Regardless of sex or gender, many people will experience hair loss during their lifetime. People experience hair thinning for many reasons from scalp conditions to lifestyle factors. If your hairline doesn’t look the same as it once did, you might be worried about male pattern hair loss, which affects almost 85% of men by age 50. However, that’s not always the case. Sometimes a mature hairline is the cause. But how can you tell the difference between mature and receding hairlines?
The hair restoration experts at Balance Hair Restoration have gathered some information about the differences between maturing and receding hairlines and how you can slow a receding hairline.
What Is a Mature Hairline?
As you age, you may notice your hairline moves up naturally and evenly at the temples. A mature hairline can start developing at age 17 and usually stops around 30. Typically, individuals with mature hairlines discover that their hairline gradually moves 1 to 2 centimeters over several years. Sometimes, it happens so gradually that it’s unnoticeable.
Often, maturing hairlines begin in the temples, creating a V-shaped widow’s peak. One key characteristic is even progression, retreating from the original hairline evenly with age. Mature hairlines are a natural part of the aging process.
Is a Mature Hairline a Sign of Male Pattern Baldness?
Mature and receding hairlines are caused by the same hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). All men produce both DHT and testosterone, making hair shedding across the hairline a normal experience. Not all men produce enough DHT to cause the quick, considerable hair loss that results in a receding hairline.
Mature hairlines result in a slower rate of hair loss corresponding to age and aren’t always a sign of male pattern baldness or genetic hair loss.
What Is a Receding Hairline?
Receding hairlines occur when the hairline recedes beyond the maturing hairline, primarily at the temples and across the forehead. You may notice excessive hair shedding or thinning hair on the crown of the head. Rather than coinciding with age, receding hairlines progress quicker and earlier in life than mature hairlines. Many individuals begin noticing rapid hair loss in their late teens to mid-20s.
While mature hairlines retreat evenly, receding hairlines may be uneven and correspond with active hair shedding and thinning. They typically result in an M-shaped, uneven hairline.
What Causes a Receding Hairline?
Receding hairlines are often caused by male pattern baldness triggered by hormones and genetics. In most cases, male pattern baldness is hereditary. Male sex hormones, including DHT, play a significant role in hair loss, particularly male pattern baldness. Hair follicles in the crown and temples may be especially sensitive to these hormones.
Other causes of a receding hairline may include medical conditions, medications, tight hairstyles, harsh hair products, and poor lifestyle choices.
How Can You Tell If Your Hairline Is Maturing or Receding?
There are different signs of mature and receding hairlines.
- Appearance. If your hairline has retreated more than 2 centimeters from its juvenile position, it’s likely a receding hairline. If your hairline changes have corresponded with age and haven’t retreated this far, it’s probably a mature hairline.
- Age. Both receding and mature hairlines can begin at a young age; however, receding hairlines are more noticeable in the late teens to mid-20s. If your hairline begins moving later, it’s probably maturing.
- Family history. Hair loss is often hereditary. Your hairline recession may follow a similar pattern to that of your father, grandfather, or other genetic male relatives.
What to Do If Your Hairline Is Receding
Receding hairlines are a significant concern for many hair loss patients, especially younger patients. If you are concerned about a receding hairline, schedule a consultation with the experts at Balance Hair Restoration to assess your current hair loss rate and explore treatment options.
While there are many medical and over-the-counter options to slow hair loss, there are some other strategies you can benefit from now.
- Healthy eating habits. A diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can help nourish your hair, keeping it looking healthier and full.
- Use gentle products. Choose shampoos and styling products designed to be gentle on thinning hair. Many products help lift the roots and stimulate growth without drying your hair.
- Change your hairstyle. Avoid being rough on your hair, brushing it too much, or wearing tight hairstyles that can contribute to a receding hairline.
- Topical treatments. Over-the-counter hair loss treatments, like minoxidil, help slow receding hairlines by stimulating new hair growth. It can take several months to determine if it’s working but must be used indefinitely to ensure continued growth.
Medical Treatments
At Balance Hair Restoration, we have several medical treatments to help slow your receding hairline. These less-invasive techniques are often effective when started early in hair loss. Some options may include medications to adjust hormone levels causing a receding hairline, promote hair growth, and stop hair loss.
FUE Hair Transplant
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a less invasive hair transplant technique that harvests hair follicles individually. During the FUE procedure, the hair is trimmed very short in the donor area, usually the back and sides of the head. Following the follicle harvest, the hair grafts are prepared, the scalp is numbed with anesthetic, and grafts are precisely placed at specific angles and depths for natural-looking results.
Why Choose Balance Hair Restoration—Your Ann Arbor Experts
Selecting your hair restoration experts is an important choice. When it comes to choosing a hair restoration provider, there is no substitute for experience and artistry. The board-certified experts at Balance Hair Restoration utilize innovative technology and rely on our combined decades of expertise to create natural-looking results. We stand by our work, and Balance Hair Restoration is so confident that we offer our graft growth pledge to our FUE hair transplant patients.
Schedule Your Consultation with Balance Hair Restoration Today!
Double board-certified Dr. Pramit Malhotra and the expert team at Balance Hair Restoration are the experts you deserve. They will help you navigate your hairline concerns and restoration options to help you achieve optimal results. Our experts understand the life-changing impact of successful hair restoration procedures and aim to deliver positive, effective experiences for all patients.
Learn about mature and receding hairlines from the experts at Balance Hair Restoration. Let us help you restore your hair and your confidence. Contact us today or call (734) 913-5100!
