Widow's Peak Hairstyles for Women: What It Is & How to Style It

A widow's peak is a V-shaped point in the hairline at the center of the forehead. For most people it's a normal variation, and many hairstyles show it off or soften it.

Here's what a widow's peak is, how common it is, how to tell it from a receding hairline, and styles that work with it.

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Key Takeaways

• A widow's peak is a V-shaped extension of the front hairline. In most people it's a normal variant.
• It's very common in women: it was present in 81% of 360 women in one study and 94% of 103 women in another.
• A widow's peak is not the same as a receding hairline. Hair loss at the temples is a different thing that a doctor can diagnose.

What Is A Widow's Peak?

A widow's peak is a V-shaped point where the hairline reaches down at the center of the forehead. It's a natural feature of the hairline, not a sign that something is wrong.

Widow's Peak Or Receding Hairline?

They can look similar, but they're different. A widow's peak is a feature of your natural hairline pattern. A receding hairline is hair loss. If your hairline is moving back or thinning at the temples, it's worth showing a dermatologist. Knowing your normal pattern is a useful baseline for that conversation.

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How To Style A Widow's Peak

There's no single right way to wear one. These are styling ideas, not medical advice:

• Show it off. A middle part, slicked-back styles and pixie cuts put the peak front and center.
• Soften it. Side-swept bangs, an off-center part and soft waves or layers that fall across the forehead blend the point into the rest of your hair.
• Try before you commit. Test a new part or bangs with clips or a headband first, and ask your stylist for advice that fits your hair texture.

What The Research Says

Originally believed to be an omen of early widowhood, the widow's peak is now known to be a morphogenetic trait, and in the majority of cases it is a normal variant (Kyriakou et al., 2021).

How common is it? In a study of 360 women, a widow's peak was present in 81% (Nusbaum & Fuentefria, 2009). In 103 healthy premenopausal Spanish women it was present in 94.17%, with a mean height of 1.01 cm and width of 2.13 cm. The authors noted that knowing normal hairline patterns can matter when evaluating women with hair loss (Ceballos et al., 2013).

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If you are considering a very short fringe, see micro bangs.

See also: Hairline Receding on One Side: Causes, Warning Signs & When to See a Doctor · Hair Whorl: What It Is and What Research Shows

For the causes in men and women and what can slow it, see our guide to receding hairlines.

For cuts and styling tricks that make thinning hair look fuller, see our guide to hairstyles for thinning hair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a widow's peak normal?

Yes. In the majority of people it's a normal variant, and it was present in most women in two separate studies.

Does a widow's peak mean I'm going bald?

We found no study showing that a widow's peak predicts baldness. Hair loss is a separate change, so if your hairline is moving back or thinning, see a dermatologist.

What hairstyles work with a widow's peak?

It's personal. Side-swept bangs, an off-center part and soft waves soften the peak, while a middle part, a slicked-back look or a pixie cut shows it off.

References

1. Kyriakou G, Glentis A, Papanikolaou S. Widow's peak: a usually overlooked, yet significant morphogenetic trait. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2021. PubMed
2. Nusbaum BP, Fuentefria S. Naturally occurring female hairline patterns. Dermatol Surg. 2009. PubMed
3. Ceballos C, Priego C, Méndez C, et al. Study of frontal hairline patterns in Spanish Caucasian women. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2013. PubMed