Widow's peak explained

A widow's peak is a V-shaped point in the hairline in the center of the forehead. Hair growth on the forehead is suppressed in a bilateral pair of periorbital fields. Without a widow's peak, these fields join in the middle of the forehead so as to give a hairline that runs straight across. A widow's peak results when the point of intersection on the forehead of the upper perimeters of these fields is lower than usual.

Definition

A widow's peak is a distinct point in the hairline in the center of the forehead;[1] there are varying degrees of the peak. Although it is commonly taught as an example of a dominant inherited trait,[2] [3] there are no scientific studies to support this.[4] [5]

Etymology

The term stems from the belief that hair growing to a point on the forehead  - suggestive of the peak of a widow's hood  - is an omen of early widowhood.[6] The use of peak in relation to hair dates from 1833.[7] The expression widow's peak dates from 1849.[7] The use of peak may refer to the beak or bill of a headdress, particularly the distinctive hood with a pointed piece in front  - a biquoquet[8]  - which widows wore as a hood of mourning dating from 1530.[7] Another explanation for the origin of the phrase suggests that it may be related to the mourning caps worn as early as the 16th century. A mourning cap or 'Mary Stuart Cap' is a cap which features a very distinctive triangular fold of cloth in the middle of the forehead, creating an artificial widow's peak. The use of peak referring to a point in the cloth covering the forehead dates to at least 1509 when it appears in Alexander Barclay’s The Shyp of Folys:

And ye Jentyl wymen whome this lewde vice doth blynde Lased on the backe: your peakes set a loft.[9]

Causes

Ely Guv Hintonith and M. Michael Cohen hypothesized the widow's peak hairline to be an anomaly[10] that results from a lower-than-usual point of intersection of the bilateral periorbital fields of hair-growth suppression on the forehead.[11] This can occur because the periorbital fields of hair-growth suppression are smaller than usual, or because they are more widely spaced.[11] Wide spacing also explains the association between ocular hypertelorism – that is, the eyes being abnormally far apart – and widow's peak;[11] this was suggested by findings in an unusual case of ocular hypertelorism in which surrounding scalp-hair growth was suppressed by an ectopic (displaced) eye.[12] In some cases, Widow's peaks are a symptom of Donnai-Barrow syndrome, a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the LRP2 gene.[13] Other genetic syndromes occasionally associated with widow's peaks include Waardenburg syndrome and Aarskog syndrome.[14] Widow's Peaks are also seen to derive from Opitz G/BBB syndrome.

Widow's peaks are slightly more common among males, although in recent studies the difference has been found to not be statistically significant. Studies among the Isoko ethnic group in Nigeria found that 15.45% of males had a widow's peak present as compared to 16.36% of females.[15]

Notable examples

People with natural widow's peaks include singers Britney Spears, Damiano David, Alex Turner, Lauren Jauregui, Jack White, Harry Styles, Kat Bjelland, Rebecca Black, and Zayn Malik, six-time world Snooker champion Ray Reardon (nickname Dracula, in reference to his prominent widow's peak and sharp canine teeth.),[16] professional tennis player Taylor Fritz, actors Chris Hemsworth, Keanu Reeves, Kit Harington, Leonardo DiCaprio,[17] [18] John Travolta, Grace Kelly, Blake Lively, Fran Drescher, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, Andy García, Colin Farrell, James Roday, Rekha, Luke Evans, and male model Hamza Ali Abbasi,[19] [20] as well as politicians Paul Ryan,[21] Ronald Reagan, Andrew Jackson.

A number of fictional people have a widow's peak.[22] In film, this trait is often associated with a villain or antagonist;[23] Count Dracula is an example. Eddie Munster  - from the television program The Munsters  - also had this distinctive hairline. Another villain depicted as having widow's peak hair is The Joker from Batman comic books and films. Namor, the Sub-Mariner has long held the feature.[24] Vegeta from the Dragon Ball franchise is known for his widow's peak. Hannibal Lecter is repeatedly described as having one in the novels that feature his story. However, the hairline is not strictly associated with fictional villains, for example beloved Disney character Mickey Mouse sports a distinctive widow's peak. The original illustrations of Sherlock Holmes present the famed detective with a prominent widow's peak, as do all of Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko's drawings of Peter Parker, and a sketch of James Bond personally commissioned by the author Ian Fleming. Pulp fiction hero Doc Savage also had this hair trait.[25] Oberyn Martell from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels is described as having a prominent widow's peak.

Additionally, widow's peaks are shown to poll well for politicians. According to research by Shawn Rosenberg of the University of California, Irvine, "widow’s peaks (though more so on female candidates) were a clear positive. It was associated with being seen as more competent and with greater integrity".[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Biology Online Dictionary. January 23, 2018.
  2. Web site: Human Traits: autosomal. Introductory Biology I Lab Projects. April 21, 2010. January 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160123190918/http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/jiwilliams/Human_Traits.htm. dead.
  3. Web site: Dominant Inheritance. Genetics Generation. January 23, 2018.
  4. Web site: Myths of Human Genetics: Widow's peak: The myth. McDonald. John H.. 2011-12-08. 2013-10-26.
  5. Web site: Observable Human Characteristics. Learn.Genetics. January 23, 2018.
  6. Encyclopedia: Online Etymology Dictionary. April 21, 2010.
  7. Encyclopedia: Expressions & Sayings:W. April 21, 2010.
  8. Book: A French and English dictionary . Randle Cotgrave. 1776 . Anthony Dolle (Golden Ball) . December 11, 2011.
  9. Encyclopedia: Wordorigins.org. Wilton, David. April 21, 2010.
  10. Smith. DW. Cohen. MM. Widow's peak scalp-hair anomaly and its relation to ocular hypertelorism.. Lancet. 17 November 1973. 2. 7838. 1127–8. 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)90939-2. 4128017. 26 March 2017.
  11. Book: Handbook of physical measurements. Hall, Judith G.. Allanson, Judith. Gripp, Karen. Slavotinek, Anne. Oxford medical publications. 9780195301496. 2007. 336.
  12. Widow's Peak Scalp-Hair Anomaly and its Relation to Ocilar Hyperthelorism. Smith, D.W.. Cohen, M.M.. The Lancet. 302. 7838. 1127–8. November 17, 1973. 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)90939-2. 4128017.
  13. Donnai-Barrow syndrome, National Institute of Health, http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/donnai-barrow-syndrome
  14. Book: William Reardon. The Bedside Dysmorphologist. 28 September 2007. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-971982-2. 16.
  15. Ogbor-Omorie. Ese. Anibor. Opiah. Adaeze. The distribution of widow's peak trait among young adults of the Isoko ethnic group in Delta State, Nigeria. Annals of Bioanthropology. 14 January 2016. 3. 2. 47–49. 10.4103/2315-7992.173985. 133139008. 29 December 2021 . free .
  16. News: 2022-10-08 . Snooker legend Ray Reardon at 90: 'Proud for Wales, proud for myself' . 2024-02-23 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  17. News: 23 Celebrity Widow's Peaks You Never Noticed. Dana Oliver. Huffington Post. October 10, 2013. January 4, 2014.
  18. Web site: Am I Turning Into My Mother? 5 Traits You Inherit From Your Mom. Jennifer Wolfe. April 24, 2013. January 4, 2014.
  19. Web site: Top 15 Most Memorable Men's Hairstyles In Movies. CoolMensHair.com. Karl. March 22, 2012. July 7, 2017.
  20. Web site: 24 November 2018 . 50 Short Haircuts for Men of 2018 - 2hairstyle . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20181129184023/http://www.2hairstyle.com/2018/11/short-haircuts-for-men.html . 29 November 2018 . 3 February 2024 . 2hairstyle.com.
  21. News: Paul Ryan's widow's peak: A game-changer in GOP veepstakes?. Roberts . Roxanne . Argetsinger . Amy . Washington Post . April 6, 2012.
  22. News: What Causes Widow's Peak Hair?. Redmond, J.C.. Arnold, Paul. September 2, 2009. April 21, 2010.
  23. News: It really was love at first bite . The Guardian . 15 November 2012 . London . August 14, 2012.
  24. Web site: Namor (Character).
  25. News: Lester Dent: The Man Behind Doc Savage. Mallory, Michael.
  26. News: Paul Ryan's widow's peak: A game-changer in GOP veepstakes?. The Washington Post. 2012-04-05. 2016-02-01. 0190-8286. en-US. The Reliable. Source.