diff --git a/cmd/uplift/changelog.go b/cmd/uplift/changelog.go
index 766262aa..433a78b5 100644
--- a/cmd/uplift/changelog.go
+++ b/cmd/uplift/changelog.go
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ uplift changelog --no-stage
 # Generate a changelog with multiline commit messages
 uplift changelog --multiline
 
+# Generate a changelog trimming any lines preceding the conventional commit type
+uplift changelog --trim-header
+
 # Generate a changelog with prerelease tags being skipped
 uplift changelog --skip-prerelease`
 )
@@ -94,6 +97,7 @@ type changelogOptions struct {
 	Sort           string
 	Multiline      bool
 	SkipPrerelease bool
+	TrimHeader     bool
 	*globalOptions
 }
 
@@ -136,6 +140,7 @@ func newChangelogCmd(gopts *globalOptions, out io.Writer) *changelogCommand {
 	f.StringVar(&chglogCmd.Opts.Sort, "sort", "", "the sort order of commits within each changelog entry")
 	f.BoolVar(&chglogCmd.Opts.Multiline, "multiline", false, "include multiline commit messages within changelog (skips truncation)")
 	f.BoolVar(&chglogCmd.Opts.SkipPrerelease, "skip-prerelease", false, "skips the creation of a changelog entry for a prerelease")
+	f.BoolVar(&chglogCmd.Opts.TrimHeader, "trim-header", false, "strip any lines preceding the conventional commit type in the commit message")
 
 	chglogCmd.Cmd = cmd
 	return chglogCmd
@@ -204,6 +209,11 @@ func setupChangelogContext(opts changelogOptions, out io.Writer) (*context.Conte
 		ctx.Changelog.SkipPrerelease = ctx.Config.Changelog.SkipPrerelease
 	}
 
+	ctx.Changelog.TrimHeader = opts.TrimHeader
+	if !ctx.Changelog.TrimHeader && ctx.Config.Changelog != nil {
+		ctx.Changelog.TrimHeader = ctx.Config.Changelog.TrimHeader
+	}
+
 	// Sort order provided as a command-line flag takes precedence
 	ctx.Changelog.Sort = opts.Sort
 	if ctx.Changelog.Sort == "" && cfg.Changelog != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/uplift/changelog_test.go b/cmd/uplift/changelog_test.go
index 46db04de..6ede6f61 100644
--- a/cmd/uplift/changelog_test.go
+++ b/cmd/uplift/changelog_test.go
@@ -332,3 +332,25 @@ fix: 1
 	assert.NotContains(t, cl, "## 0.1.0-pre.2")
 	assert.NotContains(t, cl, "## 0.1.0-pre.1")
 }
+
+func TestChangelog_TrimHeader(t *testing.T) {
+	log := `>(tag: 0.1.0) feat: this is a commit
+>this line that should be ignored
+this line that should also be ignored
+feat: second commit`
+	gittest.InitRepository(t, gittest.WithLog(log))
+
+	chglogCmd := newChangelogCmd(noChangesPushed(), os.Stdout)
+	chglogCmd.Cmd.SetArgs([]string{"--trim-header"})
+
+	err := chglogCmd.Cmd.Execute()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.True(t, changelogExists(t))
+
+	cl := readChangelog(t)
+	assert.Contains(t, cl, `feat: this is a commit`)
+	assert.Contains(t, cl, "feat: second commit")
+	assert.NotContains(t, cl, "this line that should be ignored")
+	assert.NotContains(t, cl, "this line that should also be ignored")
+}
diff --git a/cmd/uplift/release.go b/cmd/uplift/release.go
index 494ccb39..1748afd2 100644
--- a/cmd/uplift/release.go
+++ b/cmd/uplift/release.go
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ type releaseOptions struct {
 	Sort           string
 	Multiline      bool
 	SkipPrerelease bool
+	TrimHeader     bool
 	*globalOptions
 }
 
@@ -137,6 +138,7 @@ func newReleaseCmd(gopts *globalOptions, out io.Writer) *releaseCommand {
 	f.StringVar(&relCmd.Opts.Sort, "sort", "", "the sort order of commits within each changelog entry")
 	f.BoolVar(&relCmd.Opts.Multiline, "multiline", false, "include multiline commit messages within changelog (skips truncation)")
 	f.BoolVar(&relCmd.Opts.SkipPrerelease, "skip-changelog-prerelease", false, "skips the creation of a changelog entry for a prerelease")
+	f.BoolVar(&relCmd.Opts.TrimHeader, "trim-header", false, "strip any lines preceding the conventional commit type in the commit message")
 
 	relCmd.Cmd = cmd
 	return relCmd
@@ -209,6 +211,10 @@ func setupReleaseContext(opts releaseOptions, out io.Writer) (*context.Context,
 	if !ctx.Changelog.SkipPrerelease && ctx.Config.Changelog != nil {
 		ctx.Changelog.SkipPrerelease = ctx.Config.Changelog.SkipPrerelease
 	}
+	ctx.Changelog.TrimHeader = opts.TrimHeader
+	if !ctx.Changelog.TrimHeader && ctx.Config.Changelog != nil {
+		ctx.Changelog.TrimHeader = ctx.Config.Changelog.TrimHeader
+	}
 
 	// By default ensure the ci(uplift): commits are excluded also
 	ctx.Changelog.Exclude = append(ctx.Changelog.Exclude, "ci(uplift):")
diff --git a/cmd/uplift/release_test.go b/cmd/uplift/release_test.go
index b73c0db5..51b23e05 100644
--- a/cmd/uplift/release_test.go
+++ b/cmd/uplift/release_test.go
@@ -310,3 +310,25 @@ func TestRelease_SkipChangelogPrerelease(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotContains(t, cl, "## 0.1.0-pre.2")
 	assert.NotContains(t, cl, "## 0.1.0-pre.1")
 }
+
+func TestRelease_TrimHeader(t *testing.T) {
+	log := `> feat: this is a commit
+>this line that should be ignored
+this line that should also be ignored
+feat: second commit`
+	gittest.InitRepository(t, gittest.WithLog(log))
+
+	relCmd := newReleaseCmd(noChangesPushed(), os.Stdout)
+	relCmd.Cmd.SetArgs([]string{"--trim-header"})
+
+	err := relCmd.Cmd.Execute()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.True(t, changelogExists(t))
+
+	cl := readChangelog(t)
+	assert.Contains(t, cl, `feat: this is a commit`)
+	assert.Contains(t, cl, "feat: second commit")
+	assert.NotContains(t, cl, "this line that should be ignored")
+	assert.NotContains(t, cl, "this line that should also be ignored")
+}
diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 03697521..5842d177 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -61,3 +61,11 @@ Prevent any prerelease from being included in your changelog. Upon your next rel
 ```sh
 uplift changelog --skip-prerelease
 ```
+
+## Trim Header
+
+Trims any lines preceding the conventional commit type in the commit message
+
+```sh
+uplift changelog --skip-prerelease
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/reference/cli/release.md b/docs/reference/cli/release.md
index 53955f50..b45951ac 100644
--- a/docs/reference/cli/release.md
+++ b/docs/reference/cli/release.md
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ uplift release --no-prefix
                                   commits for the changelog
     --multiline                   include multiline commit messages within
                                   changelog (skips truncation)
+    --trim-header                 trims any lines preceding the conventional commit type
+                                  in the commit message
     --no-prefix                   strip the default 'v' prefix from the next
                                   calculated semantic version
     --prerelease string           append a prerelease suffix to next calculated
diff --git a/docs/reference/config.md b/docs/reference/config.md
index a120adcb..564dcd9c 100644
--- a/docs/reference/config.md
+++ b/docs/reference/config.md
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ changelog:
   # default behaviour of truncating a commit message to its first line
   multiline: true
 
+  # Trims any lines preceding the conventional commit type in the
+  # commit message
+  trimHeader: true
+
   # Skips generating a changelog for any prerelease. All commits from
   # a prerelease will be appended to the changelog entry for the next
   # release
@@ -243,10 +247,10 @@ git:
       skipTag: true
       skipBranch: false
 
-  # A list of case sensitive files that will be committed to the repo when the 
-  # release is created.  Typically these files are managed as part of the 
-  # release process e.g. generated by `hooks`.  This allows additional 
-  # information to be included in a release such as a 
+  # A list of case sensitive files that will be committed to the repo when the
+  # release is created.  Typically these files are managed as part of the
+  # release process e.g. generated by `hooks`.  This allows additional
+  # information to be included in a release such as a
   # Software Bill Of Materials (SBOM) that is created by an external tool.
     includeArtifacts:
       - file.txt
diff --git a/docs/static/schema.json b/docs/static/schema.json
index 5b8b2682..e5a938a1 100644
--- a/docs/static/schema.json
+++ b/docs/static/schema.json
@@ -161,6 +161,11 @@
           "description": "Include multiline commit messages within the changelog. Disables default behaviour of truncating a commit message to its first line",
           "type": "boolean"
         },
+        "trimHeader": {
+          "$comment": "https://upliftci.dev/reference/config#changelog",
+          "description": "Trims any lines preceding the conventional commit type in the commit message",
+          "type": "boolean"
+        },
         "skipPrerelease": {
           "$comment": "https://upliftci.dev/reference/config#changelog",
           "description": "Skips generating a changelog for any prerelease. All commits from a prerelease will be appended to the changelog entry for the next release",
@@ -190,9 +195,14 @@
             "multiline"
           ]
         },
+        {
+          "required": [
+            "trimHeader"
+          ]
+        },
         {
           "skipPrerelease": [
-            "multiline"
+            "skipPrerelease"
           ]
         }
       ]
diff --git a/internal/config/uplift.go b/internal/config/uplift.go
index c6ab3e54..25b20d0f 100644
--- a/internal/config/uplift.go
+++ b/internal/config/uplift.go
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ type Changelog struct {
 	Include        []string `yaml:"include" validate:"required_without_all=Sort Exclude,dive,min=1"`
 	Multiline      bool     `yaml:"multiline"`
 	SkipPrerelease bool     `yaml:"skipPrerelease"`
+	TrimHeader     bool     `yaml:"trimHeader"`
 }
 
 // Git defines configuration for how uplift interacts with git
diff --git a/internal/context/context.go b/internal/context/context.go
index 0a7add2d..4eb10d2f 100644
--- a/internal/context/context.go
+++ b/internal/context/context.go
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ type Changelog struct {
 	PreTag         bool
 	Multiline      bool
 	SkipPrerelease bool
+	TrimHeader     bool
 }
 
 // New constructs a context that captures both runtime configuration and
diff --git a/internal/semver/parser.go b/internal/semver/parser.go
index ee510b41..e6fb912e 100644
--- a/internal/semver/parser.go
+++ b/internal/semver/parser.go
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ import (
 // against a semantic version
 type Increment string
 
+type ParseOptions struct {
+	TrimHeader bool
+}
+
 const (
 	// NoIncrement represents no increment change to a semantic version
 	NoIncrement Increment = "None"
@@ -56,16 +60,26 @@ const (
 // log against the conventional commit standards defined, @see:
 // https://www.conventionalcommits.org/en/v1.0.0/
 func ParseLog(log []git.LogEntry) Increment {
+	return ParseLogWithOptions(log, ParseOptions{TrimHeader: false})
+}
+
+func ParseLogWithOptions(log []git.LogEntry, options ParseOptions) Increment {
 	mode := NoIncrement
 	for _, entry := range log {
 		// Check for the existence of a conventional commit type
-		idx := strings.Index(entry.Message, colonSpace)
-		if idx == -1 {
+		colonSpaceIdx := strings.Index(entry.Message, colonSpace)
+		if colonSpaceIdx == -1 {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		leadingType := strings.ToUpper(entry.Message[:idx])
-		if leadingType[idx-1] == breakingBang || multilineBreaking(entry.Message) {
+		startIdx := 0
+		// Commit messages may have leading lines before the conventional commit type
+		if options.TrimHeader {
+			startIdx = FindStartIdx(entry.Message)
+		}
+
+		leadingType := strings.ToUpper(entry.Message[startIdx:colonSpaceIdx])
+		if leadingType[len(leadingType)-1] == breakingBang || multilineBreaking(entry.Message) {
 			return MajorIncrement
 		}
 
@@ -122,3 +136,18 @@ func multilineBreaking(msg string) bool {
 	return strings.HasPrefix(footer, "BREAKING CHANGE: ") ||
 		strings.HasPrefix(footer, "BREAKING-CHANGE: ")
 }
+
+func FindStartIdx(msg string) int {
+	colonIdx := strings.Index(msg, colonSpace)
+	if colonIdx == -1 {
+		return 0
+	}
+
+	trimmedMsg := msg[:colonIdx]
+	leadingLineBreakIdx := strings.LastIndex(trimmedMsg, "\n")
+	if leadingLineBreakIdx == -1 {
+		return 0
+	}
+
+	return leadingLineBreakIdx + 1
+}
diff --git a/internal/semver/parser_test.go b/internal/semver/parser_test.go
index 3f669e1d..add82e66 100644
--- a/internal/semver/parser_test.go
+++ b/internal/semver/parser_test.go
@@ -138,3 +138,16 @@ refactor: tidy up some bits of the code`,
 	inc := ParseLog(log)
 	assert.Equal(t, PatchIncrement, inc)
 }
+
+func TestParseLog_TrimHeader(t *testing.T) {
+	log := []git.LogEntry{
+		{
+			Message: `this line that should be ignored
+this line that should also be ignored
+feat: shiny new feature has been added`,
+		},
+	}
+
+	inc := ParseLogWithOptions(log, ParseOptions{TrimHeader: true})
+	assert.Equal(t, MinorIncrement, inc)
+}
diff --git a/internal/task/changelog/changelog.go b/internal/task/changelog/changelog.go
index d2086a2a..e6ec8208 100644
--- a/internal/task/changelog/changelog.go
+++ b/internal/task/changelog/changelog.go
@@ -154,6 +154,10 @@ func (t Task) Run(ctx *context.Context) error {
 		for i := range rels {
 			for j := range rels[i].Changes {
 				msg := rels[i].Changes[j].Message
+				if ctx.Changelog.TrimHeader {
+					startIdx := semver.FindStartIdx(msg)
+					msg = msg[startIdx:]
+				}
 				msg = strings.ReplaceAll(msg, "\n", "\n  ")
 				msg = strings.ReplaceAll(msg, "\n  \n", "\n\n")
 
@@ -165,8 +169,13 @@ func (t Task) Run(ctx *context.Context) error {
 		for i := range rels {
 			for j := range rels[i].Changes {
 				msg := rels[i].Changes[j].Message
+				if ctx.Changelog.TrimHeader {
+					startIdx := semver.FindStartIdx(msg)
+					msg = msg[startIdx:]
+					rels[i].Changes[j].Message = msg
+				}
 				if idx := strings.Index(msg, "\n"); idx > -1 {
-					rels[i].Changes[j].Message = strings.TrimSpace(msg[:idx])
+					rels[i].Changes[j].Message = strings.TrimSpace(msg)
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/internal/task/changelog/changelog_test.go b/internal/task/changelog/changelog_test.go
index 321d76e4..5b608933 100644
--- a/internal/task/changelog/changelog_test.go
+++ b/internal/task/changelog/changelog_test.go
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ ci: tweak
 }
 
 func TestRun_MultilineMessages(t *testing.T) {
-	log := `> (tag: 1.1.0) feat: this is a multiline commmit
+	log := `> (tag: 1.1.0) feat: this is a multiline commit
 
 That should be displayed across multiple lines within the changelog.
 It should be formatted as expected.
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ With the correct indentation for rendering in markdown
 
 	expected := fmt.Sprintf(`## 1.1.0 - %s
 
-- %s feat: this is a multiline commmit
+- %s feat: this is a multiline commit
 
   That should be displayed across multiple lines within the changelog.
   It should be formatted as expected.
@@ -946,3 +946,42 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 
 	assert.Equal(t, expected, readChangelog(t))
 }
+
+func TestRun_TrimHeader(t *testing.T) {
+	log := `> (tag: 1.1.0) feat: this is a commit
+>this line that should be ignored
+this line that should also be ignored
+feat: second commit
+> (tag: 1.0.0) not included in changelog`
+	gittest.InitRepository(t, gittest.WithLog(log))
+	glog := gittest.Log(t)
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	ctx := &context.Context{
+		Out: &buf,
+		Changelog: context.Changelog{
+			TrimHeader: true,
+			DiffOnly:   true,
+		},
+		CurrentVersion: semver.Version{
+			Raw: "1.0.0",
+		},
+		NextVersion: semver.Version{
+			Raw: "1.1.0",
+		},
+		SCM: context.SCM{
+			Provider: context.Unrecognised,
+		},
+	}
+
+	err := Task{}.Run(ctx)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	expected := fmt.Sprintf(`## 1.1.0 - %s
+
+- %s feat: this is a commit
+- %s feat: second commit
+`, changelogDate(t), fmt.Sprintf("`%s`", glog[0].AbbrevHash), fmt.Sprintf("`%s`", glog[1].AbbrevHash))
+
+	assert.Equal(t, expected, buf.String())
+}
diff --git a/internal/task/nextsemver/nextsemver.go b/internal/task/nextsemver/nextsemver.go
index d9391f99..11ecffd6 100644
--- a/internal/task/nextsemver/nextsemver.go
+++ b/internal/task/nextsemver/nextsemver.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func (t Task) Run(ctx *context.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	// Identify any commit that will trigger the largest semantic version bump
-	inc := semver.ParseLog(glog.Commits)
+	inc := semver.ParseLogWithOptions(glog.Commits, semver.ParseOptions{TrimHeader: ctx.Changelog.TrimHeader})
 	if inc == semver.NoIncrement {
 		ctx.NoVersionChanged = true