Your hairline is a line of hair follicles that make up the outside edges of your hair.

An uneven hairline lacks symmetry, usually with one side having more or less hair than the other.

Uneven hairlines are relatively common and are experienced by both women and men. There are four major contributors to an uneven hairline:

Genetics

An uneven hairline often looks like a receding hairline caused by hair loss. If members of your family have receding hairlines, then your uneven hairline might be inherited.

Male pattern baldness

Male pattern baldness, also called androgenetic alopecia, typically includes a receding hairline — often in an M-shaped pattern with thinning hair around the head’s crown. It’s believed to be caused by a combination of genetics and the male hormone dihydrotestosterone.

Eventually that uneven hairline becomes baldness with a horseshoe of hair that starts above the ears and circles around the back of the head.

There’s also female pattern hair loss that presents with a different pattern.

Traction alopecia

Traction alopecia is gradual hair loss typically caused by a pulling force on hair such as through ponytails, buns, and braids. This can happen to both females and males even if there’s no family history of uneven hairlines or pattern baldness.

Hair transplant

An uneven hairline could be the result of an improperly performed hair transplant. This can happen if the transplant didn’t properly replicate natural looking growth patterns or didn’t shape your hairline to properly frame your face.

If the asymmetrical shape of your hairline bothers you, you have some options for treatment.

Hair transplant

Hair transplantation is the grafting of hair from the sides and back of your scalp to other scalp areas. This procedure can be used to even out your hairline.

Medication

If you have male pattern baldness, you can use the over-the-counter medication minoxidil (Rogaine). It commonly takes about 6 months of treatment to stop hair loss and start hair regrowth.

There is also finasteride (Propecia), a prescription medication to slow hair loss and possibly start new hair growth.

Laser therapy

For both men and women with hereditary baldness, there’s a low-level laser device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for improving hair density.

Since it frames your face, your hairline is something that most people notice. If it’s uneven, you may feel uncomfortable with the way you look. If you want to change your hairline, you have a number of choices, including medication, hair transplant, and laser therapy.

Talk to your doctor about your concerns. They may give you a recommendation for treatment regarding your hair and hairline.