Hair Transplant Surgery for Widow’s Peak Hair Loss in Women: What You Need To Know

Women can develop a widow’s peak at some point in life, either due to it being their natural hairline or hair loss in the form of female pattern baldness or traction alopecia¹. Thankfully, advances in hair transplants mean that there are several options to flatten a female widows’ peak treatment.

What is a Window’s Peak in Women?

A widow’s peak in women is a hairline shape where the hairline forms a point centred on the forehead. It’s characterised by a “V” or “M” shape. In some women, the hairline forms a straight, oval line across their forehead. However, in some individuals, hair growth is higher on either side in the temples. This causes a “peak” in the hairline at the centre.

The widow’s peak is often confused with a receding hairline. A widow’s peak is something you’re born with, whereas a receding hairline occurs over time due to age, stress, or other factors. In both circumstances, the general appearance of a peaked hairline is largely the same but with different causes.

In women, the widow’s peak isn’t immediately obvious. It’s more obvious if you pull your hair back, tracing your finger along the hairline where in the centre it dips in a “V” or “M” shape.

Why Is It Called a Widow’s Peak?

The term “widow’s peak” comes from 18^th-century England². Back then, it was tradition that when the husband died, his wife would wear a black triangular hood or hat with a peak or bill falling down the centre of the forehead. Because the hairline resembles the beak of the hood, the name stuck. The hairline was thought to be a bad omen associated with death or a poor fate.

Another potential explanation dates to the 16^th century. The mourning cap worn around the period had a distinctive triangular fold of cloth in the middle of the forehead. It created an artificial widow’s peak that may have inspired the name.

Female Widow’s Peak Causes

Inheriting a Widow’s Peak as a woman

A widow’s peak in a female is often seen also in their parents, grandparents, or siblings. However, that’s not always the case and we aren’t clear on how a widow’s peak in women is inherited³. For most people, a widow’s peak is a common natural variant.

Female widow’s peak associated with hair loss

It should be noted that a widow’s peak in women is associated with a receding hairline. Less common than in men, it can also occur due to severe stress, malnutrition, and menopause.

You can also develop a widow’s peak by repetitively tying your hair tight causing traction alopecia at the front of the hairline.

Genetic causes for a widow’s peak in women

In rare cases, it’s the sign of an underlying genetic condition such as Donnai-Barrow Syndrome, Frontonasal Dysplasia and Opitz G/BBB syndrome.

Female Widow’s Peak Treatment

The widow’s peak is a surprisingly common hairline. Some notable examples include Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Blake Lively, and Britney Spears. There’s little doubt that this hairline is often a noticeable facial feature.

While some people embrace their hairline, others do not find it an attractive feature. You may wish for it to be removed or minimised. Certain hairstyles, such as growing a fringe, will make it less apparent. However, if you like to wear your hair back or in a ponytail, it can expose your widow’s peak.

Potential female widow’s peak treatments include:

• Shaving. Trimming the widow’s peak using a razor is one solution. This is possible for a minor widow’s peak but is not viable if it is more prominent. Your hair will also grow back, leaving a patch of stubble.
• Waxing and/or Sugaring. This works similarly to shaving but achieves a longer-lasting result. You will see a patch of stubble within a few weeks, and the procedure must be continually repeated.
• Depilatory Creams. These creams cause your hair to fall out. They’re often hard to apply solely to the widow’s peak and can cause irritation or burns.
• Laser Hair Removal or Electrolysis. This is a permanent solution to remove a widow’s peak. However, it can take several sessions to achieve a lasting result.

An alternative option is a female window’s peak hair transplant. It involves straightening the hairline by adding new hairs to lower the hairline to create a more uniform feminine appearance.

Female Widow’s Peak Hair Transplant

A female’s windows peak hair transplant involves adding hair follicles to the hairline to create a straighter appearance. This can either eliminate the widow’s peak completely or minimise its appearance.

There are two potential mechanisms:

1. Follicular unit excision (FUE) involves removing the individual hair follicles from the back or sides of the scalp. The follicles are excised using a hole punch technique. These follicles are then inserted in the hairline to create a more uniform look.
2. Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) removes a thin strip of skin from the back of the scalp. The hair follicles are then extracted and transplanted into the hairline. FUT requires less shaving for women.

FUE minimises scarring and is the preferred option for mild widow’s peaks in women. However, in women with a strong deep looking widow’s peak may require an FUT hair transplant. The procedure involves more hair follicles, allowing your surgeon to achieve a denser final appearance. In both procedures, hairs are inserted individually, allowing your Surgeon to control the direction and density of follicles, achieving a natural look.

Is a Hair Transplant for a Woman’s Widow’s Peak a Good Idea?

In women who are looking to change the shape of their widow’s peak and have a rounder looking hairline then the procedure provides a long-lasting correction the peaked appearance. It takes around 1-day to complete, followed by a 7–10-day recovery period.

At The Treatment Rooms London, we’re experts in evaluating your hairline and determining the best approach to correcting any issues. Our patients see remarkable results, achieving a more uniform and even hairline.

During the initial personalised consultation, we will advise you on whether an FUE or FUT technique is needed. We always work to minimise scarring and maximise the eventual hair growth.

We know the potential benefits of undergoing a hair transplant for a woman’s widow’s peak. It can make an enormous difference to your confidence and appearance. Hairstyles you’d previously never have considered suddenly become a possibility.

Conclusion

Living with a widow’s peak doesn’t have to be permanent. Whether your hairline is genetic or your hair has receded slightly, we can help. With our corrective treatments, we’ll restore your hairline, creating the even appearance you’re after.

At The Treatment Room London, we offer both FUE and FUT hair transplants for a woman’s widow’s peak. Our surgeons will guide you through the procedure, detailing the best options for your hair. To book a consultation, use our contact form or call 020 8706 0076.

References

1. Cleveland Clinic. Hair Loss in Woman. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16921-hair-loss-in-women
2. WebMD. What to Know About Widow’s Peak. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/beauty/what-to-know-about-widows-peak
3. Rassman W. Phenotype of normal hairline maturation. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics. 2013 Aug 1. Available at: https://www.facialplastic.theclinics.com/article/S1064-7406(23)00102-5/abstract
4. Kyriakou G, Glentis A, Papanikolaou S. Widow’s peak: a usually overlooked, yet significant morphogenetic trait. JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. 2021 Sep;19(9):1271-5. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ddg.14502
5. The Treatment Rooms London. FUE vs FUT: Which Hair Transplant Is Best For You? Available at: https://www.treatmentroomslondon.com/hair-transplant-surgery/fue-vs-fut/