Signs of a receding hairline
There’s no fixed pattern that a receding hairline follows, but there are warning signs which can indicate that this process is beginning. It’s key to know the difference between a receding hairline and a maturing hairline. The main distinction is that a maturing hairline will move back in an even manner, whereas a receding hairline will be uneven, creating the distinguishable ‘horseshoe’ or ‘M-shape’ pattern. You will also find that the hairs on your temple will recede more than on your forehead.
You’ll know your hair better than anyone, so keep a regular and close eye on it to detect any slight changes like not being able to style your hair in the same way as before or a disappeared lock of hair. Differences aren’t always noticeable or symmetrical, so check different areas to notice changes, particularly paying attention to corners.
Another sign of a receding hairline is shedding. It’s important to be aware of a normal amount of shedding, most people will shed between 50-100 hairs per day . If you notice the amount of hair that you shed on a daily basis increases, this could be an indication of hair loss. A proactive way to keep track of changes is to take photos of your hairline and look back at any developments. Changes can be so small that you can miss the early signs.
Are there different types of hairlines?
There are lots of different types of healthy hairline that you can have. It’s useful to find out which type of hairline you have, especially as you get older, so that you can know how to maintain it. They’re characterised by how high or low they are on your forehead or towards your crown. The most common types are low hairline, mid hairline, high hairline, rounded hairline, uneven hairline, cowlick hairline and widow’s peak.
A low hairline is most common in children and adolescents. At this age, you haven’t typically experienced any hair loss yet. When this type of hairline follows a straight line across the forehead, it’s usually called a juvenile hairline. A low hairline will begin closer to the eyebrows than most average hairlines, and you’ll usually have very thick hair growth.
Another common type is the middle hairline. Men with middle hairlines have foreheads that appear more proportional so it’s typically the preferred hairline. It’s the average hairline for men in their teens and twenties. A middle hairline can be uneven or asymmetrical sometimes, but also straight or rounded.
A high hairline will start at the crown, and your forehead will appear larger. You could still have full and thick hair, or it could show thinning from your younger, lower hairline.
A rounded hairline is usually a sign of thicker hair, as it requires a more even distribution of hair. And it doesn’t have edges, whereas most men will have edges along their hairline.
The cowlick hairline consists of swirls of hair, usually at the crown of your head, growing in a different direction to the rest of your hair. They are more commonly seen in men with short hair, and can make your hair appear messy.
Finally, the widow’s peak hairline, also known as the V hairline, is characterised by a prominent peak. It usually occurs in older men.
