Source — Norwood 5 Explained. What Is Norwood Stage 5? By the time a man reaches Norwood 5, the balding pattern has become unmistakable. On the Norwood scale, which runs from 1 (no visible loss) to 7 (severe recession), stage 5 marks the point where the front and crown gaps have merged into a single large bald area. There's still a narrow bridge of hair separating the two zones, but it's thin - often just a few strands wide.
The typical look: a deep receding hairline back toward the mid-scalp, plus a smooth, bare vertex. The hair on the sides and back (donor area) remains relatively dense - that's why Norwood 5 is still a candidate for transplant, unlike stages 6 or 7 where donor supply runs thin. Where does Norwood 5 sit on the scale? To get technical: stage 5 is the fifth rung of the seven-level Norwood hair classification. One thing that surprises patients: the amount of transplanted grafts needed at this stage jumps dramatically. Does Norwood 5 mean you'll go totally bald? Not necessarily. What clinics look for.