Are you wondering why your hairline is uneven? Well, uneven hairlines aren't an odd occurrence. Some people find it a bit uncomfortable walking around with an uneven hairline, but others are comfortable with it. This post talks about what uneven hairline means, what causes it, and remedies for an uneven hairline.

Without further ado, let's jump in!

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What Does an Uneven Hairline Mean?

Why is my hairline uneven? It is a question that a lot of people ask.  Before we answer, it will be best if you first understand what an uneven hairline is.

An uneven hairline refers to how your hair falls from your head, specifically, how short or long it falls at various locations on your head. It can range from being too long at one location to have a concise top section to looking very much like a "stubble line.”

The good news is that there are many ways to treat an uneven hairline. As such, you should not worry so much about it. But, before getting to treatments, let's go over some of the things you need to know about uneven hairlines.

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What Causes an Uneven Hairline?

Several factors can cause an uneven hairline, such as genetics, diet, medical conditions, etc. Let us take a look at all these factors below.

Genetics

Genetics is unchangeable. Genetics plays a significant role in how our hair grows. It has been observed that long and thick hair is more common in Caucasians, whereas short and thin hair is more likely to occur among Asians.

Having uneven hair is hereditary. Well, if both of your parents had uneven hair, then your odds of developing the same are high. There are several ways genetics make your hairline uneven:

• You inherit the genes of your mother from her dad
• You inherit the genes of both parents from their mom
• You inherit the genes of each parent from their dad and mom
• You receive genes from your mother, and they pass them onto your children
• You receive genes from both men and women and pass them on to your children.

The first three generations are known as the anagen phase, while the fourth generation is called the telogen phase. During the anagen phase, the follicles are active and produce new hair. The hair falls out and leaves behind dead skin cells, which get sloughed off. When the follicle is fully developed around puberty, the process stops.

During the telogen phase, the follicles stop producing hair. While waiting for the next cycle to start, the follicles undergo apoptosis, which means programmed cell death. Once the cells have died, follicles are shed off through your hair combing routine.

There are instances where genes may negatively influence hair growth.

For example, some people develop alopecia, which means their body stops growing hair due to genetic disorders. As a result, their body develops patches of baldness. At other times, they begin to notice their hairline receding on one side

Diet and Nutrition

Another factor that can affect the shape of your hairline is poor nutrition. Poor eating habits can lead to a lack of vitamins and minerals crucial to healthy hair follicles. Lack of iron is particularly harmful because it affects hair growth. So, iron deficiency occurs without enough iron intake, resulting in hair loss.

You may be asking yourself, what does my diet have to do with my hairline? Well, when you consume less than adequate amounts of proteins, fats, and nutrients, your ability to nourish your hair follicles suffers. Your hair becomes weak and brittle, making it prone to breakage leading to hair loss.

Certain foods can help promote stronger, healthier hair. For instance, fish oil contains high Omega 3 fatty acids that support strong hair strands. Also, consuming lots of vegetables and fruits can help keep your hair healthy.

Medical Conditions

If any health problems affect your general well-being, they could manifest themselves through hair issues. Diabetes is one such condition. People who have diabetes tend to lose extra weight faster than other individuals. This leaves them lacking proper calcium levels and having higher blood sugar levels. Together, these two conditions make the bones brittle, hair fall out easily and even thickens hair shafts.

Also, taking certain medications could cause hair loss. Some examples include corticosteroids or drugs used by those who have HIV. These medications might prevent the formation of new cells and slow down the growth cycle of existing ones. They disrupt the balance of hormones in the scalp and hair follicles, leading to hair loss.

Birth Defects

Some people may not believe that congenital disabilities can cause an uneven hairline. However, there are cases where people were born with congenital abnormalities, like alopecia, that can cause hair loss and thus an uneven appearance. The good news is that these conditions usually go away on their own given sufficient time.

When you have a congenital disability affecting your hairline, you will notice signs showing evidence of its existence. An example is “a gap between your eyebrows.” The forehead may feel tight, and the hairs seem longer. Another sign you may encounter is small bumps appearing at the sides of your head. This can happen because the normal hairline has moved upward, leaving parts of the skull exposed.

Hairline Creases

Hairline creases are also known as célèbres, which refer to famous faces having this issue. It happens when the hair grows downward rather than forward toward the center part of your face, causing the hairlines to look like grooves.

A person with this problem would always have a low-set hairline because the hair grows downward instead of forward. Their hairline will eventually move down until it starts covering the neck. A person with this problem should avoid wearing clothes with buttons since doing so would force the hair further down.

Acute Stress

When somebody experiences acute stress, cortisol increases, affecting hair growth. The body then makes more protein to protect against damage caused by cortisol. Hence, an increase in protein production results in thicker hair, which appears fuller. When this hair is now extremely full, you will notice that it begins to form an uneven hairline.

Hormonal Imbalance

Suppose you experience hormonal imbalances, such as excessive estrogen levels, testosterone, progesterone, or DHT. In that case, your hair could become overgrown due to excess proteins being available for absorption into the hair shaft. As a result, you might end up experiencing hair loss from the front and back.

Lack of Sleep

If you do not get enough rest, you will be less productive during the day, meaning your hair will grow slower. Believe it or not, failing to get enough sleep is likely to result in uneven hairlines.

Lack of adequate sleeping deprives the body of nourishment and energy. Your muscles are already tired, but all you want to do is keep working. Consequently, the hair becomes weak and tends to fall.

Some Types of Medication

Many people are under different treatments in this day and age due to different conditions. If you are currently on medication, it most likely affects how your hair grows, making it thinner. In some instances, it can even lead to bald patches. This is because some drugs have side effects, including increased hair loss.

Scarring

It goes without saying that if you have a scar on your head, you are likely to have uneven hair. When you cut yourself or receive another injury, you will develop new layers of skin called the dermis, resulting in an uneven hairline.

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Treatments for Uneven Hairline

So now that you know that an uneven hairline isn't a bad thing, but it does happen. What do you do when it happens to you? The following guide will help you decide whether you want to get treatment for your uneven hairline and how you'd go about doing that.

If you're happy with your natural hairline, you don't necessarily have to do anything. Nonetheless, if you do choose to alter your natural hairline, here are some ways to go about it:

Surgery

Corrective surgery is necessary if other techniques fail and you continue to see signs of unevenness. You should also opt for this option if you're concerned that your hair won't look good after the procedure.

Hair Transplant

The procedure involves moving small sections of hair from one part of the scalp to another. It's similar to what we refer to as "tattooing" elsewhere on the body. A person who wants to have their hair transplant done must first undergo a pre-operative trial period where their hair is shaved off at various head parts. Hereafter, these regions are treated as donor sites for future transplants.

Once the required amount of hair has been harvested, the remaining hair section is removed to create the recipient site. Afterward, the donor's hairs are inserted into the empty area until the desired length is achieved. Most patients return home within two weeks after the procedures.

Wax Stripping

Wax stripping is another technique employed by professionals to remove unwanted hair growth. Essentially, wax is applied to the affected areas – either directly or through a strip that comes with the product. Once the wax dries up, hair follicles are permanently destroyed. This process may take several months before results start showing.

Epilation

Another method used to achieve smoother hairlines is epilation. As the name implies, this involves removing the hair using special devices. These include laser guns and electric shavers. Unlike wax stripping, the effect doesn't last once the hair regrows.

Other Ways

There are other non-medicinal methods practiced by people looking to fix their uneven hairlines. These are; shaving, trimming, and electrolysis. However, there are risks involved in trying them out.

For example, electrolytic treatment can cause burns on the skin. Shaving can leave behind cuts, while trimming leaves marks on the face. Lastly, laser treatments can damage eyesight.

The Bottom Line

While it’s true that genetics can play a role in determining how fast hair grows and if it grows in all directions, other factors outside of our control affect our looks too. The good news is you can see there are many options available to correct your uneven hairline. Whichever option you use, make sure you consult a professional to avoid complications.