The 7 Norwood stages

Stage 1: No clear hair loss

The hairline sits where it did in your teens, and the crown is full.

Stage 2: Slight recession at the temples

The hairline has moved back a little at the temples. Many adult men have this, and it does not always go further.

Stage 3: Deeper recession at the temples

The temples have receded further, into an M or U shape. Some people also see thinning at the crown.

Stage 4: Front recession and a thin crown

The front has moved further back and a bald or thin spot has opened at the crown. A band of hair still separates the two.

Stage 5: Larger front and crown areas

The front and crown areas are bigger, and the band of hair between them is thinner.

Stage 6: Front and crown have joined

The band between the front and the crown is gone, so the top of the head is one bare area. Hair remains on the sides and back.

Stage 7: A band of hair at the sides and back

Only a horseshoe-shaped band of hair remains, around the sides and the back of the head.

Not every kind of hair loss fits this scale

The Norwood scale describes male pattern hair loss only. Patchy bald spots, thinning all over the scalp, or hair loss after an illness, a new medicine or a stressful time look different and have other causes. A doctor can tell them apart and tell you which one you have.