Receding hairlines is when the hair on your scalp thins and decreases in thickness, typically around your temples and on the front of your head. Men with receding hairlines may have genetic factors and male hormone imbalances as causes, with male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) often being the result. Treating early can reduce permanent effects.
Early identification of signs of receding hairlines is crucial. Recessive patterns often start at temples, producing more prominent widow’s peaks or V-shaped lines in front. hair may thin on the head’s top (crown), known as male pattern baldness.
Thinning hair among men tends to occur more commonly than among women. Men may begin noticing their hair thin after puberty or at any point during adulthood, typically starting around the temples or forehead and moving back across their head before leaving a ring of bare scalp.
Thinner hairlines don’t usually cause hair loss on the back or sides of the head or face; they often indicate another medical condition, such as thyroid disease or iron deficiency. Eating healthily, exercising regularly, and managing stress are all ways to help manage symptoms associated with thinning hairlines; your healthcare provider can assess them and identify potential underlying causes.
Men can try various quick fixes to address their receding hairline, such as oral or topical medications that help slow male pattern baldness and promote hair growth. These remedies may be taken alone or as part of a tailored program developed by an advisor.
Hair transplant procedures may also help restore lost follicles to areas of thinning forehead hair, with our NeoGraft “MaxGraft” process moving an abundance of individual strands for long-term results that appear natural-looking and natural-appearing results.
Forehead reduction surgery (hairline lowering) can create a lower frontal hairline and balance facial proportions, restoring facial proportions. We can also perform brow lifts to elevate eyebrows, further reducing the distance between brow and hairline. This procedure is ideal for patients with genetically high foreheads who do not suffer from male-pattern baldness or receding hairlines due to pattern baldness.
Men can play an instrumental role in controlling many factors contributing to hair loss and receding hairlines. Hereditary male pattern baldness increases risk as men age; other risk factors may include poor nutrition, smoking, and high-stress levels. Lifestyle factors that can help stop receding hairlines include practicing good scalp hygiene, using gentle products, and managing stress more effectively. Men can also wear certain styles that reduce the visual effect of thinned-out locks, such as crew cuts or close-cropped techniques that minimize appearances of receding hairlines.
Men with receding hairlines may use hair fibers to add volume or undergo scalp micropigmentation, tattooing tiny dots on their scalp that mimic hair follicles, for longer-term solutions. In addition, hair transplant options may help restore fullness. We consulted two hair experts–trichologist Penny James and board-certified dermatologist Ryan Turner MD–on how best to prevent receding hairlines.
