Male-Pattern Hair Loss: Visible Stages Explained

Male-pattern hair loss

Male-pattern hair loss—also called androgenetic alopecia—often produces a receding hairline, crown thinning or both. Only a qualified professional can determine whether that is the cause in an individual case. [source]

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

What the visible pattern can look like

Gradual frontotemporal recession and a crown spot are common visual forms. Diffuse reduction across the top can also occur, and not every pattern fits the classic stage drawings.

Genes and age provide context

Hereditary factors and age can influence likelihood, but they do not change what is visible in a current photograph. Baldly keeps visual score and future-risk context separate.

What the Norwood scale adds

The scale provides a shared vocabulary for visible distribution. It does not show cause, speed or appropriate treatment. [source]

Open the visual Norwood guide →

Why professional evaluation matters

Different causes can look similar to a non-specialist. A dermatologist can examine the scalp, ask about timing and symptoms, and discuss evidence-based options when appropriate.

Sources

Hair loss: Who gets and causes. American Academy of Dermatology, 2024.
Male pattern baldness: classification and incidence. Southern Medical Journal, 1975.