Hair Growth Progress Photos: Match the Framing

Take hair growth progress photos from the same camera position, under the same light, with your hair arranged the same way each time. Save those details alongside your baseline so you can repeat the setup. Progress Photo: Before After can show an earlier photo over the camera to help you align the next shot; it does not measure hair growth or determine whether treatment is working.

Choose the view that answers your question

Decide whether you want to document your hairline, a part, the crown, or the length of your hair. Each needs its own repeatable view. A photo showing the ends of your hair will not give you the same information as a close view of your scalp. If photos are for a medical appointment, ask the clinic which views it needs. Clinical guidance from the Institute of Medical Illustrators uses different views for different concerns; one angle is not a complete scalp record.

Save the camera position, not just the photo

Place the phone on a stable support and mark where the support and chair sit. Record the lens height and the distance from the lens to a repeatable point, such as your forehead, to use next time. Keep the same phone, camera direction, and orientation. Include a fixed landmark, such as an eyebrow or ear, so you can check head size and tilt in the frame. This is a practical home adaptation of the consistent camera distance and head positioning described in the International Journal of Trichology. There is no single distance that suits every phone and view.

Repeat the light falling on your scalp

Choose a setup that shows the scalp and individual strands without a bright reflection hiding them. Record which lamp is on and where it sits relative to the chair; if you use a window, note the time and conditions too. Check that the shadows and scalp brightness resemble the baseline. Do not move into flattering light just for the later photo. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends clear, well-lit images without glare or harsh shadows for dermatology photos. Progress provides a visual reference, but it does not save or recreate your room lighting or physical camera distance.

Reproduce the part and hair preparation

Choose a repeatable hair state, such as dry hair without styling products, and use it throughout the series. Recreate the same part rather than widening it to expose more scalp. If you move hair aside, repeat the direction and placement without pulling painfully. The Institute of Medical Illustrators recommends consulting previous images to reproduce hair positioning. A Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology paper also notes that hair texture, styling, and contrast with the scalp affect photography. Record haircuts, coloring, extensions, or a styling change so a later comparison has that context. For clinic photos, follow the clinic's preparation instructions.

Keep a short setup note you can follow

In Progress, choose the Hair category and name the project for the view, such as Hairline or Crown. Use the optional project note for a compact setup description. A template to fill in is: rear camera; portrait; chair mark; lens height; lens-to-forehead distance; lamp position; dry hair; part position; head tilt. Enter your own measurements and choices. Keep notes under 2,000 characters: longer text can lose its ending when the project reopens. Keep detailed session records separately; the project note is a shared setup reference, not a separate note attached to each photo.

Keep different angles in separate series

Keep one repeated angle per Progress project when you want its ghost reference to remain useful. Alternating a hairline shot with a crown shot in the same project makes the last-photo reference switch between unrelated views. The app offers the first or last photo as the ghost, rather than a reference chosen from every saved frame. The free version allows two active projects; additional active projects require Premium. Choose the views you need before setting up several series.

Use the ghost to match landmarks

Save your first photo after checking the setup. At the next session, open the same project's camera and turn on Ghost. Choose First photo to return to the original framing, or Last photo to align with the most recent shot. Adjust Ghost opacity to see the reference and live view together. Match the eyebrow, ear, or other stable landmark before checking the hair itself; avoid aligning only to an edge you are trying to document changing. Grid and center guides provide extra reference lines. The app also offers Outline mode and a three- or ten-second timer if you need time to position your head.

Check the saved shot before moving anything

Hide the ghost to see the scalp without the older image over it. After shooting, open the saved photo and check focus, visible landmarks, head tilt, and reflections. For a crown photo, ask a helper to check the frame if you cannot see it reliably yourself. Retake a blurred or poorly positioned shot while the chair and light are still in place. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends checking sharpness and faithful colors and textures. If you replace the phone or change the setup, record that change and make a new reference.

Compare appearances without making a diagnosis

Once you have two photos, Progress can display them side by side. Select matching views and check the setup before interpreting a difference. If the part, hair length, lighting, or camera position changed, describe the comparison as inconclusive rather than treating it as proof of regrowth or loss. Keep dates and context for a clinician. The American Academy of Dermatology explains that finding the cause of hair loss requires an assessment that may include an examination and tests. If you are concerned about hair loss or scalp changes, contact a qualified clinician rather than waiting to complete a photo series.