Widow's peak

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

wearing a widow's hood 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. The use of peak in relation to hair dates from 1833. The expression ''widow's peak'' dates from 1849. – which widows wore as a hood of mourning dating from 1530. ==Causes==

Ely Guv Hintonith and M. Michael Cohen hypothesized the widow's peak hairline to be an anomaly that results from a lower-than-usual point of intersection of the bilateral periorbital fields of hair-growth suppression on the forehead. This can occur because the periorbital fields of hair-growth suppression are smaller than usual, or because they are more widely spaced. Other genetic syndromes occasionally associated with widow's peaks include Waardenburg syndrome and Aarskog syndrome. It was thought that widow's peaks were slightly more common among males, but recent studies have found no difference of statistical significance. 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. ==Notable examples==

People with natural widow's peaks include singers Amy Grant, Nick Jonas, Britney Spears, Unai Emery, Damiano David, Alex Turner, Lauren Jauregui, Jack White, 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), professional tennis player Taylor Fritz, Brazilian football player Cafu, Soviet cosmonaut Pavel Belyayev, actors Chris Hemsworth, Keanu Reeves, Kit Harington, Leonardo DiCaprio, John Travolta, reality TV star Judith Sheindlin as well as politicians Paul Ryan, Ronald Reagan, In film, this trait is often associated with a villain or antagonist; Count Dracula is an example. Eddie Munster – from the television program The Munsters – also had this distinctive hairline. Vegeta from the Dragon Ball franchise is known for his widow's peak. 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". ==See also==