High Hairline & Hair Loss: Are the Two Connected?

As we age our hairlines naturally rise (slightly) from what is called a “juvenile to mature hairline.” However, after a certain point, an increasingly high hairline becomes a sign of a bigger problem – pattern hair loss – also known as androgenetic alopecia.

If you notice your hairline moving upwards, this could be a sign that your hair could keep retreating on your head, eventually leading to baldness.

For some people, the hairline moves from juvenile to mature and stops there. For others, it continues. It is hard to know which one you will be as it is dependent on many factors, genetics being primary among them.

In this article, you will learn of ways to find out if your hairline is going to continue to move upwards. You will also learn ways to combat a receding hairline.

What is a High Hairline?

The hairline is a naturally occurring line of hair follicles that outline the edges of your hair. In most individuals, the line will shift a few times throughout their lives, but when the line appears to be higher than average, this is known as a high hairline.

This may also be referred to as a high or broad forehead, and it can make your forehead appear larger and more prominent than it is.

What Causes a High Hairline?

Hair Loss

The most common cause of a high hairline is patterned hair loss. This can be caused by many things, though Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) and traction alopecia are the most likely of culprits.

But why does hair loss target the forehead in particular?

The answer depends on the type of hair loss you suffer from.

In men with AGA, the hair follicles are sensitive to a hormone called DHT. This hormone naturally attaches to the follicles, but in someone with AGA, this causes inflammation and irritation.

Eventually, the hair follicles will respond by miniaturizing. This pushes the remaining hair out and makes it hard for new hairs to reach the surface.

And why the forehead in particular?

At the beginning of AGA, this is the region most sensitive to DHT. As the hairline recedes, so too will the follicles affected by the hormone.

If not treated, this can lead to total baldness.

Of course, DHT is not the only cause of AGA. Other factors, such as genetics, environment, and lifestyle also play a major role in its development and advancement.

Genetics

Genetics do not only contribute to susceptibility to hair loss but also the placement of your hairline.

That is right – everyone has a different placement, and those with higher placements also tend to have the appearance of a more prominent and mature forehead.

Unfortunately, this is something that cannot be avoided.

If you have always had a higher hairline, or if the older men in your family experienced one as they aged, it is likely your fate.

Cosmetic Surgery

Perhaps the only cause that you can fully prevent, is cosmetic surgery is another reason for an unnaturally high hairline.

This is most common in men and women who have received a brow lift (either coronal or endoscopic). However, even Botox injections can cause your hairline to appear higher than before.

Should I Worry About Recession?

Whether your hairline is naturally high, or you have started to notice a backward shift, you may wonder when to worry about recession. This is an important question to ask, as the answer can help you to prevent future hair loss.

First, let’s discuss the three different kinds of hairlines.

Maturing, or Receding?

As a child, and even through adolescence, you have what is called a juvenile hairline. It tends to sit much lower on the forehead, and the edges (particularly near the temples) are rounded.

However, as you age you will experience what is known as hairline maturation. That is, your hair will naturally move back and the line will become higher and less rounded.

This new look will suit your adult face, and it is a normal part of aging.

Your hairline will have a natural place in which it stops maturing, but this is determined by genetics and other factors. So, how can you tell the difference between maturation and recession?

Here are just a few signs that your hairline is receding:

• You have an uneven hairline
• You notice thinning at the temples
• Your scalp has become irritated or itchy
• Your hair growth has slowed (or stopped completely)

These are just the beginning stages of hair loss, but noticing them at the first signs can help you to be proactive in your approach.

When to Worry

While you should start treatment at the first stages of the signs listed above, there are other signs that recession and hair loss is imminent.

If any of these signs are familiar to you, it is time to jump into action.

There Is a Family History of Male-Pattern Baldness

As mentioned above, genetics can play a major role in hair loss. As such, a family history of MPB is a surefire sign that you need to begin treating the problem right away.

One way to know if you are suffering from MPB is to consider the pattern of hair loss.

If the loss began at the forehead and slowly receded until nothing (or almost nothing) was left, then MPB is the likely culprit.

You Have a Sudden Increase in Hair Fall

Your hair follicles are constantly changing, as they are either growing your hair (anagen phase), or transitioning to the less active phases of the hair growth cycle (catagen and telogen).

As part of this cycle, it is normal to shed anywhere from 50 – 150 hairs per day.

What is not normal is a sudden increase in hair fall, especially around the temples and forehead.

Such an increase may not be noticeable at first, though examining your pillows and shower drain can tell you a lot.

If you notice an increase in hair loss over time, especially in those aforementioned places, then the problem needs to be addressed immediately.

Your Scalp Has Become Increasingly Irritated

Itching and irritation can be a symptom of many common conditions, including dandruff and Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD). But they can also be a symptom of follicle miniaturization as a result of DHT sensitivity.

As such, any increase in discomfort should be closely monitored.

Is It Possible to Grow Hair to Cover a High Hairline?

Perhaps you have not experienced hair loss, but you instead have a larger forehead. In that case, you may wonder whether there is anything you can do to grow more hair to cover it.

In simplest terms, no. And here is why.

The hairline is a naturally occurring line that consists of hair follicles. It has its position from the time you are born, though it can move back either naturally (as part of maturation), or unnaturally (as part of recession).

However, without surgical intervention, there is no way to move that hairline down.

Surgical Intervention to Cover Forehead

While you can’t grow hair where there never was any, there are two surgical procedures that may be able to help.

These are 1) hair transplant, and 2) forehead reduction.

Hair Transplant

Just as the name implies, a hair transplant surgery will transplant hair from one area of your head (the back) to another (the hairline). This is the most common surgical procedure used to ‘treat’ balding.

But can this effectively be used to move your hairline?

Not really.

When hair loss surgeons perform this surgery, they do so to replace hair that was lost from the hairline. If you are looking to have your natural line moved down – without any previous history of recession – you will be disappointed.

You may be able to obtain a thicker hairline, which can help to disguise a broad forehead. But it is still not ideal.

Forehead Reduction

Also known as hairline lowering or scalp reduction, a forehead reduction procedure does just that – it lowers the line so as to reduce the size of the forehead.

To perform the procedure, an area of forehead skin is first removed. The size will depend on your skin’s elasticity, as well as the vertical height of your forehead.

The remaining skin from behind the hairline will then be advanced or pulled forward to cover the excised area.

So, is this the answer to your hairline woes?

Maybe.

As a surgical procedure, this should not be rushed into. Instead, you should consider any other options (especially if your high forehead is a result of hair loss), and only then consult with a surgeon.

What About Minoxidil and Finasteride?

Are surgical interventions not your cup of tea? Then perhaps you’re considering the more common route of minoxidil or finasteride.

But will they work?

First, here is a closer look at each drug.

Minoxidil (Rogaine)

Minoxidil, more popularly known as Rogaine, is a topical hair loss treatment that you can purchase over the counter. It is used by millions of men and women worldwide, and its results are usually quite impressive.

But how does it work?

Scientists do not know.

They do believe that the product increases circulation to the scalp, which helps to deliver oxygen and nutrients while removing waste (such as DHT). It may also have a role in the opening of the potassium channels (which is important for potassium delivery), but this is still debated.

So, can it grow hair on your forehead?

Yes, if your forehead is exposed as a result of hair loss.

No, if you just tend to have a naturally high hairline and are looking to create a new (i.e. lower) one.

But even if you are looking to restore lost hair, there are plenty of other options with similar (if not better) results.

For example, pumpkin seed oil has been shown to reduce inflammation and contains antioxidants. These are both beneficial to fighting hair loss and regrowing lost hair.

And sesame oil is not too bad, either. It was shown to outperform minoxidil (in a mouse model), plus it is easier to use and more affordable to purchase.

Finasteride (Propecia)

Next up is finasteride, a once-daily pill that is available through prescription only.

This drug’s mechanism is much clearer, as it inhibits 5AR which is an enzyme largely responsible for the production of DHT.

Does it work?

Sure! Many research studies support the efficacy of finasteride when used by men to treat AGA.

However, this comes at a cost.

As a 5AR inhibitor (and DHT blocker as a result), the drug has numerous side effects. These include loss of libido, inability to get or maintain an erection, loss of ejaculatory volume, and depression.

(Learn more about the side effects of DHT blockers here.)

So, if none of the above options sound good to you, what can you do?

How to Naturally Lower Your Hairline

Here is a look at natural alternatives you can use to lower your hairline.

Eat a Balanced Diet

While a complete diet overhaul is unlikely to solve all of your hair loss woes, a balanced diet can help set the stage for health hair growth.

The foods you eat play a significant role in your body’s overall mineral and nutrient stores. If you neglect one food group, or you overindulge in another, your nutrients could be severely out of whack. It is even possible to be nutritionally deficient which, depending on the nutrient(s), can cause serious health effects.

To put it simply, you should aim to eat whole foods without avoiding any one food group. These include:

• Lean meats (e.g. chicken breast, white fish, pork, lamb)
• Vegetables (e.g. broccoli, kale, spinach, carrots, brussel sprouts, arugula)
• Fruits (e.g. berries, apples, bananas, oranges, pineapple, pears)
• Nuts and seeds (e.g. almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
• Whole grains (e.g. oats, bulgur, amaranth, barley)

It is important to remember that long-term health and wellness will contribute to your scalp and hair’s health.

Increase Circulation to the Scalp

Blood flow is necessary to ensure the delivery of oxygen and vital nutrients to your hair follicles. Here is how to increase circulation.

Scalp Massage and Exercises

You can manually increase circulation to the scalp with the help of two techniques: massage and scalp exercises!

These can be incorporated into your day, and they not only increase circulation but also reduce inflammation and irritation.

How to Perform Scalp Massage

Using your fingertips, place your thumb, middle, and index fingers on the sides of your head. Apply firm pressure.

Begin to work your fingers in a circular motion, and slowly massage the area just above the ear.

You can slowly work your way up (towards the crown), but you can also backtrack at any point.

Once you have made it to the crown, continue massaging in the same manner for one to two minutes. Now, begin to move towards the front of the head (the center of the forehead).

You can slowly move out to the temples and then backtrack to the forehead. Repeat these motions for one to two minutes, and return to the sides of the scalp.

Finally, make your way to the back of the head. Continue massaging for one to minutes.

You can perform these massages for 10 minutes per day, and repeat if you feel it is necessary.

How to Perform Scalp Exercises

To get the most from your efforts, it also helps to use your facial muscles. Here is a simple routine to follow:

1. Lift your eyebrows as high as possible, and hold for one to two minutes. Return to normal position.
2. Furrow your eyebrows as deep as possible, and hold for one to two minutes. Return to normal position.
3. Lift your eyebrows as high as possible, and hold for one to two minutes. Then, furrow your eyebrows as deep as possible, and hold for one to two minutes. Return to normal position.

You can also use your fingertips to stretch out the skin on your scalp (and especially towards your hairline).

Simply place your thumb and index fingers about two inches apart. Then gently move the fingers away from each other as you pull the skin with them. You can also move the fingers closer together, and loosen the skin as you go.

Microneedling

If you want to get serious about increasing circulation to the scalp, you will want to consider microneedling.

Microneedling is a technique that uses small needles to puncture the scalp. The microwounds then heal, which triggers the production of more collagen (important for skin elasticity) and new follicle cells.

The healing process also draws more blood to the scalp, which increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients delivered.

There is actually evidence that the technique is highly effective in increasing hair growth, such as this study from 2013 that compared minoxidil alone to minoxidil + microneedling:

There are two popular tools used for scalp microneedling: the dermaroller, and the dermastamp.

The first is a cylindrical tool with needles covering the entirety of its surface. You hold the handle and roll it over the affected area of the scalp, while gently pressing down.

The second utilizes a flat surface. The needles protrude from the surface, and you can then apply directly to the affected areas and press down.

Are you interested in learning more about the process? Check out this full-length post on the technique here.

4 Best Hairstyles to Cover Your Hairline

Whether you are in the middle of hair loss treatment, or you are just trying to cover your large forehead, here are some hairstyles to inspire you.

The Messy Cut

The messy cut is similar to the textured crop, but you only need medium-length locks to achieve it.

This cut covers your hairline with ease, and it can be worn sleek and clean, or messy and textured.

The Textured Crop

Do you have longer hair on the top of your scalp? Then this is the hairstyle for you!

The textured crop is a purposely messy look, which uses your long hair to its advantage. It essentially brings the hair forward to cover the high hairline, and does so by texturizing the hair so it extends farther.

The Pompadour

One of the classier hairstyles, the pompadour is easy to customize to fit your hair length and cover up needs. The hair can then be styled in different ways – straight back, to the side, or as a middle part – while drawing attention away from your hairline.

The Brush Up

This is similar to the pompadour, but it uses a more texturized style to achieve the same look.

It is basically an incomplete pompadour. Instead of being smoothed down, the hair stands straight up, with just enough texture and character to set you apart from the crowd.

What About Wigs and Cover-Ups?

For as long as hair loss has been a problem, there have been ways for men to cover it up. And perhaps one of the easiest (and quickest) ways to do so is with a wig.

There has no doubt been advancements in wigs and other such cover-ups (such as toupees) over the years. But they can still look unnatural, and that is not to mention how uncomfortable they can become throughout the day.

There are alternative options, such as hair-building fibers and powders. These add bulk to thinner areas of the hair, and they may help to cover a bit more of your forehead.

Short-term use of wigs, cover-ups, and even hair-building fibers are fine. They can give you the confidence you desire, while also making you appear younger.

But they are not a cure.

If you are really serious about covering your forehead, whether due to hair loss or genetics, you will want to consider the longer-term solutions out there.

Final Thoughts

The prominent exposure of your forehead – whether due to a naturally high hairline or unnatural means such as hair loss – can be a mentally damaging experience, especially as it relates to self-esteem and self-confidence.

However, there are many ways to deal with a high forehead.

Some of these are through surgery or medication, but there are also natural options that can help you to physically lower the hairline, or cover it.