How Does FaceIQ Labs Assess Hair in Its Dimorphism Score?

Key facts

• FaceIQ Labs' Hair category sits inside its Dimorphism pillar and has three assessments: Hairline, Hair Length and Facial Hair.
• The Dimorphism pillar scores masculine-feminine traits across jaw, brow ridge, eyebrows, eyes, face shape, facial hair, hair length, hairline, lips and nose.
• Hairline is assessed on height (measured from brow to hairline), temporal recession, shape and consistency.
• Hair length is called a soft dimorphic feature and is rated on current presentation, not biological capability.
• Facial hair is assessed primarily for males, on coverage area, density, growth pattern, shadow visibility and cheek line height.
• Each hair assessment uses five levels: Very Low (0-2), Low (3-4), Average (5-6), High (7-8) and Very High (9-10), described separately for male and female faces.
• Users who shave regularly are advised to assess facial hair on growth after 1-2 weeks.
• FaceIQ Labs' separate Features pillar also includes its own hair assessment.

What does the Hair category cover in FaceIQ Labs' Dimorphism score?

The Hair category in FaceIQ Labs' Dimorphism pillar covers three assessments: Hairline, Hair Length and Facial Hair. Each measures a hair trait influenced by sex hormones that contributes to gender presentation, and each is compared on a five-level scale from Very Low to Very High, described separately for male and female faces. Other Dimorphism help pages cover Bone Structure, Eye Area, Nose, and Lips & Neck. FaceIQ Labs' separate Features pillar also includes its own hair assessment.

How does FaceIQ Labs assess hairline?

FaceIQ Labs assesses hairline on four features: height measured from brow to hairline, temporal recession, shape and consistency. Higher, more angular, receded or irregular hairlines read as masculine, while lower, rounder, smoother, more consistent hairlines read as feminine. The assessment targets the natural hairline, not styled hair. Hairline position and shape are described as determined by androgens and highly dimorphic. Temporal recession in an M-shape is treated as strongly masculine, and some masculine hairlines naturally recede at the temples without balding.

How does FaceIQ Labs assess hair length?

FaceIQ Labs rates hair length by the length and style a person currently presents, not by biological capability. Shorter hair reads as more masculine and longer hair as more feminine. It is treated as a soft dimorphic feature because length is a choice and easily modified. The assessment also considers how the length frames or softens the face. The help page notes that cultural norms vary, while the biological dimorphism patterns it describes are consistent. Hair loss may limit length options for some people.

How does FaceIQ Labs assess facial hair?

FaceIQ Labs assesses facial hair primarily for males, on coverage area, density, growth pattern, shadow visibility and cheek line height. Fuller, denser, connected growth reads as more masculine because the ability to grow facial hair is a testosterone-driven trait. For females, absence of facial hair is the feminine norm. Coverage is judged across the cheeks, chin, upper lip and jaw, and higher cheek lines with full coverage read as more masculine. The page cites research that light stubble is rated most attractive on men, while full beards are seen as most masculine and dominant (Neave & Shields, 2008).

What do the hair score levels mean on FaceIQ Labs?

Hair assessments on FaceIQ Labs use five levels: Very Low (0-2), Low (3-4), Average (5-6), High (7-8) and Very High (9-10). Levels are described separately for male and female faces, so a high score reflects a strongly sex-typical presentation rather than simply more hair or a higher hairline. Average means a moderate hairline height, medium hair length with a gender-neutral look, and moderate facial hair coverage with light stubble. On a male face, Very High means a high, angular hairline with pronounced temporal recession, buzzed, shaved or very short hair, and thick, dense, full facial hair. On a female face, Very High means a very low, rounded, smooth hairline, very long hair, and no facial hair. At the Very Low end, a male face shows a very low rounded hairline with no recession, very long hair, or a clean-shaven face, while a female face shows a high angular hairline, buzzed or very short hair, or full facial hair.

Why does FaceIQ Labs treat hair as a marker of sexual dimorphism?

FaceIQ Labs treats hair as a marker of sexual dimorphism because hairline shape, hair length and facial hair are influenced by sex hormones and contribute to gender presentation. Hair is also one of the most visible and easily modified parts of appearance, even though patterns like hairline shape and facial hair growth are strongly dimorphic. The help page cites Fink et al. (2016) that hair thickness and density affect perceptions of age, health and attractiveness. For facial hair it cites Dixson & Rantala (2016) on full versus patchy beards and Dixson et al. (2016) on beards and masculinity in long-term versus short-term relationships.

How should I prepare for an accurate FaceIQ Labs hair assessment?

For an accurate hair assessment on FaceIQ Labs, rate what is natural and current: pull hair back completely so the natural hairline shows in good lighting, rate hair length as presented today, and judge facial hair on growth after one to two weeks if you shave regularly. Cautions from the help page: hair loss patterns differ from natural hairline shape; hair transplants and hairline modifications alter natural appearance; very short or buzzed hair is strongly masculine-presenting regardless of gender; younger males may still be developing facial hair coverage; some ethnicities naturally have less facial hair density; and for females any facial hair growth may indicate hormonal factors.

Frequently asked questions

Should I style my hair before a FaceIQ Labs hairline assessment?

No. FaceIQ Labs advises pulling hair back completely and assessing the natural hairline, not styled or covered hair, in good lighting so the hairline is clearly visible.

Does a hair transplant affect hairline assessment at FaceIQ Labs?

The FaceIQ Labs help page says hair transplants and hairline modifications alter natural appearance, and that hair loss patterns are different from natural hairline shape. It does not state how a transplant changes a score.

Is the FaceIQ Labs facial hair assessment meant for women?

It is primarily for males. For females, FaceIQ Labs describes absence of facial hair as the feminine norm and notes that any facial hair growth may indicate hormonal factors.

Will growing my hair out change my FaceIQ Labs hair length rating?

Hair length is rated on current presentation, not potential or biological capability. FaceIQ Labs calls it a soft dimorphic feature that is easily modified, so the rating reflects the length and style you currently have.

How should I assess facial hair if I shave every day?

FaceIQ Labs suggests assessing based on growth after one to two weeks. It also lists visible stubble shadow shortly after shaving as one of the things evaluated.