Going bald happens to the best of us — it’s a genetic curse. Yet many guys fear that their balding tells the world there’s something wrong with them, which may explain why we believe so many stupid hair-loss myths. If you don’t want to pay for and use store-bought hair-loss products, and if you’re tired of constantly wearing hats, you need to cut whatever hair you have left and start owning your baldness.

Some hairstyles for men, like keeping it short and well groomed, are actually haircuts women love; others, like combing it over in a futile attempt to create a defensive hair perimeter around your head, aren’t a good look for anyone. We’ve laid out the going-bald hairstyle dos and don’ts so you can look your best no matter how little hair your stupid genes have left you with.

DON’T: THE COMBOVER
This is not fooling anyone, pal. Donald Trump is the most famous example of this offense (though his combover is so extreme we almost respect him for it), but plenty of guys still do it, like Senator John McCain here. Dudes with combovers look silly no matter what, but they’re also one gust of wind away from looking like a party favor.

DO: MILITARY-STYLE
We’re not saying WWE wrestler John Cena is balding — we wouldn’t hurl accusations like that at someone who could squeegee our intestines as easily as squeezing toothpaste out of the tube — but if he were we wouldn’t be able to tell. Keeping it short draws less attention to bald spots and blends thinning hair in with the rest. This creates an illusion that you’ve got more hair than you actually do.

DO AND DON’T: SHAVED HEAD
Michael Jordan, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, and Stone Cold Steve Austin all look great with shaved heads. It can make a guy look more dominant, give him presence, and shave years off of how old he looks — but it doesn’t automatically work quite that well for everyone. The size and shape of your head and face can play a part, so don’t just assume because you’re balding that is the best option for you.

DO: TEXTURED CROP
For guys with thinning hair up front but an abundance on the sides and back, the textured crop haircut is one of the better overall options. Again, it’s all about blending what hair you have left with the hair you’re losing by cutting uneven layers. It’s a favorite hairstyle for Jude Law, Jeremy Piven, Brad Pitt, and Casey Affleck.

DO: BUZZ CUT
The buzz cut can be your best friend when your hair is thinning or bald spots are sprouting up. It’s not quite shaved — there’s a tiny layer of hair left on the scalp — and it helps hide any glaring bald spots by keeping it one length. Andre Agassi had a fluffy lion’s mane that women swooned over in the 80s and early 90s, and when he went with the buzz cut the ladies were still begging him to play doubles. Jason Stratham is another guy who wears the hairstyle well.

DON’T: THE LOBOT
George Costanza (and Larry David) have proved this hairstyle won’t keep a determined guy from getting action … but it’s not exactly a big advantage. And since you’re not either of those dudes, do yourself a favor and mold this into a shaved head or buzz cut. At the very least, maintain what’s left. It’ll make you look less like you’re afraid to embrace the obvious — that you may have won a few battles, but you’re still losing the hair-loss war.

TAGS: best hairstyles for men, going bald, hair care, hair loss