Crown thinning in women is the hallmark of Ludwig II female pattern hair loss and affects 25% of women over 40 with this condition. Unlike male pattern baldness, which starts with a receding hairline, female pattern loss typically begins as diffuse thinning across the crown that is nearly impossible to measure accurately in a bathroom mirror. Overhead density heatmaps solve this by quantifying exactly how much thinning is present and how fast it is progressing.
Why Crown Thinning Is Hard to Self-Assess
The crown (vertex) is the area of the scalp you cannot see from a normal mirror angle. Women often do not notice crown thinning until someone else points it out or until the part line becomes visibly wider.
By the time crown thinning is obvious to the eye, significant density loss has already occurred. Studies estimate that 50% of hair volume in a zone can be lost before the thinning becomes cosmetically apparent to the individual.
| Detection Method | When Thinning Is Detected | Density Loss at Detection |
|---|---|---|
| Self-observation in mirror | Late (part widening visible) | ~40-50% loss |
| Hairdresser observation | Moderate | ~25-35% loss |
| Overhead photography comparison | Early-moderate | ~15-25% loss |
| AI density heatmap tracking | Early | ~5-15% loss |
AI-based tracking catches crown density changes at the earliest measurable stage, allowing intervention before the loss becomes cosmetically significant.
Understanding the Ludwig Scale
The Ludwig scale is the standard classification system for female pattern hair loss. It has three main stages:
| Ludwig Stage | Crown Density | Part Width | Frontal Hairline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ludwig I | Mild diffuse thinning | Slightly widened | Preserved |
| Ludwig II | Noticeable thinning, scalp visible | Clearly widened | Preserved |
| Ludwig III | Severe thinning, extensive scalp show | Very wide | Usually preserved |
The key difference from male pattern loss: the frontal hairline is typically preserved in all Ludwig stages. Women rarely experience the receding hairline that characterizes male androgenetic alopecia. This means the crown zone is the primary area to track.
Step 1: Set Up Overhead Crown Photography
Consistent crown photography is the foundation of accurate tracking. Follow this protocol for every session:
Lighting. Use the same light source every time. Natural daylight from a window works well, or a fixed overhead light. Avoid flash photography, which flattens the image and obscures density differences.
Camera position. Hold your camera or phone directly overhead, pointing straight down at the crown. Use a selfie stick at a fixed extension for consistent distance, or have someone else take the photo from the same height each time.
Hair preparation. Photograph with hair dry, unstyled, and free of product. Wet hair, styling products, and heat styling all distort the visible density. Part your hair along your natural part line or center part.
Timing. Take photos at the same time of day and on the same day of your wash cycle (e.g., always the morning after a wash).
Step 2: Establish Your Baseline Density Map
Your first set of crown photos establishes the comparison point for all future readings. myhairline.ai generates a density heatmap from your overhead photo, showing density values across the crown zone in a color-coded visualization.
The baseline should include:
- Crown (vertex) zone density: The primary measurement area for female pattern loss
- Occipital (back) zone density: This serves as your internal control, since female pattern loss rarely affects the occipital area
- Part-line density: The width and density along your natural part
The ratio between crown density and occipital density is a key metric. In a woman without hair loss, this ratio is close to 1:1. In Ludwig I, it drops to approximately 0.7-0.8:1. In Ludwig II, it drops to approximately 0.5-0.6:1.
Step 3: Track Every 2-4 Weeks
Bi-weekly to monthly readings balance data frequency with practical convenience. At each reading, the AI compares your current crown density against:
- Your original baseline (cumulative change)
- Your most recent previous reading (short-term trend)
- Your occipital zone (internal reference)
This three-way comparison catches both gradual decline and sudden density shifts.
Step 4: Recognize Progression Patterns
Female crown thinning typically follows one of these tracked patterns:
Slow diffuse. Density decreases 1-3% per year across the entire crown zone evenly. This is the most common pattern and may take years to become cosmetically noticeable. Tracking catches it early.
Part-line dominant. The central part widens visibly before overall crown density drops. Density readings along the part line decline faster than readings 2 cm lateral to the part. This is a classic Ludwig pattern.
Focal vertex. Thinning concentrates at the exact crown/vertex point before spreading outward. This pattern overlaps with the male vertex thinning pattern and may respond differently to treatment.
Treatment Tracking for Crown Thinning
Once baseline tracking identifies active crown thinning, treatment can be initiated and tracked.
| Treatment | FDA Status for Women | Expected Timeline | Tracked Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minoxidil 2% topical | FDA approved | 4-6 months onset, 40-60% regrowth | Crown density increase |
| Minoxidil 5% topical | Off-label (FDA approved 2% for women) | 4-6 months onset | Crown density increase |
| Spironolactone 100-200mg | Off-label | 6-12 months onset | Density stabilization |
| PRP therapy | Not FDA approved | 3-6 months, $500-2,000/session | 30-40% density increase |
| Low-level laser therapy | FDA cleared | 4-6 months | Modest density improvement |
Track the crown zone specifically after starting treatment. A 5% or greater density increase in the crown zone within 6 months of starting minoxidil indicates a positive response. Density stabilization (no further decline) also counts as a treatment success, especially in progressive cases.
Initial Shedding Phase
Minoxidil commonly causes a temporary increase in shedding during weeks 2-6 of use. This is not a sign of worsening hair loss. It reflects the treatment pushing telogen (resting) hairs out to make room for new anagen (growing) hairs. Tracking through this phase provides reassurance when density readings temporarily dip before recovering.
When to Consult a Dermatologist
Your tracking data tells you when professional evaluation is needed:
- Crown density declining more than 5% between consecutive monthly readings
- Crown-to-occipital ratio dropping below 0.6:1
- No density stabilization after 6 months of minoxidil treatment
- Sudden onset of shedding without a clear telogen effluvium trigger
- Frontal hairline recession (unusual in female pattern loss; may indicate a different diagnosis)
Bring your density heatmaps and timeline data to the appointment. This information allows the dermatologist to assess severity and progression rate without relying solely on an in-office snapshot.
Start Your Crown Tracking Today
Crown thinning is easiest to address when caught early. The density data you build now protects your options for the future.
Begin your overhead crown density analysis at myhairline.ai/analyze. The tool is free and requires no account. For comprehensive female hair loss guidance, see female hair loss tracking and Ludwig scale female hair loss tracking.
Medical disclaimer: Female hair loss can be caused by hormonal conditions, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disorders, and other medical conditions beyond androgenetic alopecia. This article provides tracking guidance, not medical diagnosis. Consult a dermatologist or gynecologist for proper evaluation of female hair loss. Spironolactone is not safe during pregnancy. myhairline.ai is a tracking tool and does not diagnose or treat medical conditions.