Female with "five-head" contemplating hair transplant
October 4, 2016 11:15 AM Subscribe
I've been very self-conscious about my "five-head" since I was a little girl, when my own mother relentlessly criticized my appearance (I had no idea it was even a thing before that). Recently saw this article, and began contemplating how far hair transplant procedures have progressed in recent years as a viable solution for women. I'm looking for advice and thoughts from anyone who has been in a similar boat. More after the jump:
So I've researched hair transplants in the past, but the procedures were always geared toward male pattern baldness, absolutely not suitable for women, and prohibitively invasive and expensive, often with less-than-ideal results. I understand some women have used Minoxidil successfully, but considering that I'm not looking to restore hair loss (I never had the hair in that area to begin with), I doubted it would ever work for me (would love to be proven wrong about this). I've also heard that certain oils (i.e. castor oil) are good for encouraging hair growth, but again, these solutions are always suggested to those who have experienced hair LOSS, whether from traction tension (like the ballerina in the article) or alopecia or whatever. Tried it anyway, and unsurprisingly didn't notice any difference whatsoever.
Now that this article has brought the subject back into my conscious, I'm tempted to look into investing in this procedure for myself (the woman in the article cites a new technique called FUE, follicular unit extraction). I know it won't be cheap, and I'm certainly not rolling in the dough, but my high hairline and has been a source of extreme anxiety and self-consciousness my entire life and I imagine how my whole outlook and self confidence could be totally transformed if I could successfully complete this procedure.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has tried other remedies, thought about transplants, can offer pointers, etc. Obviously I'm most interested in the experiences of women, especially my "five-head" sisters, and even of transgender women whose experiences might parallel this.
So I've researched hair transplants in the past, but the procedures were always geared toward male pattern baldness, absolutely not suitable for women, and prohibitively invasive and expensive, often with less-than-ideal results. I understand some women have used Minoxidil successfully, but considering that I'm not looking to restore hair loss (I never had the hair in that area to begin with), I doubted it would ever work for me (would love to be proven wrong about this). I've also heard that certain oils (i.e. castor oil) are good for encouraging hair growth, but again, these solutions are always suggested to those who have experienced hair LOSS, whether from traction tension (like the ballerina in the article) or alopecia or whatever. Tried it anyway, and unsurprisingly didn't notice any difference whatsoever.
Now that this article has brought the subject back into my conscious, I'm tempted to look into investing in this procedure for myself (the woman in the article cites a new technique called FUE, follicular unit extraction). I know it won't be cheap, and I'm certainly not rolling in the dough, but my high hairline and has been a source of extreme anxiety and self-consciousness my entire life and I imagine how my whole outlook and self confidence could be totally transformed if I could successfully complete this procedure.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has tried other remedies, thought about transplants, can offer pointers, etc. Obviously I'm most interested in the experiences of women, especially my "five-head" sisters, and even of transgender women whose experiences might parallel this.
You might also try consulting a facial plastic surgeon about a modified brow lift, which might be able to lower your hairline and/or raise your eyebrows to a degree that would satisfy you while still being natural. I stressed the word 'might' because I am only casually informed about brow lifts and don't know how feasible it is--but there is a technique commonly used for people who want to raise their brows without raising their hairline.
posted by Autumnheart at 11:36 AM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 11:36 AM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
My hairline has almost always been like that - never knew it was anything less than desirable until last year. (!) Personally, I don't think your link is a solution to what some people just have as their natural hair pattern: I refuse to let this be something else to worry about. But I respect you may have a different position on the matter.
I have a sensitive/itchy scalp, so sometimes have hydrocortisone to put on the itch. When I put HC on that upper part, I do get more hair growth in the upper corners. But there is a risk with sun when you use HC, so be careful.
I have also had alopecia (recovered fully from it), so I am very much on the wavelength of "love the hair you have". I won't have Eva Mendez's hair, as much as I'd want to. I have thin, quick to become oily, and misbehaving hair. But given the amount of effort I am willing to put into it, my budget, and my wellbeing, I am happy to stick with it.
In the end, if you have experienced hair loss, it may be worth speaking for an expert for a consultation.
posted by troytroy at 11:47 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have a sensitive/itchy scalp, so sometimes have hydrocortisone to put on the itch. When I put HC on that upper part, I do get more hair growth in the upper corners. But there is a risk with sun when you use HC, so be careful.
I have also had alopecia (recovered fully from it), so I am very much on the wavelength of "love the hair you have". I won't have Eva Mendez's hair, as much as I'd want to. I have thin, quick to become oily, and misbehaving hair. But given the amount of effort I am willing to put into it, my budget, and my wellbeing, I am happy to stick with it.
In the end, if you have experienced hair loss, it may be worth speaking for an expert for a consultation.
posted by troytroy at 11:47 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am sure you've talked to your hairdresser about this, but have you considered that old standby, bangs, to help conceal your fivehead? (For what it's worth, as I am sure you know, LOTS of people have a high forehead, including the glorious Tyra Banks.) I think a consultation with a really really good hairstylist might at least go a ways toward an in-between solution while you figure this out. My own hairdresser does a lot of work with women who've lost hair in that area (through alopecia or medical issues) and there are a lot of hair extension-y type things you can actually do for that part of your head that AREN'T just fake clip-on bangs. (If you are in LA, I'm happy to recommend my guy, so MeMail me if that's the case.)
I personally have hair extensions (and LOVE THEM) because my own hair is super fine and hates to grow, so I totally encourage you splashing out some money to help yourself feel better about what's happening on your head.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:48 AM on October 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
I personally have hair extensions (and LOVE THEM) because my own hair is super fine and hates to grow, so I totally encourage you splashing out some money to help yourself feel better about what's happening on your head.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:48 AM on October 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
That woman has blond dyed hair (low contrast between hair and skin means anything weird is less noticeable) and her centre hairline was intact- it was just her temples that got filled in. Temples are easier to disguise because hair tends to hang down over them and cover them so we don't have strong expectations about how temples look anyway. Sometimes temple hairlines are really irregular, anything goes.
But centre hairlines are different. We see them all the time and we notice when they look fake. Hair grows thinner there, and in irregular shapes And directions, with baby hairs and visible scalp. I would be concerned that transplanting strips across the centre hairline might look too thick and uniform, and therefore really weird and wiggy- it would be hard to get the hair density, baby hairs, and growth pattern to look natural. If it's too thick or uniform across the centre hairline your hair will look like a wig.
All that to say, "female hairline lowering" is a thing- but don't go cheap! Get a doctor who matches hair direction and uses tiny plugs rather than strips.
Or just embrace the high forehead- Rachel McAdams, Rihanna, and Tyra Banks all make it work beautifully!
posted by pseudostrabismus at 11:51 AM on October 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
But centre hairlines are different. We see them all the time and we notice when they look fake. Hair grows thinner there, and in irregular shapes And directions, with baby hairs and visible scalp. I would be concerned that transplanting strips across the centre hairline might look too thick and uniform, and therefore really weird and wiggy- it would be hard to get the hair density, baby hairs, and growth pattern to look natural. If it's too thick or uniform across the centre hairline your hair will look like a wig.
All that to say, "female hairline lowering" is a thing- but don't go cheap! Get a doctor who matches hair direction and uses tiny plugs rather than strips.
Or just embrace the high forehead- Rachel McAdams, Rihanna, and Tyra Banks all make it work beautifully!
posted by pseudostrabismus at 11:51 AM on October 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
As an alternative, could you use this money for some therapy to help you work through your mom's abuse?
posted by valeries at 11:51 AM on October 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by valeries at 11:51 AM on October 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
I haven't done the comparisons, but I feel like a good wig would probably be cheaper, and if you decide you don't like it or it doesn't look good, you can take it off.
posted by possibilityleft at 12:06 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by possibilityleft at 12:06 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
WTF, your mom?! Did she think you could just change your hairline if you worked at it hard enough?
I like the suggestions above about seeking out a stylist and trying out a few things with your hair. Maybe also seek out a makeup artist and just play with your look - it might be fun to play up your bone structure or your eyes.
And please ban "five-head" from your language. It is not a thing that exists unless you were literally born with five heads. You have a hairline, a normal hairline and you have some dismorphia about it. And you have a mother who made a real mistake in her treatment of you. I'm sorry about that.
posted by amanda at 12:08 PM on October 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
I like the suggestions above about seeking out a stylist and trying out a few things with your hair. Maybe also seek out a makeup artist and just play with your look - it might be fun to play up your bone structure or your eyes.
And please ban "five-head" from your language. It is not a thing that exists unless you were literally born with five heads. You have a hairline, a normal hairline and you have some dismorphia about it. And you have a mother who made a real mistake in her treatment of you. I'm sorry about that.
posted by amanda at 12:08 PM on October 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
Ugh, I hate cutesy names for things that are "wrong" with women's appearances (fivehead, cankles, fupa, YUCK!!) All they do is make women and girls feel bad about normal things not generally within their control and not even wrong. And those terms become weapons in the hands of abusive people like your mother.
Your forehead is not wrong and does not need to be corrected. A high forehead is usually considered very regal looking and attractive.
FWIW, I don't think the model's appearance is really altered so much after what sounds like an expensive, painful, and probably temporary procedure. To me it looks like her baby hairs at her temple were light and frizzing out in the before, and darker and more tamed in the after. Also, if we are to believe her story, she experienced hair loss based on hairstyle, she wasn't correcting her natural forehead. (Generally if your hair loss was caused by hairstyle, doctors tell you to, you know, stop with the tight hairstyle, try minoxidil, see if it grows back, not resort to surgery, which is no joke. So this tale is kinda iffy to me.)
Sorry for the lecture. It's just that when you mention your mother's abuse, this seems to be fueling you, rather than a realistic acceptance of yourself and desire to enhance.
my high hairline and has been a source of extreme anxiety and self-consciousness my entire life and I imagine how my whole outlook and self confidence could be totally transformed if I could successfully complete this procedure.
I wish that were so. I felt that way about my weight but then I lost it and I'm still me and have the same (and some new) problems.
What about trying to address the extreme anxiety and self-consciousness and your abuse FIRST, and THEN research options if you want to go that route? Less expensive, less risky.
posted by kapers at 12:57 PM on October 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Your forehead is not wrong and does not need to be corrected. A high forehead is usually considered very regal looking and attractive.
FWIW, I don't think the model's appearance is really altered so much after what sounds like an expensive, painful, and probably temporary procedure. To me it looks like her baby hairs at her temple were light and frizzing out in the before, and darker and more tamed in the after. Also, if we are to believe her story, she experienced hair loss based on hairstyle, she wasn't correcting her natural forehead. (Generally if your hair loss was caused by hairstyle, doctors tell you to, you know, stop with the tight hairstyle, try minoxidil, see if it grows back, not resort to surgery, which is no joke. So this tale is kinda iffy to me.)
Sorry for the lecture. It's just that when you mention your mother's abuse, this seems to be fueling you, rather than a realistic acceptance of yourself and desire to enhance.
my high hairline and has been a source of extreme anxiety and self-consciousness my entire life and I imagine how my whole outlook and self confidence could be totally transformed if I could successfully complete this procedure.
I wish that were so. I felt that way about my weight but then I lost it and I'm still me and have the same (and some new) problems.
What about trying to address the extreme anxiety and self-consciousness and your abuse FIRST, and THEN research options if you want to go that route? Less expensive, less risky.
posted by kapers at 12:57 PM on October 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Response by poster: Appreciate the comments so far! To respond to some:
- It's true that women's magazines push lots of unrealistic beauty ideals to try and sell things, but this article didn't put something in my head that wasn't already there. I have a too-broad forehead and a too-high hairline, and I've been bothered by this for years before I stumbled upon that article.
- Not sure I'd want to have my brows lifted; I'd be afraid of looking constantly surprised while doing nothing to fix the hairline issue. But thanks for the suggestion; worth looking into at least.
- My high hairline is somewhat similar to the shape of the woman's in the article. That is, my temples are especially bare. Think Christina Ricci, but with even more scooped out (hairless) temples. So it would not be an issue of just lowering the center hairline.
- My hair is quite thin, somewhat wavy, and looks terrible with bangs. I've tried cutting bangs too many times to count, each time thinking somehow it might help, and each time remembering why bangs just don't work for me after the fact! The irony is that if I had the hair I'm missing, I'd probably be able to wear bangs because they would look fuller and hang better.
- My mother's criticism was always dished out "playfully", but it had a lasting negative effect. I don't want to say she was abusive necessarily; she was just extremely blunt. Those of you who grew up with Asian immigrant parents probably know what I'm talking about. Tbh, my forehead is only one of several things my parents criticized about my body. I also grew up hearing that I was too heavy and should have been born a boy. Anyway, while it's true that I have some dysmorphia because of my childhood, it's also true that my hairline is abnormally high and draws unwanted attention if I'm not careful about how I style it. Sudden gusts of wind are not my friend. I'd LOVE to be able to wake up in the morning, tie a ponytail (or not), and be totally carefree about my appearance. I'm not looking to be transformed into some supermodel. I just want to look NORMAL, or at least AVERAGE.
posted by petitemom at 1:14 PM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
- It's true that women's magazines push lots of unrealistic beauty ideals to try and sell things, but this article didn't put something in my head that wasn't already there. I have a too-broad forehead and a too-high hairline, and I've been bothered by this for years before I stumbled upon that article.
- Not sure I'd want to have my brows lifted; I'd be afraid of looking constantly surprised while doing nothing to fix the hairline issue. But thanks for the suggestion; worth looking into at least.
- My high hairline is somewhat similar to the shape of the woman's in the article. That is, my temples are especially bare. Think Christina Ricci, but with even more scooped out (hairless) temples. So it would not be an issue of just lowering the center hairline.
- My hair is quite thin, somewhat wavy, and looks terrible with bangs. I've tried cutting bangs too many times to count, each time thinking somehow it might help, and each time remembering why bangs just don't work for me after the fact! The irony is that if I had the hair I'm missing, I'd probably be able to wear bangs because they would look fuller and hang better.
- My mother's criticism was always dished out "playfully", but it had a lasting negative effect. I don't want to say she was abusive necessarily; she was just extremely blunt. Those of you who grew up with Asian immigrant parents probably know what I'm talking about. Tbh, my forehead is only one of several things my parents criticized about my body. I also grew up hearing that I was too heavy and should have been born a boy. Anyway, while it's true that I have some dysmorphia because of my childhood, it's also true that my hairline is abnormally high and draws unwanted attention if I'm not careful about how I style it. Sudden gusts of wind are not my friend. I'd LOVE to be able to wake up in the morning, tie a ponytail (or not), and be totally carefree about my appearance. I'm not looking to be transformed into some supermodel. I just want to look NORMAL, or at least AVERAGE.
posted by petitemom at 1:14 PM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
You have a hairline, a normal hairline and you have some dismorphia about it. And you have a mother who made a real mistake in her treatment of you. I'm sorry about that.
yup, came in to say something similar, and of course point out Tyra Banks, a super model, who has a high forehead. (i had never heard of "five head" and had to google it.)
i have lots of things i hate about myself: ice pick scars from cystic acne all over my face; stained/yellowing/not straight teeth; thin hair; i could really go on and on and on. but the problem isn't really my "flaws" or your forehead, it's how we view them and other people view them. almost no one notices my "flaws" and i'm sure anyone who's looking at you thinks nothing derogatory about your forehead.
truly, the problem here is your mom and her bullying and mistreatment of you when you were younger. you can work through that with therapy or self reflection or whatever works for you. but please don't spend a) a lot of money on something that b) might not work or c) might not look natural just because the one person who was supposed to love you unconditionally thought it appropriate to tease you about your physical appearance.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 1:20 PM on October 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
yup, came in to say something similar, and of course point out Tyra Banks, a super model, who has a high forehead. (i had never heard of "five head" and had to google it.)
i have lots of things i hate about myself: ice pick scars from cystic acne all over my face; stained/yellowing/not straight teeth; thin hair; i could really go on and on and on. but the problem isn't really my "flaws" or your forehead, it's how we view them and other people view them. almost no one notices my "flaws" and i'm sure anyone who's looking at you thinks nothing derogatory about your forehead.
truly, the problem here is your mom and her bullying and mistreatment of you when you were younger. you can work through that with therapy or self reflection or whatever works for you. but please don't spend a) a lot of money on something that b) might not work or c) might not look natural just because the one person who was supposed to love you unconditionally thought it appropriate to tease you about your physical appearance.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 1:20 PM on October 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
That thing you described, of already having a complex about an aspect of your appearance, and this article merely reminded you of it is these magazines' exact M.O. They prey upon women's pre-existing insecurities. (Not to mention also popularizing terms like "fivehead", "butterface", etc. in order to create new ones.)
I really dislike my thick ankles after being teased about it by other women in my family as a child. Now anytime a women's magazine talks about "cankles", it brings that stuff flooding back. Doubly so if they are suggesting new products, medical procedures, specific clothes to wear to camouflage them, or really anything to spend money on to supposedly alleviate this "problem" that I have. Which they created. By coining the term cankles and making generations of women aware that this is an "ugly" feature to shame other women about.
posted by Sara C. at 1:26 PM on October 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I really dislike my thick ankles after being teased about it by other women in my family as a child. Now anytime a women's magazine talks about "cankles", it brings that stuff flooding back. Doubly so if they are suggesting new products, medical procedures, specific clothes to wear to camouflage them, or really anything to spend money on to supposedly alleviate this "problem" that I have. Which they created. By coining the term cankles and making generations of women aware that this is an "ugly" feature to shame other women about.
posted by Sara C. at 1:26 PM on October 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I just googled it. Dang! All my life I've had five head and I never even knew! I always thought I was a normal average woman.
Sorry this aspect of your body bothers you- I think the best answer will come from a hair transplant specialist.
posted by SyraCarol at 1:30 PM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Sorry this aspect of your body bothers you- I think the best answer will come from a hair transplant specialist.
posted by SyraCarol at 1:30 PM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Given your update, I am going to reiterate my suggestion that you to talk to a professional hairstylist about hair extensions. They can be used to fill in volume, including at the temples, and can add volume to bangs and the rest of your head. They're less expensive and less invasive than a transplant, which could go wrong on you.
A LOT can be done with hairpieces these days to get a really natural look, without going for a full-on wig, way more than you would even imagine. Just make sure you go to someone that comes highly recommended, and be very honest with them.
I don't think there is anything wrong with choosing to change something about your appearance that bothers you. I spent years trying to just accept my own shitty hair and I was way happier once I threw some money at the issue. While I do agree it would be useful to talk to someone about the way your mother's cruel behavior has impacted your self-esteem, you can do that AND futz with your hair at the same time if you want to -- I don't think it has to be an either/or scenario.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 1:41 PM on October 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
A LOT can be done with hairpieces these days to get a really natural look, without going for a full-on wig, way more than you would even imagine. Just make sure you go to someone that comes highly recommended, and be very honest with them.
I don't think there is anything wrong with choosing to change something about your appearance that bothers you. I spent years trying to just accept my own shitty hair and I was way happier once I threw some money at the issue. While I do agree it would be useful to talk to someone about the way your mother's cruel behavior has impacted your self-esteem, you can do that AND futz with your hair at the same time if you want to -- I don't think it has to be an either/or scenario.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 1:41 PM on October 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Mod note: Folks, at this point the suggestion about therapy has been made, so please direct further comments to the question about hair technologies. Thanks.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:45 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:45 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
From my point of view as a trans woman this is a perfectly reasonable thing to want, but I think you are unlikely to get useful information about it here.
You might try asking on the /r/asktransgender subreddit. They sometimes get questions from cis women dealing with the same sorts of clothing and beauty issues that trans women face, and I've seen those threads go pretty well in the past. (I know Reddit has a bad reputation here, but that subreddit in particular is pretty okay — well moderated and generally kind and helpful.)
Another place to look is susans.org. I don't know if they allow cis people to post — I'm not a member and I'm less familiar with the moderation over there — and I will say that the site culture there can be pretty dysfunctional. But at very least there are a bunch of existing threads about hair transplants and hairline advancement that you might find useful to read.
(I'm sure there are also non-trans-oriented forums where you can get advice about cosmetic surgery from people who have had it themselves. But I'm not closely familiar with any of them, so I'm sticking to what I know.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 1:45 PM on October 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
You might try asking on the /r/asktransgender subreddit. They sometimes get questions from cis women dealing with the same sorts of clothing and beauty issues that trans women face, and I've seen those threads go pretty well in the past. (I know Reddit has a bad reputation here, but that subreddit in particular is pretty okay — well moderated and generally kind and helpful.)
Another place to look is susans.org. I don't know if they allow cis people to post — I'm not a member and I'm less familiar with the moderation over there — and I will say that the site culture there can be pretty dysfunctional. But at very least there are a bunch of existing threads about hair transplants and hairline advancement that you might find useful to read.
(I'm sure there are also non-trans-oriented forums where you can get advice about cosmetic surgery from people who have had it themselves. But I'm not closely familiar with any of them, so I'm sticking to what I know.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 1:45 PM on October 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
It's expensive and invasive and I hate to recommend it because I'm certain you look absolutely just fine as you are, but plastic surgeons do perform forehead reduction surgeries. Hair transplants from what I've seen look much more natural when they are filling in a sparse existing hairline rather than creating one from scratch.
I will also throw in a few additional beautiful actresses who embrace their high foreheads: Lotte Verbeek, Jenna Malone, Angelina Jolie.
posted by cecic at 1:48 PM on October 4, 2016
I will also throw in a few additional beautiful actresses who embrace their high foreheads: Lotte Verbeek, Jenna Malone, Angelina Jolie.
posted by cecic at 1:48 PM on October 4, 2016
Oh man. My mother did her own version of damage when she remarked that I inherited the "Neanderthal hairline" and what I wouldn't give for an extra inch of forehead.
Anyway: I feel you.
posted by Dressed to Kill at 1:57 PM on October 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Anyway: I feel you.
posted by Dressed to Kill at 1:57 PM on October 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Oh! And my solution was to start wearing cloche hats everywhere at around age 25. So I've spent 10 years without direct sunlight on my face and people always tell me my hats are so stylish!
(...thanks mom?)
posted by Dressed to Kill at 1:58 PM on October 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
(...thanks mom?)
posted by Dressed to Kill at 1:58 PM on October 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Totally understand the Asian penchant for criticism dismissed as love.
That said, there's nothing wrong with wanting to change something about yourself that you don't like, regardless of how society perceives whatever 'flaw' you believe yourself to have. As someone who has alopecia areata that has thankfully relegated itself to the back of my head (so far), I believe hair loss is particularly stressful for women.
Please consult a plastic surgeon that specializes in hair transplants, and they can show you before/after pictures of their patients so you know it isn't a possibly trumped-up advertising piece. My friend underwent hair transplant surgery for a receding hairline and loves her results. The transformation was somewhat as dramatic as the one in the article you linked to, but she has fair skin and thick black hair so it was still a little thinner up front. It was, however, a huge difference to what she had before the procedure, and her confidence soared. Good luck!
posted by Everydayville at 2:35 PM on October 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
That said, there's nothing wrong with wanting to change something about yourself that you don't like, regardless of how society perceives whatever 'flaw' you believe yourself to have. As someone who has alopecia areata that has thankfully relegated itself to the back of my head (so far), I believe hair loss is particularly stressful for women.
Please consult a plastic surgeon that specializes in hair transplants, and they can show you before/after pictures of their patients so you know it isn't a possibly trumped-up advertising piece. My friend underwent hair transplant surgery for a receding hairline and loves her results. The transformation was somewhat as dramatic as the one in the article you linked to, but she has fair skin and thick black hair so it was still a little thinner up front. It was, however, a huge difference to what she had before the procedure, and her confidence soared. Good luck!
posted by Everydayville at 2:35 PM on October 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Maybe consider hair extensions as a "test drive" to see if you like the effect before pursuing surgery.
posted by instamatic at 2:44 PM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by instamatic at 2:44 PM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I came in to suggest clip-in bangs and hair extensions; some amazing things can be done with clip-in hair, if you can get someone good with it to show you. I had a friend whose clip-ins I didn't know weren't her hair for an embarrassingly long time. It can be pricey but it's still far less so than surgery, so maybe a good first step.
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:59 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:59 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Echoing nebulawindphone, I recently read an article by a trans woman who had facial surgery, including a hairline repair. She also wanted more volume of hair at her temples (she described her hairline as M-shaped). In her case, some skin was excised and the skin on her head was stretched slightly down.
I support your desire to get this surgery if you can afford it and it's safe for you to do so! We all do things to make our appearances more in line with what we'd like them to be, and plastic surgery is a totally valid option, as long as you are aware of the risks and as long as you do the research to make sure you get a competent surgeon.
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:07 PM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I support your desire to get this surgery if you can afford it and it's safe for you to do so! We all do things to make our appearances more in line with what we'd like them to be, and plastic surgery is a totally valid option, as long as you are aware of the risks and as long as you do the research to make sure you get a competent surgeon.
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:07 PM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: My friend underwent hair transplant surgery for a receding hairline and loves her results. The transformation was somewhat as dramatic as the one in the article you linked to, but she has fair skin and thick black hair so it was still a little thinner up front. It was, however, a huge difference to what she had before the procedure, and her confidence soared.
@Everydayville, would your friend be willing to share the name of her surgeon?
posted by petitemom at 3:09 PM on October 4, 2016
@Everydayville, would your friend be willing to share the name of her surgeon?
posted by petitemom at 3:09 PM on October 4, 2016
I don't think we have the exact same type of "fivehead"; mine is not wide, just taller than I wish (I'd love to have a rounder or even more heartshaped face with broader brow, but alas, I have an oval). I also have creases/pores on my forehead that I don't like!
For me, the solution was bangs. I know you say you have tried bangs, and without knowing your hair texture or anything about your face/hairline, I can't really give a specific recommendation, but I got really thick bangs, from almost the crown of my head. They are thick, I blowdry them super quickly each morning (nothing fancy, literally just blowdry them back and forth from the left and right with a little pomade in my hair, to keep them from going curly on me), and that's it. I don't even think about my forehead anymore.
I went to a "trendy" salon where they were willing to do these more statement-y, vintage, deep bangs on me. In the past, when I went to regular hairstylists, they cut very thin/shallow bangs that I hated and which frankly looked awful on me. They were thin and stringy; you could see my forehead through them (I'm blonde), and they were a bitch to style. But thick bangs are oddly much easier-- they want to lie flat more, and they create an opaque shield over your forehead. Dry shampoo does wonders.
In fact, I recently realized that I would like to try growing them out a bit and doing the all-hair-pulled-back-into-a-ponytail look, because... I don't hate my forehead anymore! I still don't feel super great about it, but I've learned to volumize and highlight and even subtly contour my face in such a way that it no longer looks bad to me, and once I realized I could change how it looked with hair/makeup, I no longer hate it in its natural state.
Disclaimer: "Deep" bangs are kind of a commitment, because they take longer to grow out. So if you are cold on bangs, maybe try a wig or something for awhile. But if you go to get them cut in, be sure to be very clear that you want thick/deep bangs.
Also, in the meantime, think about styling your brows differently; if you don't normally have anything done with them, maybe try to get them shaped (from a very good professional!!), or start filling them in with a brow gel or powder. When I have more statement brows, my forehead kind of disappears into the background.
posted by stoneandstar at 3:41 PM on October 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
For me, the solution was bangs. I know you say you have tried bangs, and without knowing your hair texture or anything about your face/hairline, I can't really give a specific recommendation, but I got really thick bangs, from almost the crown of my head. They are thick, I blowdry them super quickly each morning (nothing fancy, literally just blowdry them back and forth from the left and right with a little pomade in my hair, to keep them from going curly on me), and that's it. I don't even think about my forehead anymore.
I went to a "trendy" salon where they were willing to do these more statement-y, vintage, deep bangs on me. In the past, when I went to regular hairstylists, they cut very thin/shallow bangs that I hated and which frankly looked awful on me. They were thin and stringy; you could see my forehead through them (I'm blonde), and they were a bitch to style. But thick bangs are oddly much easier-- they want to lie flat more, and they create an opaque shield over your forehead. Dry shampoo does wonders.
In fact, I recently realized that I would like to try growing them out a bit and doing the all-hair-pulled-back-into-a-ponytail look, because... I don't hate my forehead anymore! I still don't feel super great about it, but I've learned to volumize and highlight and even subtly contour my face in such a way that it no longer looks bad to me, and once I realized I could change how it looked with hair/makeup, I no longer hate it in its natural state.
Disclaimer: "Deep" bangs are kind of a commitment, because they take longer to grow out. So if you are cold on bangs, maybe try a wig or something for awhile. But if you go to get them cut in, be sure to be very clear that you want thick/deep bangs.
Also, in the meantime, think about styling your brows differently; if you don't normally have anything done with them, maybe try to get them shaped (from a very good professional!!), or start filling them in with a brow gel or powder. When I have more statement brows, my forehead kind of disappears into the background.
posted by stoneandstar at 3:41 PM on October 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
It's your body and I am in no position to tell anyone how they should look or what they should do with their body.
There are lots of women with gorgeous five-heads. I have kind of a bony forehead — not sure if it's full-blown five-head but it's... prominant. Others have already mentioned Tyra Banks, you mentioned Christina Ricci. There is also Rihanna, Heather Graham, Uma Thurman and more. I know a lot of women use creative hairstyles and makeup (highlighting and contouring) to minimize their five-heads. Seeing all these beuatiful women with prominant foreheads has made me feel a lot better about mine.
I also have a lot of icky feelings around invasive surgery, especially elective surgery, and especially cosmetic surgery. But that's MY OWN HANGUP, not yours. However, since I've started watching YouTube beauty tutorials my stance on that has softened quite a bit. A number of YouTube beauty stars have had cosmetic "enhancements," and I agree with people like NikkiTutorials and Jeffree Star, who say that you should do things to make you feel better about yourself, even if those things include cosmetic surgery — as long as you're doing them for yourself.
But enough about me. What I came here to post was Jeffree Star's hair transplant story which might give you an idea of what the actual procedure is like and what results look like in real life (i.e. not in a magazine ad).
posted by Brittanie at 3:21 AM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
There are lots of women with gorgeous five-heads. I have kind of a bony forehead — not sure if it's full-blown five-head but it's... prominant. Others have already mentioned Tyra Banks, you mentioned Christina Ricci. There is also Rihanna, Heather Graham, Uma Thurman and more. I know a lot of women use creative hairstyles and makeup (highlighting and contouring) to minimize their five-heads. Seeing all these beuatiful women with prominant foreheads has made me feel a lot better about mine.
I also have a lot of icky feelings around invasive surgery, especially elective surgery, and especially cosmetic surgery. But that's MY OWN HANGUP, not yours. However, since I've started watching YouTube beauty tutorials my stance on that has softened quite a bit. A number of YouTube beauty stars have had cosmetic "enhancements," and I agree with people like NikkiTutorials and Jeffree Star, who say that you should do things to make you feel better about yourself, even if those things include cosmetic surgery — as long as you're doing them for yourself.
But enough about me. What I came here to post was Jeffree Star's hair transplant story which might give you an idea of what the actual procedure is like and what results look like in real life (i.e. not in a magazine ad).
posted by Brittanie at 3:21 AM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you look up the procedure in your area, you will find names of doctors who perform it. You can then check their reviews (discounting any that scream "fake," of course) or go in for a consult and they should be able to show you before and after photos of REAL patients, and discuss what you can expect (and run if you feel they are trying to sell you something, of course.)
Did you try looking on realself.com? I can't vouch for authenticity but supposedly it's real reviews of various cosmetic procedures.
posted by kapers at 11:21 AM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Did you try looking on realself.com? I can't vouch for authenticity but supposedly it's real reviews of various cosmetic procedures.
posted by kapers at 11:21 AM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
1. It sounds like the person in that situation sought out the surgery after she experienced an unusual amount of hair loss. Hair transplants for male pattern baldness are also typically indicated after hair loss.
2. You realize that articles like this in magazines like Good Housekeeping function as stealth advertisements, right? There's a strong chance that this is a paid placement by a cosmetic surgeon's association, or at best, it's likely that this article got written because the PR wing of a pro cosmetic surgery special interest group sent a press release to Good Housekeeping.
3. Keep in mind that there are no guarantees that the procedure actually does what this article asserts, or even that the facts as relayed in this article are accurate. There is nothing to prevent anyone photoshopping the "after" photo of the woman who received the hair transplant procedure, for example. Women's magazines make outsized claims about beauty treatments all the time. It's possible to see that as their raison d'etre, in fact.
4. I'm a strong proponent of women doing what they want with their bodies. Get a boob job, dye your hair, hire a trainer or a nutritionist! You should be able to look how you wanna look, regardless of what anyone else thinks. That said, it makes me sad that an advertorial in a magazine designed to sell things to women by making us feel bad about ourselves is driving your thoughts about this.
posted by Sara C. at 11:31 AM on October 4, 2016 [12 favorites]