Is a receding hairline 'sexy'? White Lotus' Walton Goggins is paving the way

What started out as a subtle and understated yet timeless elegance has finally found its much-deserved applause decades later - thanks to the southern charm.

When we talk about some sort of a magnetic screen presence that captivates your attention and makes a rent-free home out of your brainchamber, if your mind races to a specsy Graham, a flamboyant Dan, or a complicated and carefree Alfie - then, you’ve halted at the right station.

The station, that’s anchored to none other than Jude Law .


The English actor who reigned on the screens in the nineties through the early 2000s.

With a pair of extremely emotive eyes, a cotton-candy-like soft smile accentuated by dimples, an intelligent demeanor, a personality that’s completely opposite to what might be called macho or brazen, and with a receding hairline .

While all of the above attributes only contributed positively and only brightened his presence, one of them hardly ever got attention - his receding hairline.

The one thing anyone can talk about right now - thanks to Walton Goggins and his stint with ‘The White Lotus’.


The return of the receding hairline!

Let’s be real for a moment. Receding hairline has always existed. It has always been there, before our eyes, especially in men. And even in men we’ve swooned over for ages.

Take Daniel Craig , for example. Man has taken the sex appeal of Bond to an almost unbeatable height. So much so that it’s been years since Craig put his hat down, and the studios are still out there with lanterns in their hand looking for a perfect actor to cast for the iconic role.


Yes, we hear you - receding hairline, which usually means that one’s going through the process of hair thinning, isn’t exactly an X-factor.

And still, despite being conventionally ‘not-so-attractive’, a receding hairline has emerged to be ‘sexy’!

Why?

Because Walton Goggins’ Rick Hatchett has made it so!

Bringing the sexy back!

Turns out, Fleabag wasn’t exactly right about one thing; Hair ISN’T Everything!

Goggins’ frame-to-fame from his gig at ‘The White Lotus’ not only attests to that theory but also makes it a point to establish another reality check - anything can be a style statement if you make it so.


Goggins, who played Rick Hatchett in the third season of ‘The White Lotus’, has unanimously been touted as one of the most enigmatic guests at the Thailand resort, along with his on-screen girlfriend Chelsea (played by Aimee Lou Wood).

Even at 53, Goggins has been named ‘the internet’s boyfriend’, and now is giving tough competition to the likes of Andrew Garfield , Paul Mescal , Harris Dickinson, Glen Powell, Jacob Elordi, Timothée Chalamet, Sebastian Stan , and even to Pedro Pascal !

Although he portrayed an enigmatic yet moody Rick Hatchett, it’s Goggins’ skill that breathed life into the flesh and bones of the character, which made him a fan-favorite and more importantly - made receding hairline look ‘oh-so-sexy’!

Forget Turkey transplant tourism and its exponentially expanding popularity; as the finale of the show goes live on Sunday, fans are drooling over and rooting for the Hawaiian shirt-wearing vacationer, calling it ‘The Walton Goggins Effect’!


Paying homage or paving the way?

As the internet is touting receding hairlines to now ‘have sex appeal’, and Redditors unabashedly admitting, “I love Walton so much. He’s half forehead, half teeth and yet it all works. The man is hot,” one can’t help but wonder - what the likes of Jude Law had already carved the foundation stone for - why did it take decades and a Walton Goggins to turn into an ‘internet frenzy’!

Frenzy might not even be an exaggeration as users are confessing how they’re ‘hot for Goggins’, saying, “Walton Goggins somehow balding in the most handsome way possible,” “The Walton Goggins propaganda has officially worked on me because I find him so f–king hot it’s crazy.”

Some of them are even finding ‘science-backed’ arguments while mentioning, “Scientifically speaking, Walton Goggins is the hottest weird-looking guy or the weirdest-looking hot guy that ever lived.”

Although style experts are putting forward more sound narratives here, saying how Goggins’ sex appeal lies more in his ‘rizz’ - the Gen Z-approved term for charisma!

Hairstylist Luke Hersherson told The Telegraph, “It’s a combination of his confidence, his nonchalance and his attitude, as well as his style. Everything works together,” adding, “The fact that he is embracing it, rather than hiding it, also adds to the attractiveness, as well as the long hair – it gives him this ‘I don’t give a s–t’ attitude. I’m not sure we’d be talking about it if all those things weren’t true.”

In a crowded room full of fillers and botox treatments, full points to us for embracing the acceptance!


Keeping the sexy in the game!

Now that we’ve established how a receding hairline isn’t a ‘problem’ that needs to be hidden with pricey hair transplants (one can always take a trip to Turkey for a relaxing vacation and not for the transplant tourism), it’s time to get down to business.

Although we’re now all for embracing the ‘natural look’, here are some tips on how to style your hair if you have a receding hairline.

To style hair effectively with a receding hairline, focus on hairstyles that create volume and draw attention away from the temples, like a quiff, pompadour, or slicked-back styles, while avoiding those that highlight hair loss.

Hairstyles that work well on a receding hairline:

Quiff: This style involves keeping the sides and back short and neat, while styling the top hair upwards and outwards, creating volume and height.

Pompadour: Similar to a quiff, but with more focus on the volume and height of the hair on top, drawing attention away from the hairline.

Slicked-back styles: These styles, whether a classic slicked-back look or a slicked-back undercut, can make the hair appear fuller by smoothing it back and away from the temples.

Faux Hawk: A faux hawk, with the hair on the sides cut short rather than shaved, can create a stylish, edgy look that draws attention to the top of the head.

Crew Cut: This classic, military-inspired cut keeps the sides and back short, while leaving a bit of length on top, which can be styled to cover the thinning areas.

Undercut: Shaving the sides and back short, while leaving the top hair longer, creates a contrast that draws attention away from the hairline.

Textured Crop: A textured crop with uneven lengths can create the illusion of volume and fullness, distracting from the hairline.

Fringe: A fringe can be a great way to cover up thinning areas around the temples, especially if you have curly or straight hair.

Side Part: A deep side part can help cover up a receding hairline and make the hair appear fuller.


Here are some styling tips that might come in handy:

Use volumizing products: Mousse or volumizing sprays can help lift the hair at the roots and create the illusion of thicker hair.

Focus on texture: Using wax or other texturizing products can create movement and volume, drawing attention away from the hairline.

Consider a fade: A fade, where the hair is shaved short on the sides and back and gradually fades into longer hair on top, can help blend the hairline and make it appear fuller.

Maintain a clean and neat look: Keeping the sides and back of the hair short and well-maintained can help create a more polished look and draw attention away from the hairline.

Consult with a professional: Last but not least, a barber or stylist can help you find the best hairstyle for your hair type and receding hairline.