By Scott Blaine Hoffman, founder of Regenepure and Regrowth.com · 30+ years in the hair-loss field · Published November 2026
When a dermatologist says your hair is thinning "at the vertex," or a transplant surgeon talks about your "mid-scalp," it helps to know exactly where they mean. The names for the parts of the scalp come from the bones of the skull, and they are also the language doctors use to describe how hair loss progresses. Here is a simple map.
Quick map of the scalp
- Frontal scalp (hairline): the front edge, above the forehead.
- Temples (temporal area): the sides of the forehead, above and in front of the ears.
- Mid-scalp: the area behind the hairline and in front of the crown.
- Crown or vertex: the top and back of the head, where hair often forms a whorl.
- Parietal scalp: the upper sides of the head, between the top and the ears.
- Occipital scalp: the back of the head, down to the nape of the neck.
Each area, explained
Frontal scalp and hairline
The frontal scalp sits over the frontal bone. It is the area people see first in the mirror, so it is often where hair loss is noticed first. In men, the hairline commonly moves back unevenly, starting at the corners.
Temples (temporal scalp)
The temporal area runs along the sides of the forehead. Temple recession is the classic early sign of male pattern hair loss and creates the "M" shape many men notice in their twenties or thirties.
Mid-scalp
This is the zone between the hairline and the crown. In both men and women it can thin diffusely, which makes the scalp more visible under bright overhead light.
Crown and vertex
The vertex is the highest point of the head. The crown is the area around it, toward the back, usually where the hair whorl sits. People use the two words almost interchangeably. Crown thinning is often noticed in photos or by a barber before the person sees it themselves, because you cannot easily see the top of your own head.
Parietal scalp
The parietal bones form the upper sides and roof of the skull. The "parietal ridge" is where the flat top of the head turns down to the sides. Hairstylists use it as a landmark for cuts, and it marks the edge of the area most affected by pattern hair loss.
Occipital scalp
The occipital area is the back of the head over the occipital bone, down to the nape. Hair here is usually resistant to pattern hair loss, which is why it is the main "donor area" for hair transplants.
Why these names matter for hair loss
Pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is driven by follicles that are sensitive to DHT, and those follicles are concentrated on the top of the head: the hairline, temples, mid-scalp and crown. The sides and back are much less sensitive. That is why a man can lose most of the hair on top while keeping a full horseshoe around the sides and back. I explain the DHT side in DHT and Hair Loss.
- Men usually lose hair at the temples and crown first, and doctors grade it on the Norwood scale.
- Women usually keep their hairline but thin across the mid-scalp and crown, which shows up as a widening part. See Female Pattern Hair Loss.
Other conditions follow different maps. Tight hairstyles tend to thin the hairline and temples (traction alopecia). Patchy round bald spots anywhere point to alopecia areata. Thinning all over, with lots of shedding, suggests telogen effluvium. And a receding hairline with redness or scarring needs a dermatologist, as I explain in Scarring Alopecia.
How to check your own scalp
- Use the same light and angle every time. Overhead bathroom light is harsh but consistent.
- Photograph the crown with your phone held above your head, or have someone take it.
- Part your hair down the middle and photograph the part from above. A widening part is the earliest sign of mid-scalp thinning.
- Compare month to month, not day to day.
Caring for each area
Topical treatments such as minoxidil need to reach the scalp skin in the thinning area, not just sit on the hair. A fine-mist applicator like the Regenepure Precision 5% Minoxidil Spray for Men makes it easier to target the crown and mid-scalp. Medicated shampoos should be massaged into the scalp itself; Regenepure DR is formulated with ketoconazole for exactly that kind of scalp care.
Frequently asked questions
What is the crown of your head?
The crown is the top-back area of the head, around the highest point (the vertex), where the hair usually swirls in a whorl.
What is the vertex of the scalp?
The vertex is the very top of the head. Doctors often say "vertex thinning" to describe hair loss at the crown.
What is the back of the head called?
The occipital area, named after the occipital bone. The lowest part, at the neck, is the nape.
What is the frontal scalp?
The front part of the scalp, just behind the hairline, over the forehead.
Why doesn't hair on the back of the head go bald?
Follicles on the back and sides are much less sensitive to DHT, so they usually survive pattern hair loss. That is why surgeons use them as donor hair.
Educational content only, not medical advice. Sudden, patchy, painful or inflamed hair loss should be checked by a doctor or dermatologist.
