If you notice that your hairline isn’t quite as even or low as it once was, you might worry that you’re starting to go bald. However, there is an undeniable difference between a mature hairline and a receding hairline. While a maturing hairline is a simple sign of getting older, a receding hairline usually stems from male pattern baldness.
So am I balding or is it just my hairline? And how can you tell the difference between a mature vs receding hairline? And how can you stop a receding hairline from progressing? Keep reading this article to find out all you need to know about:
Compare the symptoms of a mature vs a receding hairline at a glance in the table below:
There are several things to look out for and take into consideration when trying to discern whether your high hairline has simply matured or started to recede. Here are some of the most helpful.
To determine if your hairline is mature or receding, you will first need to examine your hairline in the mirror and ask yourself these questions:
Maturing hairlines usually move back in a straight and even line, though it’s not uncommon for men to develop an uneven hairline as they age.
However, in most cases, a maturing hairline will move back in a consistent pattern over time. If you would like to be certain that your hairline is maturing as opposed to receding, consult with a trichologist.
Maturing hairlines don’t usually move further than 1 to 2 cm from their starting position, and this typically happens so slowly you won’t really notice it.
If you find that your hairline is receding past this point and into your scalp, you may have a receding hairline.
Hair loss due to male pattern baldness tends to be quite noticeable because it happens quickly. A receding hairline tends to develop over the course of a few months to a couple of years.
Mature hairlines, on the other hand, happen much more slowly. In fact, you may not even notice your hairline changes.
If your temples recede dramatically, you may be left with an M-shaped hairline. This is characteristic of a receding hairline, whereas a mature hairline tends to be much more subtle.
If your hairline is mature, it’s likely to retain its original shape — whether that’s straight or a V-shaped widow’s peak — but just move a little higher up the forehead.
There are also some demographic factors to consider when assessing your hairline to determine whether it has simply matured or has started to recede.
Age
Both mature and receding hairlines can start at a young age, typically between the late teens and the late twenties. However, a maturing hairline will eventually settle, while a receding one will likely progress with age if left untreated.
Men usually see the first signs of hair thinning and balding in their twenties, and unaddressed hair loss tends to increase in intensity and extend to other areas of the scalp. So, if you have noticed your hairline becoming higher-set in your twenties and it hasn’t changed significantly by the time you are in your thirties, it likely has simply matured.
Gender
In comparison to men, women have a naturally lower hairline [3]. So, if you are female and you notice that your hairline is becoming significantly higher than it used to be, it could be a sign that it is receding.
In men, the most frequent receding hairline cause is male pattern baldness. However, in women, this is rarely a sign of female pattern baldness, especially if it’s not accompanied by a widening of the normal midline parting width. But it could still be a sign of traction alopecia or a rarer autoimmune disorder called frontal fibrosing alopecia (which normally affects postmenopausal women but can sometimes also occur in men and premenopausal women).
Family history of baldness
Male pattern hair loss is hereditary. This means that if other men in your family have experienced androgenetic alopecia, there’s a high chance you will too [4].
Similarly, if your male relatives’ hairlines haves matured healthily, yours might as well. Consider if your hairline recession follows a similar pattern to the hair of your dad, grandpa, or another male blood relative.
Most children and teenagers have a relatively straight, even hairline. However, as they grow into young adults, this can start to change. This is a normal process due to ageing, hormonal changes brought on by puberty, and environmental factors such as diet, air quality, and lifestyle habits. Almost all adult men and 81% of adult women undergo this type of visible hairline modification [5].
Here are some examples of a mature hairline in men and women:
Individuals with mature hairlines will find that their hairline gradually moves back about 1.5 cm-2 cm from its original position over a number of years. It will normally stay fairly straight, although some slight unevenness and slightly more pronounced temples are also common [5].
The exact moment when your hairline has reached its mature form varies from one person to another. However, most people notice their hairline position shifting between the ages of 17-29 [5]. It usually happens so slowly that most people don’t even realise it. Mature hairlines are nothing to stress out about and are considered a part of the natural ageing process.
If you’re concerned about hair thinning as you get older, there are ways to preserve your hairline with tactical styling. See these older men’s hairstyles for thinning hair for inspiration.
In most cases, both mature and receding hairlines happen due to hormonal changes. Male sex hormones– testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – bind to receptors in your hair follicles, causing them to miniaturise and stop producing hair.
However, if you have a mature hairline, this process takes place slowly over many years. Your follicles aren’t particularly predisposed to this miniaturisation process, though it will affect some follicles due to hormone fluctuations over the years. As a result, it isn’t usually a sign of genetic hair loss. It is a normal physical change that happens over time, just like other parts of your body change with age.
However, if your mature hairline starts receding even further or is accompanied by significant hair thinning at the temples or the crown, you may be seeing signs of pattern baldness. This isn’t unusual (it affects 85% of men) but it is likely to get worse if left untreated.
Hairline maturation results from a combination of age, hormones, environmental and lifestyle factors. However, different types of alopecia can cause a receding hairline.
In men, most hair loss happens as a result of hormone production in the body. Some of your naturally occurring testosterone is converted into a different androgen hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When excessive amounts of DHT are produced, it binds with hair follicles, which in turn causes them to shrink and eventually stop producing hair.
Different amounts of DHT in your blood and different levels of sensitivity to this hormone will cause your hairline to either mature or, by chance, recede. As a result, men who produce high amounts of DHT are more likely to experience genetic hair loss, such as male pattern baldness.
It should be noted that there are other potential reasons for hair loss around the temples and forehead, too. For example, wearing your hair in a tight ponytail may lead to hair loss, as it can cause traction alopecia around the hairline. However, unlike genetic hairline loss, this type of hair loss is often reversible.
Since a receding hairline is often one of the first signs of male pattern balding, it can happen at any time starting with adolescence, so you can even develop a receding hairline at 20. But the exact time of the onset differs from one person to another.
About 25% of men experience early stage androgenetic alopecia by the time they are 21, while 50% notice its initial symptoms by the age of 50 [6]. Typically, men start seeing the first signs of male pattern baldness, such as a receding hairline, in their late twenties to early thirties.
However, since women most often experience a receding hairline due to fibrosing frontal alopecia, they are likely to see the first signs of this condition after menopause.
Mature hairlines don’t usually result in substantial hair loss. Instead, they often give men a distinguished look corresponding to their age. As a result, most men with a mature hairline don’t usually seek to restore the hair they’ve lost from around their temples.
However, if you are worried you might develop further hair loss over time, there are things you can do to maintain your hair health:
Some of the best essential oils for hair growth have proven properties against androgenetic alopecia. That is why they can help you tackle your receding hairline causes. You can try rosemary oil for hair growth and pumpkin seed oil for the most effective results.
Moreover, peppermint oil contains menthol, which can soothe your scalp if you are experiencing itchy or inflammatory scalp conditions, reducing hair breakage. These oils contain fatty acids, which can moisturise and nourish your locks, making them softer and shinier.
It is a little-known fact that smoking can cause hair loss. Nicotine narrows the blood vessels in your scalp, reducing the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles. It can also cause systemic inflammation that can damage your hair roots and worsen autoimmune alopecias. Studies also show that smoking can trigger androgenetic alopecia or make its symptoms more severe [11][12].
Exercise is key to maintaining not only a healthy body but also aids in keeping hormonal balances in check. Not only is exercise good for the body, but it is also good for the soul. It can help lower your overall stress levels and thus reduce your chances of developing telogen effluvium.
Maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet for healthy hair will nourish your follicles and promote good hair growth. Nutrients such as vitamins A, B, C, D and E, iron, zinc, magnesium, protein and more play important roles in strand production. And the best way to get them is to eat plenty of food for hair growth, including fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
As always, make sure that you are properly hydrated and drink plenty of water. Limit your consumption of alcohol and reduce your intake of processed foods or snacks which are high in sugar, sodium, and fat.
It is a common hair loss myth that washing your hair too often causes hair thinning. In fact, the opposite is true. Research [13] shows that washing your hair and scalp 5-6 times a week can reduce thinning caused by hair breakage.
That is because a clean scalp makes your hair grow stronger and reduces itchy scalp problems such as dandruff. So washing your hair frequently may keep your hairline stronger and healthier. Just remember to use conditioner after shampooing.
Stress and anxiety can cause hair loss, alongside other harmful effects on your physical and psychological health. That is why it is a good idea to take some time to relax and decompress after a hard day’s work. Meditating, walking in nature, engaging in hobbies or seeing your friends and loved ones can help ease the pressure. And less stress can also mean less hair shedding for you.
Hairstyles that pull on your roots, such as tight ponytails or top knots, can cause hair loss. If most of the tension is applied to your hairline, it may temporarily recede as the strands fall out due to traction alopecia. However, the good news is that wearing looser styles and giving your hair follicles a chance to heal will often cause this condition to reverse.
If you’re uncomfortable with the appearance of your hairline, there are many things you can do to cover it up. Here are some of the best and easiest solutions you can try:
Football star Rob Holding before and after the hair transplant he had at the Wimpole Clinic, in 2022 [15] [16]
Whether you want to treat a receding hairline or lower your mature hairline a little, a hair transplant could be the solution for you. Book a free hair transplant consultation today with one of our stellar surgeons at the Wimpole Clinic and discover all about this simple and effective procedure.
Our experienced and dedicated surgical team will examine you thoroughly to determine if you are a good candidate for surgical hair restoration. And if you can benefit from this procedure, they will work closely with you to restore a healthy, age-appropriate hairline.
If you’re curious about what the results of a hairline-lowering surgery look like, here are some of our results (check out more examples in our before and after hair transplant gallery):
We have conducted over 10,000 hair transplants with consistently high-quality results, and our staff takes pride in offering a welcoming environment for patients suffering from hair loss. This is why we have been awarded hair transplant clinic of the year for four years running from 2020 to 2024.
Book a free hair transplant consultation today at your nearest Wimpole Clinic location.
If there are still things you’d like to know about mature and receding hairlines or the differences between them, try reading the answers to these frequently asked questions.
If you are unhappy with the height of your mature hairline, surgical options exist. You could try hairline-lowering surgery or an intervention to fix an uneven hairline.
However, a surgeon needs to determine whether you are a good candidate for a hair transplant before scheduling your procedure.
Yes, unlike a receding hairline, a mature one will naturally stop receding once it has reached its final form. That is usually about 1.5-2 cm higher than its juvenile version.
If your hairline has receded further than this, it could be a sign of hair loss that warrants a trichologist appointment.
No, a widow peak is normally a V-shaped hairline that you inherit genetically. In most cases, you are born with it, although it can become more pronounced in time.
If you haven’t had a widow’s peak before but are starting to see one develop during your teenage years or adulthood, it is a good idea to get it checked out, as it could be a sign of an uneven hairline caused by early male pattern baldness.
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