How to Treat a Receding Hairline (2024)

Take a glance around your family gathering, and you might notice that some of your male relatives are, or are at least starting to, experience what's known as a receding hairline. Thinning in this area (mainly above the forehead and around the perimeter of the face) is widely common in men, and is directly associated with age. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology says up to 80 percent of European men may have a receding hairline by the time they're 80 years old. This kind of hair loss also, according to WebMD, affects about 85 percent of American men by the time they're 50.

"Most of my male patients come in for evaluation at much earlier stages of hair thinning," says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. "Since men are not used to seeing hair in the shower drain, it's much more alarming when they do."

While it's true that this form of hair loss impacts more men than it does women, this isn't to say that women aren't affected. Fewer than 50 percent of women have a completely full head of hair for their whole lives, according to Medical News Today. That means if you're noticing a thinning hairline (also called bitemporal recessions), you are far from alone.

"Generally speaking, women tend to have longer hair and are more accustomed to hair shedding in the shower and on the pillow," says Dr. Zeichner. "I find that women come to the office later than men to address hair thinning." And the waiting can be to your detriment. "It's far easier to keep hair that you already have than to try to regrow it later, so the earlier you address the issue the better."

Nevertheless, if you're here, let's be real: It's not because you want a spiel on self-acceptance or commiserating with your neighbor, but because you're looking for solutions. And you've come to the right place. Allure spoke with experts who kindly shared their insight on how to fix a receding hairline. Their ideas range from quick fix cover-ups to vitamin-packed supplements to innovative in-office treatments. Depending on the scope of your hair loss and the amount of money you're looking to spend, there are plenty of physician- (and hairstylist-) approved options to try.

There's no one-size-fits all solution to a receding hairline — and thinning hair can be a signifier of other health concerns — so talk to your board-certified doctor before tackling the issue with one, two, or all of the items on this list. Ahead, find a template for a receding hairline treatment plan, straight from the pros.

Before You Begin

According to Neda Mehr, M.D., board-certified dermatologist in Newport Beach, California, it's important to look into the potential underlying causes for your receding hairline as you're developing a regimen to address the issue. "There are genetic forms of hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia or female-patterned hair loss) and internal causes of hair loss," she says.

Such causes can include anemia, thyroid disorders, low vitamin D levels, hormone imbalances, crash dieting, and more. In her practice, she starts her patients experiencing hair loss off with blood work to rule out any of these conditions.

"Finding an underlying cause for the hair loss and correcting the problem does not usually bring the hair back on its own, but does help us correct a 'hole in the ship' until we get proper scalp care, vitamins, foods, topicals, and treatments into place," she says.

Quick Fixes

1. Conceal With Powder or Spray

This is one of the simplest tricks in the book, and believe it or not, one that hairstylists use on clients all the time to fake the appearance of a fuller, ultra-thick hairline for photos. "[Use] root touch-up powder to fill in the area and make the hair look thicker," explains Brooklyn-based hairstylist Tommy Buckett. "You can also use any kind of root spray that covers up gray hairs," he adds.

Not sure where to start? This one from Color Wow is a winner (literally, it won a Best of Beauty Award) as is Madison Reed The Great Cover Up, which is a powder available in six shades.

2. Play With a New Part

If you've noticed thinning, chances are you've already thought of getting a haircut to conceal the changes. According to Buckett, you might not have to do all that — simply playing with a new part is one of the simplest ways to disguise this type of hair loss.

A middle part, in particular, will drape over the area just above your forehead where thinning is generally most prevalent. Plus, a center part frames the face in a really pretty way that might just make you forget about your hairline altogether.

3. Ease Up on Styling and Updos

Aside from genetics and getting older, one of the main causes of a receding hairline in women is traction alopecia. It's a form of hair loss that happens when there is a lot of pulling or friction on the strands, often coming as a result of repeated styling choices (more on that here). If you're wearing your hair pulled back tightly or styling it too often, experts like New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Francesca Fusco, M.D., say it could result in thinning of the area.

"If an individual is pulling very tightly at their hair, they should ease up on their styling and should also be careful while blow-drying as not to pull too hard on the follicles," she says. Bottom line? If you're noticing some sparseness, ease up on the snatched ponytails and styling tools for a few weeks and see if more hairs start to sprout.

Long-Term Aids

1. Specialty Shampoos

Cost: Varies by brand

We're talking hair, so it stands to reason that the first place to start when you're developing a receding hairline friendly-routine is with your shampoo and conditioner. Dr. Mehr suggests washing two to four times per week with a shampoo specifically designated for hair growth, followed by a scalp treatment shampoo.

She recommends products from the Olaplex Thinning Hair Kit, which includes shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, moisture masks, and more, along with the Caviar Alterna Clinical Desensifying and groMD ranges of hair growth-oriented products.

2. Medication

Cost: Varies depending on medical plan

If your receding hairline is caused by androgenetic alopecia (the most common form of hair loss), Dr. Fusco says a treatment plan should include minoxidil, or Rogaine, which is a medicine that can be applied topically to encourage new hair growth.

Nicole Rogers, M.D., a hair transplant surgeon and board-certified dermatologist in New Orleans, also recommends trying spironolactone, which can offset the effects of testosterone on the hair follicle, or certain birth control drugs such as Yaz or Yasmin, as well as oral finasteride (Propecia), the latter of which she says folks should only take if they don't plan on getting pregnant. As always, you should check with your doctor to determine what's right for you.

3. Plant-Based Supplements

Cost: Varies by brand

If you're thinking of going the supplement route, just know it's possible that you may not necessarily see dramatic results. "There is little scientific support behind the ability of vitamins and supplements to promote hair growth unless the patient has a nutritional deficiency that needs to be corrected," Christine M. Shaver, M.D. a board-certified dermatologist at Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration in New York previously told Allure. Still keen on giving them a try? Consult your doctor before using any new supplement. Dr. Rogers recommends saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oils, as there is some evidence that these may mimic the effects of oral finasteride, but be sure to get the go-ahead from a professional before you add these to your routine.

"There is also some limited data that ginseng and procyanidins can help," she adds. Dr. Mehr recommends hair vitamins like Nutrafol and Hairtamin, which contain ingredients that can promote healthy hair, such as vitamins D, A, C, E, saw palmetto, collagen, anti-inflammatory turmeric, and ashwagandha root. Nutrafol contains saw palmetto, vitamins A, D, and C, ashwagandha root, and saw palmetto. You'll find vitamins A, B, C, and D in the Hairtamin supplements, as well as turmeric.

4. Scalp Botox

Cost: Around $1,000, varies by doctor

Botox has a shocking amount of uses beyond smoothing out wrinkles, and those of us dealing with receding hairlines may want to consider looking into it. Dr. Mehr recommends scalp Botox for patients who have genetic hair loss. "The injections help relax the muscles in the scalp to allow more blood flow, which helps with hair growth," she says.

A scalp treatment will require around 100 to 150 units of neurotoxin, which translates to a syringe and a half's worth of product. According to Dr. Mehr, scalp Botox should be injected every six months.

5. PRP

Cost: $500 to $1,200 per treatment

PRP, which is short for platelet-rich plasma, is a treatment for hair loss that involves stimulating growth through injections of one's own blood plasma. For those who aren't familiar, the blood is first extracted and then processed to separate red blood cells from plasma. The plasma contains white blood cells and platelets, which are rich in what are known as growth factors. These growth factors signal skin cells to function (more on that here.) As Dr. Mehr puts it, PRP "floods the follicles with nutrition."

Dr. Fusco and Dr. Rogers recommend PRP for everyone, though they do note it can be expensive and take several treatments to start seeing results. In her practice, Dr. Mehr recommends from three to six initial treatments, followed by maintenance treatments every four to six months, which makes this a major commitment ironically similar to getting one's hair colored at a salon.

That said, it's an option that's appealing to those who want to steer clear of antibiotics, so if you've got the funds available, it's definitely worth considering and speaking with your doctor about.

6. Laser Devices

Cost: $300 to $1,500

Lasers for hair loss might sound gimmicky, but according to Dr. Fusco, she's had patients reap promising results when using devices such as the HairMax regularly. "They used it two to three times a week and after 26 days, they had results and continue to maintain use," she says.

These types of lasers generally work by delivering light energy straight to the hair follicles with the goal of stimulating hair growth. Consult your doctor first to see if it could be an option for you.

7. Hair Transplantation

Cost: $4,000 to $15,000

As a hair transplant surgeon who's successfully treated hundreds of patients with hair loss, Dr. Rogers can't recommend this option enough, and Dr. Fusco is on board with it, too. "Hair transplantation is a more permanent option that allows us to harvest hair from the donor area in the back of the scalp and move it to areas of thinning over the frontal or receding scalp," explains Dr. Rogers. "The results are generally natural and outstanding; the plugg-y look from your grandfather's hair transplant is a long-gone phenomenon."

She adds that patients don't have to take more than a day or two off from work, either, as there's very little healing downtime.

8. Hairstim

Cost: $60 a month

According to New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, M.D., Hairstim is an option that allows dermatologists to custom-craft personalized prescription hair medications for patients using ingredients otherwise not available, including high-dose minoxidil, topical finasteride and spironolactone, retinoic acid (which enhances penetration), turmeric, resveratrol, and more.

"It's now an option for patients who otherwise were not getting benefits with topicals or didn't want to take oral medications due to concerns about side effects," explains Dr. Bhanusali. "It launched within the last few months and is another important option for dermatologists to provide for their patients."

Many of these treatments can work in tandem, and you'll likely try a variety of approaches while dealing with hair loss. But now that we've laid them all out, it is time for that spiel on self-acceptance: hair loss is normal; just ask Charlie Brown, Dr. Evil, and everyone Taye Diggs has ever played. Whether or not you have a full head of hair in the future, let your hair or your scalp shine bright.

Now check out more hair loss solutions:

• These Are the Best Hair Loss Treatment Plans for Every Budget
• Why Your Hair Is Breaking and How to Fix It
• Modern Hair Transplants Look Surprisingly Natural — Here’s How They Work

Done reading? Now watch 100 years of blonde hair

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