Crown Thinning Checker: What to Compare

Crown thinning checker

Check whether the visible area extends beyond the natural whorl, whether it remains visible in neutral lighting, and whether it has widened in comparable photos. This is a self-check, not a diagnosis.

By the Baldly Editorial TeamPublished and updated August 26, 2026Educational content · not a diagnosis

Five checks

Whorl

Can you see a clear spiral with hair radiating outward?

Width

Does visibility extend beyond the compact center?

Lighting

Does the area remain visible without direct flash?

Hair condition

Are you comparing dry hair with dry hair?

Progression

Has the visible zone widened under the same setup?

What this cannot establish

The checklist cannot identify the cause of crown change. A clinician can examine the scalp, symptoms and history when a cause needs to be determined.

Sources

A practical guide to the standardization of hair loss photography for clinicians. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2024.
Hair loss: Who gets and causes. American Academy of Dermatology, 2024.