Lots of men regularly inspect their hairline for signs of recession, wondering if their hairline has budged in the last few years. In this blog, we might be able to help you determine if your hairline is ‘mature’, or if you’re seeing the first signs of thinning that could indicate hair loss and a ‘receding hairline’.
What’s the difference between a ‘mature’ and ‘receding’ hairline?
Small changes to the hairline after puberty is normal and doesn’t automatically mean you’re going bald.
A ‘mature’ hairline refers to the natural adult hairline most men develop in their late teens or early twenties. It’s different from the ‘juvenile’ hairline, aka the one boys have before the age of 17, which is usually straight and low. After puberty, most men see the hair at the temples creep back slightly in a triangular pattern. This is considered a normal part of aging, rather than a sign of hair loss.
On the Norwood-Hamilton scale, which is the most widely used classification system for the progression of male pattern baldness, this falls into Stage I-II and doesn’t actually count as hair loss. Importantly, this kind of hair loss is stable, so your hairline won’t usually move much, or at all, for years.
If the recession around the temples deepens, becoming bare or only covered by sparse hair, this is the first stage of hair loss that can officially be considered male pattern baldness. Men might also notice that the hair at their crown is starting to get thinner. At this point, this type of hair loss would move into the third stage of the Norwood-Hamilton scale, which is the first stage of what is considered male pattern baldness.
The Norwood-Hamilton Scale, explained
In the 1950s, a doctor called James Hamilton studied the hairlines of 300 men with hair loss and came up with a system of grouping the stages of hair loss by shape and extent. A couple decades later, a dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon called Dr O’Tar Norwood updated Hamilton’s scale after studying hair loss in more than 100 men, coming up with the system which is most commonly used today.
Here it is in simple terms:
Stage I: minimal or no recession of the hairline
Stage II: Triangular, symmetrical recession at the temples
Stage III: Recession at the temples deepens. Can also include no recession at the hairline, instead of thinning at the crown.
Stage IV: More severe recession around the temples, and spare or no hair on the crown. There’s usually a band of hair on the top of the head between the two areas, connected to the hair at the sides of the head.
Stage V: The areas of hair loss get bigger, while the band separating them gets thinner.
Stage VI: The areas of hair loss at the crown and hairline are only narrowly divided by a sparse bridge of hair
Stage VII: The most severe stage of hair loss, where all the hair on the top of the head is gone. Hair remains at the back and sides in a horseshoe pattern.
The first signs of hair loss
Struggling to tell if you’re starting to lose your hair, or whether you’re just being paranoid, and actually it’s just normal hair shedding?
Each hair follicle goes through a natural growth cycle which involves a shedding phase, so it’s completely normal to lose between 50-100 hairs every day. But if you suspect you might be losing more than this, it could be the first signs of hair loss.
To make things easier, we’ve broken down exactly what to look out for to help you decide if you’re starting to experience hair loss:
· More shedding than usual: it’s normal to lose some hair when you shower, brush your hair, or find them on the floor or in your bed. If you notice more than you used to, this could be a sign of increased shedding
· Look at pictures: have a look at some photographs from last year – they’re good for getting an objective view on whether there have been any changes to your hair. We also recommend taking pictures in good lighting so you can monitor any changes.
· Speak to friends, family or your barber: if you’re comfortable, ask people around you if they’ve noticed any differences in your hairline.
Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss, but it can be triggered by other factors. Certain medications, lifestyle factors like stress, or health conditions like low iron or thyroid issues can also cause hair loss. These causes usually lead to sudden or diffuse thinning (all over the scalp), rather than the predictable pattern seen in male pattern baldness. If your hair loss feels rapid or unusual, it’s best to speak to your GP.
What to do about a receding hairline
Male pattern baldness can be treated with clinically proven treatments which stop, or even reverse, balding. The only two licensed treatments are Finasteride Tablets and Minoxidil Spray, which help up to stop hair loss in 94% of men.
Treating hair loss early is key to getting the best results. Using treatments like finasteride and minoxidil can prevent further hair loss, so you get to keep what you have where it belongs (on your head). Delaying treatment once you’ve spotted thinning can make it harder to stop hair loss and regain what you’ve lost, so starting as soon as possible often gives the best results.
If you’re unsure, take a free consultation for personalised recommendations.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
