The Norwood scale explained
If you have read anything about hair loss you will have seen the Norwood scale — the row of little diagrams from a full head to a horseshoe. Here is what each stage actually means, how to find yours, and why your stage matters less than you might think.
The Norwood scale (properly the Norwood–Hamilton scale) is the standard system dermatologists use to describe the stage and pattern of male pattern baldness. It runs from 1 to 7. It is simply a common language — knowing your stage helps you talk about your hair loss clearly and weigh your options.
1No real loss
A full head of hair with no significant recession. The hairline sits where it did in your teens.
2Slight recession
Minor recession at the temples — the "mature" hairline most men settle into. Often not considered balding at all.
3First significant stage
Deeper, symmetrical recession at the temples in an M, U or V shape. Stage 3 Vertex is a variant where the hairline holds but the crown (the vertex) starts to thin.
4Temples + crown
More pronounced temple recession and a thinning or bald patch at the crown, with a band of hair still running across the top between the two.
5Band narrows
The areas of loss are larger and the band of hair separating the front from the crown becomes narrower and sparser.
6Areas merge
The bridge of hair across the top largely disappears, so the receding front and the bald crown join into one continuous area.
7Most advanced
The most extensive stage — only a band, or "horseshoe", of hair remains around the sides and back of the head.
The Type A variant
Some men don't follow the usual two-front pattern. In the Type A variant the hairline recedes fairly evenly from front to back without a distinct bald spot at the crown. It is less common, and it tends to progress more steadily across the top.
Why your stage matters less than you think
Your Norwood stage is genuinely useful for some options. A hair transplant, for example, depends on having enough donor hair — so it becomes less viable at Stage 6–7. Medication tends to work best earlier, when there is more to hold on to.
A hair system is the exception: because it bonds to the scalp and is cut into your own hairline, it restores a full, natural head of hair at any Norwood stage — including the advanced stages where a transplant is no longer an option. So while it is helpful to know where you are, your stage doesn't close the door on a great result. If you want the bigger picture of all the routes, see receding hairline & thinning crown options.
Not sure of your stage?
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