Types of Female Hairlines: A Guide to Identifying Your Hairline Type

Medically reviewedby Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry M.B.B.S.

WrittenbyLiza Schermann

Last updated Nov 27, 2024

Curious about the types of female hairlines and what they reveal about you?

Understanding the various hairline types, from the widow's peak to the bell-shaped, can not only enrich your beauty routine but also inform your hair care choices.

Let's explore the diversity of female hairlines and find the one that best matches you.

Table of content

1. What are the different hairline types for women?

2. How to combat female receding hairline?

3. Why is my hairline receding female?

4. What causes a receding hairline in women?

5. What does a receding hairline look like on a woman?

6. How to change your hairline?

7. How to fix an uneven hairline for females?

8. Conclusion

9. References

What are the different hairline types for women?

Here are the 9 different types of female hairlines:

Low hairline
High hairline
Middle hairline
Widow’s peak
Triangular hairline
Uneven hairline
Bell-shaped hairline
Straight-lined hairline
Receding hairline or M-shape

Low hairline

A low hairline is where the hairline starts near the eyebrows. Having a low hairline in women gives them an impression of having narrow or short foreheads.

Women start losing their hair once they age and so receding hairline is expected; hence having a low hairline has its advantage.

High hairline

Unlike low hairline, high hairline starts from the crown of your scalp. These types of hairlines are mostly genetics but can result from hair loss as well.

Middle hairline

The middle hairline is not too low or not too high, it is in middle, which is a normal hairline.

Mid hairlines are the most common hairlines found among women, although there is no evidence to support this claim.

But these customary foreheads are found to be nothing out of ordinary.

Widow’s peak

A widow’s peak, or a V-shaped hairline, can be due to an underlying genetic disorder such as frontonasal dysplasia.

Frontonasal dysplasia is a rare disorder where someone develops abnormal characteristics in the head and face before birth.

If it is not frontonasal dysplasia, there is a high chance that you had inherited a widow’s peak.

Widow’s peak can appear more or less prominent with age.

Triangular hairline

A triangular hairline is different from a V-shaped hairline. It usually is an off-center triangle and the pointy edge is usually on one side of the hairline.

In some cases, a triangular hairline is caused due to temporal triangular alopecia.

Triangular alopecia is also known as congenital triangular alopecia where there is a benign loss of hair without any scaring.

It usually affects the front temporal region and sometimes the occipital scalp.

Uneven hairline

Uneven hairlines are mostly very common hairlines. They lack symmetry in the hairline, sometimes the difference is barely noticeable.

One side of your hairline can be somewhat higher or lower. Some people have a very prominent uneven hairline with their hairlines going zig-zag.

An uneven hairline can be caused by extensive styling where the hair is being pulled too tightly. It can also occur due to genetics or old age.

If someone starts experiencing a receding hairline, they might also get an uneven hairline.

Bell-shaped hairline

Bell-shaped or oval hairlines are mostly symmetrical. They appear as a long hairline on the forehead. They are curvy and have no uneven lines.

Straight-lined hairline

Straight-lined or also known as juvenile hairline is a straight hairline on the forehead in a rectangular shape.

Sometimes people try to get a haircut resembling this hairline but sometimes it is just genetics.

Receding hairline or M-shape

Although receding hairlines are more common in men, there have many cases that women who also faced a receding hairline.

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How to combat female receding hairline?

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Minoxidil and finasteride

If our receding hairline is due to the female pattern baldness, then medications are available for this issue. Some products like Minoxidil (Rogaine) are available as an over-the-counter product while another medicine like Finasteride (Propecia) is only available on doctor’s prescriptions. Both of the medications are used to treat hair loss.

If you're curious about if minoxidil can fix receding hairline, we've got you covered. And if you're afraid of the side effects of minoxidil and finasteride, check out our natural alternatives to minoxidil!

Why is my hairline receding female?

The major reason why your receding hairline for females would be genetics but other factors such as lifestyle, smoking, hormones, stress, and anxiety, and diet can also cause a receding hairline. To pinpoint what it is, visit a doctor who can identify the cause for you.

Unlike receding hairline being an underlying cause of androgenic alopecia in men, receding hairline is different in women from androgenic alopecia.

Receding hairline in women will give them an M-shaped hairline, where the hair loss happens at both sides of the temple. It can recede backward in a straight line as well.

Other cases in women stated that they see receding hairlines on their temples after getting pregnant. To help you with that here is a blog article about how to prevent hair loss during pregnancy. This hair loss is usually temporary.

What causes a receding hairline in women?

Receding hairline is a sign of potential hair loss which is more common in men than women. Like already mentioned, hairlines get affected by many factors, that can be either inherited, or it can be your genetics. Sometimes it’s your hormones or the chemicals you put on your head to style.

Research believes that genetics do play some part in shaping your hairline but has not yet discovered if genes should be held accountable for different hairlines. There might be no other reasons why your hairline should be V-shaped or explain why is it happening to you.

There are many reasons as to what can affect your hairline and what its causes are. Major factors like receding hairline can indicate that you might have another underlying problem such as female pattern hair loss.

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL)

Female pattern hair loss or also known as androgenetic alopecia is a hair loss that is caused by an enzyme called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). the main concept of dht is that it causes the hair follicles to miniaturize by sticking themselves to the androgen receptors.

DHT blocks the nourishment to reach the hair follicles. Having not enough nutrients means thin and weak hair growth, which can lead to hair loss eventually. Follicles become small and produce shorter hairs until they can no longer grow out of the scalp.

In women, androgenic alopecia will make their hair thinner around the part line. The part line is the natural line that divides your hair from left to right.

If you have a chance of female pattern baldness, you may experience thin hair and a making your hairline look weak and volume less. You will feel that your hairline does not have any density like it used to.

In severe cases, the hair becomes so thin, you can skin the scalp beneath the hair from the top. Although not to worry about, there are many solutions to cater to all these hairlines.

Read Does Biotin Shampoo Really Help Shedding, Thinning Hair?

Traction alopecia

Traction Alopecia is also a form of hair loss. This affects the hairline which is caused by the pulling tension on the hair follicles. Unlike Female Pattern Hair Loss, which is caused by DHT, traction alopecia is entirely due to the tight hairstyles you pulled for a long time or a hat!

The pulling tension is so hard, that eventually your hair follicles become lose and cause hair loss.

Traction alopecia can also occur due to using too many chemicals on your head. Some women experienced receding hairlines due to their menopause that creates hormonal changes. It can lead to hair loss as well.

Hairstyles that can cause traction alopecia

Braids
Cornrows
Tight ponytails
Heavy locks
Weaves
Pulled back tight bun

As you guessed, traction alopecia is usually common among African Americans with having heavy braided locks, or ballerinas who have to pull their hair back in a tight bun. But, there's good news - we have a comprehensive guide on how to make black hair grow fast - to help you alleviate that problem!

What does a receding hairline look like on a woman?

A receding hairline in women can appear differently than it does in men. Women typically experience a widening of the part or thinning of hair around the hairline, rather than a distinct receding hairline at the temples.

The hairline may appear more squared or have an "M" shape, and the hair around the crown may also thin. In more severe cases, bald patches may also develop around the temples.

How to change your hairline?

There are many ways through with you can get your hairline fixed. These include cosmetic procedures or home remedies. These options include the following:

Plucking

For a widow’s peak or to correct a bad hairline, plucking can be an effective method to enhance your hair lines.

This technique is used to pluck out the extra hair from your hairline to make it look symmetrical or pleasing to your appearance.

You simply need tweezers and pluck out the hair where hair is low enough to make your forehead look narrow.

Laser

Laser treatment is the most popular procedure for achieving a good hairline among the modern generation.

This procedure is ideal for those with a low or uneven type of hairline, aiming for a more mature hairline appearance. The laser can remove the unwanted hair around the hairline and prevent it from growing again.

It takes several sessions before it starts showing its results but it has been proven quite effective among people.

Style your hair

The most cost-effective option would be styling your hair into which it can complement your hairline.

Many celebrities going through hair loss usually get a haircut that hides the fact that they are losing hair. This doesn’t change your hairline but it can be made to look pleasant and less obvious.

People have opted for bangs with receding or high hairlines to hide some part of their foreheads. Hairstyles and haircuts can enhance your face features, eliminating the focus from the hairline.

Hair transplant

An invasion surgery, a hair transplant, is usually opted by many people. For permanent hair loss solutions, a hair transplant offers the best option to achieve a good hairline.

This procedure involves taking the hair from your scalp from certain areas and transplant it on your hairline to make your hairline lower.

People usually with high hairlines or receding hairlines opt for hair transplant (hair plugs) surgery. It is also recommended for uneven hairlines or thin hairlines.

Hairline lowering surgery

Unlike hair transplant, this procedure involves removing a part of your skin on the forehead and suturing your hairline to create a lower hairline. This makes the forehead appear shorter.

This surgery is used for people with bell-shaped or short hairlines. This procedure also does not have any scarring.

How to fix an uneven hairline for females?

Correcting an uneven hairline in females can enhance both your appearance and confidence. Here’s how to achieve a more symmetrical look:

Maintain a mature hairline: Combat permanent hair loss and promote healthy hair growth by using high-quality shampoo and conditioner. This foundation is essential for keeping your hairline in its best condition.
Style strategically: Employ styling products like mousse or gel to craft hairstyles that minimize the visibility of an uneven hairline. The right style can significantly disguise asymmetries.
Opt for a balancing haircut: If your face is asymmetrical, select a haircut that brings balance to your features. A well-chosen style can make an uneven hairline less noticeable and enhance facial symmetry.

Conclusion

Different types of female hairlines can be influenced by factors like age, genetics, and health conditions such as female pattern baldness or traction alopecia.

As people age, especially after 40, changes in hairline are common, but there are ways to manage or alter these if desired. Proper hair care is crucial for maintaining a healthy hairline.

If it’s not genetic, you can keep a normal hairline by:

Massaging your hairline with a Scandinavian Biolabs scalp massager.
Keeping your hair moisturized to not let it get dry enough to break.
Use Scandinavian Biolabs hair strengthening shampoos and conditioners.
Do not pull your hair too tight to cause any traction alopecia.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Eat enough nutrition so your hair can get all the nutrients it needs. Such as amino acids for hair growth foods.

If you're not satisfied with your hairline, numerous hairstyles and cuts can enhance your look. Always consult a professional for underlying causes of hair loss before taking any drastic measures.