Big Forehead vs. Receding Hairline: What is the Difference?

One of the most common misconceptions I hear relating to hair loss is people mistaking a big forehead or a high hairline for a receding hairline. It’s incredibly important to understand the difference as it means two completely different things! In this article, I look at the receding hairline vs big forehead debate, explain both phenomena, and what each means for your long-term hair growth.

Understanding the Big Forehead

Many people may think that they have a receding hairline and are succumbing to hair loss when in fact, they simply have a big forehead or a high hairline, or indeed a matured hairline. These are common occurrences and should not be confused with a receding hairline.

What Constitutes a Big Forehead?

A big forehead or high hairline is simply when your hair sits higher on the top of your scalp. It’s not always a sign of hair loss and the main difference is that if you just have a big forehead, you shouldn’t notice any thinning or balding in other parts of your hair.

If you think that you have a big forehead, but you notice your hair thinning on the top of your head, this could actually be a sign of a receding hairline and a hair loss condition.

Genetics and Big Foreheads

Generally, high hairlines and big foreheads are genetic and they are just a part of your genetic makeup. Here’s a simple tip – just go and look at your parent’s and siblings’ hair! Regardless of hair color and styling, you should be able to see similarities between your hairline and thickness.

For example, my dad, and brother have a higher V-shaped hairline and I can just tell that my hair is shaping in the same way as them both! So, a big forehead is oftentimes just the way you were made and your genetic disposition!

Hairstyles for Big Foreheads

If you are conscious of your forehead and want to conceal it or minimize its size you can wear your hair in a range of different styles including:

• Side-swept fringe
• Choppy front fringe
• Curly fringe

Letting your fringe grow is a great way to disguise a high hairline but that doesn’t mean all your hair has to be long. You can have a fade, or shave the sides, or even have a flick-back style that makes your hair taller to offset your forehead.

Understanding the Receding Hairline

Compared to a big forehead, a receding hairline is something quite different and is often a pointer towards a potentially larger looming hair loss problem.

Definition of a Receding Hairline

A receding hairline is when your hair starts to thin or fall out on your scalp – mainly at the front and top of your scalp from your temples. You may notice that you have developed a V-shaped hairline with “indents” forming where your hair is receding.

Causes of a Receding Hairline

Receding hairlines are usually genetic and a result of different types of hair loss. They are more common in men and the most common cause is male pattern baldness.

This starts with a receding hairline where you develop a noticeable V or M shape on your forehead. After this, you may also notice thinning and a loss of hair on the top of your head. Over time, depending on the severity of your hair loss, the thinning area on top and your hairline may join leaving hair only on the back and sides of your scalp.

Other causes of receding hairlines include frontal fibrosing alopecia and traction alopecia.

Coping With a Receding Hairline

There are many ways you can cope with a receding hairline and it is reversible with hair transplant procedures like FUE and DHI. A hair transplant clinic in Turkey, for example, could devise a treatment for you where hair grafts are taken from the back of your scalp and implanted to redefine your hairline and combat hair loss.

Aside from hair transplant procedures, you can also wear your hair differently, and treat your hair carefully to minimize hair loss and damage. For example, using a wide-toothed comb with gentle brushing is advisable, as is avoiding things like smoking and too much direct sunlight exposure.

A Big Forehead or High Hairline Doesn’t Mean Hairloss

I hope you now have a clear idea of the receding hairline vs big forehead argument. As you can see, you may have mistaken your high hairline for hair loss or a receding hairline but oftentimes this isn’t the case.

With receding hairlines, you often notice hair loss and thinning in other areas of your scalp too as it’s the genetic condition of male pattern baldness. If you are unsure, I advise seeking the help of a qualified hair transplant surgeon who can give you a consultation and a clear analysis of your hair.