What is the Norwood Scale?

The Norwood Scale (also called the Hamilton–Norwood Scale) is the standard classification system for male pattern baldness. It describes hair loss in seven main stages, from a full hairline (stage 1) to only a horseshoe band of hair remaining (stage 7).

How does the photo assessment work?

You take four guided photos — front, left temple, right temple, and the top/crown. The tool reviews the pattern of recession and thinning and estimates the Norwood stage that most closely matches, along with a plain-English explanation.

Is this a medical diagnosis?

No. This is an educational tool that estimates a Norwood stage to help you understand your pattern. It is not a medical diagnosis. For personal advice, treatment, or a formal diagnosis, consult a qualified doctor or dermatologist.

What is Norwood 3 Vertex?

Norwood 3 Vertex is a variant of stage 3 where temporal recession is combined with early thinning or a bald spot at the crown (vertex), while the mid-scalp bridge of hair usually remains intact.

Can I put this Norwood Scale on my own website?

Yes. The interactive Norwood Scale is available as a free embeddable widget. Copy the iframe snippet on this page to add it to any site, with attribution back to HairGrowthCave.

Free tool

Norwood Scale Test

Upload four guided photos to see which stage of the Norwood Scale your visible hair pattern most closely resembles. This tool performs a visual comparison only — it does not diagnose hair loss or determine its cause.

Norwood Scale visual comparison

Take four guided photos. This tool compares the visible hair pattern in your photos with the Norwood Scale to identify the closest visual match. It does not diagnose hair loss or determine its cause. Takes about two minutes.

4 guided photos

Front, left, right, and top of your scalp.

Instant checks

Each photo is checked so you only retake what's needed.

Visual comparison only

Not a diagnosis — an educational visual match.

Your photos, your privacy

Your photos are analyzed securely.
Photos are never stored on our servers.
Photos are deleted immediately after analysis.

Photos are held in memory only during analysis and deleted the moment it finishes. Visual comparison only — not a medical diagnosis.

The Norwood Scale, stage by stage

The Norwood Scale classifies male pattern baldness into seven main stages. Tap a stage to see its characteristics and the areas typically affected.

Schematic top-down view

Norwood 1

Norwood 1 represents a full head of hair with no visible recession of the hairline. The hairline sits low across the forehead and the temples are full. This is considered the baseline reference stage.

Main characteristics

•Full frontal hairline
•No temporal recession
•No crown thinning

Areas commonly affected

•None

First stageNext: Norwood 2

Understanding male pattern baldness

Male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) is the most common cause of hair loss in men. It's driven largely by genetics and the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which gradually shrinks sensitive hair follicles until they stop producing visible hair. The Norwood Scale gives everyone — from individuals to clinicians — a shared language for describing how far a pattern has progressed.

How to read your pattern

Most patterns progress in a predictable order: temples recede first, a bald spot can appear at the crown, and over time the two areas can merge. The four photos in the assessment map directly onto the areas the scale measures.

Norwood 1: No significant recession — a youthful, full hairline.
Norwood 2: Slight, symmetrical recession at the temples.
Norwood 3: First stage widely considered clear balding — deeper temporal recession.
Norwood 3 Vertex: Temporal recession plus early thinning at the crown.
Norwood 4: More advanced frontal and crown loss with a separating bridge.
Norwood 5: Front and crown areas enlarge; the bridge grows thinner.
Norwood 6: The bridge is gone — front and crown loss merge.
Norwood 7: The most advanced stage — only a horseshoe band remains.

What you can do about it

Earlier stages generally have more treatment options and better odds of maintaining hair. Evidence-based approaches include DHT-blockers like finasteride, topical minoxidil, and supportive routines. Explore our in-depth guides to learn what actually works before making any decisions.

Add the Norwood Scale to your site

Free to embed. Copy this snippet to place the interactive Norwood Scale on your own website. Please keep the attribution link intact.

<iframe
  src="https://hairgrowthcave.com/norwood-scale/embed/"
  title="Interactive Norwood Scale — HairGrowthCave"
  width="100%"
  height="720"
  style="border:0;border-radius:16px;max-width:760px"
  loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p><a href="https://hairgrowthcave.com/norwood-scale/">Interactive Norwood Scale by HairGrowthCave</a></p>

Preview the widget directly at https://hairgrowthcave.com/norwood-scale/embed/.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Norwood Scale?: The Norwood Scale (also called the Hamilton–Norwood Scale) is the standard classification system for male pattern baldness. It describes hair loss in seven main stages, from a full hairline (stage 1) to only a horseshoe band of hair remaining (stage 7).
How does the photo assessment work?: You take four guided photos — front, left temple, right temple, and the top/crown. The tool reviews the pattern of recession and thinning and estimates the Norwood stage that most closely matches, along with a plain-English explanation.
Is this a medical diagnosis?: No. This is an educational tool that estimates a Norwood stage to help you understand your pattern. It is not a medical diagnosis. For personal advice, treatment, or a formal diagnosis, consult a qualified doctor or dermatologist.
What is Norwood 3 Vertex?: Norwood 3 Vertex is a variant of stage 3 where temporal recession is combined with early thinning or a bald spot at the crown (vertex), while the mid-scalp bridge of hair usually remains intact.
Can I put this Norwood Scale on my own website?: Yes. The interactive Norwood Scale is available as a free embeddable widget. Copy the iframe snippet on this page to add it to any site, with attribution back to HairGrowthCave.

This tool compares the visible hair pattern in your uploaded photos with the Norwood Scale to identify the closest visual match. It does not diagnose hair loss or determine its cause. Photos are analyzed in memory and deleted immediately after analysis — nothing is stored. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal medical advice.