I’m talking about the mob-boss hairstyle, of course.
The slicked-straight back, balding, and proud of it hairstyle.
Most people don’t have the proverbial cojones to pull off this look with confidence.
But, if you can rock the mob-boss style with determination and swag, you’ll separate yourself from the crowd. And in no time, you’ll start attracting hot supermodels like Leonardo DiCaprio at fashion week. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but anyway….
In this post, I’m going to inspire and motivate you, while proving once and for all that some hairline recession can be a beautiful thing!
Six Inspirations – The Mob-Boss Hairstyle
I’m about to show you six guys who sported the mob-boss look on television, on the big screen, and on the mean streets. They all looked terrific, in their own, unique ways. I’ll also show you a couple non mob bosses who have employed the style, offer some general hair styling tips, and more. Are you ready? Great. I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse at some point in the article, so read on.
1. Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone
Marlon Brando in The Godfather. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Did anyone wanna mess with Brando in the Godfather? I don’t think so. Can anyone say he wasn’t extremely handsome in that movie, in spite of his weight problem, puffy jowls, and very receded hairline? Hell no! Brando started losing his hair at a fairly young age, but he never let it faze him. The mob-boss hairstyle suited his bold, zestful, larger-than-life personality to a T.
2. James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
Photo Credit: HBO
James Gandolfini is a member of my personal bald hall of fame. Why? First, his performance as the menacing-yet-gentle mob boss, Tony Soprano, was hands-down the best performance in the history of television, in my view. Second, he proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that bald, fat guys could be legit sex symbols, even in Hollywood, a place notoriously prejudiced against balding men.
Women swooned over Gandolfini. It wasn’t bullshit, sympathy swooning either. He was a big, strong, uber-masculine bear of a man who other guys envied and women wanted to sleep with. No joke.
He typically slicked his super-thin and receded hair straight back, and it always looked fantastic. Gandolfini was nearly bald by the end of the series run, approaching Dr. Phil territory on the Norwood scale. But dammit he looked good, and I miss being able to watch him act.
3. Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello
Nicholson in the Departed. Photo Credit: Warner Brothers.
One of Nicholson’s best quotes in The Departed comes right at the beginning when he says, ” I don’t want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me.”
That line encapsulates the objective, if you will, of the mob-boss look; it’s the “I want my environment to react to me” hairstyle. Nicholson himself has been slowly going bald since his breakthrough role in Easy Rider, way back in 1969 — and he’s been rocking some variation of the mob-boss hair style ever since!
4. Chaz Palminteri as Sonny LoSpecchio
Palminteri in A Bronx Tale. Photo Credit: Tribeca Productions/Savoy Pictures.
“You’re only allowed three great women in your lifetime,” Palminteri’s character, Sonny said, while advising his young protege/son of sorts. Not sure if that’s true or not, but it’s a great line!
And, if you’re looking for help finding your 3 great women, check out this article featuring my top 12 dating tips for bald and balding men.
Lots of other cool moments in that movie. There’s even a character named Tony Toupee! Good toupees, these days, by the way, are totally undetectable. Tony Toupee’s toupee, I must say, could’ve been seen from a mile away!
5. Whitey Bulger as Himself
Johnny Depp also portrayed Bulger in the 2015 movie, Black Mass. Bulger was one of the most notorious and ruthless gangsters of the 20th Century. The character Frank Costello from The Departed was also loosely based on Bulger. I wouldn’t wanna F with that dude, would you?! The red tie is a power statement. Just ask Donald Trump. A red tie with a mob-boss hairstyle, that’s a lethal combination. Speaking of lethal…
6. Angelo Bruno as Himself
Bruno, pictured here, looks like a cross between a televangilist and a mobster.
Angelo Bruno, nicknamed “The Gentle Don” due to his preference for diplomacy over violence, was a prominent Sicilian-American mobster based out of Philadelphia. He sported the mob-boss style, as well, obviously. Until this happened…
Crime doesn’t pay, kids. This is a picture of Bruno’s murder scene. His death was coordinated by members of his own Philadelphia family. Perhaps he was a bit too gentle, after all.
3 Non-Mobsters Who Rock (or Rocked) This Hairstyle
You don’t just have to be a mobster, thug, or gang banger to be a BOSS, stylistically and personally. Here are three balding, non mobsters who prefer or preferred the gangster look.
1. Lyndon Johnson, former US President
LBJ was perhaps the most intimidating, domineering, alpha-male President in American history. He was a bully, actually. So it makes sense that he sported a slicked-back hairstyle that totally exposed and maybe even exacerbated his deeply receded hairline, almost daring people to say something about it.
Johnson used to forcibly hold meetings in the bathroom. His staff didn’t appreciate that, and you can probably guess what he was doing in there.
LBJ most certainly had Texas-sized balls. And, he enjoyed multiple affairs with beautiful women, including Alice Glass, who is frequently rated as one of the hottest presidential mistresses of all-time.
Now, let’s bring it back to modern times, shall we.
2. Scott Caan
Photo Credit: CBS
I remember Caan back from his Varsity Blues days. Tweeder was his character’s name. He was great in that movie! Now, he’s got a Norwood 3 pattern that goes back quite a ways. But he still looks good! Caan is only like 5’5″ so perhaps the so-called George Costanza curse played a role in his hair loss. But for a short guy, he can pull off the look just fine!
I’m sure Caan compensates for his diminutive stature in other areas…
3. Rush Limbaugh
Love him or hate him, Rush Limbaugh is a straight-up gangster. He’s had four wives, believe it or not, and I’m sure he still gets plenty of action these days, even though he’s fat, old, and gross in oh so many ways. I doubt Rush believes half of the hateful nonsense he spews on a daily basis, but the dude is a rebel and an iconoclast, and his hairstyle choice is appropriate!
Feminism was established to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream.
-Rush Limaugh
4 wives, ladies and gentlemen! That quote tells you everything you need to know about Rush!
4 Simple Mob-Boss Style Tips
Here are just a few words of wisdom to help you look your best, should you elect to become a gangster, so to speak.
- Keep it Clean – It’s important to keep your hair, or what’s left of it, tidy. That means going in to the barber for regular trims, making sure the sides don’t get too long, managing the side burns, etc.
- Use Quality Products – Cheaper products are more likely to accentuate the thinning, recession, etc. Decent-quality hair products aren’t that expensive.
- Find a Good Barber or Stylist – They’ll be able to help you find the optimal length for your mob-boss look, and they can help you choose the optimal products.
- Own It – If you don’t own and love your style, people will sense it. There are other receding hairline style options for more timid souls (i.e. the majority of you). You could also consider buzzing your head.
The Most BOSS Hairstyle for Balding Men – Closing Thoughts
Slicking your hair straight back when you’re obviously balding makes a bold, powerful statement to the world. It demonstrates supreme confidence and an abundance of fortitude. If you’re looking to grab life by the proverbial balls and be somebody, at all times, wherever you stand, this could be the perfect hairstyle for you.
Oh, right. I promised you an offer you couldn’t refuse. And here it is, my totally free e-book which will help you whack your hair loss obsession once and for all: The Hair Loss Survival Guide.
Robert Price is a writer, consumer advocate, and hair loss researcher with thousands of hours of experience in the field. His goal is to keep you out of the hair loss rabbit hole, underworld, or whatever you want to call it. He founded Hair Loss Daily, the unbiased hair loss blog, in 2016. You can learn more about Robert in the my story section of this website.