Signs Of A Receding Hairline

Will You Go Bald If You Have A Receding Hairline?

Tips From Cochrane & Co Hairdressers & Hair Replacement Specialists in London 

A receding hairline is actually a disorder that can be caused by many factors including physical or emotional stress, alopecia, and a range of medical issues. It can affect women but is more common in men.

For many people, a receding hairline feels like something to be afraid of. But watching your hairline recede a little is a natural part of ageing. Having a receding hairline doesn’t always mean complete baldness later on in life as your hairline moving back could be a sign of a mature hairline. Mature hairlines can occur gradually with the hairline receding evenly and stopping before receding onto your scalp. Maturing hairlines are experienced by almost 96% of men and kept well into old age.

However, there are typically progressive steps that occur with a receding hairline.

Around 95% of men – and some women – will start to notice their hairline edging up their head a little as early as in their late teenage years or early twenties.

But the big question is this:

Can you have a receding hairline and not go bald?

If it's something you personally fear, don't worry. A maturing hairline is natural and does not necessarily mean male pattern baldness has struck you.

Here are the details:

Receding hairline signs

Signs that your hairline is becoming more mature include it being up around your temples and slightly less well defined than when you were a juvenile.

A hairline that seems to be uneven

Loss of hair at the top of the head resulting in a bare scalp

A shape that looks like the letter V appears at the hairline

Complete balding on top with hair around the slides and the back of the head

Excessive hair shedding with clumps of hair loss in the shower or when styling

 

If you've noticed this and started to worry, there's probably no need. Almost all men – and some women, do experience this as they get older. You're not definitely going to go bald if you have a receding hairline.

The causes of a receding hairline

Family history

An early receding hairline can be a hereditary trait with sensitive hair follicles produced by certain male hormones. Men who have a family history of male pattern baldness are genetically predisposed to this condition.

Medications and treatments

A typical example of medical procedures that cause hair loss is chemotherapy, but many different types of drugs including acne medications are also thought to cause hair loss.

Illness or stress

Trauma can cause sudden hair loss and this can be experienced as an unexpected shedding where hair loss is severe over a short period of time.

Lifestyle choices

There could also be a link between receding hairlines and diet as one lacking in protein can cause more significant hair loss. Smoking can also increase hair loss at a faster rate.

Male pattern baldness signs

Male pattern baldness, on the other hand, affects around 70% of men and 40% of women. It causes your hair growth cycle to weaken and the hair follicles themselves to become smaller. Over time, hair grows back shorter and finer until it's not there at all.

The major cause is your genetic inheritance. If you have close male relatives who are bald, you are at higher risk of going bald yourself. But there are no guarantees either way.

Signs of male pattern baldness include:

More hairline movement – receding hair which is changing naturally to become a mature hairline may move around 1cm upwards. With male pattern baldness, this tends to be much more.

Pronounced thinning – a maturing hairline might be less straight than your hair when you were younger, but it might not be noticeably thinner. With male pattern baldness, you will almost certainly be able to see a more pronounced V-shape to your hair and thinning on the crown.

Diagnosis of a receding hairline

A dermatologist will discuss your personal and family medical history and perform a pull test to establish how easily your hair falls out. A biopsy may be helpful to confirm any scalp infection or disease which may be causing the hair loss. Blood tests will look for conditions such as thyroid disease that may be contributing to hair thinning.

How to prevent a receding hairline

If you want to prevent a receding hairline from developing any further, there are certain things you can do:

Eat healthy – It's not a secret that a well-rounded diet can help with hair loss. Make sure you get plenty of protein, iron and vitamins.

Stop smoking – smoking can lead to hair loss. Quit!

Reduce your stress levels – get some decent exercise, take up meditation... whatever works for you.

Check any medication – if you are taking medication, check with your doctor to be sure hair loss isn't a predicted side-effect.

Get scalp massages – regular massages can help stimulate hair production.

Can you have a receding hairline and not go bald?

Yes. You can certainly have a receding hairline and not go bald. There are even several simple lifestyle changes which are recommended as a treatment for a receding hairline as we've seen above.

Male pattern baldness, though, is generally an inherited condition that you can't really reverse. Though there are some medications and excellent hair replacement systems out there.

But as most barbers and hair experts will tell you, there are plenty of ways to make your baldness work for you. Frankie Cochrane of London salon and Cochrane & Co – which specialises in hair replacement – says that there are loads of great examples out there of people who've made their baldness part of their look with complete success:

Just think of celebrities like Jason Statham or Bruce Willis. Being bald isn't the end of the world. You've got plenty of options.

Plus, just because you've got a receding hairline doesn't mean you're going bald anyway.

Treatment for a receding hairline

Your GP may suggest medication for hair loss and there are many new medical treatments and procedures to slow down the process.

If the cause of your receding hairline is hereditary it can't be prevented so that’s when you need help from the Cochrane & Co hair system experts who specialise in non-surgical hair replacement in London.