Receding Hairline in Women Causes, Treatment, Remedies and How to Hide Female Receding Hairline
Receding hairline in women is a kind of progressive hair loss that some women experience. This condition is mainly experienced by men, but women also experience it where the front hairline begins thinning commonly on either sides of the forehead. Receding hairline is characterized by a widow’s peak where your front hairline forms a V-shape pattern.
What is receding hairline in women?
Receding hairline in women also known as frontal fibrosing alopecia. Is a condition where a woman’s hair line recedes and in some cases, for up to five inches. This condition mostly affects all around the scalp, forming a band like pattern of hair loss. Although this condition is very rare in women and very much common in men, it does happen in women also.
Unlike in men, in women, it hardly begins while they are teens as it is common in women who are aged between 30 to 60 years but especially those in their post-menopausal. However, although rare, it can affect young girls as young as 19 years old.
This condition causes thinning of the hairline afterwards and the follicles will cease growing hair. However, women are likely to suffer from this condition after menopause, especially, when it is connected to hormonal changes.
Causes of receding hairline in young women
Receding hairline in young women is caused by the following:
1. Receding hairline from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects how a woman ovaries work. The three main features of PCOS are: Irregular periods, polycystic ovaries and excess androgens, oily skin or acne, thinning hair and hair loss from the head.
2. As a result of hair loss
According to MedicineNet.com: “Hair loss is the thinning of hair on the scalp. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Alopecia can be temporary or permanent. The most common form of alopecia occurs gradually and is referred to as androgenetic alopecia.”
Most women suffer hair loss because of three major causes: hair shedding, hair thinning and hair breakage. below are the major causes of hair loss in young women:
1. Increased hair shedding
It is also known as telogen effluvium, the most common causes of which are acute illnesses like typhoid and malaria, poor nutrition, iron deficiency, thyroid disorders etc.
2. Hair loss caused by thinning of hair
It is also called female pattern hair loss in which there is thinning of hair over the crown of the head resulting in widening of the middle hair parting. This is the equivalent of the common male pattern baldness seen in men. This is generally inherited, but can also reflect an underlying hormonal imbalance like poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
3. Hair loss from hair breakage
This condition is not true hair loss from the roots but represents hair that breaks along its length during shampooing, combing and hair styling. Hair bleaching, coloring, ironing, straightening etc. make the hair bonds weaker, making it easier to break.
4. Receding hairline from Androgenetic alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is a condition where by people coming from the same family experience hair loss. The condition is passed from one generation to the next. Therefore, people coming from such families are more susceptible to genetic hair loss. In this case, young women tend to tend to lose hair from that part outwards.
5. Fluctuating hormone levels
Different hormonal stages in a woman’s life can be the immediate cause for hair loss. Fluctuating estrogen levels will cause hair, not only on your head, to thin and fall out. Some cases may be gradual, while others are more sudden and may suggest seeing a doctor.
6. Stress
Physical distress of any kind can cause your hair to fall out. Stress causes stress to the hair follicles, causing them to push out faster than normal. Severe stress can cause other hair-loss conditions like telogen where hair loss is too much and trichotillomania where a person pulls the hair out.
7. Receding hairline after pregnancy
During pregnancy, most women normally have stress as a result of labor pains. Stress causes stress to the hair follicles, causing them to push out faster than normal. Therefore most women tend to lose hair during this period. Hair typically grows back within a few months of giving birth.
8. Eating disorders
Receding hairline in young women is caused by lack of enough proteins in the diet. The body naturally shuts down production of hair when it fails to receive the necessary nutrients. It is important to feed your body protein, and there are plenty of vegan options if you do not eat meat.
9. Excessive styling
Too much washing, brushing, and styling can cause severe damage to your hair. Washing of hair too often can cause hair loss. Applying heat every day, by way of blow drying, curling, or straightening, can have the same effect. Take a break from straightening your hair. It is good to let it go natural!
10. Frontal fibrosing alopecia in women
Frontal fibrosing alopecia is caused by the immune system attacking the hair follicles and causing inflammation. This damages the stem cells within the follicle and if they are damaged, hair is unable to grow back. There may also be mild redness and inflammation around the hair follicles. This causes hair loss on the sides of the scalp and may cause women to lose up to five inches of hair.
Causes of receding front hairlines in black women
Hair loss is epidemic among black women. They do experience receding front hairlines. This is caused thinning of hair. Forty percent of people who experience temporary or long term hair loss are women.
Some women have hair that is thinning all over, while others see the center part gradually widen. Still others develop distinct baldness at the crown of the head. Unlike men, women rarely develop a receding front hairline. Some of the common causes of hair loss I black women are:
1. Thyroid problems
Thyroid glands are located at the front side of the neck. The gland produces hormones that regulate many processes throughout the body. If the gland makes too much or too little thyroid hormone, the hair growth cycle may be interfered with thus causing hair lose in black women.
2. Front hairline recession from PCOS
Black women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a chronic hormonal imbalance. Their bodies make higher levels of androgens than expected. This often causes extra hair to sprout on the face and body, while hair on the scalp grows thinner. PCOS normally results into thinning of hair.
3. Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata causes hair to fall out in startling patches. This affects the body’s immune system, which then affects healthy hair follicles. In most cases, the damage is not permanent. The missing patches usually grow back in six months to a year. In rare cases, people may lose all of the hair on their scalp and body.
4. Childbirth
During pregnancy, women normally have higher levels of hormones. The higher levels of hormones are responsible for keeping resting hairs from falling out as they normally would. But it doesn’t last forever. After childbirth, when hormone levels return to normal, those strands fall out quickly. This can mean a surprising amount of hair loss at one time. It may take up to two years for hair to return to normal.
5. Use of birth control pills
The use of birth control pills normally have side effects such as loss of hair on black women. The hormones that suppress ovulation can cause hair to thin in women, particularly those with a family history of hair loss. Sometimes hair loss begins when you stop taking the pill. Other drugs linked to hair loss include blood thinners and medicines that treat high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, and depression.
6. Stress
Stress can cause hair follicles to become toxic, thus forcing your hair to fall out. Despite what the movies show you about how a person sometimes pulls their own hair out, stress can do that for you. Therefore, during stressful periods, an individual tends to lose hair at a higher rate.
Symptoms of female receding hairline
Hair loss can appear in many different ways, depending on what’s causing it. It can come on suddenly or gradually and affect just your scalp or your whole body. Some types of hair loss are temporary, and others are permanent. Signs and symptoms of hair loss may include:
1. Gradual thinning of hair on top of head.
This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting both men and women as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede from the forehead in a line that resembles the letter M. Women typically retain the hairline on the forehead but have a broadening of the part in their hair.
2. Presence of circular or patchy bald spots
Some people experience smooth, coin-sized bald spots. This type of hair loss usually affects just the scalp, but it sometimes also occurs in beards or eyebrows. In some cases, your skin may become itchy or painful before the hair falls out.
3. Sudden loosening of hair on the head
A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or even after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.
4. Loss of hair on the whole body
Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair usually grows back.
Treatments for receding hairline in women
When dealing with female receding hairline treatment, various methods are used depending on what things have been determined to be the receding hairline women causes. Early diagnosis and treatment can help stop further hair loss and help regrow more hairs where not all has been lost. Some of the common treatments for receding hairline on women include the following:
1. Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy or hormonal therapy is the use of hormone injections, pills, supplements etc. to treat hormone deficiencies that may be causing receding front hairlines in women. Treatment with hormone antagonists may also be referred to as hormonal therapy or antihormone therapy. If hormonal imbalances are behind the loss of hair or receding hair line, then hormone therapy such as that probided by the National HRT Clinic is recommended to help return it to normal.
- Usage of Levothyroxine Treatments
If you have thyroid problems that result to receded hairlines in women, you will be given Levothyroxine, which is a thyroid hormone pill that will deal with hypothyroidism that might cause hair loss and receding hair line.
- Usage of Minoxidil and Propecia
These two medications can help in slowing down hair loss. Ensure you buy Minoxidil for women. Use them after you know their interactions and side effects as not everyone can use them. Minoxidil has been found to help in vertex and crown hair regrowth. However, it cannot grow hair on a scalp but does help in slowing down further hair loss.
- Hair transplant
If not all the treatments seem to work, you can go for hair transplant. Your health care provides will assess and let you know if hair transplants will be of help.
- Hair strengthening conditioners and shampoos
In order to help reduce recession of hairline, ensure you go for anti- hair fall conditioners and shampoos such as Nature’s Gate Biotin Shampoo that helps weak and thinning hair. Strengthening hair care products can help in nourish your hair roots, promote new growth and fortifying your hair shaft to make it strong.
Natural home remedies for receding hairline in women
By avoiding use of harsh chemicals that can affect your hair including hair dyes, bleaches, tints and chemical straighteners. As the American Academy of Family Physicians notes, “…they may cause inflammation of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.”
- Minimize the use of curling irons and excessive blow drying your hair as this can cause hair loss.
- Try natural remedies for hair regrowth
- Stop hair pulling often caused by anxiety, boredom and nervousness
- Avoid making your hair too tight quite often as this can lead to hairline recession.
- Massage your hair with oil before going to bed and wash it in the morning when you wake up and comb while it is still wet to reduce breakages. This is to help increase blood circulation to the scalp. Furthermore, combine about 10 drops of sage and rosemary essential oils and use it. You can also use olive oil. Carrot oil is also good.
- Brush your hair to increase blood flow to the scalp and also sebum distribution. Do this for about 3 minutes.
- Avoid wearing perm as it can weaken your hair and make your hair line to recede.
- Use fortifying shampoo to wash your hair at least 3 times in a week. Ensure that during each wash you massage the shampoo well into your scalp and take a few minutes before rinsing it off.
How to stop hairline from receding in women
Receding hairline is a very embarrassing condition and it is always good to look for a long lasting solution to it. Below are some of the practices that can help stop receding hairline in women:
- By improving blood circulation to your head.
- By reducing stress levels.
- Consumption of a healthy diet.
- By clearing the pores in the scalp
How to hide receding hairline women
Receding hairline are very embarrassing, there are various methods that can be used to hide it. This may include the use of different hairstyles for receding hairline in women and many others.
Hairstyles for receding hairline in women
A receding hairline refers to hair receding from the natural hairline on the sides and top of the forehead. Female receding hairlines have many causes, including genetics, aging and hormonal changes due to pregnancy and stress. But there are a number of other hairstyles women can wear to mask their hairlines and prevent further damage.
1. Messy Ponytails & Buns for receding hairlines
While a taut ponytail may offer women a quick and natural facelift, it is not the healthiest option for women with receding hairlines. Opt instead for a loose, messy ponytail or bun. This spin on the traditional ponytail still allows wearers to sweep their hair away from their faces while maintaining the overall health of the hairline and scalp.
2. Bangs, Bangs and More Bangs hairstyle
Bangs can be added to any style to mask balding or thinning that may be occurring at the hairline. If hair has receded to the point that the forehead appears higher or larger, try blunt straight bangs. Blunt bangs are cut just above the eyes to cover the forehead and hide the hairline. Side-swept bangs achieve the same masking effect and might be a better option for those who don’t want to sacrifice the length of their hair.
3. Wigs vs. Hair Extensions hairstyle
Hair extensions put enormous stress on the hairline. Sewn-in extensions are achieved by pulling the hair tightly away from the hairline and adding extension weave over it. Web MD contributor Denise Mann writes “…weaves may increase the risk of developing an irreversible form of scarring hair loss…”
Instead of extensions, try a wig. Wigs provide the same length and style options that weaves do, and wigs made with human hair can still be washed, curled and flat-ironed like your normal hair. Plus, wigs allow you to switch your style more often.
4. Work with Your Natural Hair to prevent receding hairline
Many women use chemical processes, such as perms and relaxers. The American Academy of Family Physicians says that chemicals used in these products “may cause inflammation of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.” Wear your hair naturally curly or straight instead. If you want to achieve a curly look, try non-chemical techniques like roller-setting your hair. And for straight hair, use your flat iron.
5. Wear a Part to curb receding hairline
Pulling your hair back away from your forehead emphasizes the hairline and draws attention to thinning. Try parting your hair and letting it fall naturally around your face and over your forehead. This will help diminish the look of hair loss.
6. Cut it off to get rid of receding hairline
If you are feeling bold, try a short cut. Reducing the length of your hair will make the contrast between the hairline and the rest of the hair on your head less noticeable. Short haircuts will also draw attention away from hairline and emphasize your facial features and bone structure.
Other methods of hiding receding hairline in women
Below are other possible methods that can help in hiding of the receding hairline:
- By designing your hair and let it naturally fall on your face.
- Avoid puling your hair back.
- Go for loose and messy traditional ponytail.
- Use Blunt and straight bangs
- Use shorter haircuts.
