How to Fix a Permanently Pushed Back Hairline

Hairlines can be pushed back for many reasons. They might be characterised by an uneven hairline above your face, signs of thinning, or lighter patches of skin around your temples. So how do you fix a pushed back hairline? If your hairline is permanently pushed back, you can try various solutions, including medications, laser therapies, or a long-lasting hair transplant.

For many clients, a pushed-back hairline only becomes a significant problem as it naturally recedes gradually over time, meaning that a slightly high hairline that was previously concealed by healthy hair growth is now far more apparent.

The right remedies may depend on the aesthetic you wish to achieve, the underlying reasons your hairline has been pushed back, and the severity of the hair loss around your forehead. The specialist hair transplantation surgeons and our teams of technicians here at KSL Clinic can provide bespoke advice and recommendations.

Causes of a Pushed Back Hairline

Our hairlines are often unique to our families and are down to a mixture of lifestyle, genetics, and styling. Some people naturally have a higher or lower hairline, and others have hair that grows in a V or M shape—often referred to as a widow’s peak.

Ultimately, your hairline is only an issue if you dislike how you look or feel, and changes in your hair negatively affect your appearance and confidence. If your hairline has previously been satisfactory but now appears pushed back, that might be down to:

• Bad-quality haircuts or substandard haircutting by your barber—inaccurate trimming and shaving can easily push the hairline further back than it usually sits.
• Genetics, where conditions such as female and male pattern baldness [1], officially known as androgenetic alopecia[2], cause the hairline to gradually recede backwards (read more about hair transplants for receding hairlines here). Note that alopecia can impact women as well as men and may occur at any age.
• Low-standard hair transplants, with cheap and botched procedures, can mean the hairline does not regrow or that the healed transplant area is unsymmetrical, uneven, and unnatural.
• Traction alopecia is caused by extensive and prolonged pressure and stress on the follicle.[3] This sort of alopecia is commonly linked to chemical hair treatments, straightening, wearing hair in a tight, high ponytail, or restricted under a fitted hat.
• Certain hairstyles, such as dreadlocks, can increase the likelihood of having a permanently pushed-back hairline. The weight of the dreadlocks contributes to traction alopecia.

If you are unsure why your hairline has changed or whether there is a genetic cause, you are welcome to contact us to arrange a convenient time to meet privately with one of our consultants for a full scalp and hair evaluation.

Issues With Cheap Unskilled Hair Transplants and Uneven Hairlines

Over recent years, the proportion of hairline issues attributed to bad hair transplants has spiked dramatically, and we always caution clients against considering any overseas hair transplant clinic, particularly those that tap into medical tourism with offers of low costs and payment plans.[4]

There have been a rising number of clients whose hair transplants have been painful, invasive and even traumatic, leaving patients with serious scarring, permanent damage to their scalps, and hair transplants that look nothing like the results they were promised.[5]

If you have suffered a bad transplant and need help correcting your hairline, you are welcome to get in touch. We offer zero-interest payment plans on application, which can help spread the cost while giving you the assurance of being a regulated clinic with GMC-registered surgeons.

“Low-cost transplants cost far more than precise, quality transplants conducted by accredited surgeons in clinical, clean, and safe facilities. Issues like infections, incorrect transplant placements, and scarring are easily avoided, and we urge any client thinking about a cheap transplant to proceed with extreme caution.”

Potential Solutions to Correct a Pushed-Back Hairline

The first piece of advice if you have a pushed-back hairline is not to panic. We’ve met with clients who have resorted to shaving their whole heads or wearing wigs to conceal hair defects, possibly worsening their natural hairline.

Seeking professional, independent advice is key. Just as we’d recommend you steer clear of overseas and unregistered hair transplant clinics, we would not suggest using any treatment, supplement, or medication ordered online.

At best, these products have no impact and can cost a considerable amount. At worst, they can cause digestive complaints, burns to the scalp, and other skin irritations.

Professional hair transplant experts might recommend a number of options, including non-invasive therapies and laser treatments, which are known to have a positive and long-term impact on hair growth, stimulating the scalp and correcting damage to dormant follicles that have stubbornly refused to grow.

1. Hair Transplantation to Fix a Pushed Back Hairline

The first option is always one of the most effective and can transform a pushed-back hairline permanently, with initial recovery taking about two weeks and full hair regrowth within 12 to 18 months.

Hair transplants, often FUE transplants, which involve no stitches, incisions or scarring, are a quick option, with the procedure taking up to a few hours without an overnight stay.

We recommend a hair transplant to fix a pushed-back hairline where the causes mean the problem is unlikely to go away without intervention or where other treatments have proven ineffective.

Each hair transplant is bespoke to you. It involves a complete analysis of your scalp, hair health, and ideal aesthetic. Individual healthy hair follicles are transplanted from a donor area and redistributed around your hairline.

You’ll find more information about FUE hair transplants and the full hair transplantation process through our information guides.

2. Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP)

PRP is often used in conjunction with a hair transplant and is an innovative way to support faster recovery and healthy regrowth—especially where some follicles do not currently grow as expected or produce very thin, patchy hair.

This injected therapy uses platelets from your own blood, processed through a technical device called a centrifuge. The platelets are then placed back into your scalp to promote healing, regeneration, and cellular growth.

PRP therapy can stimulate either newly implanted or dormant follicles, and it has excellent success rates, whether combined with medications or as a standalone therapy.

3. Using Minoxidil to Correct Your Hairline

Minoxidil is a topical treatment used in various hair loss situations that is thought to slow hair loss or help reverse hair thinning to a point. While Minoxidil isn’t known conclusively to prevent certain types of alopecia from occurring, it may help depending on the underlying factors that have contributed to your pushed-back hairline.[6]

Related reading: When to start minoxidil after a hair transplant.

4. Finasteride as a Hair Regrowth Solution

Another medication called finasteride is sometimes used to help improve hair growth, which works by blocking DHT, or dihydrotestosterone. DHT is often considered a substance that prevents healthy hair growth in people with pattern hair loss.

Some clinicians believe finasteride can prevent hair loss around the hairline for people who are more likely to experience this due to genetics where previous generations or family members have developed a pushed-back hairline.[7]

5. Hair Growth Oils to Promote Hairline Regeneration

There are numerous hair growth oils on the market, although these vary widely in effectiveness and price. Researchers have found that some types of essential oils, including rosemary oil [8], seem to be beneficial when combined with a prescription or over-the-counter medication.

Botanical remedies are also sometimes useful, although we advise caution when combining treatments. Some essential oils and herbal remedies are unsuitable for sensitive scalps or for a pushed-back hairline resulting from damage to hair.

6. Laser Therapies for a Pushed Back Hairline

A more reliable solution is to consider laser hair therapy, which uses low-level light therapeutic lasers to help stimulate growth in the affected hair follicles. Laser treatments are pain-free and highly specific, targeted to the affected areas, and produce fuller, longer, and thicker hair, even in areas where growth has been slowing.

Laser therapy is suitable for numerous conditions, including hair loss linked to alopecia, pattern baldness, and genetics. It can also reduce inflammation to support continued growth across the front of your hairline.

Professional Advice on Fixing a Permanently Pushed Back Hairline

All of the solutions, treatments, and therapies mentioned here have shown some signs of success or have proven to be effective in permanently eliminating an uneven or pushed-back hairline.

However, independent guidance is always necessary to ensure you make informed choices and select the best possible treatment specific to your requirements, the current condition and health of your hairline, and the results you’d like to achieve.

Please book a free consultation at your nearest KSL Clinic at any time to learn more or discuss a tailored treatment plan to restore your hairline to its original appearance.