3 Top Causes of a Receding Hairline—and Expert Advice on How to Treat Each

Trichologists share their tricks and tips.

A receding hairline is one of those things that slowly creeps up on you, until one day you realize that things don’t look quite the same as they used to. This issue is far more common than you may realize, affecting roughly 50% of all men at some point in their lives usually as a result of male pattern hair loss. Though rarer and often for different reasons, women can experience a receding hairline, too. With insights from two trichologists, we’re diving into common causes and tips on how to treat a receding hairline.

RELATED: How Much Is Too Much Hair Loss? Here's When to See a Trichologist

Expert Advice for Treating a Receding Hairline

How you address a receding hairline depends on what's causing the hair to recede in the first place. By tackling the root of the issue (quite literally!) you’ll have more success. Now that you know some of the most common causes, let’s talk about solutions for each.

Pattern Hair Loss

Referred to as androgenetic alopecia, pattern hair loss is the most common culprit for a receding hairline. It predominantly impacts men as they age, though women can experience it for this reason if they have hormonal imbalances.

Age-related pattern hair loss follows a certain pattern, hence the name. For men, this includes a balding spot on the crown along with hair recession around the face. (Female pattern hair loss typically involves a widening hair part.)

“Pattern hair loss is caused by the DHT hormone,” explains Gretchen Friese, a BosleyMD trichologist. “If the hair follicles are lying dormant—and they’re not completely dead—there are things you can do to remedy [the situation.]”

The Treatment: The best treatment in this scenario is to use a treatment product formulated with minoxidil right away. Minoxidil works by widening blood vessels which helps increase blood flow to hair follicles to promote hair growth. It can also help prolong the hair growth phase. It’s important to use minoxidil as soon as you notice the issue, because it only works on dormant follicles. You must also continue using it; once treatment stops the hair falls out again.

Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia is the result of consistently wearing tight hairstyles, like ponytails, buns, or braids that pull on hair around the hairline, explains Gina Washington, trichologist and founder of Righteous Roots. This ongoing pulling action damages the follicles, causing hair to fall out. If it’s not addressed right away, the effects can be permanent.

The Treatment: The first thing you should do is stop wearing your hair in these styles and use a much gentler approach when styling your hair. Do this the second you notice an issue. “Opt for loose hairstyles that don’t pull on the hair; even heat or chemical damage can be a stressor,” Washington says.

This allows your hair to grow back, permitting the follicles aren’t dead (permanently damaged). Treatment products formulated with minoxidil can help expedite this process, as can regular hair massages. “Scalp massaging can enhance blood flow to the scalp, potentially fostering hair growth,” Washington explains.

Lifestyle

In some cases, you can start losing larger amounts of hair due to lifestyle factors. These range from hormonal shifts (particularly age, menopause, or pregnancy-related) to not nourishing your body with proper nutrients.

A temporary condition called telogen effluvium, which occurs when your body goes through stress, can also impact hair growth and loss. In this case, you’ll experience notable hair loss about two to four months following the event.

In all the above scenarios, however, hair loss is experienced across your entire head versus just being isolated to the hairline. If you’re only experiencing a receding hairline, then the culprit is likely pattern hair loss or traction alopecia. Still, shifting your lifestyle habits can help foster healthy hair growth.

The Treatment: First, make sure that you’re addressing any lifestyle factors that could be contributing to hair loss. This includes finding ways to reduce stress and eating a balanced diet.

Friese adds, “Temporary hair loss caused from stress, nutrient deficiencies, medication changes, postpartum, and even Covid can be helped by taking a healthy supplement, and using products that help stimulate hair growth.” This includes Minoxidil treatments, biotin supplements, and multivitamins.

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