V Hairlines: What Are the Differences?

Medically reviewed by Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry M.B.B.S.

Written by Our Editorial Team

Last updated Mar 12, 2023

V hairlines can come in many different shapes and at different stages in life.

During some point in their lives, men will start to lose hair in different ways. While some can experience thinning or balding, others will experience something called a receding or mature hairline.

This can happen in their twenties or even later in life. Genetics plays the biggest role in hair development for men; some can experience thinning very early on, and some may never experience it at all—aside from greying.

The good news is that whatever hair development a man may experience is very normal. It doesn’t take away any masculinity, and it doesn’t have to be an indicator for any health issues either.

This is a quick recap of our more in-depth articles, we recommend finding out what it is that you're experiencing and read our medically-reviewed guides for the best solutions.

Relevant reads:

What is a hairline?

For the sake of understanding different V hairlines, it’s important to understand what a hairline is. A hairline starts at the edge of your hair, typically on a forehead. This works as an outline for the hair and face shape. Location and figure of hairlines have many contributing factors, the main issues being genetics and age.

Additionally, females might have different hairlines when compared to males.

While a mature hairline is one of the first indicators for male pattern baldness, some may wonder, “Is this what I’m experiencing, or do I have a widow’s peak?”

Here’s what you need to know about the different V hairlines.

What is a widow’s peak?

To identify a widow’s peak, notice if your hair meets in a downward curve toward the center of your forehead. It will appear to take the shape of a “V” at the center of your face. Essentially, there will be a low point of hair in the middle while the sides will be higher toward the edge of your face.

While a widow’s peak can be very distinguishable on some faces, it can be much more subtle on others. It can take a very drastic dip, which can be more confused with a mature hairline, or there can just be a mini “V’ at the very center of your hairline. It can also be more identifiable with the hair being pushed back versus hair falling downward. At the end of the day, a widow’s peak is a V-hairline, regardless of how extreme it may be.

A widow’s peak is mostly based on genetics, much like a straight hairline.

The term gets its name from English folklore for when women lost their husbands. They would wear a hat or headdress for mourning that would create a beak at the center of their foreheads, similar to the V of a widow’s peak hairline.

What is a mature hairline?

During their teenage years, males typically have a full head of hair with a structured hairline, contributing to them having what is known as a juvenile hairline. The trick to identifying a juvenile hairline is simple: wrinkle your forehead, and if your hair starts at that top wrinkle, you have this type of hairline.

A juvenile hairline—also known as a young hairline—typically is straighter across the forehead with slightly rounded corners. The edges don’t tip up much unless the person has a widow’s peak. Other defining characteristics of a juvenile hairline are rounded corners and a straight-across shape.

When most men hit their 20s, they will start to experience a different hairline. While 5% of white men can keep their juvenile hairline, the majority will start to exhibit signs of a mature hairline. This means their hairline moves back on their forehead approximately half an inch.

Another defining factor is for the corners to slop upward on the skull, creating more of a “V,” “M,” or “U” shape, depending on how it recedes. This ultimately creates a widow’s peak on the forehead that is formed later in life rather than during youth.

Read in more detail on our medically-reviewed guide to mature hairline.

Can a widow’s peak become a mature hairline?

Simply put, yes. It just means the corners of the widow’s peak can become more caved in and recede toward the crown of the hair, resulting in a mature hairline. A widow’s peak can develop after a juvenile hairline as the start of a mature hairline, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate that your hair will begin to thin or recede faster or further.

Can you have a V hairline and a low hairline at the same time?

Yes! You can have a couple of different hairlines simultaneously. Just because you have a V hairline does not mean that is the only describing factor for your hair outline. You can have a low hairline, middle hairline, and high hairline, all while having a widow’s peak. It just depends where on your forehead your outline begins and where the edges end.

See: Low Hairline: Definition, Cause & Treatment

How can you stop a receding hairline?

While there’s nothing wrong with a mature hairline, some men and women find it less than desirable for their looks and confidence. Because it is generally associated with aging, attempts to combat any receding hair can be made. While many people may believe that hair loss is all the same, it can come in many different shapes and forms.

Here’s what you can do:

Limit heat
Take supplements
Avoid certain hairstyles
Keep it natural
Use combs or soft brushes
Reduce stress factors

Limit heat

Try not to put any heat on the hair if avoidable. Stay away from curling and straightening irons, and if you blow-dry your hair, try using a cool setting instead of heat. Too much heat can lead to drying out your hair, which then leads to breakage and hair loss.

Take supplements

Vitamins A and D work wonders when it comes to hair health. They promote growth and sebum production, which helps with balancing natural hair oils. Biotin vitamins are especially great for hair, skin, and nail health to promote strength, growth, and clarity.

Hair growth gummies are also popular, but do they work?

Avoid certain hairstyles

Try not to use any hairstyles that cause any pulling on the hair, such as ponytails. These styles pull on hair follicles, leading to breakage and hair loss.
Keep it natural—Avoid bleaching or chemically treating your hair. This strips the hair of its natural oils that are essential for healthy hair maintenance.

Use combs or soft brushes

Don’t use brushes that tug at your hair. Using a brush with soft bristles or a wider-toothed comb to remove knots or tangles is much gentler on your hair and follicles. It’s also important to only comb your hair when it is dry to remove any hair removal.

Reduce stress

Stress plays a massive role in your hair health. If you find that your mature hairlines continuously recedes, try to cut out as much stress in your life as possible as stress can cause hair loss.

If you are already experiencing stress-related hair loss, worry not, as we also have a comprehensive journal on how to regain hair loss from stress.

How can you hide a widow's peak?

To hide a widow’s peak, part your hair to favor one side. This will soften the V shape with hair covering the edges of the outline.
Work with a hairstylist or barber to have them help you find a hairstyle that complements your face shape and hair outline.
You can shave your head completely to disguise any hairline you have. This will remove the edges—especially if you razor it down to the skin.
More permanent measures can be taken to remove a widow’s peak, including tweezing, shaving, and lasering off the hair.

How can you hide a mature hairline?

Opt-in for any Caesar cut—This will force the hair down to create an illusion of bangs; you can make them straight across, messy, or soft.
Get bangs—This will help hide your hairline, as well as forehead wrinkles if that’s a concern of yours.
Cut a textured fringe—You can swoop them to the side so that they have more movement if you don’t like a straight-down look.
Buzz it off—Shave your hair completely to the skin if you want to hide your hairline.
Comb it over—If you still have a healthy length to your hair, you can do the classic combover to help hide any missing hair patches along your hairline or crown of your head.

What causes mature hairline?

There are many factors to consider when determining why you may be experiencing hair loss or if you may someday.

Age

When it comes to looking at a mature hairline, age is one of the most significant contributing factors. With age, hair begins to break more easily, and your follicles won’t grow as frequently if they keep growing at all. The older you become, the more you may notice a receding mature hairline and male pattern baldness.

Genetics

Genetics account for about 80% of male pattern baldness. If you still have a juvenile hairline, you can look at your family tree to see how the men in your family have dealt with hair growth/recession. While there are preventative measures you can take to optimize your hair health, you can’t stop what your genes have in store for you. Look at the men on both sides of your family tree, and you can even ask the men who have mature hairlines when they start to notice the difference in their hair outline. This can at least help you scope out your possible hair timeline and what you can probably expect for your hair future.

Stress

While you can look only at the mental side of stress and its role on your hair health, it’s equally important to analyze the physical stress your body handles. If you have any illness, recent surgeries, and recent highly stressful life changes, it’s common to see hair loss symptoms, especially when it comes to your hairline.

Depending on what you have experienced, you can see immediate hair changes, as well as changes that happen for the following months. While the chance for regrowth may occur, it may be a permanent physical change depending on how your body handles such stress.

Nutrition

Like most aspects of your health, nutrition also plays a massive role in your hair health. If you have a well-balanced diet, your will have happy and healthy hair. However, if you’re lacking essential nutrients and vitamins, your hair follicles and scalp health may take a tumble. It’s important to get an adequate amount of vitamins A and D, as well as biotin and collagen, for healthy hair.

Great news, even if you're vegetarians, you can still can also eat foods to induce hair growth.

Thyroid Health

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism play huge roles in your physical health, including weight fluctuation and hair loss. If you show any symptoms of either of these conditions, it’s crucial to see a doctor immediately.

Prostrate Health

An enlarged prostate is caused by high DHT levels, which can ultimately lead to hair loss as well. If you experience frequent urination or irritation when you urinate, it’s important to see a healthcare professional right away.

Hair Maintenance

What you put on your hair and how you treat it play considerable roles in your hair health. It’s essential to use products that are free of sulfates, parabens, and silicones to ensure healthy hair. In most cases, you should not wash your hair every single day, as it’s crucial to allow your natural hair oils to coat your roots and follicles. It’s advised by professionals to shampoo your hair twice a week and condition it every time you shampoo.

You can also condition more frequently than you shampoo—just not every day. It doesn’t hurt to apply a hair mask to your hair once a week as well to promote strength and growth. Be cautious of what styling products you use as you don’t want to apply anything that is drying or damaging your hair's integrity. Limiting heat and avoiding chemical treatments and bleaching are also imperative to limiting hair damage.

It's always recommended to consider naturally derived ingredients, transparent brands to ensure your hair is in tip top shape.

That and our unique hair growth guarantee (seriously!) why our hair growth routine are all the fuss.

Take a minute and see how we can revolutionize your hairline!

Important takeaways on V shaped hairlines

The critical thing to note about V hairlines is that they generally don’t indicate that anything is wrong with your health! Mature hairlines are simply a product of age, and a widow’s peak is based on genetics. If you find that you are losing a lot of hair, speaking to a doctor is essential.

However, if you are generally healthy, it shouldn’t mean you have anything to worry about. Hairlines are different for everyone based on texture, genetics, face shape, and more factors. What matters is embracing the facets you have while maintaining your health.

References

Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry M.B.B.S. is a House Physician in the Medical Unit 3 Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, and deals with hepatic, cardiac, neurological, and dermatological issues daily. He did his MBBS from Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. He believes that a good haircare routine is one where you nourish it naturally. During his free time, he works as a dermatologist for Scandinavian Biolabs.