What is a Mature Hairline and How is it Measured?
We all know the importance of first impressions. In our personal and professional lives, we want to present as well as possible, and healthy hair makes a major impact. .
Unfortunately for many folks, that hairline from high school is going in the wrong direction, and to find a solution, we first need to assess the problem accurately.
While most people jump to conclusions and say that they’re “losing their hair” or “going bald,” there’s a bit more nuance to the receding hairline conversation.
Let’s talk about the concept of a maturing hairline, and see how it factors into the broader discussion on hair loss treatment, prevention, and care.
Call it what it is
Terminology is very important in the medical field since lives are at risk based on what specific words are used to describe symptoms. While hair loss terminology isn’t quite as life or death intense, we need to be precise with our terms to make the right fix.
When it comes to determining a mature hairline, we need a clear definition.
According to the high-traffic blog Hair Loss Daily, a mature hairline is defined by roughly a half-inch to one inch of movement away from the brow.
Hairline maturation is a totally normal process that typically begins subtly in a man’s late teens and may increase gradually throughout his twenties.
Here are a few things to remember that differentiate a mature hairline vs. a receding hairline vs. male-pattern baldness:
- The transition to a mature hairline is even and not patchy. The pattern maintains the general shape of the youthful hairline–the new hairline is just moved back about an inch from the original normal hairline.
- To find out if you have a mature hairline, hold your index finger just above your highest wrinkle/top wrinkle, i.e. your highest forehead wrinkle. If it touches your hair, you are in the clear.
- According to most hair loss specialists, a mature hairline is NOT considered to be a form or sign of male pattern baldness, just a natural effect of the aging process.
You can also check out a few image galleries online to see how your hair compares, and help that guide your own personal assessment.
Mature hairline and male pattern baldness may not be the exact same thing, but they are both caused by increases in a powerful hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is like a cousin to testosterone.
After guys go through puberty in their teenage years, their testosterone increases and then breaks down into DHT, which signals that it’s time for hair follicles to stop growing as robustly on the top of the head.
Those hormones signal hair growth in other areas of the body, instead, as the body assumesa full head of hair has been accomplished and the next region of hair is ready for some attention.
DHT is why that youthful hairline recedes an inch or so in our twenties, while we notice a bit less hair growth around our temples and a major increase in our density of facial hair.
How bad is it really?
A lot of folks have trouble dealing with any change to their hairline, simply because they don’t want to feel like they’re seeing early signs of losing their youth.
But, the truth is that a mature hairline is the norm for most men, and there are very few people on the planet who retain the exact “juvenile hairline” they had since childhood.
We want to reinforce the truth about the mature hairline, which is that you have nothing to fear! In fact, you should embrace the style as a badge of honor.
Here are a few facts about the mature hairline to keep in mind.
- Only around 5% of Caucasian men retain the hairline of their youth, so don’t be discouraged by a mature hairline.
- Most modern Hollywood icons and TV personalities have mature hairlines.
- Guys like John Hamm, Brad Pitt, Leo DiCaprio, and Johnny Depp are all good examples of famous guys who pull off the look with plenty of flair.
- A mature hairline does not have to mean hair thinning. You can still grow out those locks; however you do want to try different styles, long hair means a little more effort into hair care, as well .
You may have to change your approach a little bit once you start experiencing a mature hairline, but take it as an opportunity to further develop your style into something bigger and better.
Simply put, the mature hairline is just the normal final stage of a man’s development from boyhood. It doesn’t matter whether it happens at 18, 29, or 45–there is nothing to be concerned about when your hairline matures.
What can be done?
While some men may feel that they need to aggressively try to reverse the mature hairline, it is particularly difficult to reverse this process, since it is essentially a natural occurrence.
Most folks in the field do not recommend introducing medication or other serious treatment options unless we detect true signs of male pattern balding or male pattern hair loss.
In other words, a mature hairline does not mean you should immediately go seek methods of reversal.
Only consider taking action if you notice these signs of hair loss as well:
- You start to notice an M-shape hairline with thinning along the sides of the head (this is easy to confuse with a V-shaped hairline or widow’s peak, so be mindful!)
- You experience excessive hair shedding in the shower or on the pillow. Looking at the shower drain is usually the best indicator of loss of hair.
- You begin to have trouble styling your hair like you used to.
- You detect hair loss in the middle-back part of your head (bald spot).
- Increased levels of scratching or itching that result in lost clumps of hair.
- More brittleness and weakness in the hair, with poor roots.
As the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons points out, the likelihood of male pattern baldness increases at a rate of around 1% every year for men, so it’s better to know what to look for and be ready to battle back.
As the Men’s Hairstyle World website says, there are tons of excellent styles you can choose from that fit the mature hairline perfectly.
You can still rock the swept-back vertical look, do a classy combover, or even go for an edgy shaved-sides haircut. Some guys will want to shave it all down to a buzz cut, which is also totally acceptable, and looks great for men with the right head shape.
With that said, you should know what options are at your fingertips if you do eventually see signs of male pattern baldness.
Follicular Unit Extension (FUE) is one of the most popular new techniques we utilize here at the NHI Medical, and clients have been thrilled with the results so far.
Instead of harvesting from a small donor spot at the back of the head as is the case with the Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) process, we expand the area of the harvest zone and scatter the donor sites around.
This means that clients can wear their hair short and not reveal the thin horizontal scar that is often associated with FUT.
FUE is quickly becoming a favorite in the industry for its versatility, whether it be hairline lowering, eyebrow transplants, or beard transplants.
Another big development in the industry is the Scalp MicroPigmentation procedure (SMP). This is a process by which the surgeon administers a precise “tattoo” across the designated area of thinning hair and creates the appearance of fuller, natural stubble.
This is a great option for guys who feel that their mature hairline has receded too far and want to lower it by an inch or two.
One drawback is the fact that gentlemen are restricted to the close-shaved stubble look, and will need to do some extra maintenance to ensure a consistent appearance.
We also recommend that folks be very careful about where they go to have this procedure done, because while it demands surgical precision and oversight, some regions have looser regulations .they must adhere to.
Conclusion
Now that you have a clear idea of what a mature hairline is, you will be better equipped to make the right assessment of your own hair and determine a course of action.
Just remember that a mature hairline is really nothing major to be concerned with. It is something that more than 95% of men experience, and many consider it to be a healthy sign of vitality. Of course, if you think the mature hairline is on its way out and authentic MPB (Male Pattern Baldness) is taking place, then it’s up to you to take that preventive or restorative next step.
Never hesitate to consult a hair loss professional if you think you are going beyond a mature hairline. There have been numerous promising advancements in hair loss science and surgery in the past few years, and we’re confident we can find a solution that fits your needs!
With so much fantastic tech and talented surgeons at our disposal, there’s no reason why you should have to resign yourself to a receding hairline.
We are happy to consult, email, or speak on the phone to determine your current situation and develop a personalized plan of attack moving forward.
Be sure to bookmark the NHI Medical blog page and stay informed on the latest developments in the industry. The more you know, the better you can combat hair loss if and when it strikes.
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