In short
The Norwood scale describes male pattern hair loss in seven stages, from no loss at stage 1 to a horseshoe of hair around the sides and back at stage 7.
On this page
The Norwood scale, also called the Hamilton-Norwood scale, is the standard way doctors describe how far male pattern hair loss has progressed. It runs from stage 1, with no real loss, to stage 7, where only a band of hair remains around the sides and back.
The seven stages
| Stage | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| 1 | No significant hair loss or recession. |
| 2 | Slight recession at the temples. Often called a mature hairline. |
| 3 | Clear recession at the temples, forming an M, U or V shape. The first stage counted as balding. |
| 3 vertex | The hairline is at stage 2 or 3, with a thinning patch at the crown. |
| 4 | Deeper recession at the front and a larger bald area at the crown, with a band of hair between them. |
| 5 | The front and crown areas are bigger, and the band between them is narrow and thin. |
| 6 | The band has gone. The front and crown have joined into one area. |
| 7 | Only a horseshoe of hair around the sides and back of the head. |
There is also a type A pattern, where the hairline moves back evenly from front to back without a separate bald spot at the crown.
How to work out your stage
Look at your hairline and crown in good light, and compare with photos from a few years ago. A photo of the crown, taken by someone else or with a second mirror, helps. Your stage is a description, not a prediction. Some men stay at stage 2 or 3 for decades. Others move through the stages in a few years.
Want a GP to look at your hair loss?
An Australian GP can confirm the cause by phone or video and go through what’s realistic for you.
Why the stage matters
- Early stages (2 to 4). This is when treatment to slow the loss has the most to protect.
- Later stages (5 to 7). Medical treatment can still help the hair that remains, but it won’t regrow hair on a smooth scalp. Surgery depends on how much donor hair is left at the back.
What moves you along the scale
Genes and time. Male pattern hair loss is inherited from either side of the family, and it is driven by DHT, a hormone made from testosterone. See our guide to male pattern baldness for how it works, and hair loss treatment for men for the options.
Next step: talk to a GP
Request an appointment and we’ll be in touch to arrange a time. A consultation doesn’t guarantee a prescription.
References
- Norwood OT. Male pattern baldness: classification and incidence. Southern Medical Journal. 1975.
- Australasian College of Dermatologists: Male pattern hair loss
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.