There are two main treatments for male pattern baldness: minoxidil and finasteride, which are the only treatments licensed by the MHRA. Other treatments exist on the market, with various degrees of clinical evidence to back up how well they work. But the approach to treating hair loss isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on how much hair loss you’ve already experienced, plus other factors, will have an impact on how you should go about tackling it.
This blog will help you identify where you are on the hair loss scale and which treatment option might best suit you.
Where is your hair loss now?
The stages of hair loss from male pattern baldness are commonly broken down according to the Norwood-Hamilton scale. Here is it broken down into stages:
Stages I-II: the corners of the hairline might have pushed back slightly in a symmetrical, triangular shape at the temples. This isn’t classed as hair loss yet, as it’s usually a small change to the hairline most men notice after puberty.
Stage III: further hair loss at the temples/hairline, and some thinning at the crown.
Stage IV: the hair loss progresses, with more thinning at the hairline and/or crown
Stage V: A band of hair is left separating the areas of loss at the hairline and crown
Stage VI: the hair loss at the crown and hairline connects, so there is complete baldness on the top of the head
Stage VII: complete baldness, or a ‘horseshoe’ of hair left around the back and sides of the head
Depending on where your hair loss falls on this scale will decide what treatment options are most worthwhile for you.
Why early treatment matters
Treating hair loss early often leads to the best outcomes.
It all comes down to starting treatment while the hair follicle is still active and can continue to grow new, healthy hairs. The hormone behind male pattern baldness, DHT, binds to hair follicles and causes them to shrink (or ‘miniaturise’ in technical terms). As a result, follicles don’t get the blood flow or nutrients they need for a healthy growth cycle, so the ‘anagen’ (growth) phase gets shorter and shorter with each cycle. This means hairs go from terminal to vellus.
Terminal hairs are the thick, pigmented hairs found on the scalp and face, while vellus hairs are very fine, light hairs that are barely visible and naturally cover most of the body. As miniaturisation progresses, terminal hairs on the scalp become thinner and weaker until they resemble vellus hairs instead.
Once hair loss reaches a point where follicles can no longer produce terminal hairs and only grow vellus hairs, treatment options become more limited.
Treatments like minoxidil and finasteride are most effective earlier on, as they help slow or stop this process by stepping in to keep the blood flowing to follicles, prolonging the anagen phase and protecting them from DHT, which prevents hair loss getting worse and preserves the hair you have.
However, these treatments are far less effective once a follicle is no longer active and has stopped producing terminal hairs altogether. That’s why starting treatment in the earlier stages of hair loss is usually recommended - it gives you the best chance of maintaining thicker, healthier hair for longer.
Is there anything you can do in the later stages of hair loss?
Finasteride is a well‑established treatment that can effectively slow down or stop further hair loss, even for men with more advanced thinning (around stage V on the Norwood-Hamilton scale). While it is unlikely to fully regrow hair in areas that are already completely bald, many men still see their existing hair strengthen, thicken, and look healthier overall.
For some, dutasteride may offer an additional option, which you can read more about in this blog.
Hair transplants can also be a great solution for men with thinning hair who want to fill in gaps or get the overall look of a thicker head of hair. That said, they’re not right for everyone. Because a transplant uses hair from the back of the head, there needs to be enough healthy donor hair to achieve a natural-looking result without leaving the donor area looking thin. Larger areas of hair loss may require more grafts, which is something a specialist would carefully assess with you.
For more advanced hair loss, hair systems can be a very effective and confidence‑boosting option. These are high‑quality hairpieces made from synthetic or real hair, which are securely attached using glue or tape, look natural, and can last for weeks at a time - making them a practical, low maintenance choice for many men.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
