Every morning for the last ten or so years (I’m in my mid20s), I’ve combed my hair straight back, with a part on right. (This is the same way my maternal grandfather, who had no hair loss, combed his.) I don’t have a widow’s peak, but my hairline does follow a somewhat pointed contour. Where this contour naturally recedes and nooks up with my temples, that’s where I think my hairline has receded slightly – where my hair parted and pulled the most.
Is there a possibility that over time, I’m contributing to a receding hairline?
Not a chance, unless you’re really rough with the combing. My own hairline looks a bit receded when I comb my hair back–but I normally wear it parted down the center, like that guy from Titanic. It could be only an optical effect–or you could be aging. How’s your father’s hair?
I always heard that male pattern baldness was from the maternal line…ie yo mamma’s daddy would be a good indicator.
I always attributed mine to years of wearing motorcycle helmets, but, YBMV
A fact for which I am immensely grateful. My maternal grandfather has some hair thinning, but he’s not bald at all. All this makes me think God loves me and wants me to be happy in life.
Motorcycle helmets, however, might be doing the trick, as you say. Baseball caps don’t rub nearly hard enough to cause hair loss–contrary to what a lot of my ethnic Confederate classmates think–but a motorcycle helmet is heavy enough to get some follicle damage going. Have a look at parts of your body that are supposed to be hairy, but get a lot of friction. Case in point: I have hairy sartyr legs, but it drops sharply off at the sock line. My inner thighs also have thinner hair than would be expected–they get a lot of friction from my clothing when I walk.
I don’t think so.
But OTOH, I have heard that people who pull their hair back and tie it in a pony-tail can cause a receding hairline. I actually saw this somewhere regarding Black women who pull their hair straight back very tight, but no cite, sorry.
Thanks raygirvan for giving a cite to back up my random memories. In particular: “This condition is most commonly seen in African American population because of the practice of styling the hair in tight braids or the use of chemical hair straighteners.”
The baldness gene was once believed to be from the mother. Latest research shows it is from both sides.