Category: Hairlines

Dr. Rassman, first off I love this blog and it is really informative. I just had a question about the NBA player Deron Williams. In 2008 his hair looked really thin and now if you search on in 2011 or with Nets his hair seems to have drastically improved. What do you think he did?

I used Google Image Search to find some photos that highlighted the difference in Deron Williams’ hair over the past few years. Here they are:

Usually photos will show what the photographer wants to show. There could have been Propecia used over the years to see regrowth, or it could just be hair styling, a camouflaging agent (Toppik / DermMatch), more flattering lighting in the 2011 photo I found, or even just letting his hair get a little more length. If I had to guess just based on a couple photos, it looks like it could be a combination of styling and something like Toppik… but I really have no way to know that for sure. I couldn’t find anywhere that Mr. Williams himself mentioned if he did anything with his hair.

Sources: 2008 photo, 2011 photo

I have compared my hairline situation to a previous description you posted of how a mature hairline should look. I seem to match up perfectly, both corners just settling at a little less than an inch above the centre of the hairline, which has not moved at all since the age of eleven. My hairline was already 3 and a half inches above my brow so I have been worried about going bald at a young age.

Anyway I was just wondering, will a receding hairline be identical to a mature hairline at SOME point of the recession, or will it move back in a different pattern? I’m just wondering because the right side seems to have been fairly stable for a couple of years, and the left has almost caught up. I’d be over the moon if this was just a mature hairline after worrying for so long.

You should read through this post, which should answer your question — Maturation of a Hairline. Yes, I suppose that some men in the balding process may go through a stage looking like a mature hairline and then continue receding.

I have a question about an actor’s hairline. The actor is named Robert Sheehan. After watching a few of his movies and shows, I looked him up and am quite curious of his hairline as he often sports a big curly afro. I am wondering if he is showing signs of a maturing hairline.

A few pictures of him are below:

Photo 1, photo 2, and photo 3.

I think most people outside of the UK are saying “Who?” in regards to this young Irish actor, but I looked up his career and he’s been on a few UK television series. For those curious, here’s his IMDB profile.

It’s difficult to tell what his hairline looks like, since those photos you linked to show his hairline corners covered. I don’t know if that’s a hairstyle used to cover his hairline on purpose or what, but he’s an actor, so it wouldn’t be uncommon to try to hide hair loss to prolong access to more youthful roles.

In the photo 3 (which is posted at right), it appears like he might have a high hairline or early loss, but I couldn’t say that with any certainty unless I saw some better photos or was able to examine this young man’s hairline in person.

You mentioned one time in a post that it is common for on side of a balding hairline to recede faster than the other. Is this also common in a hairline that is just maturing? The right side of my hairline seems to have been stable for a while now, but the left side is catching up.

Yes, it is very common to have one side recede faster than the other when forming mature hairline. But rest assured (as you are starting to notice)… the other side usually catches up.

Hi, I read your “Juvenile vs Mature Hairline” article I found it very informing. However, I am unable to wrinkle my forehead. Is there any other way to check if I’m getting a mature hairline or actually balding. I’m 19 by the way.

P. S. Is there a DIY way to identify miniturized hairs?

Yes, you can also measure the distance from the tip of your chin to the tip of your nose (#1). Knowing that distance, you can look between your eyes at the top of the nose (in the hollow between your eyes) and go up to the forehead using the measurement you got in #1. That usually points to the location of the mid-line lowest point for the mature hairline. Note in the image at right, the white and red lines are the same length.

When I look to determine the mature hairline in my male patients, I usually do both measurements. The wrinkled brow is 100%, while the alternative measurement method discussed above usually runs an accuracy of about 90%.

As for mapping your own scalp for miniaturization, we wrote a 3 part series about that.

I am aware of the idea that creasing your forehead will show you exactly where your hairline was when you were younger, but I am sure this isn’t the case for me. I am 18 and have some recession which seems to be stable (maybe a mature hairline) and may have been there way before male pattern balding can even begin to manifest itself. When I crease my forehead, the highest crease falls two inches below my hairline, but looking pictures from my 11th birthday, my hairline, at least the centre, definitely was not noticeably lower than it is now. Is there any chance this theory is not entirely true for everybody?

The top most wrinkle crease we talk about is just a rule of thumb that generally holds true on most men. Without seeing your 11 year old hairline with a wrinkled brow, one can not be sure of anatomical points of reference. Of course, not everybody is the same. Some people naturally have a very high hairline or a very low hairline.

We are all special, each and every one of us!

What Norwood level would you place Gavin Rossdale at?

Based on some photos I found (here and here), he’s maybe a Norwood 2. Considering Gavin Rossdale is 45 years old, I wouldn’t expect his strong hairline or pronounced widow’s peak to move.

But you don’t need me to necessarily judge a person’s hairline. What do you think?

Hi Doctor,

I’ve been stressing a bit lately about my hairline. I’ve read that the hairline “matures” anywhere from the age of 17 – 29. My hair began to recede to a nw2 – nw2.5 at around the age of 17. I am 21 now and I haven’t encountered any further loss. The reason why I’m stressing I believe is, I’ve read somewhere that males encounter hair loss from the age of 21 mainly. Since it began to recede (4 years ago), it hasn’t moved one bit. The history of hair loss in my family is very minimal. My maternal grandfather was a nw4, which wasn’t entirely bald.

My dad and paternal grandfather have no hair loss what so ever. However looking at my paternal grandfathers hairline and my dads, it looks like my hairline resembles theirs exactly! My paternal grandfather and dad are a nw2.5 – nw3, with very sharp hair, with a widows peak. I have the exact same recession, with sharp hair, around a nw2.5. Is it possible form your understanding that I may keep this hairline for good?

Thanks doc.

I couldn’t say for sure if you’ll keep the hairline you currently have, but if your family line shows strong hairlines, you might luck out. The hair loss genes can come from either the paternal or maternal side, so you’re not completely out of the woods. There’s really no way for me to know for sure if you’ll keep that hairline forever, though.

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Just would like to share with everyone a recent post by Wayne Rooney (professional soccer player with Manchester United) who recently admitted to a hair transplant procedure in the British Daily Mail

The FUE procedure shows a radical improvement in terms of density in the photos immediately after the procedure. I can only assume that the results with improve dramatically in the months to come. Based on the cost posted ($30,000 pounds), I would assume that 4000 grafts were transplanted. I thought that 2000 was a realistic number based on FUE. Wesley Sneijder (another professional soccer player with Inter Milan in Italy), also has the procedure done last year. For men in their twenties, FUE would appear to be the way to go if you can afford it. Especially if you like to keep your hair short as they do. Anyway, just thought that this would be an interesting story to share with your followers. Thanks for all your great and informative work!

I’ve seen quite a bit in the news about Wayne Rooney, and I must admit I had no idea who he was before learning he had a hair transplant. I don’t follow soccer. The hairline shown in the photo he posted looks like it was placed high and perfectly rounded with a few little zig-zags to break it up, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see once the results grow out.