Best Sunglasses for Bald Men
If you shave your head, or are naturally bald, sunglasses can become a much more noticeable part of your overall look. Without a hairstyle competing for attention, the shape, color and lenses of your frames tend to stand out more.
There isn't one particular style every bald man should wear. The best approach is to compare a few different looks, find the style you like, and then make sure you're buying it in a size that fits you comfortably.
At Faded Days, we specialize in sunglasses for people with larger heads, but we also sell regular-size frames. That's an important distinction in this guide: being bald has nothing to do with your head size. We'll look at style first, then show you how to work out what size you actually need.
Below are three different styles shown on men with shaved heads, along with some practical things to think about when choosing your own.
What Sunglasses Look Good on a Shaved Head?
There isn't a formula.
Face shape can be a useful starting point, but personal style matters just as much. Your beard, skin tone, clothing and whether you prefer something subtle or more noticeable can all change how a pair of sunglasses looks on you.
Rather than worrying about rules, compare a few noticeably different frame styles and see which direction you prefer.
Aviator Sunglasses
Our The Aviator – 165mm XXL is made for people who need an unusually wide frame. If you like the aviator look but don't have a large head, choose an aviator in a width appropriate for you rather than sizing up simply because you're bald.
Classic Sunglasses
Frame and lens color can make a surprisingly large difference here. Black frames with dark lenses create a very different look from the same general shape with blue or brightly mirrored lenses.
Our TR90 Frame Polarized Sunglasses are a regular-size option. We specialize in sunglasses for larger heads, but being bald is no reason to buy oversized sunglasses if regular frames already fit you comfortably.
Rectangular Sunglasses
If you have a beard, look at the sunglasses and beard together rather than treating either feature in isolation. A different frame shape or lens color can change the balance of the overall look considerably.
Our The Arrival – 155mm XL is one example of a rectangular frame for people who need considerably more width.
The important point isn't that one of these three styles is objectively best. It's that seeing genuinely different shapes on shaved heads gives you a useful starting point for deciding what you like.
Bald Doesn't Mean Big Headed
This is worth saying plainly because the two things often get mixed together.
Your hairstyle tells us nothing about the width of sunglasses you need.
A bald man can have a small head, an average-size head or an exceptionally large head.
Faded Days specializes in wider sunglasses because people with large heads have historically had a terrible time finding properly sized frames. But we also sell a regular-size option, and we're not going to tell you to buy a 165mm frame if you don't need one.
If ordinary sunglasses already fit you comfortably, stay in that general size range.
If standard frames consistently pinch at your temples or bow outward at the arms, that's when it makes sense to investigate wider options.
And if ordinary sunglasses are generally too wide for you, our friends at Ello Sunglasses specialize in sunglasses for smaller faces.
The objective isn't to get everybody into Faded Days sunglasses. It's to get you into sunglasses that fit.
How to Work Out What Size You Need
Don't start with S, M, L, XL or XXL. Those labels aren't particularly useful when different brands use them differently.
Instead, find a pair of glasses or sunglasses you already own that fits reasonably well.
Measure the straight total width across the front of the frame, from one outer edge to the other.
Then compare that measurement with the published overall width of the sunglasses you're considering.
Don't measure around the curve of your forehead and compare that number with a straight frame measurement. They are two different measurements.
Once you have a sensible width starting point, fit still comes down to more than one number. When you try the glasses on, check:
- Temples: Do the arms press uncomfortably against the sides of your head?
- Bridge: Do the glasses sit comfortably on your nose without digging in or constantly sliding?
- Stability: When you look down or move your head normally, do they stay where you want them?
Our Fitting Guide explains this in more detail, and our Faded Days model comparison puts the published dimensions of our different sizes and styles side by side.
If you're ordering in the US, our 10-day try-on gives you time to check the bridge, temple pressure and overall fit at home.
Don't Confuse Fit With Style
This is probably the most useful distinction in this entire guide.
You might love how a particular pair of aviators looks on a shaved head and still need a completely different width from the person in the photograph.
Likewise, two Faded Days models can both be listed at 165mm overall width and still feel different because their bridge, shape and construction aren't identical.
Use photographs to answer:
“Do I like this look?”
Use measurements and actually wearing the glasses to answer:
“Does this size fit me?”
Those are different questions.
Dark, Mirrored or Polarized Lenses?
Lens choice gives you another way to change the look without changing the basic frame shape.
Dark lenses tend to be more understated. Mirrored lenses are much more noticeable and are available in different colors depending on the model.
Polarization is different again. It isn't a style or UV rating. Polarized lenses are designed to reduce certain types of reflected glare, such as reflections from water and roads.
They can be useful, but some electronic displays can look darker or behave differently through polarized lenses. If that's something you've encountered, our polarized sunglasses and phone screens guide explains why.
Whatever lens style you choose, check the product's stated UV protection rather than assuming a darker-looking lens provides better protection.
One Thing Sunglasses Don't Protect: Your Scalp
Good sunglasses protect your eyes. They don't protect the top of your head.
If your scalp is exposed, protect it separately. A hat is the obvious option, or use broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher sunscreen and reapply it as directed.
That's especially easy to forget when you've only recently started shaving your head.
Sunglasses for Bald Men With Beards
There doesn't need to be a separate rulebook for this either.
If you have a beard, judge the whole picture.
Compare how a more angular rectangular frame looks against your beard with how an aviator or classic frame looks. Then consider frame thickness and lens color.
A large beard with bright mirrored lenses and a substantial frame creates a very different look from the same beard with a thinner black frame and dark lenses.
Neither is automatically better.
The useful question is simply: Which combination looks like you?
Faded Days Options to Compare
If you like the styles shown above, here are useful starting points from our current range:
| Style | Model | Published width | Worth comparing if you want |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | TR90 Frame Polarized Sunglasses | Regular fit | A traditional everyday shape |
| Rectangular | The Gentleman XL | 155mm | A wider rectangular option |
| Aviator | The Aviator XXL | 165mm | An extra-wide aviator |
| Rectangular | The Gentleman XXL | 165mm | An extra-wide rectangular frame |
| Sport | The Sport XXL | 165mm | A more athletic or wraparound look |
| Modern | The Arrival XXL | 165mm | A modern frame shape with adjustable nose pads. |
Always check the individual product page for current specifications, colors, lens choices and availability.
What If You Need Prescription Sunglasses?
The same principle applies.
Choose a style you like, then make sure the frame is available in a size and prescription configuration appropriate for you.
If you need wider prescription frames, explore our prescription sunglasses options for larger heads. Check the individual product for its current sizing and prescription options rather than assuming every Faded Days style is available in every configuration.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Buying oversized sunglasses simply because you're bald.
Your hairstyle doesn't determine your frame width.
Buying frames that pinch because you like the look.
A good-looking pair that becomes uncomfortable after an hour isn't a good fit.
Assuming slipping is a bald-head problem.
Check the bridge, temples and overall stability before blaming the lack of hair.
Choosing solely from a photograph.
Photographs are useful for style. Measurements and wearing the frame determine fit.
Judging UV protection by lens darkness.
Check the actual protection information for the lens.
FAQs
Do bald men need bigger sunglasses?
No. Being bald doesn't tell you anything about your head size. If regular sunglasses fit comfortably, there is no reason to size up. If standard frames consistently pinch or bow outward, compare their width with wider options.
Which sunglasses shape is best for a bald man?
There isn't one universally best shape. Aviators, classic frames and rectangular sunglasses create noticeably different looks on a shaved head. Compare them and choose the style you prefer, then find that style in an appropriate size.
What sunglasses look good on a bald man with a beard?
Treat the sunglasses and beard as parts of the same overall look. Compare different frame shapes, thicknesses and lens colors rather than assuming one shape is automatically best for a beard.
Why do my sunglasses keep slipping?
Slipping is usually something to investigate as a fit issue. Check how the frame sits on your bridge, whether the width is appropriate and how the arms sit behind your ears. Don't bend the frame to force it to fit.
Are polarized sunglasses better for bald men?
Polarization has nothing specifically to do with being bald. Polarized lenses can reduce reflected glare from surfaces such as roads and water. Treat polarization as a lens choice based on where and how you use your sunglasses.
Choose the Style. Then Choose the Size.
If you're bald or shave your head, start with the sunglasses you actually like the look of.
Then forget the hairstyle for a moment and make sure you're buying the right size for your head.
- Regular fit: TR90 Frame Polarized Sunglasses
- Wider fit: Shop our 155mm XL options
- Extra-wide fit: Shop 165mm XXL sunglasses
If you're unsure where to start, use our Fitting Guide before ordering.
Style first. Size second. Neither one should require guesswork.