Not yet bald, but last April I took a selfie of the top of my head and noticed quite of bit of thinning. From eye level it looks normal.
At some point if it becomes very noticeable, I will just laser the rest off.
I'd say I'm definitely in the Norwood 5 range now, with a clear NW6 pattern developing. There?s significant thinning in both the front and the crown, and what?s left is basically a narrow bridge of hair across the mid‑scalp. Seeing a recent photo really drove it home. Between the thinning and the silvery hair, it felt like the right time to shave it off again. I bounce back and forth between having hair and a shaved head. I?m genuinely happier bald anyway.
The funny part is I started shaving my head 20 years ago when I still had a full head of hair. The thinning happened gradually over time, but the shaved look has always felt like the most natural fit for me.
Started shaving as a NW4/5, now I'm a full NW7 horseshoe.
Shaving is definitely not optional anymore.
If I were to use the Norwood scale, I would say I have about a Norwood Scale of 2 at the moment. My older brother seems to still have a head full of thick hair.