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So What is the Hamilton Norwood Scale?

Orginally, the Norwood Scale was initially created by Dr. James Hamilton back in the 50s and then revised by Dr. O' Tar Norwood in the 70s. We will use this guide to determine the stage of your Male Pattern Baldness and to what extent certain treatments are effective for you.

First, the Norwood Scale is categorized from Stage 1 - 7. So grab a mirror now and compare your hair loss condition to the scale in front of you and we will discuss each level together. I have simplified the scale into 2 sections. The first in green (A) will be the Anterior MPB which means the receding starts from the front of your scalp. The other in blue (V) will be the Vertex MPB which begins from the crown (top).

Either way, both ends up with the same condition at stage 6 and 7 of the Norwood Scale. There won't be a Stage 1 because it's the stage where you have no hair loss.

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STAGE 2

A: You will notice some minimal receding hairline in the front or the side of your scalp.

V: You will see a small thinning circle in the crown area.

What should you do?

For this stage, if you actually start noticing it early, Congratulations! You will probably maintain or regrow back a full head of hair if you follow the proper recommendations.

Recommendations.

• FDA Approved Hair growth Medications
• Topical applications
• Hair Transplant
• Non Surgical Hair Replacement
• Vitamins and Maintenance
• Concealers

You will find more information on this in our Hair Loss Product Review section as well as Hair Loss Options page!

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STAGE 3

A: Same receding pattern as Stage 2 but you will see its gets deeper to the back.

V: The bald spot grows larger and you are noticing some frontal thinning.

What should you do?

Still the early part of MPB, where there are still a lot of treatments options that you can choose from.

Recommendations

FDA Approved Hair growth Medications Topical Applications Hair Transplant/Weaving Concealers Vitamins and Maintenance Non Surgical Hair Replacement

STAGE 4

A: Here you will see the frontal region almost reaches to the top (vertex) of your head.

V: The vertex balding will be quite noticeable for an inch or two and the front part also starts to thin dramatically towards the vertex.

What should you do?

If you have just started to worry about your hair at this part. Don't worry. Look for the right solutions here and you can still save your hair.

Recommendations

• FDA Approved Hair growth Medications
• Topical applications
• Hair Transplant
• Non Surgical Hair Replacement
• Vitamins and Maintenance
• Concealers

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STAGE 5

A: The balding now reaches to the vertex of your scalp. Your frontal region is gone.

V: An obvious big patch in the vertex area with the balding from the frontal area almost reaches the vertex.

What should you do?

Reaching Stage 5 in the Norwood Scale is quite serious. It will take some effort and time for you to see what fits you best. Some medications might no longer be effective. But you might want to try surgery or other options.

Recommendations

• Regimen of medications
• Hair Transplant
• Vitamins and Maintenance
• Concealers

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STAGE 6

At this point, there won't be any difference from Vertex and Anterior thinning. Your whole frontal and top part of your head is a goner.

What should you do?

I won't recommend medication. But if you still want to try, I do advise a regimen of medications as well as other options.

Recommendations

• Regimen of medications (check out or Products Reviews section)
• Wigs, Hats (I can recommend you a few here)
• Hair Cloning!
• Do the bald look!

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STAGE 7

The final stage in the Norwood Scale! Now your hair has totally receded all the way back to the base of your head and just slightly above your ears.

What should you do?

Think this is the dead end? Not yet! (but you can't get any closer) There are still some solutions available. If you just want to start treatment at this stage, you got to look at it at a different perspective.

At this point its very hard to recover back your hair. Don't bother about medications or hair transplant. However if you still want to try?

Recommendations

• Wigs, Hats
• Hair Cloning! (Read more about it in Hair Loss Options)
• Do the bald look!

After diagnosing the stage of MPB you belong to, remember to check out the Hair Loss Treatments page as well as the other pages for more info!

Return to Top of Norwood Scale
Back to Male Pattern Baldness
Return to Surviving-Hairloss.com

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