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. If you’re worried about male pattern baldness, it can be an important distinction to make.
In this article, learn everything you need to know about a widow’s peak vs receding hairline, so you can determine which hairline type you have, and whether it’s time to take action against hair thinning.
Widow’s peaks are hereditary [1]. 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:
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. This type of hair loss happens when Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binds to androgen receptors in the hair follicles causing them to shrink over time and eventually stop producing hair.
Male pattern hair loss often follows a pattern which is categorized by the Norwood Scale.
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 [2]. 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:
It should be noted that hairlines will change over time with age. Many people will gradually age out of their juvenile hairline and settle into their mature hairline which should be 1 cm-2 cm back from where they originally were.
Unlike a receding hairline where the hairline moves back relatively quickly and is noticeable, individuals with a maturing hairline often don’t notice the hairline moving slowly back over the years.
In the early stages of hair loss, it can be hard to tell the difference between a receding hairline and a widow’s peak. However, 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.
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 in 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 receding hairline hairstyles that also work for a 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.
If your hairline recession is too severe to be hidden with careful styling, there are other treatments you can try to treat hair loss. Here are some of the best treatments for a receding hairline.
Applying topical Minoxidil to your hairline once or twice a day can slow further hair loss and even stimulate new hair growth, especially if used in the early stages of hairline recession.
Make sure to use the right Minoxidil strength for your hair type. Choose from Minoxidil 2%, Minoxidil 5%, and (less commonly) Minoxidil 10%. Minoxidil is suitable for both men and women to use as a hair loss treatment.
Taking 1mg Finasteride daily is a proven way to reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth on both thinning hair on the crown and hairline. Like Minoxidil, Finasteride works better the earlier it’s used. Unfortunately, Finasteride is not recommended for women and is primarily used to treat male hair loss.
Hair transplants are one of the best treatments for male hair loss. With a hair transplant, 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 a diagnosis and advice about your hair loss treatment options.
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