Big foreheads and high hairlines were coveted features in 16th-century England. But today, not everyone who has them is completely happy and content. You might be wondering how to make your forehead smaller.
Surgical procedures like forehead reduction and hair transplant offer permanent solutions to big foreheads. Some makeup hacks like contouring and highlighting, focusing on your brows’ shape and arch, and a blush with dramatic eyes and lips can also do wonders. And hairstyles and accessories are quick and easy hacks for a smaller forehead.
These are only some of our best recommendations to permanently, temporarily, or quickly achieve a smaller forehead. A consultation with your medical provider or trusted makeup artist and stylist will also do your quest wonders.
Below, we’ll go over all the ways you can try to achieve a smaller forehead from cosmetic surgeries, makeup tricks, hairstyles, and quick hacks.
What is the Deal With Big Foreheads?
Beauty is subjective. What one considers beautiful isn’t the same checklist as another. People are also naturally born with different natural features that are unique to them – it’s what makes them special.
Bigger foreheads and higher hairlines are natural and many come with these unique features. Many also find these features beautiful and flaunt them instead.
In fact, in 16th century England, big foreheads and high hairlines were considered a sign of natural beauty and aristocracy. The reason? The Queen herself, who had a large forehead and high hairline.
To follow in her footsteps, people would pluck off or shave their hairlines to achieve a bigger forehead. How big is the average forehead anyway?
Today, it’s not exactly the same case. While some find the beauty in it, some would simply prefer the opposite: smaller foreheads.
A smaller forehead could make your face look more balanced and proportioned – one reason it’s a sought-after feature.
Though no one should be ashamed of having a bigger forehead, it can be a source of self-consciousness, which makes it an issue of confidence. And well, no one wants that for anyone.
This is why one common query in the beauty industry is how to make your forehead smaller and look like it.
How to Make Your Forehead Smaller: Forehead Reduction Surgery
If you’re serious about reducing the size of your forehead and bringing your hairline down, you should consider a more permanent solution like a forehead reduction surgery.
What is it?
A forehead reduction surgery – also known as hairline lowering surgery, hairline advancement, or scalp advancement – is a cosmetic surgery that reduces the height of the forehead. This also reduces the height of the hairline relative to your brows, eyes, nose, mouth, and the rest of your facial features.
Typically the patient would be unconscious and placed under general anesthesia for the procedure. Local anesthetic is also used and applied on the different areas of the forehead to reduce discomfort and pain during the procedure.
How does it work?
The procedure works by moving the hairline lower on the face, creating a shorter and smaller forehead.
The process involves removing a certain amount of forehead skin located near the hairline and attaching it lower on the forehead.
The scalp is separated from the bone and moved lower. Then, the surgeon trims the excess skin.
Incisions are made carefully so it could be easier to camouflage the scar. Incisions and sutures are done and closed with extreme care so that they can heal unnoticeably and at the same time would allow you to hide them completely upon hair regrowth.
It’s important to remember that while the surgery can change the way eyebrows look in relation to the face overall, it is not the same as a brow lift surgery.
What is the recovery process like?
Typically 2-4 hours after the procedure, you will be allowed to return home. Complete recovery could take about two to three weeks.
You will be required to return for post-op appointments and checkups for observation and rule out any signs of infections.
You will also need to go back in to the clinic to have sutures removed over the following 1-2 weeks. While you’re healing and recovering, you are to abstain from any strenuous physical activities.
What are the potential risks and side effects?
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Scarring
- Possible infection
- Post-op pain
- Allergy reactions to the anesthesia
How much does it cost?
Forehead reduction surgery does not come cheap and could typically cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000.
How to Make Your Forehead Smaller: Hair Transplant
Another cosmetic procedure to solve your issues with a big forehead is a hair transplant.
What is it?
A hair transplant – also known as hair restoration or hair replacement – is a procedure where your surgeon moves and transplants hair from another place on your head, usually the back, to a bald area on your head.
This allows hair regrowth in the previously bald area and will give patients a lower hairline. The procedure is done under local anesthesia.
Patients with thicker areas of hair on their heads are the best and ideal candidates for this procedure.
How does it work?
There are several ways this can be done, the most common being grafting.
The way it works is your surgeon will cut out and take grafts or pieces of skin from an area with healthy hair, usually the back of the scalp. This is done with a scalpel and the incision is closed with stitches.
Then, the surgeon will implant these grafts and pieces of skin to the bald spot of your head or where your hair tends to be thinning.
A gauze or bandages will cover the scalp for a few days after the procedure, as it heals. A patient may need several sessions with several months in between to completely achieve a full head of hair. How many sessions you’d need would depend on the current state of your hair and your desired results.
It can take up to a whole year for you to see the full results.
What is the recovery process like?
Hair transplants are outpatient procedures and you can go back home after.
The scalp may be sore so your healthcare provider might prescribe pain medication. Stitches will be removed about 10 days after the surgery.
After a few days, you can return to work and light activities, and a few weeks before you can exercise and engage in sports.
What are the potential risks and side effects?
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Itching
- Scarring
- Infection
- Tightness
- Scabs and crusts
- Allergic reaction to anesthesia
How much does it cost?
Hair transplant surgery isn’t cheap either and could cost anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000.
How to Make Your Forehead Look Smaller: Makeup
Cosmetic surgeries aren’t the only way to achieve smaller foreheads. You can also achieve them with the power of makeup and some very helpful makeup tips.
- Opt for a darker foundation
Using a darker foundation shade than your natural skin tone at your temples and hairline will give it a chiseled structure. A foundation that’s one to two shades darker should do. Play with lights, shadows, and contouring to change your face shape and give your forehead a smaller look.
- Eyebrow game strong
Your eyebrows’ height, arch, shape, and thickness will change your face game. Opt for a higher arch or thicker brows to help frame your face better with a smaller-looking forehead.
- Dramatic eyes and lips
Dramatic and bold eye makeup will sure be drawing attention to them instead of to your forehead. Opt for deeper and bolder hues to accentuate your eyes.
Help your lips stand out as well and beg for attention with bright lip colors to divert eyes from your forehead.
- Utilize some blush
You can also distract people’s eyes away from a large forehead by using a blush on your cheeks. This can keep eyes and focus on the center part of your face instead of on the top part.
- Use some highlight
Instantly enhance the rest of your facial features with some shimmery highlighter powder. This works best when done with some contouring to give your face more structure and more alike to your preferences.
How to Make Your Forehead Look Smaller: Hairstyles
The way you style your hair or how it’s cut can also provide easy solutions for large foreheads.
- Bangs to the rescue
Bangs – full bangs, side-swept bangs, or curtain bangs – can help cover a large area of your forehead and hide its size. It’s quick, easy, and gives your face a whole new look.
- Layers and volume
Flat hair and hairstyles can further elongate your facial features. Layered hairstyles will give your hair enough volume to make your forehead look smaller and balance your facial features more.
- Hair highlights
Highlights on your hair will bring attention to your hair instead of to the size of your forehead. The right hair-highlighting shade and technique will get people talking about it instead.
- Try messy up-dos
If you prefer to style up your hair, try a messy up-do look. Loosen a few hair strands and frame them on your face to make your forehead look smaller.
How to Hide a Big Forehead: Other Easy and Quick Methods
Lastly, here are a few more quick and easy tips and hacks to make a large forehead appear smaller:
- Wear bold earrings and necklaces. Dangling accessories can also distract from a natural large forehead feature.
- Try a bandana or a cap if you need to be out the door now and need a quick fix.
- Hide a big forehead with something as simple as a headband. It’s a cute way to accessorize that will also keep your hair in place. Try loosening a few strands of hair to make it look effortless while also framing the face.
Conclusion
We stand by the fact that everyone is beautiful. Even so, there are a few facial features that don’t make people who have them too happy and confident. One of these common facial features is a big and high forehead.
Surgical procedures like forehead reduction surgery and hair transplant surgery can permanently make foreheads look smaller. If you’re not into cosmetic surgery, makeup techniques can help you instead. Contouring, focusing on your eye and lip makeup and brows, and using some blush and highlight can all help too. Lastly, a few tweaks to your haircut and hairstyle can make your forehead look small.
And that has been our detailed guide on how to make your forehead smaller. Hit us up below for any more of your queries!