Anagen Scalp
28 Aug 2025
Learn about male pattern baldness stages using the Norwood Scale. Find out which stage you’re at and what treatment options work best at each stage in Singapore.
Male Pattern Baldness Stages Explained: The Norwood Scale and What You Can Do at Each Stage
Updated 2025 · Anagen Scalp · 9 min read
Understanding the Norwood Scale
The Norwood-Hamilton Scale is the most widely used classification system for male pattern baldness. It maps hair loss progression from a full hairline through to advanced vertex and frontal hair loss, providing a common language for trichologists, dermatologists, and patients to describe and track hair loss over time.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, androgenetic alopecia is a progressive condition — without intervention, most men with a genetic predisposition will advance through multiple Norwood stages over the course of their lifetime. The rate of progression varies significantly between individuals.
Understanding which stage you are at is important because it directly informs which treatment approach is most appropriate, what outcomes are realistic, and how urgently early intervention should be considered.
The 7 Stages of Male Pattern Baldness
Stage | What You See | What’s Happening | Best Treatment Approach |
I | No visible recession; baseline hairline | No significant DHT-driven miniaturisation yet | Preventive scalp health maintenance |
II | Slight temple recession; hairline beginning to move back | Early follicle miniaturisation at temples | Begin regenerative treatment — best window for prevention |
III | Deeper temple recession; possible early crown thinning | Significant miniaturisation at temples; crown follicles affected | Active treatment; Plasma Scalp Boost + IndiScalp RF |
III Vertex | Crown thinning prominent alongside temple recession | Two distinct zones of active miniaturisation | Targeted crown and temporal treatment protocol |
IV | Large areas of loss at crown and temples; band of hair between zones narrows | Extensive miniaturisation; bridge follicles under pressure | Stabilisation + density restoration where possible |
V | Crown and temples merging; only narrow bridge of hair separating zones | Most follicles in affected areas miniaturised | Slowing progression; preserving remaining density |
VI | Crown and temples fully merged; only sides and back remain | Permanent loss in most frontal and vertex zones | Scalp health maintenance; SMP consideration |
VII | Only a band of hair at sides and back of scalp | Maximum hair loss pattern | Scalp health; SMP; transplant evaluation |
What You Can Do at Each Stage
Stages I–II: The Ideal Prevention Window
Most men don’t start treatment at stages I–II because the hair loss isn’t yet visually obvious. But this is precisely the best time to act. Follicles are still active and producing normal hairs — the miniaturisation process has begun but is still in its early phases. Treatment at this stage produces the most significant long-term preservation of density.
At stages I–II, the focus is on scalp environment optimisation: reducing scalp inflammation, improving circulation, and establishing a healthy microbiome. Plasma Scalp Boost and IndiScalp RF are the primary treatment tools.
Stages III–IV: Active Treatment for Stabilisation and Restoration
At stages III–IV, hair loss is becoming visually apparent and the emotional impact is typically felt most acutely. This is when most men seek treatment. The good news is that follicles are still present and partially functional in the affected zones — active regenerative treatment can stabilise progression and restore meaningful density.
A combination approach works best at these stages: Plasma Scalp Boost for follicle reactivation, IndiScalp RF for inflammation and circulation, and exosome therapy for more advanced miniaturisation.
Stages V–VII: Slowing Progression and Managing Appearance
At advanced stages, the primary goal shifts from density restoration to slowing further progression and optimising the health of remaining follicles. For cosmetic coverage of advanced loss, scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is a non-surgical option that creates the appearance of hair density. Hair transplant evaluation may also be appropriate for some individuals at these stages.
Even at stages V–VII, maintaining scalp health is important for the longevity of remaining hair. Plasma Scalp Boost and IndiScalp RF continue to play a role in preserving existing follicles.
How to Identify Your Stage
Self-assessment against the Norwood Scale is a starting point, but professional scalp analysis provides a more accurate picture because:
• Scalp cameras can detect miniaturised follicles not yet visible to the naked eye
• The density and calibre of hairs in the affected zones is measurable
• Progression rate can be tracked over time with objective measurements
• Crown thinning is often underestimated by self-assessment — it is out of direct line of sight
Read more about how quickly hair loss progresses in our guide on how fast does male hair loss progress?, and about prevention strategies in male pattern baldness prevention: what works and what doesn’t.
