Last Updated on May 10, 2020 by Robert Price
With the possible exception of Brad Pitt, no one has a perfectly symmetrical hairline.
So no, an asymmetrical hairline does not indicate male pattern baldness, necessarily.
However, it’s fairly common for men to notice they’re receding more on one side than the other. Similarly, your hairline could mature in an asymmetrical manner.
General Rules
- If one side of your hairline is dramatically farther back the other side, you’re probably dealing with pattern hair loss.
- The side that isn’t receding as much will likely “catch up” to the other side eventually — maybe not entirely, but mostly.
- Hair loss often occurs asymmetrically; it’s super normal. In fact, hair loss rarely occurs in a uniform manner on both sides of the scalp.
How to Deal with an Asymmetrical Hairline
This is the tricky part. You have a variety of receding hairline style options, of course. But you’ll need to be extra careful here, given the fact that your hairline looks a little weird. Sorry, just being honest with you!
4 Tips for Managing an Asymmetrical Hairline
- Consider keeping your hair a bit longer. Say 2.5-4 inches. Some extra length can cover the receding areas and give natural “padding” to your high forehead.
- Talk to a barber. As always, finding a skilled barber or stylist who will take their time to understand your needs and wishes is recommended!
- If it’s too Asymmetrical, Buzz it off – Maybe letting your hair go is the best option. You can find out if you’ll look good bald in this post.
- Start Treating it – The sooner you address your hair loss, the better. Some men, like comedians Bill Burr and Joe Rogan, prefer to just allow nature to take its course. Others prefer to fight hair loss at all costs. If you’re of the fight-it mindset, I’d suggest reading up on the top 7 hair loss treatment options.
Hair Transplantation Could be an Option, Too
But you should view this as a last resort, as your donor area is limited and stabilizing your hair loss situation should be priority #1. For those interested, check out my post regarding the basics of hair transplantation.
Again, asymmetrical hairlines are perfectly normal! And they’re manageable, treatment-wise and stylistically.
Robert Price is a writer, consumer advocate, and hair loss researcher with thousands of hours of experience in the field. His goal is to keep you out of the hair loss rabbit hole, underworld, or whatever you want to call it. He founded Hair Loss Daily, the unbiased hair loss blog, in 2016. You can learn more about Robert in the my story section of this website.
When my baldness begins to look asymmetrical, it only means it’s time for a haircut. I’m very happily Norwood 6 bald, but the fringe hair on my left side tends to grow out over my bald top. I have an automatic comb over. I find myself constantly combing or brushing the longer hair down and away from the bald area. It is very annoying, as I detest comb overs and don’t wish to be accused of wearing one. So I try to keep my fringe hair neatly trimmed and quite short, but not all shaved off. I hate the all shaved look on me. That said, I absolutely LOVE the male pattern bald look on me. Thank God I went bald twenty years ago.