Defining ideal anterior hairline contour and hair-bearing proportion via a morphometric analysis in Chinese women.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the ideal morphology of the anterior hairline contour and hair-bearing proportion in Chinese females, thereby improving preoperative planning protocols and enhancing clinical efficacy in both surgical hair transplantation and non-surgical camouflage interventions.

METHODS

Ninety participants completed a questionnaire-based study using digitally modified images of a female model. First, participants were randomly recruited to rate digitally altered images to investigate the most aesthetically preferred hairline contours. Five hairline contours (round, M-shaped, triangular, rectangular, and bell-shaped) were assessed across five dimensions: overall impression, naturalness, attractiveness, youthfulness, and agreeableness (on a 0-10 scale). Subsequently, respondents were asked to adjust the anterior hair-bearing proportion in the image until they reached their highest level of satisfaction. The height ratio (HR) and width ratio (WR) were calculated to quantify the hair bearing proportion.

RESULTS

Round, triangular, and M-shaped hairline contours were rated significantly higher than rectangular and bell-shaped contours in terms of overall appearance, naturalness, attractiveness, youthfulness, and agreeableness (all p < 0.001). The most preferred hair-bearing proportion corresponded to an HR of 0.505(IQR 0.455-0.584) and a WR of 0.373(IQR 0.356-0.387).

CONCLUSION

Participants demonstrated a clear preference for round anterior hairline contours, with triangular and M-shaped contours also considered aesthetically favorable. An HR of approximately 0.505 and a WR of 0.373 represent the optimal anterior hair-bearing proportions. These population-specific findings provide quantitative evidence to support individualized planning for hair transplantation and nonsurgical aesthetic interventions.