The Norwood Scale: Stages of Male Pattern Hair Loss Explained
The standard way doctors measure male pattern baldness — all seven stages, what each looks like, and how treatable each one is.
Part of the Male Hair Loss Health Guide.
Key fact: The Norwood scale runs from Type 1 (no real hair loss) to Type 7 (only a horseshoe of hair remaining). It is not just a label — your stage closely predicts how well treatment will work, because medication can only help follicles that are still alive.
Treat Hair Loss Early
Access Doctor provides finasteride and minoxidil following a GPhC-regulated online consultation — most effective started at the earlier Norwood stages.
Start Consultation →What is the Norwood scale?
The Norwood scale — more fully the Hamilton-Norwood scale — is the classification system doctors and hair specialists use to describe the extent of male pattern baldness. First devised by James Hamilton and later refined by O'Tar Norwood in 1975, it breaks hair loss into seven stages, from a full head of hair to extensive baldness.
Its value is practical: a common language for describing where you are, a way to track change over time, and — most usefully — a strong guide to how likely treatment is to help.
The seven Norwood stages
1
Type 1 — No real loss
A full head of hair with no significant recession — or a mature hairline that has settled without ongoing loss.
2
Type 2 — Early recession
Slight recession at the temples, forming the first hint of an M-shape. Often the earliest clear sign of male pattern baldness.
3
Type 3 — Clear recession
Deeper, more obvious recession at the temples in an M, W or U shape. Type 3 vertex also shows early thinning at the crown.
4
Type 4 — Frontal and crown thinning
More pronounced frontal recession plus a distinct area of crown thinning, separated by a band of hair across the top.
5
Type 5 — Areas start to merge
The band of hair between the front and crown narrows; the two thinning zones begin to join, with coverage clearly reduced.
6
Type 6 — Bridge gone
The bridge of hair between front and crown is largely lost, leaving one large area of baldness across the top of the scalp.
7
Type 7 — Most advanced
The most extensive stage: only a horseshoe band of hair remains around the sides and back of the head.
How treatable each stage is
This is where the scale earns its keep. Medication such as finasteride and minoxidil can protect and revive follicles that are still active, but cannot bring back follicles that have already become dormant — so the earlier the stage, the better the outlook:
| Norwood stage | Treatment outlook |
|---|---|
| Type 1–2 | Ideal for early/preventive treatment — protects a nearly full head of hair |
| Type 3 | Highly responsive — strong results typical with medication |
| Type 4 | Good response, especially at the crown; maintenance plus some regrowth |
| Type 5 | Suitable but more variable — focus shifts towards maintaining coverage |
| Type 6–7 | Limited regrowth on bald areas; medication protects remaining hair, transplant for density |
For how your specific stage maps to finasteride in particular, see our finasteride suitability guide.
Variations: the Type A pattern
Not all hair loss follows the classic front-and-crown route. The Norwood scale includes a Type A variant, where the hairline recedes straight back from front to crown without a separate bald spot developing at the vertex. Type A loss tends to progress more uniformly and can be slightly harder to disguise, but responds to the same treatments — and, as always, earlier is better.
How to identify your stage
You can get a rough sense of your own stage with two mirrors and good light:
Check your hairline
Look for temple recession and its shape — a slight M is Type 2–3; deeper recession is Type 3–4.
Check your crown
Use a second mirror or a phone photo of the top of your head to see any thinning or bald spot at the vertex.
Photograph and track
Take dated photos in consistent light so you can see whether things are stable or progressing.
Confirm with a clinician
A prescriber can confirm your stage and rule out non-pattern causes during a consultation.
Why your stage matters
The Norwood scale describes your current stage, not your final one — how far loss progresses varies hugely and is largely down to genetics. But because male pattern baldness is progressive without treatment, knowing your stage is really a prompt to act. The lower your Norwood number when you start, the more hair there is to protect.
Act at the Stage You're At
Whatever your Norwood stage, a short online consultation with our GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescribers can identify the right treatment — delivered discreetly.
Start Consultation →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Norwood scale?
The Norwood scale — also called the Hamilton-Norwood scale — is the standard classification for male pattern baldness. It ranges from Type 1 (no significant hair loss) to Type 7 (extensive baldness with only a horseshoe of hair remaining), and helps describe how far hair loss has progressed and guide treatment.
What Norwood stage am I at?
Look at two areas: your hairline and your crown. Minimal change is Type 1 to 2; a clear M, W or U-shaped recession is Type 3; noticeable crown thinning with frontal recession is Type 4; merging of the two areas is Type 5 to 6; and only a horseshoe of side and back hair remaining is Type 7. A clinician can confirm your stage.
At what Norwood stage should I start treatment?
The earlier the better. Treatment is most effective at Norwood Types 2 to 4, when most follicles are still active and can be preserved or revived. Starting at the first signs of thinning gives finasteride and minoxidil the most hair to protect, so there is no benefit in waiting.
Can hair loss be reversed at higher Norwood stages?
Treatment works best before follicles become dormant. At Types 6 to 7, areas that are fully bald are unlikely to regrow with medication, though treatment can still protect the remaining hair around them. Hair transplants are the main option for restoring density in fully bald areas at these stages.
Does the Norwood scale predict how bald I will become?
No — the Norwood scale describes your current stage, not your final one. How far hair loss progresses varies from man to man and depends largely on genetics. Because it tends to be progressive without treatment, identifying your stage early and acting on it is the best way to influence the outcome.
Whatever your Norwood stage, treatment is available through Access Doctor after a short online consultation. The two evidence-based options:
Hair Loss · Rx
Finasteride 1mg
Oral tablet that lowers DHT — most effective at earlier Norwood stages.
View product →Hair Loss · OTC
Regaine for Men (Minoxidil 5%)
Topical minoxidil that stimulates follicles — best combined with finasteride.
View product →References
- Norwood OT. Male pattern baldness: classification and incidence. Southern Medical Journal. 1975;68(11):1359–65. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Cranwell W, Sinclair R. Male Androgenetic Alopecia. Endotext. 2016. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Alopecia — androgenetic. cks.nice.org.uk
- NHS. Hair loss. nhs.uk
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. In a medical emergency, call 999.