Norwood scale explained: the 7 stages of male hair loss, with pictures

The Norwood scale (also called the Hamilton–Norwood scale) is the standard way doctors describe male pattern hair loss. It runs from stage 1, a full hairline, to stage 7, where hair remains only on the sides and back.

Knowing your stage matters because the right move changes with it. Early stages are when treatment works best and costs least. Later stages still have good options, they are just different ones.

The stages at a glance

Norwood 1: Straight hairline, no recession. How most men look in their teens.
Norwood 2: Slight, even recession at the temples. Often called a "mature" hairline, and common in men in their 20s whether or not they go on to lose more.
Norwood 3: A clear M or V shape where the temples have pushed back. This is the first stage most doctors call actual balding. Norwood 3 Vertex means the same hairline plus thinning at the crown.
Norwood 4: Deeper temples and a thinning crown, still separated by a solid band of hair across the top.
Norwood 5: The band between the front and crown gets narrow and sparse.
Norwood 6: The front and crown have joined. Little hair is left on top.
Norwood 7: A horseshoe of hair around the sides and back only.

Some men lose hair from the front backward without the temples leading. Doctors call that the "Type A" pattern. It still follows the same rough order of stages.

How to tell which stage you are

Push your hair back off your forehead and look straight into a mirror in even light. Bathroom spotlights make everyone look thinner.
Compare your temples to an old photo from your mid-teens. A small, even shift of about a finger width is normal. Corners that keep moving back are not.
Check your crown with a second mirror, or have someone take a photo from above.
Pick the closest match, and treat it as an estimate. The free Norwood check walks you through the same two questions with pictures.

Take dated photos from the same angles every month. Hair loss is slow, and photos are the only reliable way to see whether it is moving.

What helps at each stage

Stages 1–2: If loss runs in your family or your hairline is still moving, this is the cheapest and most effective time to start. Many men begin with topical minoxidil and talk to a doctor about finasteride.

Stages 3–4: This is the window. Proven treatments can usually stop the loss and often regrow some hair, especially at the crown. Waiting makes it harder to get back.

Stages 5–7: Medication can still protect what is left. To restore the look, the realistic options are a hair transplant once loss is stable, scalp micropigmentation, or a confident buzz cut or shaved head.

At any stage, rule out fixable causes first. Sudden shedding, round patches, or an itchy, painful scalp are not typical pattern loss. See ruling out the root cause.

Common questions

Is Norwood 2 balding?

Not necessarily. A small, even rise at the temples is common in men in their 20s and is often called a mature hairline. It counts as balding if it keeps moving, if the corners deepen into an M shape, or if hair at the front gets finer.

Can you go back a Norwood stage?

Sometimes, partly. Finasteride and minoxidil can regrow some hair, mostly at the crown and mid-scalp. Receded temples are the hardest area to regrow. The main goal of treatment is to stop further loss.

How fast do men move through the stages?

It varies a lot. Some men stay at Norwood 2 or 3 for decades, while others move a stage every few years. Family history and how early it starts are the best rough guides.

Sources

Norwood OT, 1975, Southern Medical Journal: Male pattern baldness, classification and incidence
American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss types, male pattern hair loss

The Norwood scale, explained: hair loss stages 1 to 7