
Can I Make A Receding Hairline Grow Back?
A receding hairline is an apparent reality for many men. The process can commence after puberty, most typically seen at the temples. By the time men are in their late 30s, they can be seen to have a fully receded hairline.
As the scalp produces different types of hair and follicles, the deterioration of those follicles is also different. While with the crown of the head the hair reacts well to treatment, the hairline can prove to be more difficult to grow new hair. Here we will discuss the causes along with solutions to this complex issue.
Summary
- What is a Receding Hairline?
- How Common is a Receding Hairline
- Symptoms of a Receding Hairline
- Diagnosis of a Receding Hairline
- Treatments for a Receding Hairline
- Chances of Regrowth for Receding Hairline
What is a Receding Hairline?
What is a Receding Hairline?

A receding hairline is a huge concern for all men, which can develop as they age. However, the early onset of this condition is where things become complicated. According to studies, the average age of receding hairline is around 21-years-old!
This type of hair loss starts around the temples, gradually moving back across the top of the head. During the growth cycle of hair, your follicles naturally fall out and get replaced with new hairs. On average, your scalp has about 100,000 hairs growing beneath the surface of the skin. Disturbing this cycle may lead to a receding hairline.
Though most common in men, it can also occur in women.
We dig deep into what it means to live with a receding hairline, how it happens, its characteristics, and what you can do about it.
Causes
Family History
Your family history plays an important role in determining if you have or will have this issue. If you are predisposed to pattern baldness genetically, then it is likely you will suffer from this type of alopecia. Often the time frame of hair loss can be similar from parent to child.
Hormones
Another factor to consider is hormonal changes. The scalp is affected in different ways by hormones like dihydrotestosterone (DHT). You may have come across this in your research, as it is the main hormone that contributes to hair loss. This is due to it causing the hair follicles to become smaller.
Stress and Lifestyle
A hidden attacker to your hairline, which is often ignored among harsher-sounding symptoms is stress. It is actually a big trigger for hormonal fluctuations, with studies suggesting that individuals experiencing stressful events were more likely to have thinning hair than those who had not.
Sometimes, it might be induced by other reasons as well. For example, women with receding hairlines may be suffering from some other forms of hair loss. Female receding hairline conditions include frontal fibrosing alopecia, which affects hair on the top of the head along with the hairline, and traction alopecia, generally caused by wearing tight hairstyles.
If you already know you have a receding hairline, it’s important to see if there are elements of your lifestyle that may be speeding this up. There are several environmental factors that may be accelerating your hair loss including stress, anxiety, smoking, or an unhealthy diet.
Types of Receding Hairline
There are 2 major players when it comes to receding hairlines. Male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness. These are then further characterized into stages.
What is important to understand about hair loss, is that it evolves differently in men and women. Male pattern baldness is the more common of both, in fact, it is the most common type of hair loss in men. It starts from the temples and progresses to the crown of the head.
For female pattern baldness, which is less common, the progression happens from the top of the head and moves toward the temples and hairline.
How Common is a Receding Hairline?
The prevalence of receding hairline is thought to be increasing, and this is likely due to a number of factors, including:
- Increased awareness of the condition: As more people become aware of receding hairline, they are more likely to seek treatment.
- Changes in lifestyle: Factors such as stress, poor diet, and smoking can all contribute to hair loss.
- Environmental factors: Exposure to certain chemicals or pollutants may also increase the risk of hair loss.
The prevalence of a receding hairline is definitely greater in men than women. Various factors, including genetics and hormones, influence hair loss. Genetic predisposition largely determines the age at which it begins, although some hair loss is expected as we age.
If you are concerned about your hairline, it is important to see a doctor to get a diagnosis. Your doctor can help you determine the cause of your hair loss and recommend the best treatment options for you.
Symptoms of a Receding Hairline
Symptoms vary from person to person, and the degree of those symptoms is also dependent on several factors, including internal and external.
The symptoms of receding hairline vary from person to person, but some common symptoms include:
- Thinning hair on the top of the head
- Gradual recession of the hairline at the temples
- Shorter and thinner hair
- A widening of the parting in the hair
- Bald patches
Male and Female Hair Loss
Receding Hairlines in Men
Male pattern hair loss happens over a span of 7 stages of hair loss, and the duration an individual stays in it is determined by a sneaky cocktail of genetics and hormones. In general, there is noticeable thinning on the top of the head, followed by a gradual recession of the hairline at the temple for men. Also, hair becomes shorter and thinner over time due to microscopic changes due to hormone changes.
Receding Hairlines in Women
Women can also experience a receding hairline, even though thinning hair is typically associated with them, and receding hairlines with men. For female pattern hair loss, there are 5 stages. with a focus on the parting of the hair, and gradually growing into a branch-like pattern before growing into more severe hair loss symptoms such as bald patches.
When it comes to androgenetic alopecia or female pattern baldness, women experience hair loss differently from men. While men may lose their hair from the top of the scalp, when it comes to a receding hairline women are more likely to see their parting on the crown widen as the hair begins to thin out.
Connection Between Ethnicity and Receding Hairline
What adds to the complexity is that Caucasians are most affected, while it is less prevalent in Asians and African-Americans. The reasons for the difference in severity between ethnic groups are not fully understood but may be due to differences in the way hair follicles respond to androgens.
It is important to note that these symptoms might be more prominent in some than others Their onset can happen suddenly or more gradually depending on genetics, hormones, and external factors.
Diagnosis of a Receding Hairline
It is not only significant to understand if you have this issue, but also what kind of hair loss is causing this in order to treat it effectively.
If you visit your doctor for medical advice, they will inquire about your personal and family history in order to assess your genetic history. Then they may do a “pull test”. When they apply gentle pressure to this area, they easily notice the amount of hair strands that fall out.
In other cases, a biopsy of the scalp tissue may be necessary. This will help to determine if there is a scalp infection that is causing the issue. Additionally, doctors may need to perform a blood test to identify any underlying causes of hair loss, such as an underactive thyroid gland.
Treatments for a Receding Hairline
Treating a receding hairline is possible, and there are various options out there that offer results. These include medications, surgery, and some natural methods as well. We outline here the options, and their perceived effectiveness so you may choose what is best for your hair situation.
Medication
Minoxidil is a topical treatment It works by stimulating hair follicles and increasing blood flow to the scalp. Results show in 3-6 months, but the treatment must be continued regularly to maintain results. Minoxidil is not a cure, but it can help to slow the progression of hair loss and improve the appearance of the scalp.
Finasteride and Dutasteride are oral medications that work by blocking the production of DHT, a hormone that can contribute to hair loss. Results are seen in 3 months, but these medications can have side effects, including decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculation disorder. Not recommended for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Hair Transplant
Hair transplantation is typically performed under local anesthesia, and the procedure can take several hours. The surgeon will make small incisions in the scalp and then transplant the hair follicles into the balding area. The transplanted hair follicles will eventually grow back, and the results are usually permanent.
For those considering a hair transplant, consulting an expert is crucial to find the best solution for their hair condition. At Elithair, our specialists can advise on the best course of action based on the unique hair loss situation using our Elit Skala Scale. The perfect treatment depends on your type of hair loss.
In these cases, we have seen great success using the DHI technique due to its accuracy and provision of a natural direction of hair growth. Of course, our experts will assess your individual hair loss case and will determine the best treatment plan.
How Does Elithair Tackle Receding Hairlines?
Natural Remedies
Natural remedies for receding hairline are a range of treatments that are not based on traditional medicine. These treatments are often promoted as being safe and effective. Here is an overview of some of the common methods:
- Pumpkin seed oil: A plant oil that has some hair loss slowing properties, and may be effective in slowing the progression of hair loss.
- Bhringaraj: A herb used in traditional Indian medicine, it is suggested to work well in preventing hair loss.
- Nutrafol: Oral remedy that combines a blend of vitamins, minerals, and herbs, and is found to be effective in slowing hair loss in women.
- White Mulberry: A plant that promotes hair growth and quality of hair. Like most of the other options on this list, works as a preventative option.
All these options offer preventive and maintenance effects. They have a huge potential to become allies when it comes to combining medical treatments with maintenance and nurturing aftercare. If you are in the early onset of hair loss and want to attempt prolonging the receding hairline effects, they could also serve as good options. Several factors affect how long this could take though or how effective these remedies can be, so a good rule of thumb is to try and see what works for you.
Diet
Diet plays a vital role in your follicle health needs. Look for foods that are high in antioxidants, which can help your hair to appear thicker and are good supplemental receding hairline treatments. Foods such as blueberries and spinach contain ingredients that help counteract oxidative stress and keep your hair from aging as quickly.
Chances of Regrowth for Receding Hairline
The effectiveness of the topical options mentioned above depends on how regularly they're used, but these diminish when discontinued. The only proven long-lasting treatment is a hair transplant. Regrowth of hair with minoxidil and other natural remedies can prolong hair loss to some extent. A combination of a hair transplant and natural remedies to keep the new hair healthy might be the best option.