HFA hairlines

 
 

There are three areas to look at 

  • Height
  • Shape
  • Hair growing on the forehead

HEIGHT (front on photo – hair pulled back)

Tips

  • Look at the height of the hairline 
  • If the hairline is above (1cm or more) the starting point of the natural curve of the forehead it is high 
  • This is a point where everyone’s forehead becomes the start of their scalp 
  • If the hairline is on the curve of the forehead it is average or unrated 
  • If it is lower (1cm or less) it is rated as low 
  • A few stray hairs should be ignored – take the main growing point of the hairline as your measuring point
  • Sometimes it is easier to assess the height by the profile image - if the commencement of the hairline is at least 1cm* higher than the natural curve point of the forehead the height will be rated high and given one blue point. If the patient has a widows peak or M hairline shape use the lowest point of their hairline shape as the measurement for height (usually the bottom of the peak). If that point is within average range (even if the sides are higher) the hairline will still be within average parameters and not rated as high

*1cm is the general rule but some hairlines will look high even when the starting point of the hairline is only .5cm above the natural curve - this is because that curve is higher than average - use your discretion to determine and if unsure add as a ? blue point.

SHAPE (front on photo – hair pulled back)

Tips

Pull the hair tightly back with two hands to see what the natural shape is. If you let the hair fall softly it may create a shape that is not true to what it actually is. Ignore a few stray hairs. Look at the overall shape. People with very short hair should still pull their hair back tightly with two hands.

AMOUNT OF HAIR GROWING INWARD (front on photo – hair pulled back)

Parameters of measurement - measure the forehead area by drawing 2 vertical lines - UPWARDS - starting from the outer edges of the eyebrows and - ENDING - in line with the hairline shape - ACROSS - the forehead

The forehead area is defined as the area above the eyes. Where the hair grows into this area it is considered to be a ‘crowded’ hairline. Often the hairline is shorter across the top than average and the hair grows on an angle to the temples – when you measure from the edge of the eyes upwards a non crowded hairline is outside of this line – a crowded hairline grows within this line. Another way of measuring is to draw a dotted line which forms a quadrant from the outer eyes up and across the hairline. Where hair grows inside these lines in the top quadrants (both sides) it is crowded – more than a few stray hairs. You will see an "in growing" of hair.

Tips

  • Look at the shape of the hairline along the temple and side area 
  • Pull the hair tightly back with two hands to see what the natural shape is 
  • If you let the hair fall softly it may create a shape that is not true to what it actually is 
  • Ignore a few stray hairs 
  • Look at the overall shape - if the hair grows into the forehead area there will be a ‘crowded’ appearance 
  • Sometimes a crowded hairline will be seen where there are numerous shorter hairs growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the hair along the hairline – this will be clearly seen when the hair is pulled back tightly 
  • Ignore a few hairs growing the opposite way.