From Ian Fleming’s first sketch of James Bond to Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula, the widow’s peak hairline has been used to portray everything from the height of sophistication to the embodiment of evil. Beyond fiction, the widow’s peak is prevalent even among our most beloved celebrities, from the subtle triangle of Colin Farrell to the prominent V of Chris Hemsworth.
Despite being surrounded by examples, some people don’t always identify this hairline correctly. In this article, we look at precisely what a widow’s peak is and explore what guys might do with their V-shape - whether that be accentuating their widow’s peak or buzzing it off.
If your widow’s peak makes you feel self-conscious, or you miss your days of fuller hair, there are different solutions you can try. Before you reach for the razor, read on to work out whether the widow’s peak buzz cut is really your best bet.
What is a widows peak?
The term widow’s peak is used to describe a broad range of hairlines. While there is a relatively specific widow’s peak definition used in research, the term is often used to refer to any V-shaped hairline.
Widows peak hairline
A widow’s peak is a descending projection of hair on the midline of the forehead, in the shape of a V. For this to be a true widow’s peak, it must be congenital, which means the shape must have been present from birth.
Good examples that you may not have quite noticed before can be seen on Marilyn Monroe and Christian Bale, the latter’s being especially subtle.
Both men and women can have widow’s peak hairlines. Indeed, the very term widow’s peak derives from an English folklore suspicion that women with such a hairline would lose their husbands young, thereby facing early widowhood.
Do I have a widows peak or am I going bald?
Having a widow’s peak has often been confused with a receding hairline.
It’s common for the term widow’s peak to be applied to any man with a V or U shaped hairline. If there was no projection of hair to begin with and this shape is a new development, the chances are it’s not a widow’s peak.
With age, hairlines in both men and women can recede along a V-shaped pattern. This is known as a ‘maturing hairline’ and is not necessarily genetic balding. In many cases, however, what is labeled a widow’s peak is in fact male pattern baldness.
Male pattern baldness
Also known as androgenetic alopecia, male pattern baldness is a loss of hair that affects men of all ages due to genetic influences and hormonal changes. We’ve previously written about the signs and stages of male pattern baldness, which can help you identify whether this is the cause of your hairline movement.
It is possible to both have a widow’s peak and then experience male pattern baldness, Jude Law being an example of this. This may make discovery of hairline recession difficult, and the realization may come as a surprise to these men.
How to get rid of widows peak
It’s possible to drastically change the appearance of your hairline. Many people try to do so, with even Marilyn Monroe widely reported to have undergone an electrolysis process to try to get rid of her widow’s peak hairline. It’s first worth asking yourself whether you really want to change your widow’s peak before taking any action.
Are widows peaks stylish?
A widow’s peak can be a great look, and the film careers of the many celebrities with widow’s peaks clearly haven’t suffered.
Beyond the big screen, the widow’s peak hairline has been seen as a desirable trait in various cultures. For example the widow’s peak is often admiringly called “Fuji’s Peak” in Japan, and women are depicted with widow’s peaks in many Japanese paintings.
Some people love their V-shaped hairline, while others think they have a bad widow’s peak. If your widow’s peak looks more Eddie Munster than Justin Theroux, it might be something you wish to change. Hairlines can be central to a person’s self-esteem, and the desire to address hair loss or an uneven hairline is common and understandable.
Widows peak buzz cut
One way to get rid of a widow’s peak is to buzz cut your hair, however this will not work well for everyone. For those with darker hair, a buzz cut can actually accentuate a hairline and therefore make a person’s perceived problem worse. People with fair hair may be happier with the result of a buzz cut.
An alternative to this may be to leave the hair slightly longer, softening the edges of the scalp/hair divide. Keeping the head completely shaved may be another better option to remove an uneven hairline, leaving no visible hair at all.
If someone with male pattern baldness is considering a buzz cut, it is worth remembering that this can only be a short-term fix and recession of the hairline will continue.
How to grow hair on or around a widows peak
The alternative to removing or cutting hair to get rid of a widow’s peak is to instead add hair. Widow’s peak hair regrowth will be most successful for those whose V-shape is caused by male pattern baldness.
One of the most common drugs used to treat hair loss is finasteride. This is a prescription drug originally developed to treat men with enlarged prostates, but has been expanded to male pattern baldness as well. It’s worth researching finasteride carefully to understand the possible side effects which can include sexual problems and depression. It’s possible to avoid these side effects by selecting a different, hormone-free option.
Addressing the cause of receding hairline
If your V-shaped hairline is a new development or is progressing upwards, your best bet may be to tackle the underlying cause. Revela uses cutting-edge scientific techniques to discover and develop modern molecules to address issues like hair loss. ProCelinyl directly targets the health of hair follicle, thereby reawakening and reinvigorating dormant follicles. The flagship Hair Revival Serum can increase the appearance of hair density in as little as 6-8 weeks. You can read reviews and customer stories or learn more about the underlying technology in the ProCelinyl white paper.
