A widow’s peak is a distinctive hairline that runs across the top of a person’s forehead. Although the term’s origination is unknown, it is believed to be a slang term from Victorian England.
During that era, wives would wear a dark triangular hood or hat with a point that fell to the forehead’s middle if their husbands died.
The term stuck since a standard widow’s peak creates a triangular point.
Are Widow’s Peaks Attractive?
Widow’s peaks can be beautiful for men or women. Several famous personalities, including Hollywood celebrities, have been sporting this look. It can be emphasized by slicking the hair to the side, pulling it directly back, or spiking it straight up.
The rules of attraction aren’t straightforward. People consciously or unconsciously focus on five primary categories when feeling pulled toward a specific person: attractiveness, proximity, reciprocity, similarity, and familiarity.
When someone catches your eye and butterflies start fluttering in your stomach, that moment occurs because of physical attraction.
The feeling gets stronger if the other person turns their head because they caught you looking at them and wanted to do the same.
A widow’s peak is physically attractive to some people. It’s also not to others.
For men, it’s equivalent to having someone attracted or repelled to you because of the facial hair being sported.
When we feel attracted to someone, we often see them as having other positive attributes. This reaction is called the “Halo Effect.
We want beautiful people to be intelligent, honest, kind, talented, and sociable. Part of that reason is that we don’t always see those qualities in ourselves.
If you feel attracted to someone and don’t know why, it could be due to having that person in your life throughout the day. When you’re consistently exposed to the same individual, you can start to like them.
Although dating apps have changed this dynamic somewhat, how we decide to match with someone often involves having the same attributes – or a completely different set of them.
That’s why opposites attract. Some people prefer to be with an individual who complements their style, while others want to enjoy the company of someone with entirely different interests.
That’s why widow’s peaks can be attractive to some and not others. It also explains why you can feel nothing for one person with this trait and can’t get another out of your mind after seeing it.
What Is a Widow’s Peak?
The widow’s peak is the nickname given to the distinctive hairline that some families have. It is instantly recognizable by the V-shaped drop that occurs near the middle of the forehead. Although several myths exist as to the reason why this shaping exists, it’s no more significant than a cleft chin, curly hear, or face shape.
A standard widow’s peak hairline offers a low point in the middle that stays higher on the sides. Some people have one that is quite distinctive, while others show just a small hint of it.
This trait is usually more noticeable when pulling your hair straight back into a ponytail, shaving your hair close, or using pomade to lift it.
There isn’t enough research to determine if a widow’s peak occurs because of a single dominant gene. It could be that multiple genetics create this distinctive look.
Although a widow’s peak is not dangerous, this trait does appear to be associated with a handful of genetic conditions.
- Aarskog Syndrome. This rare genetic disorder happens because of FGD1 gene changes on the X chromosome, so it primarily affects men. People with this condition are typically shorter and have abnormalities in the limbs and face.
- Donnai-Barrow Syndrome. Mutations of the LRP2 gene cause this genetic disorder that can create unusual features for the ears, nose, and eyes.
- Opitz G/BBB Syndrome. This condition creates abnormalities along the body’s midline because it involves MID1 gene mutations.
A fourth condition associated with the widow’s peak trait is a very rare condition that changes how the face and head develop.
The vast majority of people who have a widow’s peak will not develop these different syndromes.
If you start losing hair as you age, it can look like you’ve got a widow’s peak. That outcome is not the same as having a triangular patch that appears from childhood.
Is a Widow’s Peak a Beauty Mark?
A widow’s peak is not a beauty mark. It is a dominant physical trait.
When older men have a widow’s peak, it can be a sign of male baldness. The front hairline starts receding at both corners, creating the triangular shape in the middle.
If you’ve noticed aggressive changes in your hairline in recent months, it could mean that future hair loss is coming.
Beauty marks or spots are dark facial marks, such as a birthmark, that are considered to be attractive. They appear in about 1% of the total population.
The typical beauty mark is a mole that appears on the face. It is deemed to have aesthetic value because of where it forms, creating another attractant for some people.
Moles that form on other parts of the body, including the arm or leg, are not treated the same way. Many people try to remove them when they form in those locations.
People can have a widow’s peak and a beauty mark, one or the other, or nothing at all. It depends on their genetics.
What Is an Inverted Widow’s Peak?
Although it doesn’t occur often, some men and women experience a receding hairline that starts in the middle instead of the sides.
When this event occurs, it creates an inverted widow’s peak. That means a triangular shape appears along the hairline, but without any follicle support.
It can form this way naturally for some people. Treatment options are variable, but it is typically considered a cosmetic procedure to create a straighter hairline above the forehead.
Should I Shave My Widow’s Peak?
If you don’t like how your widow’s peak looks, one of the options to remove it is to shave off the hair.
This method isn’t recommended because you’ll need to take care of the spot frequently. Most people need to shave it every day or every other day to maintain their appearance.
When you decide that you must get rid of it, the best option is to use laser treatments to permanently destroy the follicles. Waxing is another choice that delivers long-lasting results, but it won’t have the same long-term benefits.
Most people find that picking a hairstyle that de-emphasizes the widow’s peak works better for their needs.
Best Products to Use for Styling Widow’s Peaks
Whether you have curly hair with a widow’s peak or something straight and difficult, a few styling products can help you achieve the look you want almost effortlessly.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Whether you want to show it off or hide it, your styling products work better when your follicles are free of buildup and debris.
An excellent pre-treatment delivers this result while soothing the scalp and detoxing the hair. It even works on repairing any damaged follicles that could be contributing to split ends and breakage.
You’ll want to use this product for styling a widow’s peak at least twice per week while using other products for shaping and lift.
2. Amika Volume and Matte Texture Spray
If you have fine hair and a widow’s peak, the best styling options offer extra volume without making it seem like you’re about to shoot a 1980s music video. This spray applies quickly without making your hair feel stiff or sticky.
Since it’s a finishing product, it will work for all hair types. Better results come for those with fine, straight hair than those with curly locks. The outcome is instant.
3. It’s a 10 Leave-In Conditioner Spray
The best leave-in conditi0oners add shine to your hair while reducing tangles and preventing breakage.
If you have a lot of frizz after styling, something like It’s a 10 Haircare will lock down the moisture so that it seals into the cuticles.
When you have a widow’s peak to manage, you’ll create healthy strands and follicles over time that become more malleable to how you want to style everything.
You’ll notice less hair in your hairbrush or comb after a few applications, which is another benefit. That means fewer patchy or thin spots that you might need to hide.
4. Vicious Travel Hairspray
When extra style is needed to achieve the right look, this product is the one you’ll want to have at home.
It provides an above-average hold that doesn’t make your hair feel crunchy once it’s applied.
The ingredients provide extra heat protection, while the vitamin B5 infusion helps to build volume and create extra thickness.
What Should I Do with My Widow’s Peak?
A widow’s peak is part of who you are. You can choose to embrace or eliminate it. Several options are available, ranging from styling to laser treatments, to help you achieve the look you prefer.
I didn’t think anything about my widow’s peak until a terrible haircut happened my senior year. My mother was trying to save some money since we’d spent “an unreasonable fortune” on my photos, so it ended up being the two of us in a tiny bathroom.
I’d spent a long time getting the perfect look. There were multiple layers in my hair, just the right touch of highlights, and a bit of trimming around the edges of the neck and ears to prevent long strays.
Mom missed a few strands around my left ear, so I asked her to get them with the trimmer. “Sure, sweetheart,” she said with a sigh. Then the buzzing came, followed by a swift gasp.
I looked up to see an entire swath of my hair gone. It was just gone, like those ladies who accidentally trim away their eyebrows in TikTok videos.
Then my mother had the audacity to say, “Well, girls like you shouldn’t have haircuts like this anyway.”
So, I shaved my head. I rocked those senior photos. When it started to grow back, there was a very pronounced widow’s peak.
I decided to shave it until my hair grew long enough to cover the area. Once that happened, I let it grow until it was long enough for me to have bangs. It was a three-year fix.
With the right products, you can make any hairstyle look great! These are the ones I use to style my hair today, and I think you’ll also enjoy them.