Help, my hairline is receding!

Hair loss shows itself in many ways. Whether temporary or permanent, it can have a dramatic impact on your everyday life. The thinning of hair around the temples, hairline, and widow’s peak is particularly common, but you don’t have to suffer in silence.

Understanding this type of hair loss is a great place to begin. Here we answer the common questions on everyone’s lips including the causes of receding hairlines, the treatments on offer, and how wearing a wig can help…

Is a receding hairline really that common?

In short- yes! In most cases, receding hairlines affect older people with the underlying cause of male pattern baldness and links with the ageing process meaning that hairlines begin to thin from the age of 30 onwards. According to this research, receding hairlines affect around 50% of men by the time they reach the age of 50.

It’s not just men that the condition affects. An increasing number of women are also suffering from hair loss around the hairline. Unlike receding hairlines in men, however, thinning affects women across different age groups and is caused by very different underlying problems.

What causes receding hairlines in men?

The leading cause of receding hairlines in men is male pattern baldness. In fact, a receding hairline is usually the very first sign of the condition.

The thinning of hair at the hairline and eventually across the wider head is caused by a sensitivity to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes those affected to lose their hair quicker and earlier.

Exposure to DHT causes follicles to weaken. New follicles grow thinner and shorter, and these slowly replace the thicker, stronger follicles you’ve become used to. The follicles continue to weaken and shrink until the hair stops growing completely.

What causes receding hairlines in women?

In younger women, the causes of receding hairlines can be as simple as traction alopecia, which is the result of persistent tugging and pulling on the hairline through tighter hairstyles like buns, ponytails and braids. The effects of traction alopecia can be temporary however if you switch to looser, more protective hairstyles.

Hormonal fluctuations are the main cause of receding hairlines, with the changes experienced before, during and after menopause able to thin the hairline or stop hair from growing altogether.

Hormonal imbalances in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) sufferers have also been linked to hair thinning and loss as Flo explains:

“Yes, hair loss is one of the reported symptoms of PCOS. This is mostly due to the excess androgenic hormones that people with PCOS often have, which can lead to acne, thinning hair, and hair loss, as well as limp, lacklustre hair that breaks easily and is dry and damaged. Medically, this hair loss is referred to as female pattern baldness, and treatment can be tricky.”

How can I treat my receding hairline?

For men experiencing receding hairlines due to male pattern baldness, treatments are limited.

Medication (like DHT blocker Finasteride) can ease the onset of symptoms, but more drastic action may be required for those looking for more permanent solutions. Hair transplant surgery however isn’t your only option.

Choosing a hairpiece instead of hair transplant surgery is less risky, more affordable and made for the long term.

Women suffering from receding hairlines need to dig deeper into the underlying causes before seeking treatment. Depending on the cause, hormone therapy, hair strengthening products, medication, or more natural remedies (such as scalp massage, dietary changes and stress management) could be used to help find a solution.

In the meantime, you can use wig wear to conceal your receding hairline before it becomes more noticeable. If treatment doesn’t work, you can rely on wig wear for the long haul to give you confidence even in the face of hair thinning and hair loss challenges.

Shop our human hair wigs, synthetic wigs and hairpieces today to find the discreet solution you’ve been searching for.