A receding hairline is no longer a problem only middle-aged men and women face. Many young people are found to be suffering from this worrying problem. Though both men and women may experience a receding hairline, it is more common in men and is one of the first signs of male pattern baldness. If you see your hairline receding, there are numerous reasons why this may be happening, and it may not always be because of excessive hair fall.

A receding hairline can be controlled if you address the issue on time with the right remedies. First of all, it is essential to know what may be causing a receding hairline in your case.

Table of contents:

• Why do I have a receding hairline?
• Aging
• Genetics
• Hormonal imbalances
• Medical conditions
• Handling and hair care
• Lifestyle
• What are the stages of receding hairline?
• Receding hairline – stages
• Can a receding hairline grow back?
• How to control my receding hairline?
• Maintain a wholesome diet
• Manage stress and anxiety
• Avoid tugging and pulling on your hair
• Avoid heat treatments and chemical treatments

Why do I have a receding hairline?

Aging

Ideally, a receding hairline is just a sign of aging. In this case, the hair loss that you experience is part and parcel of the natural aging process of the body, much like wrinkles or loose skin. A receding hairline as a result of aging occurs because the hair follicles towards the front of your scalp begin to degenerate.

At a younger age, when one hair falls out, the hair follicle grows a new one. But as the follicles begin to die, new hair does not replace the fallen hair, and so the hairline begins to push back.

Genetics

Genetics can also play an important role in your hair growth pattern. You may notice many people have a head full of dense hair even at 90, while some others may show a receding hairline at just 20. This is because of hereditary traits. People with premature receding hairlines may have a family history of baldness.

Hormonal imbalances

Hair fall and receding hairlines may be caused by hormonal changes in both men and women. A hormone named dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is linked to hair fall and pattern baldness in men. It causes the hair follicles to shrink to the extent that they can no longer function.

Women may experience severe hair fall during and after pregnancy and during menopause, resulting from the hormonal changes they undergo at these stages.

Medical conditions

A severe illness or a medical condition like alopecia may also cause hair loss in both men and women.

Handling and hair care

In women, a receding hairline or excessive hair loss may be a result of constant pulling at the roots. Women who tie their hair up too tightly every day may experience what is called Traction Alopecia. It is gradual hair loss caused by constant pulling when you tie your hair tightly in a ponytail, pigtail, braids, or bun every day.

Women more commonly see the parting of their hair widening instead of a receding hairline when they suffer from excess hair loss.

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle choices also play a crucial role in your hair growth. If you are not maintaining a proper diet that gives your hair adequate nourishment, you may experience a receding hairline because of deficiencies. Lack of sleep, physical and emotional stress may also cause hair loss.

What are the stages of receding hairline?

Receding hairline – stages

There are seven stages of male pattern baldness that start with a receding hairline. The stages are:

• Norwood Type 1 – This is the normal hairline you have during your teens and 20s when pattern baldness hasn’t kicked in.
• Norwood Type 2 – A triangular recession around the temples. It is relatively mild but still visible.
• Norwood Type 3 – At this stage, the hairline takes a more evident M or V shape at the front. Hair may also be thinning in the crown area.
• Norwood Type 4 – By this time, the pattern baldness is a lot more obvious as the hair near the hairline is visibly lost.
  
  
  
• Norwood Type 5 – Hair in the region between the crown and the hairline begins to dwindle at this stage. Hair loss at the scalp is much more visible.
• Norwood Type 6 – By stage 6, the hair loss is quite severe. There is very little coverage in the scalp.
• Norwood Type 7 – At this stage, almost all the hair on your scalp is lost. The horseshoe shape with hair only at the back and around the side is left behind.

Can a receding hairline grow back?

No product or treatment can guarantee to grow back your receding hairline. You can, however, keep it under check by minimizing your hair fall. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, picking the right hair care products, and maintaining a good hair care routine, your hair loss may be brought under control. So even if your receding hairline doesn’t grow back, it won’t get worse than where it is.

How to control my receding hairline?

There are some minor changes to your lifestyle and habits that can bring your receding hairline to a stop. Your hair needs nourishment and care to overcome the external influences that are causing it to fall out prematurely. Genetics and hormones will always be at play, and these are hard to control. But most other issues can be solved with proper care.

Here are a few tips for managing your receding hairline and preventing further hair loss.

Maintain a wholesome diet

Your diet is one of the primary factors affecting your hair’s health. No matter what you do externally, giving your hair enough nutrients from the inside is imperative. Eat food rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats to maintain good hair health. Most fad diets that require you to give up on certain macronutrients are found to cause hair loss too.

Make sure you have a wholesome diet that includes all the nutrients you need. If necessary, consult your physician and get some dietary supplements to get additional amounts of Vitamin E, folic acid, or omega-3 fatty acids that promote hair growth.

Manage stress and anxiety

Mental stress is known to be a leading cause of hair loss. Try to avoid stress at work as well as in your personal life. To manage stress better, practice meditation, yoga, or mindfulness activities that help you relax and destress.

Avoid tugging and pulling on your hair

For women, this would mean not tying your hair too tightly. Tight hairstyles pull at the roots of your hair, making it prone to breakage and falling. 

In the case of men, avoiding tight headgear like helmets, hats, or caps can prevent friction that leads to hair loss.

Also, use wide-toothed combs to detangle or comb your hair. Fine-toothed ones put a lot more stress on your hair and can increase hair fall.

Avoid heat treatments and chemical treatments

Heat treatments and chemical treatments of hair cause hair to dry out, become brittle and fall out. They are damaging to the hair shaft as well as the scalp. Also, try and avoid shampoos and conditioners that have harsh chemicals in them. These chemicals tend to dehydrate the hair follicles, which may again result in hair fall.

Use natural, organic shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in products that nourish your hair instead.

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