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Male Pattern Baldness Calculator (Norwood-Hamilton)

Self-assessment using the Norwood-Hamilton scale — the clinical standard for classifying male androgenetic alopecia. 4 questions — stage, score and guidance in under 2 minutes.

Instructions

Look in the mirror in good daylight (front and top-down photos work best). Answer each question based on your current hair — pick the option that matches your image most closely.

1. How far has your hairline receded at the temples?

2. What does the crown / vertex (top-back of head) look like?

3. How much scalp shows through on top (mid-scalp / front)?

4. How does the hair band (sides and back) compare to the top?

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Norwood-Hamilton stages

StageDescription
Stage 1No visible hair loss — youthful hairline
Stage 2Mature hairline — slight temple recession, not clinically relevant
Stage 3First clinically significant stage — pronounced M-shaped temple recession
Stage 3 VertexFrontal recession plus additional thinning at the vertex (crown)
Stage 4Advanced — deeper recession, distinct vertex bald spot, hair band between zones
Stage 5Frontal and vertex zones merging — narrow band of hair remains
Stage 6Hair band gone — larger contiguous bald area
Stage 7Most severe stage — only sparse hair on sides and back

How it works

The Norwood-Hamilton scale was developed by Hamilton (1951) and extended by O'Tar Norwood in 1975. It is the international clinical standard for classifying male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA). The 8 stages (1, 2, 3, 3-vertex, 4, 5, 6, 7) describe the typical course from a youthful hairline to complete loss of the top-of-scalp hair. In this self-assessment you answer 4 questions about temple recession, vertex (crown) thinning, scalp visibility and the hair band — your stage is then computed (score 4–20). The scale's reproducibility has been validated in multiple studies (kappa 0.77–0.82 between self- and clinician-rating).

This assessment does not replace a medical diagnosis. Male androgenetic alopecia is the most common form, but other causes (iron deficiency, thyroid disorders, alopecia areata, stress, medications) are possible and should be ruled out for sudden or unusual loss. For diagnosis and treatment decisions, please see a dermatologist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Norwood-Hamilton scale?+
The Norwood-Hamilton scale is the internationally recognised classification of male pattern baldness. Hamilton described the stages in 1951; Norwood extended them in 1975 with intermediate stages. It comprises 8 levels (1, 2, 3, 3-vertex, 4, 5, 6, 7) and is the standard in clinical practice, research and hair transplantation.
At which stage should I start treatment?+
Stage 3 is the typical entry point for medical therapy. Topical minoxidil 5 % and oral finasteride 1 mg are the only FDA-approved drugs. Both work best in early stages — lost hair is hard to recover, but progression can be stopped.
What's the difference between stage 3 and 3-vertex?+
Stage 3 shows only frontal temple recession (M-shape). Stage 3-vertex adds early thinning at the crown. The two zones typically progress independently, which is why Norwood added this distinction.
Are my answers private?+
Yes — the calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, nothing is stored, nothing is shared. Just close the tab and your answers are gone.
How important is genetics?+
Male pattern baldness is roughly 80 % heritable. The main mechanism is increased follicle sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). If your father or maternal grandfather went bald early, your risk is higher — but progression is individual.
Does a hair transplant work?+
Yes — from stage 3–4 onwards a transplant is an established option. Requirements: a sufficiently dense donor area at the back of the head and stabilised loss (ideally on finasteride). Methods: FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (strip technique). Realistic outcome: not a full teenage head of hair, but an aesthetically dense hairline.

Background

Male Pattern Baldness: Norwood-Hamilton Scale, Causes and Treatment

9 min