Confused about which type of hairline you have? It’s not always easy to tell the difference between a widow’s peak and a receding hairline. And if you’re worried about androgenetic alopecia, it can be an important distinction to make.
This condition affects about 85% of men [1] and 50% of women [2] at some point in life. And an M-shaped hairline can be one of the first signs of hair thinning and balding. However, while an acquired M pattern is worrisome, a V shape you’ve always had at the centre of your hairline is normally harmless and does not necessarily imply hair loss.
Keep reading this article to find out all you need to know about these two major types of hairline, such as:
In the early stages of hair loss, it can be hard to tell the difference between a receding hairline and a widow’s peak. But there are some key differences that can help you tell if you have a receding hairline or a widow’s peak:
Compare your hairline with the photos above to determine which one most closely resembles yours.
A widow’s peak is characterised by a V-shaped frontal hairline. It’s a hairline type you’re born with, meaning men, women, and children can all have a widow’s peak [3].
Celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio and Kourtney Kardashian have a widow’s peak:
Widow’s peaks are hereditary [6]. That means they’re inherited from other family members — so if your mum or dad has a widow’s peak, you may be more likely to have one yourself.
A widow’s peak is thought to be caused by multiple genes, so it can be hard to predict for certain if someone will or won’t develop this type of hairline.
Here’s how you can tell if you have a widow’s peak:
There are significant differences between a mature and a receding hairline. Most people between the ages of 17 and 29 [7] experience a slight upward shifting of their hairline, of about 1.5-2 cm from its original position. However, it remains mostly straight and even, without developing an M pattern. This represents a matured hairline and unlike a receding one, it is not normally a sign of balding.
While the maturing of your hairline does not mean you are losing your hair, it can indeed emphasise your widow’s peak, making it appear longer and more pronounced. If you only have a small peak, you may have barely noticed it until your hairline reached maturity. And its sudden accentuation may confuse you into thinking you are experiencing a receding hairline.
A receding hairline is characterised by hair loss around your hairline and temples. It affects men more than women, though some conditions can cause hairline recession in women.
A receding hairline is one of the first signs of balding in men. Celebrities including Jude Law and Harry Kane have a receding hairline:
Male pattern baldness is the number one cause of a receding hairline in men [10]. This hereditary condition affects millions of men, but it can still be a major concern, especially if it starts at an early age. Some men develop a receding hairline at 20 or even earlier.
In women, a receding hairline is more likely to be caused by frontal fibrosing alopecia or traction alopecia.
You can tell if you have a receding hairline if:
Unfortunately, having a natural widow’s peak doesn’t make you immune to hairline recession. It’s possible to have both a widow’s peak and a receding hairline, as seen on Keanu Reeves:
If you have both a widow’s peak and a receding hairline, you’ll have some symptoms of each. This may include:
Finding a hairstyle that works for your hairline is important if you feel self-conscious about it. Here are three hairstyles for a receding hairline or widow’s peak.
Brushing your hair forward over your hairline can hide signs of recession and a widow’s peak.
Like the textured brush forward, a fringe can hide any signs of an uneven hairline. The fringe works well for various hair types, including thick straight styles and tousled cuts.
A sharp side parting and side-swept style won’t hide your hairline, but it’s a modern style that can work around your thinning or widow’s peak.
See more great hairstyles for male receding hairlines (and some styles you should avoid).
While a widow’s peak is not a defect that needs to be corrected, some people don’t like the way it looks on them or don’t know how to integrate it into their look. Here are some tips on how you can deal with this hairline feature:
Since your widow’s peak is part of your natural hair growth pattern, there isn’t much that you can do to permanently remove it. However, if you really don’t like it and are also experiencing other problems, like frontal balding, you can always get a hairline transplant surgery.
This procedure doesn’t only work to lower your existing hairline, it can also reshape it and help you get the appearance you want. So if you were planning on surgically restoring the dwindling hair around your frontal area anyway, you can ask your surgeon to implant the grafts in a way that masks your widow’s peak.
If your hairline recession is too severe to be hidden with careful styling, there are other treatments you can try. Here are some of the best treatments for a receding hairline.
Applying topical Minoxidil to your hairline once or twice a day can slow hair loss and even stimulate regrowth, especially if used in the early stages of hairline recession.
Make sure to use the right Minoxidil strength for your gender and the extent of your hair loss. Women are usually recommended to use Minoxidil 2%, while men normally apply Minoxidil 5%.
However, some women can also use the 5% formula for more advanced hair loss, at the recommendation of their trichologist (just be aware that it can carry higher risks of growing unwanted facial hair).
The highest strength available for this medication is Minoxidil 10%, but this is rarely recommended, as studies found it can actually be less effective against hair loss than the 5% variety.
Taking Finasteride daily is a proven way to reduce hair loss and stimulate regrowth on both the crown and hairline. That is because this drug reduces the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in your blood, diminishing the symptoms of androgenetic alopecia. Like Minoxidil, this medication works better the earlier it’s used. However, premenopausal women can’t use Finasteride, as it can cause foetal malformations and hormonal imbalances.
Hair transplants are one of the best treatments for male hair loss, but female hair transplants have also been gaining popularity in recent years. You can restore lost hair from your hairline, or change your hairline shape with a hair transplant for a widow’s peak.
The FUE and FUT techniques have fantastic success rates when performed by a skilled, qualified surgeon.
At the Wimpole Clinic, our patient advisors can help you find the best way to treat your receding hairline. Book a consultation for an accurate diagnosis and advice about your hair loss treatment options.
Our experienced and dedicated staff are here to answer all of your questions and provide you with the most effective, personalised solutions to your hairline problems.
If things are still not crystal clear regarding the differences between a widow’s peak and a receding hairline, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions on the matter:
Yes, people of any sex can have both these types of hairline. However, a receding hairline is more common in men than in women. Female pattern baldness does not usually lead to one, it normally produces a progressive widening of the central parting and diffuse hair thinning.
However, other conditions, such as traction alopecia or frontal fibrosing alopecia, can often manifest with a receding hairline in women. So if you are a woman concerned about frontal hair loss, be sure to see a hair doctor about it.
A widow’s peak is a rather common feature and in the absence of other signs of hair thinning, it doesn’t normally leave the impression that you are balding. However, it can coexist with other types of alopecia (e.g. male pattern baldness) so if you’re also experiencing temple hair loss or a bald spot on the crown, a widow’s peak might accentuate the impression of dwindling hair.
If you’re not experiencing hair loss, there is nothing that hair growth medications can do to fix your widow’s peak. That is because it is not caused by your hair falling out, it is the result of how your hair follicles are naturally positioned and of your hair growth pattern. Medication can only affect your hairline shape if you are trying to restore growth to balding areas.
If you notice that your widow’s peak is getting shorter, smaller or thinner, you may be experiencing hair loss. It is a good idea to see a trichologist for evaluation and diagnosis, as it could be the start of a receding hairline. Treating alopecia early produces the best results and makes it more likely to nip your hair loss in the bud.
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