Norwood Scale Explained: What Stage Is Your Hair Loss?

The Norwood Scale is a seven-stage classification system used to measure male pattern baldness, from a full head of hair at Norwood 1 to extensive loss at Norwood 7. It helps you and your doctor describe your hair loss consistently, track how it changes over time, and decide whether treatments like medication or a hair transplant make sense for your stage.

What Is the Norwood Scale?

The Norwood Scale (sometimes called the Norwood-Hamilton Scale) was formalised in the 1970s and is still the standard way doctors describe male pattern baldness. It focuses on two things: how far your hairline has receded at the temples, and how thin or bald the crown (top-back) of your head has become. Stages run from 1 to 7, with a few sub-stages like Norwood 3 Vertex and Norwood 4A used to describe specific patterns. It is not a perfect tool, but it gives everyone a shared language.

What Do the Norwood Stages Look Like?

Here is a quick visual summary of each stage. Most men sit somewhere between two stages rather than fitting one perfectly.

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: A labelled diagram showing Norwood stages 1 through 7 side by side, with the hairline and crown areas highlighted for each stage.]

Norwood 1–2: Early Hair Loss

Norwood 1 and 2 are usually not considered hair loss at all. A Norwood 1 is a juvenile hairline; a Norwood 2 is a mature hairline, which most adult men develop naturally. If you are in this range, you probably do not need a transplant.

• Norwood 1: hairline is straight across with no temple recession.
• Norwood 2: mild recession at the temples, but the hairline is still relatively high and full.
• Most men at this stage are advised to monitor rather than treat.
• If you are worried about future loss, a dermatologist can check for miniaturisation.
• Medications like finasteride or minoxidil may be discussed if there is a strong family history of baldness.

Norwood 3–4: Moderate Hair Loss

Norwood 3 is where balding becomes visible. The temples have receded into a clear M, V, or U shape. Norwood 4 adds crown thinning or a bald spot on top, while a bridge of hair still connects the front to the back.

• Norwood 3: deep temple recession; the front hairline is noticeably receding.
• Norwood 3 Vertex: recession is mild but the crown is thinning heavily.
• Norwood 4: front recession plus a distinct bald patch on the crown.
• This is the sweet spot for many hair transplant candidates — enough loss to justify surgery, enough donor hair to get a good result.
• Medication is often recommended alongside surgery to protect the remaining native hair.

Norwood 5–7: Advanced Hair Loss

By Norwood 5, the front and crown balding areas have merged or are close to merging. Norwood 6 and 7 mean the top of the head is largely bald, leaving only a horseshoe-shaped band of hair around the sides and back.

• Norwood 5: the bridge of hair between the front and crown is thin and narrow.
• Norwood 6: the bridge is gone; front and crown form one large bald area.
• Norwood 7: only the horseshoe remains; the bald area is extensive.
• Transplants are still possible, but they usually require more grafts and may need two sessions.
• Realistic expectations matter — the goal is often improved coverage and framing, not a full head of hair.

How Does the Norwood Scale Affect Hair Transplant Candidacy?

Your Norwood stage is one of several factors that determine whether you are a good candidate. The others are donor hair density, hair calibre, scalp laxity, age, and how stable your loss is. Here is a rough guide.

Which Norwood Stage Am I?

You can get a rough idea at home, but only a doctor can confirm your stage. Use this checklist as a starting point.

• Look at your hairline in a mirror under bright light. Is there any temple recession? If no, you are likely Norwood 1.
• If the recession is mild and the hairline is still high, you are probably Norwood 2.
• If the temples form a clear M, V, or U shape, you are at least Norwood 3.
• Check the crown with a second mirror or phone camera. Thinning there with front recession suggests Norwood 4.
• If the front and crown bald areas are merging, you are likely Norwood 5 or higher.
• Take photos every 6–12 months to see if the stage is changing.
• Book a consultation with a dermatologist or hair transplant surgeon for an accurate assessment.

How Do I Choose a Clinic for My Norwood Stage?

Different clinics specialise in different cases. A clinic that excels at small hairline cases may not be the best fit for a Norwood 6 or 7. Look for surgeons who regularly handle your stage and can show you before-and-after photos of similar patients.

• Ask how many cases at your Norwood stage the surgeon performs per month.
• Request before-and-after photos of patients with your hair type and loss pattern.
• Confirm whether the quote includes medication, PRP, and follow-up visits.
• Check whether the clinic offers FUE, FUT, or both — advanced cases sometimes need FUT for higher graft counts.
• Read reviews from patients at least 12 months post-op, not just immediate results.
• Use a directory to compare clinics side by side before booking consultations.

Frequently Asked Questions