Naturally, there are different types of hairlines, and a widow’s peak is just one of them. As a widow’s peak has a v-shape, it is quite easy to confuse it with a receding hairline, but in this guide, you’ll find out why they’re different and what a widow’s peak really is.
What Is A Widow’s Peak?
A widow’s peak is a v-shaped hairline, where the centre is thicker and sits lower than the sides; the pointed centre of the hairline may be in a straight line above the nose. In some people, the v-shaped of the widow’s peak is quite distinctive, but it is more subtle in others — the ‘v’ is more spread out.
(L) Georges Biard, Colin Farrell Cannes 2015, Cropped, CC BY-SA 3.0 and (R) Georges Biard, Brooke Shields Cannes, Cropped, CC BY-SA 3.0
It is possible for both men and women to have a widow’s peak, and its presence is not always indicative of baldness. Genetics are said to influence the presence of widow’s peak in an individual — this trait tends to run in families.
According to one study, widow’s peak is a “normal variant” in most cases, however, its presence has also been noted in some genetic syndromes, some of which include:
- Donnai-Barrow syndrome
- Aarskog-Scott syndrome
- Acrofacial dysostosis
- Widow’s peak syndrome
- Ocular hypertelorism
- Frontonasal dysplasia
- Opitz G/BBB syndrome
A widow’s peak is also fairly common. In a recent study of Japanese men and women, widow’s peak was reported to be seen in 29.6% of women and 32.8% of men.
Why Is It Called A Widow’s Peak?
The term widow’s peak originates from the tradition of widows wearing a headdress that had a ‘v’ pointed middle. Its presence in the hairline was interpreted as a sign or omen of early widowhood. However, it’s nothing more than folklore.
Queen Victoria with Empress Frederick, marked as public domain
A reverse widow’s peak is exactly how it sounds — rather than projecting forward and outward, the hairline sits at a higher point in the middle than on the sides.
A reverse widow’s peak is also not always a sign of baldness, but it could be indicative of that.
Bear in mind that a bald spot at the centre of the hairline may form as a result of traction alopecia (tight hairstyles causing hair loss in one spot).
In women, it may also be a sign of frontal fibrosing alopecia — a type of scarring alopecia characterised by the recession of the hairline.
So, if you’re experiencing hair loss, it’s important to get in touch with your doctor.
Does A Widow’s Peak Mean Baldness?
It is possible to develop a widow’s peak as a result of the pattern of hair loss associated with male androgenetic alopecia. However, its mere presence does not guarantee that you will go bald or have androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness).
A widow’s peak can develop in males beginning at Stage 1 of the Norwood-Hamilton scale. As the hairline assumes a more M-shape, the widow’s peak becomes more prominent. It eventually diminishes, however, as hair loss continues.
Also, keep in mind that your hairline can move a little further back due to what’s known as maturation. It’s a natural consequence of ageing and also does not mean that you are likely to go bald.
How do I know if I have a widow’s peak or a receding hairline?
As opposed to a widow’s peak, when your hairline recedes as the result of pattern baldness, you’ll continue to lose hair with time until eventually, you go bald at the front, top and crown. Therefore, widow’s peaks that result from androgenetic alopecia won’t last long, and that is one way to tell if you have a widow’s peak or a receding hairline. You could compare photos of your current hairline from a few years ago to see how it has changed with time.
How to Get Rid Of Widow’s Peak?
If you’re unhappy with having a widow’s peak in your hairline, there are some things that might be able to help you, such as
Laser Hair Removal
While laser hair removal is popularly used for the removal of unwanted body hair, it can also ‘fix’ your hairline. In this, a powerful beam of laser damages the hair follicles, so no hair growth takes place from them. The procedure can cause discomfort, and you might need multiple sessions of it.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is another popular procedure that’s used for the removal of unwanted hair from different parts of the body.
In this, an electric current damages the hair follicle, which prevents any growth from taking place.
Reportedly, Marilyn Monroe underwent electrolysis to get rid of her widow’s peak.
Physical Hair Removal
A rather unconventional way to get rid of your widow’s peak is to wax it off. It is important to keep in mind, however, that face waxing can harm the skin, especially if you consider how thin and delicate the skin of the face is. You should, therefore, consult your doctor before trying this.
Another painful way of getting rid of your widow’s peak is to tweeze each and every single hair that’s making the V. This will give it softer edges. But you need to make sure that you’re tweezing properly so that you don’t cause any skin damage. Furthermore, your hair will grow back after some time after tweezing, so you’ll have to repeat this painful process.
Besides waving and tweezing, shaving is another option to get rid of a widow’s peak. However, again, you must bear in mind that one wrong stroke can ruin the overall shape of your hairline.
It is important to discuss with your physician safe options for “fixing” a widow’s peak if it is causing you concern.
How To Style Hair With Widow’s Peak?
You can camouflage your widow’s peak with certain hairstyles, such as:
- Bangs
- Messy fringe
- Middle part
It might also appear less noticeable if the hair is slightly pushed forward at the front. You can also avoid wearing a bun or ponytail, as they will emphasise the widow’s peak.
Can You Get A Hair Transplant For Widow’s Peak?
You can get a hair transplant to get rid of your widow’s peak. Hair grafts, extracted from the donor area at the back of the scalp, will be placed around the peak to help you achieve a more even hairline. However, it’s important that you talk to an experienced practitioner about it.
Patient had a widow’s peak due to androgenetic alopecia, which was corrected by a hair transplant.
Frequently Asked Questions
The presence of a widow’s peak is typically characteristic of a heart-shaped face.
Yes, a widow’s peak can be quite attractive. Many celebrities who are considered conventionally attractive have this characteristic trait, including Chris Hemsworth, Leonardo DiCaprio and Rachel Weisz, among many others. It isn’t anything that you necessarily need to get rid of.
You can certainly get a buzzcut even if you have a widow’s peak. Without long hair, however, you might not be able to camouflage it if that is something you would like to do.
Yes, you can have a widow’s peak without it being a sign of you going bald.
Not everyone has a widow’s peak. There are many other different hairline shapes, such as straight, round, triangular and M-shape.
Dr Cagla
Dr Cagla earned her medical degree at Trakya University’s Faculty of Medicine in Bulgaria and has almost 6 years of hair transplantation experience. She is a specialist in FUE, DHI and Sapphire hair transplants of the scalp, eyebrows and beard and has performed over 6,000 surgeries. Dr Cagla is multilingual, with fluency in English, Bulgarian and Turkish.
