If you've noticed your hairline changing or your hair becoming thinner, it can be difficult to know whether it's a normal part of ageing or the start of male pattern baldness. That's where the Norwood Scale can help.
The Norwood Scale is a classification system used to describe the different stages of male pattern baldness, a genetic condition that affects around 50% of men by the age of 50. By comparing your own hair loss to the scale, you can get a better idea of how advanced it is and what steps you can take to manage it.
What are the stages of hair loss?
Developed by two scientists, James Hamilton and Dr O’Tar Norwood, over the course of a few decades studying the progression of hair loss in hundreds of men, the Norwood scale helps classify the different stages of male pattern baldness.
Male pattern baldness usually follows a predictable pattern, which looks like this:
Stage I: minimal or no recession of the hairline
Stage II: Triangular, symmetrical recession at the temples
Stage III: Recession at the temples deepens. Can also include no recession at the hairline, instead of thinning at the crown.
Stage IV: More severe recession around the temples, and sparse or no hair on the crown. There’s usually a band of hair on the top of the head between the two areas, connected to the hair at the sides of the head.
Stage V: The areas of hair loss get bigger, while the band separating them gets thinner, leaving the top of the head bald with the hair on the sides and back intact.
That’s why older men might have the ‘horseshoe’ look, with the top of the head completely bald with a band of hair left at the back and sides.
How can you tell if your hair is thinning?
Wondering whether your hair is actually thinning or if you're just paying closer attention to the hairs in your shower drain? It can be difficult to tell the difference between normal shedding and the early stages of hair loss.
Hair naturally sheds as part of its growth cycle, so losing between 50-100 hairs a day is completely normal. However, if you're noticing more hair loss than usual, it could be an early indication that something has changed.
Here are some of the most common signs to look out for:
- An increase in shedding: It's normal to see hairs on your pillow, in the shower, or when styling your hair. But if you're seeing noticeably more than you used to, it may be worth paying attention.
- Compare older photos: Looking back at pictures from six months to a year ago can help you spot gradual changes that are easy to miss day to day. Taking regular photos in consistent lighting can also make it easier to track any progression.
- Ask for a second opinion: Friends, family members, or your barber may notice subtle changes to your hairline or overall density that you haven't picked up on yourself.
While male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men, it's not the only one. Factors such as stress, certain medications, nutritional deficiencies, and thyroid conditions can also contribute to hair loss. These causes often lead to sudden or widespread thinning across the scalp, rather than the more predictable pattern typically seen with male pattern baldness. If your hair loss seems unusually rapid or doesn't follow a typical pattern, it's worth speaking to your GP.
What should you do about a receding hairline?
If losing your hair bothers you, male pattern baldness can be treated with clinically proven medications that help slow, stop, and in some cases reverse hair loss. The two licensed treatments are Finasteride Tablets and Minoxidil Spray, which together can help stop further hair loss in up to 94% of men.
Starting treatment early usually gives you the best chance of maintaining your existing hair. Treatments such as finasteride and minoxidil work by helping to preserve the hairs you still have, making it easier to stay ahead of further thinning. The longer hair loss progresses unchecked, the harder it can be to recover lost density, which is why acting sooner rather than later is often recommended.
If you're not sure whether you're experiencing hair loss, you can take a free consultation to receive personalised recommendations.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
