LOOKSMETER · HAIR LOSS
Norwood 4: the stage, explained
Norwood 4 is where two areas are clearly involved: the frontal hairline has receded further than NW3, and the crown shows its own distinct thinning. A solid band of hair still separates the two - that surviving band is what defines the stage.
What Norwood 4 looks like
The frontal recession is deeper and the forelock has shrunk, while the crown has an obvious thinning or bald patch of its own. Crucially, a band of reasonably dense hair still runs across the top of the head between the receding front and the crown. When people picture 'classic balding', NW4 is often what they mean.
Norwood 4 vs Norwood 3 and Norwood 5
The two boundaries:
vs Norwood 3
NW3 (or NW3 Vertex) has recession or a crown spot, but not both areas clearly established with real depth. NW4 has both - deeper front and a distinct crown - separated by a solid band.
vs Norwood 5
At NW5 the separating band narrows and thins noticeably. If that bridge of hair is still solid and wide, it's NW4; once it's visibly breaking down, it's NW5.
What helps at Norwood 4
By Norwood 4 the loss is well established across two zones, so a dermatologist's assessment is the sensible route - both for medical options and, for some people, for whether they're a candidate for a hair transplant, since the surviving band and donor area matter to that decision. This is information, not medical advice.
For styling, a short, uniform cut or a buzz usually reads cleaner and more confident at NW4 than a longer style trying to bridge the gap - working with the pattern beats disguising it.
Frequently asked
What does Norwood 4 look like?
Deep frontal recession plus a distinct thinning or bald patch at the crown, with a solid band of hair still separating the two areas across the top of the head.
Is Norwood 4 bad?
It's a more advanced stage than NW2-3, but 'bad' is the wrong frame - it's a description, not a verdict. Many men look great at NW4 with a short cut, and it's a common, well-understood pattern with established options worth discussing with a dermatologist.
Is Norwood 4 good for a hair transplant?
Sometimes - it depends on the donor area, the size of the areas being restored and the individual, which is exactly why it's a question for a specialist rather than a scale or a selfie.
Other Norwood stages
Norwood 2
The mature adult hairline - normal, not balding.
Norwood 3
The first stage classified as balding - bare, M-shaped temples.
Norwood 5
Extensive loss with the separating band now thinning.
Norwood 6
Front and crown merged into a single bald area.
Norwood 7
The final stage - only the horseshoe of hair remains.
The full Norwood scale
All 7 stages, side by side.
This page is general information about facial aesthetics terminology, not medical or cosmetic advice. Scores from our tools are AI-generated estimates for entertainment and self-reflection.