A “double crown” is a rare hair feature where two circular patterns of hair growth occur on the top of the head, behind the vertex. Sometimes called a “double hair whorl”, having double crown can affect a person’s hairstyle, general hair growth, and hair loss.
Contents
Overview
- A “double crown” refers to the growth of two circular patterns of hair growth on the crown area (top of the head).
- Around 5% of men are believed to have a double crown, making it a relatively rare occurrence. That’s around 1 in 20 men! Even fewer people have triple/multiple hair whorls.
- Having a double crown does not increase your chances of hair loss conditions such as male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). Although, the progression of MPB may look different for someone with a double crown.
Understanding Double Crowns and Hair Growth Patterns
For most men, hair grows in a fairly typical manner. Hair follicles grow at a rate of half an inch per month and will be naturally thicker in some areas and thinner in others. The hair on the back and sides of our heads in more resistant to balding while the hair on our hairlines and crowns is more prone to hair loss.
Hair growth patterns are genetically caused and determined during foetal development. This determines what the hairline and crown will look like, as well as a person’s likelihood of experiencing pattern baldness in later life.
The “crown” is a circular area on the top of our heads, just behind the vertex. Crown hair follicles grow in a circular pattern around a visible centre point. The centre point of the crown usually marks the thinnest point of a man’s head hair.
This circular crown pattern is sometimes referred to as a “whorl”. Crown hair can grow in a clockwise, counterclockwise, or diffuse pattern. While around 95% of men have one crown, 5% can have multiple crowns (known as a double crown or triple crown).
What is a Double Crown?
A double crown, or double whorl, is a rare hair feature where two circular patterns of hair growth occur on the top of the head, behind the vertex. A person with a double crown will have two hair whirls that grow around two central points.
While the central point for one hair crown is usually located in the centre of the head, the central points on a double crown are found on the left and right of the crown area. It’s impossible to remove or get rid of a double crown, but some hairstyles can help hide it.
As this unique hair condition is a relatively rare occurrence, little scientific research has been conducted in this area. Although, it is believed that a double crown hair pattern is caused by genetics and is present from birth. Essentially, we inherit it from our parents.
If you have a double crown, then there is nothing to worry about. It is not a sign of hair loss or balding. However, if you have a double crown and also suffer from a condition called male pattern baldness, then the “pattern” and “rate” at which you experience hair loss may differ from the general information you can find on the internet about pattern baldness.
What Causes a Double Crown?
A double crown is no different from your hair colour or eye shape. It is caused by our genetics, meaning it is inherited it from parents and, more than likely, can be passed on to children. However, the double crown is nothing to worry about and doesn’t increase a person’s likelihood of future hair loss.
The double crown is also present from birth. It is not something that develops or worsens as a person ages. If you aren’t born with a double crown, it will not magically appear overnight.
Styling and Managing Double Crown Hair
If you have a double crown, you can try several hairstyles to style this unique hair pattern. Whether you’re looking to hide signs of your double crown or embrace it, the double hair whorl can be styled in several ways.
Embrace Your Double Crown!
Unique hair pattern growth is rarely a cause for concern! A double crown is a natural feature of your hair growth and can be styled in several ways. Embracing your double crown can help you feel more confident and self-assured.
As two hair whorls gives the scalp two distinct pivot points around which crown hair grows, it may be worth having a think about whether you want to keep your hair long or short. Keeping your hair longer is likely to show off the double whorl more than a shorter hairstyle. The longer your hair, the more obvious the circula pattern is going to appear.
Alternatively, cutting or shaving your hair is likely to hide the circular pattern of the whorls. However, the naturally thinner areas around the pivot points is going to be more obvious.
So, you need to balance HOW you want to style your double whorl. What do you think is more important? Having thicker hair or a naturally circular pattern on the crown?
How to Style Double Crown Hair
There are many ways to style double crown hair. Different hairstyles are going to have different outcomes to the look of your double hair whorls. Another factor that may affect the look of a double hair whorl is the use of styling creams, hair gel, mousse, and hairspray.
Hiding your double crown is an easy and simple process if you’re not already suffering from hair loss. You can conceal a double crown by adding texture to the hair. Treatments, such as curl or frizz cream, can help make your hair look thicker, while hiding the naturally thinner central point of each whorl.
Hair Growth and Double Crowns
As stated earlier, having a double crown does not mean you have a hair loss condition. But it’s important to know how to maintain healthy hair growth if you want to minimise chances of hair loss in the future. So, here’s our surefire guide to keeping you’re double crown looking its best!
Promoting Healthy Hair Growth
Promoting healthy hair growth can help to minimise the appearance of a double crown. Ensuring your hair remains thick and full can help limit the size of each central point around which the hair whorls grow.
If you want to maintain healthy hair, be sure to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and keep on top of stress. Poor diet and excess stress have been shown to cause hair loss. That could be devastating for your double crown.
Another way of maintaining your double crown and preventing hair thinning would be to use gentle hair care products and avoid excessive heat styling. This helps to limit hair loss and promote healthy hair growth.
Addressing Hair Loss Concerns
If you have a double crown and think you’re suffering from hair loss, book a free consultation today at Harley Street Hair Transplant Clinics. We’re happy to help diagnose your hair loss condition and be there every step of the way on your hair restoration journey.
Hair Loss and Double Crowns
So, having a double crown does not mean you are balding or experiencing hair loss. There are many people with thick hair and no hair loss who can have a double crown. However, if you have a double crown and are suffering from hair loss, then this can have a series of implications when it comes to your hair loss.
The most frequent cause of hair loss in men across the globe is a condition called male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). Pattern hair loss first affects the hairline and temple area before progressing onto the crown. Male pattern baldness is categorised using the Hamilton-Norwood Scale.
If you suffer from male pattern baldness, then having a double crown may make hair loss more noticeable. This is because your crown area will have two points in (close proximity) from which you will be losing hair.
Male pattern hair loss will typically affect a person’s hairline before their crown. So, if you’re beginning to experience hair loss on your hairline, it is important to act fast before the problem gets worse.
Hair loss symptoms are also quite easy to spot. Keep an eye out for any excess hair follicles falling from your head and being found on your pillow, hairbrush, or plughole. Moreover, friends or family members can also take a look at your crown and help work out if you are experiencing double crown balding.
Treatment Options
If you are experiencing hair loss on the crown area, there are several treatment options available, including oral and topical medications, lifestyle adjustments, and hair transplants.
If you are in the early stages of double crown hair loss, medications such as minoxidil, finasteride, or dutasteride can help prevent further hair loss. Topical treatments like minoxidil can also be used in conjunction with DHT-blockers, helping combat any thinning areas more effectively.
In more severe cases, hair transplant surgery can be an effective way to address thinning hair on your crown. While medications and topical treatments can help slow down hair loss, hair transplants are the only true way to reverse double crown hair loss.
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that involves transplanting healthy hair follicles from a donor area (back and sides of your head) to areas of thinning or balding hair. The result of a good hair transplant can last for many years after a surgery, keeping your double crown hair looking thick and full!
Conclusion
A double crown is a unique hair growth pattern that affects around 5% of the world’s population. Its causes are believed to be largely genetic and a double crown does not mean that you are suffering from hair loss (or will experience in the future).
If you have a double crown and are experiencing hair loss, then it is important to speak to a hair loss consultant or a hair transplant surgeon. They will help diagnose your hair loss condition and provide a series of treatment options to combat thinning hair on the crown.