Users who check their Progress Score monthly maintain 78% treatment adherence versus 43% for users without a summary metric, because a single number makes it easy to see whether your hair loss treatment is working without parsing complex density charts. The myhairline.ai Progress Score condenses your density data, zone comparisons, and treatment benchmarks into a 0-100 score that tells you exactly where you stand.
What the Progress Score Measures
The Progress Score is not a simple density percentage. It is a composite metric that accounts for four distinct factors, each weighted according to your treatment type and tracking history.
| Factor | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Density change rate | 40% | Speed and direction of density change across all tracked zones |
| Zone comparison | 20% | Whether your weakest zones are improving relative to your strongest |
| Treatment duration | 15% | Consistency of tracking over time (longer tracking = more reliable score) |
| Response benchmark | 25% | How your results compare to expected outcomes for your treatment type |
The algorithm produces a score from 0 to 100. Here is what the ranges mean:
| Score Range | Interpretation | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| 80-100 | Excellent response | Maintain current protocol, track quarterly |
| 65-79 | Good response | Continue treatment, monitor for plateau |
| 45-64 | Stable/modest improvement | Evaluate whether results justify ongoing cost and effort |
| 25-44 | Below expected response | Discuss protocol adjustment with your dermatologist |
| 0-24 | Declining trajectory | Urgent provider consultation recommended |
How Each Factor Is Calculated
Density Change Rate (40% of Score)
This is the most heavily weighted component. The algorithm calculates your density change per month across all tracked zones, then scores it against the direction and speed of change:
- Increasing density: Positive contribution to score, scaled by rate of improvement
- Stable density: Neutral contribution (good if you are on maintenance, less good if you expect growth)
- Declining density: Negative contribution, weighted more heavily for faster declines
For example, if you are using Minoxidil (which produces 40-60% moderate regrowth over 4-6 months), the algorithm expects a positive density trend starting around month 3-4. A user showing measurable improvement by month 4 scores higher on this factor than a user who is still flat.
Zone Comparison (20% of Score)
Hair loss rarely affects all zones equally. Your frontal hairline, mid-scalp, vertex, and temporal areas each have their own density trajectory. The zone comparison factor rewards improvement in your weakest zones.
If your vertex is showing strong recovery but your hairline is flat, the zone comparison score reflects that imbalance. The ideal trajectory shows all zones improving together, with the weakest zone gaining faster than the strongest.
Average follicle density varies by ethnicity: Caucasian scalps average 200 follicular units per cm2, Asian scalps average 170, and African hair types average 150. The algorithm normalizes your zone readings against these baselines.
Treatment Duration (15% of Score)
Short tracking histories produce unreliable scores. The treatment duration factor rewards consistency:
- Under 2 months: Score is marked as preliminary and flagged as low confidence
- 2-4 months: Moderate confidence; early trends are visible but not definitive
- 4-8 months: High confidence; most treatments have reached their initial response window
- Over 8 months: Full confidence; your score reflects a mature treatment response
This factor ensures that a single good or bad reading does not produce an extreme score. The longer your tracking history, the more stable and meaningful your Progress Score becomes.
Response Benchmark (25% of Score)
Your results are compared against expected outcomes for your specific treatment category:
| Treatment | Expected Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Finasteride 1mg daily | 80-90% halt loss, 65% regrowth | Clinical trials |
| Minoxidil 5% topical | 40-60% moderate regrowth | Clinical trials |
| PRP ($500-2,000/session) | 30-40% density increase over 3-4 sessions | Clinical studies |
| FUE transplant | 90-95% graft survival | Procedure data |
| Combination (fin + min) | Additive benefit above either alone | Clinical studies |
If you are taking finasteride and your density is stable at 6 months, you are in the expected range (80-90% halt further loss). Your benchmark score would be moderate to high. If you are taking finasteride and still losing density at 6 months, your benchmark score drops because you are underperforming the expected outcome.
Step 1: Build Enough Tracking History
Your Progress Score requires a minimum of two density readings to produce any value, and at least four readings (spread over 3+ months) for a reliable score. Start by:
- Taking your initial baseline density photos across all zones
- Setting a monthly reminder to capture follow-up readings
- Logging your treatment details (medications, procedures, supplements)
- Keeping your photo conditions consistent (same lighting, angle, time of day)
Step 2: Read Your Score in Context
A single Progress Score number is useful, but the context behind it is what drives decisions. When you check your score, also review:
- Score trend: Is the score improving, stable, or declining over your last 3-4 readings?
- Zone breakdown: Which zones are contributing positively and which are dragging the score down?
- Benchmark comparison: Are you above or below the expected outcome for your treatment type?
- Confidence level: Has your tracking history been long enough for a reliable score?
Step 3: Use Your Score to Drive Treatment Decisions
Your Progress Score is a communication tool between you and your healthcare provider. When you bring a score of 72 to your dermatologist, it tells them your treatment is working well. A score of 38 tells them adjustments are needed.
Practical decision framework:
Score above 65 and trending up: Your current treatment protocol is effective. Maintain consistency and track quarterly to confirm the trend holds.
Score 45-65 and stable: You are maintaining but not improving significantly. If you are on finasteride alone, discuss adding Minoxidil. If you are on Minoxidil alone, discuss adding finasteride. PRP ($500-2,000 per session, 30-40% density increase) could provide additional benefit.
Score below 45 or declining: Your current protocol is not producing adequate results. This is the data point that justifies a treatment change. Options include adjusting medication dosage, adding PRP, or evaluating surgical options. For Norwood Stage 3 (1,500-2,200 grafts) and above, a transplant consultation may be appropriate.
Step 4: Track Your Score Over Time
The single most valuable view in your tracking dashboard is your Progress Score plotted over months. This trend line shows whether your treatment trajectory is heading in the right direction.
A healthy pattern looks like:
- Months 1-3: Score starts low or preliminary (insufficient data)
- Months 3-6: Score begins rising as treatment takes effect
- Months 6-12: Score stabilizes in the 65-85 range
- Month 12+: Score maintains or continues gradual improvement
A concerning pattern looks like:
- Score peaks and then declines: Treatment may be losing efficacy or adherence may have slipped
- Score never rises above 45: Current treatment is insufficient for your hair loss pattern
- Score drops sharply: Something changed (medication, health, stress) that needs investigation
Common Questions About Score Accuracy
Does hair washing affect my score? Wet hair photographs differently than dry hair. Always photograph at the same hair state (ideally dry, styled normally) for consistent readings.
Can seasonal shedding affect my score? Yes. Many people experience increased shedding in fall months. The treatment duration factor helps smooth out seasonal variation over longer tracking periods.
Does the score work for transplant patients? Yes. Post-transplant tracking uses graft survival rate (90-95% for FUE) as the benchmark. The score adjusts its timeline expectations to account for the 12-18 month full growth period after a transplant.
Start Building Your Progress Score
Upload your first density reading and begin building your tracking history at myhairline.ai/analyze. After 3-4 monthly readings, your Progress Score will become a reliable summary of your treatment trajectory. Learn more about the hair loss treatment tracker for logging your full treatment protocol, or read about tracking data interpretation to understand the numbers behind your score.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a board-certified dermatologist before starting or modifying any hair loss treatment.