Category: Hairlines

I know you explained how to measure the mature hairline with the wrinkled brow but you didn’t say how exactly. Do I need to put a ruler in the middle of my forehead and measure that way (this way it shows my corners are 2 inches receded) or can I put in highest corner of my temple and measure downwards if I do it that way I get 1 1/2 inches but my hairline is only 0.4inches away which is good. I believe I’m on a NW2.

Also around my temples I have a chunk of short hairs but there thickness is pretty much the same like other hairs. My hair is kinda longish you know. But what worries me that they will fall off and then my corners will be quite big. Is this all normal?

I’m almost 22 years old and my temples started to recede slowly since late 17s but in the past year just jumped up fast.

A maturing hairline is a generalization of how a young male will have a slight recession of his hairline in his teenage years or early 20’s. If you follow this “rule” (it is actually my rule) then there are three elements of it. A mature male hairline exists when:

1. the middle of the hairline is about 1/2-2/3 inches above the highest crease of the furrowed brow
2. the shape of the hairline is convex
3. the sides of the hairline will rise about 1.5 – 2 times higher than the middle of the mature hairline

If you continue to recede beyond this area then there may be a genetic component of androgenic alopecia. This presence of genetic causation can be seen by mapping out the hair for miniaturization and looking for miniaturized hair substantially behind the leading edge of the mature hairline. And not to confuse anyone, but even though I call it a “rule”, there really is no specific rule to this. You cannot go by an exact set of measurements, such as 0.4 inches. If you are worried about this matter, I would see a doctor for a good microscopic examination (miniaturization study) of your hair to determine if there is a pattern developing.

Why do people without baldness also have miniaturized hairs at the beginning of the hairline?

The hair that is present in the very front of the hairline either are vellus hairs or those that are naturally thinner than the hair behind and throughout the scalp.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

Hi,
i just have a question. I am almost 21, my hair looks good, but the thing that worries me is that I have a widows peak and in the widows peak I noticed that there are like some vellus hairs that are almost invisible between the terminal hairs. The rest of my hair is thick and healthy but the thing that worries me is that they can be miniaturized hairs. I also notices some very fine hairs that dont grow more than 0.5 cm in the very front of the hairline. Is this normal? You said that it is normal some miniaturization at the beginning of the hairline.

Yes, there are vellus hairs in the frontal hairline and that is normal. This is not necessarily miniaturization or balding, but if the miniaturization continues well beyond the front hairline (say 1/2 to 2/3rds inch back) there is reason to take notice. Keep having your hair mapped out for miniaturization at least once a year to see if there is the beginnings of genetic hair loss.

Hey doctor, thanks for keeping this blog.

I was just curious about genetics and hair loss… I’ve read multiple blog posts, but still confused.

About seven months ago I realized that my hairline had changed some. Since then, it hasn’t changed at all. Looking at a picture when I just turned 18 (I’m a 20 y/o male), my hairline looks similar in the front but not quite as high on the sides (I also have a naturally large forehead). However, as I said, for at least seven months my hairline has not changed at all.

My question for you is this: My father, mother, grandparents, great grandparents, uncles, cousins… all have full heads of hair. I’ve even asked my parents about their great grandparents, their cousins and uncles and aunts, and they all had full heads of hair as well. So, basically, in my entire family tree-both vertically across 4+ generations and laterally along each generation-there was no hair loss. I still have very thick hair on both the hairline and all around the scalp…people just tell me that I’m paranoid. Can I safely presume that my hairline is just maturing with my large forehead, and that I am not genetically predisposed? (Many in my mother’s family have large foreheads).

Thanks for your continued assistance.

I haven’t seen what you’re talking about, so I couldn’t tell you whether anything is safe to assume about your hair loss (or lack thereof). As you are in Beverly Hills, you could come by my office (no charge) and let me determine if you are really balding or just developing a mature male hairline. I will also perform a miniaturization mapping of your scalp hair to determine any possibility of early balding behind that frontal hairline.

Even if you were across the country… or across the planet, I would still suggest that you get such an opinion. If not from me, then from any competent doctor that is willing to examine your scalp.

hi
i have a very low hairline and that makes impossible for me to have some great hair styles. is there any solution to my problem?? i want a higher hairline..

thanks

There is a surgical procedure called a brow lift (or forehead lift) which will elevate the hairline along with your eyebrows. If you are not too young (ideally you should be over 40) it may work for you, but you should seek out the services and opinions from plastic surgeons for this. Generally for the young man (in their 20s) this is something you will have to live with until you’re a candidate, but do talk to plastic surgeons about this.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

Hi doc,i just have a question,I am almost 21 and I think I have a mature hairline,my hairline started to change when I was 19 years old.I have a widows peak and in the widows peak I noticed that there are like some vellus hairs that are almost invisible between the terminal hairs,the rest of my hair is thick and healthy but the thing that worries me is that they can be miniaturized hairs.You said that it is normal some miniaturization at the beginning of the hairline.

Yes, vellus hairs are normal. You will have them everywhere on your body. Some miniaturization is normal at the very front at the beginning of the hairline.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):