and spritz with firm hold hairspray for staying power. 

9. Half-Up Top Knot

Young woman with orange sunglasses stands in front of a blue wall with a smile and closed eyes to show a great hair loss hairstyle for thinning hair on crown

Halay Alex/Shutterstock

Who doesn’t love a cute little top knot? Going with a lighter half-up top knot will reduce the tension on your scalp at the crown, which can exacerbate thinning if you’re not careful! 

Rock a natural texture through the length, then create a quick ponytail right at the crown and twist it to form a coil. Wrap the coil around the base and secure with a few bobby pins to hold the style. 

10. Bouncy Blowout

Blonde woman in a black strapless top models a bouncy blowout, one of the top hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown

Dmitry Lobanov/Shutterstock

Time-consuming but undeniably gorgeous and feminine, a bouncy blowout can be a fantastic way to disguise thinning hair at the crown so others are none the wiser. 

Keys to a great 90s blowout include mousse and root-lifting spray in your damp hair, drying with a round brush, and letting each section cool in its curled position for the most staying power. 

Go with a deep side part to further conceal the thinnest areas near your crown and use hairspray to physically direct hair over the spots you’re hoping to hide.

11. Jumbo Ballerina Bun

Side view of woman with bare shoulders rocking a jumbo sleek ballerina bun to show what hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown look like

Kourdakova Alena/Shutterstock

Big statement buns will effectively cover up the entire crown area and are much more flattering if you don’t like the slicked-back look of low buns. 

You can use a sock or hair donut to give your bun more shape and width. Finish by twisting and wrapping the ends around the base and spraying any flyaways with hairspray for a smooth, chic look. 

12. Loose French Braid

Rear view of woman with highlighted hair in a room with ivy and string lights wearing a French braid, which is one of the best hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown

By Abby Faith/Shutterstock

Any textured style that crosses the crown area is a wonderful way to help a thinning crown look fuller. Try a loose French braid for a pretty, casual look. 

Make sure your braid begins in front of the crown for the best results. Tug a few strands loose to hang around your face to complete the look. 

13. Quick Half-Up Hairstyle

Back view of a brunette woman in a white top with puffy sleeves wearing a simple half-up hairstyle to cover thinning hair on the crown

hika-j/Shutterstock

When you don’t have much time to pull together a cute hairstyle that helps you cover up your crown, you can always fall back on a simple half-updo. 

Smooth the top half back so it drapes over the crown and secure it in place with a clear elastic or small clip.

Rock your natural texture to keep this style quick and easy, but if you have more time, some heat-styled waves or curls would be great! 

14. Airy Waves With Lifted Roots

Rear view of a blonde woman with wavy hair standing in front of a white brick wall with a great hairstyle for thinning hair on the crown

galyakiss/Shutterstock

Texture in the form of waves or curls goes a long way in concealing sparse areas on the crown. This look is anchored with a side part (hairspray at the roots for volume) and hair directed back over the crown. 

Use a curling wand or iron to create loose waves, tugging gently on each before it cools for a relaxed vibe. You can lightly tease the crown and smooth hair over it for a pumped-up look.

15. Tousled Pushed-Back Long Pixie

Back view of a woman with platinum blonde pixie cut wearing a messy hairstyle in front of a yellow wall

GaudiLab/Shutterstock

If you’re rocking a short haircut like this long pixie, a little mousse, wax, or pomade is all you need to make your crown area look thicker. 

Add volumizing mousse to your damp hair, then blow dry straight up and back with a brush for extra lift.

Finish by pinching the ends with a little wax, directing a few strands over the crown, and spritzing with hairspray. 

Things to Consider

Woman looking down with head resting on her hands, showing hair loss and thinning on crown that can be remedied with the right hairstyles

Oporty786/Shutterstock

Learning hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on the crown makes a huge difference in how manageable dealing with thinning hair can be. 

But hairstyles aren’t the only thing you can do to improve the health, density, and thickness of your hair! Here are some tips to get your mane back on track. 

  • Amp up your natural hair growth. Nutraceuticals are nutrient and vitamin-based supplements that don’t contain any pharmaceuticals, but can provide your body the needed “ingredients” to promote more natural hair growth. Our review of the top 3 products on the market found that all-natural Folexin is the best nutraceutical to help manage thinning hair with results in about a month.
  • Start oiling your scalp at night. Natural methods can be much less scary to try if you’re starting to experience hair loss. A simple routine of oiling your scalp and strands at night with any of the 6 proven natural hair growth oils can help turn things around for a thinning crown. 
  • Eat a nutritious, balanced diet. We know, we know – it’s easier said than done, but eating a nutritious and balanced diet is really key if you’re hoping to reverse hair loss and help your crown fill out more. Vitamin deficiencies are a common reason for hair loss. Make sure you’re getting enough protein, fat, and carbohydrates from whole-food sources to meet your daily nutrition needs. 
  • Consider hair loss medication. For many, it’s the last option on the list, but there’s no denying that hair loss medication and topicals work. Products that contain minoxidil (active ingredient in Rogaine) or finasteride (active ingredient in Propecia) can help you start seeing new growth in a month or so. Consider other alternatives to minoxidil if you’re not comfortable going the pharmaceutical route. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Woman smiling in front glass windows on the street wears one of the recommended hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on crown

Ekateryna Zubal/Shutterstock

Check out the most frequently asked questions on thinning hair at the crown – which styles work best, how to know when it’s time to go shorter, and what to do with the hair on top – to learn more. 

What hairstyle is best for thinning hair at the crown?

Lots of hairstyles can help cover thinning hair at the crown, but half-up styles may be the best option because they offer physical crown coverage with a trendy look.

Make sure to keep your half-up styles loose to avoid putting tension on the crown area. Tension can lead to further hair loss, so opt for a loose top knot, cute braid, or hair half-up in a clip.

How can I hide my thinning hair with a crown?

Crown balding can be hidden or disguised with specific hairstyles, hair extensions, or scrunchy hair pieces you can use to bulk up ponytails or buns. Making sure longer hair physically covers the crown will help hide thinning in this area.

You can also tease or backcomb the hair over the crown gently to add volume that helps conceal thinning, but be careful to avoid breakage and further thinning.

Is shorter hair better for a thinning crown?

It depends on how extensive the thinning in your crown is. If the hair on your crown is very sparse, short styles with longer hair on top styled back over the crown may be the best option for coverage.

For less extensive thinning, short, medium, and long hairstyles can all work to cover the crown. Try some of the styles in this guide to see what a difference it makes!

How do you style thinning hair on top?

If your hair is thinning all over the top and not just on the crown, go shorter with your length (like a cute, cropped pixie) and brush it forward or style it upward and messy with mousse and hairspray.

What is the best haircut for thinning hair on top for a female?

Short pixie cuts are the best haircut if your hair is thinning on top beyond the crown.

Keep the top slightly longer than the back and sides, adding texture with point-cutting and a product (mousse, wax, etc.) that helps you create messy, piecey styles.

Ready to Try New Hairstyles for Thinning Hair?

Thinning hair at the crown can zap your confidence and make styling feel more like a chore than a self-esteem booster. That’s why learning the best hair loss hairstyles for thinning hair on the crown is so important! 

Now that you’ve got a list of 15 great styles to swap into your current rotation, you’ll be able to make the most of your mane and help it look thicker, healthier, and fuller with simple style tricks. 

If you’re feeling ready to try some new hairstyles, pick a few simple options from the list and experiment with a few tweaks to make them feel like “you.”