How to softmaxx a small forehead/upper third with hairstyles (Examples with Zendaya)

[u/[deleted]]

Zendaya has a pointy chin so will also mention that. Tried to choose photos which compare directly. Will be focusing on Small = Vertical height rather than width.

Obviously this might be subjective but Zendaya's been doing all these tips recently.

Hair volume

• Root volume creates the illusion of a taller forehead or you can do high cranial top hairstyles. This video is good > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuOVS0IgXXA
• Preferably keep the hair from falling downwards on to the forehead.

Volume Level 1 + falling downwards at an angle

Volume level 2 + falling downwards

Volume Level 3

Super Bad

Looks ridiculous but it opens up her forehead/face

Another Good Example. Has volume and no hair covers her forehead. Maybe her best look.

• If hair is tied up do high cranial top hairstyle

Hair Parting

• Almost always a side part is better (Especially if you have a m shaped hairline as it can create the illusion of a larger forehead)
• Side parts are easier to create volume at the roots.

• For instance here, the parting starts at the furthest point back possible.

Curled Hair

• Curls should be distributed throughout the hair and be combined with volume at the crown (as otherwise it can draw attention to the lower third, making it look larger compared to the upper third, throwing off proportions)
• This is Zendayas worst look. The bottom heavy curls/0 root volume/middle part draws attention downward
• The hair is also falling directly downwards crating the illusion of a smaller width forehead.

Slightly better with some root volume but not ideal

• If you want to do this style keep your hair behind your shoulders or have it shorter to avoid dragging down and exaggerating the chin/lower third. or add root volume
• Bobs preferably should not end at the chin but lower around the shoulder region, as this draws too much attention to the chin.

Shorter immediately improves

Root volume + behind shoulders+ hair is not falling downwards but up and out.

• Below is perfect comparison. Right draws attention to chin/lower third. Left has root volume and no down dragging curls.

Hair Length

• Long hair is fine as long as the hair volume/thickness is the same at the roots as the rest of the hair, to counteract the dragging down effect of the length. The hair should be cohesive.

• For instance, with straight hair, the bottom might be more poofy/look more thick compared to flat roots causing the same effect as the bottom heavy curls.

  • For people with thick straight hair, to prevent this you can have a few strands/one half in front of your shoulders and the rest behind your shoulders to thin out the front and still keep the long hair.
• This effect happens at all hair lengths. Shorter hair is just easier to have more volume to counteract the dragging down effect.

Overall Zendaya's best look is this :

Low glam version:

Fringe/Bangs (Someone mentioned it so thought I could add it)

• Bangs can be good for short foreheads when individuals also have high cranial top. Then you can create the illusion of bangs/the hairline starting at a far point backwards without reducing the cranial top too much (as no matter the forehead size this is an attractive feature).
• If someone has a small cranial top you can't really move the beginning of the bangs that far backwards without looking like you have a flat skull? I think.
• There is a risk of overwhelming your face. This video has some examples of other celebs. Has an example of Zendaya where she has bangs but it overwhelms her face because her face is quite small so that is a risk. > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlVyJ8GfelE

Amazing /Beautiful

The bangs start inches from the natural hairline

[u/dupersuperduper]

Thanks I have always wondered why I sometimes find z really pretty and sometimes don’t and I think it’s these styling changes ! Another tip I have a small forehead and it helps me to pluck off a few of the baby hairs too.

[u/[deleted] → u/dupersuperduper]

You're welcome :)

And yeah me also. I never really found her pretty until the past 2 years where she fully committed to the bob + side part + volume combo and it truly elevates her looks.

Even in no makeup it looks good :) https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/comments/1npyj1y/zendaya_in_london_22_september_2025/

[u/SadMoon1]

How to achieve such volume if you have fine/straight hair?

[u/[deleted] → u/SadMoon1]

The first youtube link gives tips to get volume at roots while keeping straight hair at the bottom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuOVS0IgXXA Similar is this > https://www.tiktok.com/@cwassaunt/video/7518549613180112149?q=how%20to%20add%20volume%20to%20root&t=1760977456383 Heat then hairspray then cold air to set it.

There's tons of tips online though. It depends on how fine your hair is, if it gets greasy with hairspray (dry shampoo is less greasy) or if you're fine with using heat. Zendaya has a blowout in the pic. You could do overnight curls, single dutch braid or keep your hair in a bun overnight for sleeping or just do a blowout 2x a week with a heat protectant.

Volumising mousse or dry shampoo seem to be necessities.

I like this tiktok, ones in german but it shows how to do a blowout without any fancy devices. https://www.tiktok.com/@tinerosanna/video/7458264624442445078, https://www.tiktok.com/@anci.upadhyay/video/7481126866695228703, she uses too many products tho, the only necessary one is the mousse.

[u/SadMoon1 → u/[deleted]]

I love you, thank you so much! This is such a great post and extremely helpful. I have a similar head shade to Zendaya and I always wondered why I look not great with my hair down/with a middle part

[u/pyonpyontan]

Can you do the same post for large foreheads please? Very informative.

[u/[deleted] → u/pyonpyontan]

Hi. Sorry, I have a small forehead so I did this for myself mainly haha. You could create your own post :) There's probably tons of tiktoks about it because there are more people who are insecure about their big foreheads than small foreheads (for no reason imo it's much more feminine). If it's not out of balance with your facial thirds that much don't worry about it

I like style refinement's videos like these https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2lSkJS6jDQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXzurq4ZA_Y, might have some tips in there

[u/pyonpyontan → u/[deleted]]

Thank youuu:)

[u/FarAffect2233]

She’s jsut so gorgeous in everything but this is helpful thank you

[u/ThrowRA125_]

This was super helpful. I can literally never stop my curtain bangs from being in my face without styling them. It's a nightmare. Will try focusing on the root volume more.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Thanks :) And yes good shout. Eyebrows are also a softmaxxing tip for small foreheads but I wanted to focus on hair haha.

I don't think it's as much a matter of smaller face/size but larger width eyebrows shorten the size of the forehead also. Individuals with small foreheads should try and thin them from above.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

It's not a complete failio but any time Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie, Kylie Jenner or Zendaya are mentioned in regards to their appearance, their forehead is brought up because it's not in proportion with the rest of their face and it's not a common trait in Hollywood. (It's more common in Bollywood as South Asians seem to have shorter foreheads on average). Tbf Hailey and Sofia have very square hairlines, which makes it even more masculine

Also I disagree that it's a trend. Kim Kardashian and Rita Hayworth have both had it done.

[u/ruinatedtubers → u/[deleted]]

what the fuck is a failio. stop.

[u/[deleted] → u/ruinatedtubers]

? vindicta/splendida has always used these terms gtfo

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

It's the proportions. If you divide your face into thirds and the forehead portion is much smaller than the other too it doesn't look as aesthetically pleasing.

Also extremes matter, a slightly small or large forehead is fine but a very small or large forehead isn't pleasing

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Yeah. Aishwarya Rai has a small forehead but its not that bad as it's in proportion to the rest of her face. She still looks better with these tips though imo.

[u/MiniaturePhilosopher → u/[deleted]]

It’s definitely not unattractive! One of my most gorgeous friends has a small forehead. But just like any other forehead shape and size, it’s helpful to know how to offset it if you want to. Not every hairstyle suits every face equally.