Whats The Difference Between Hair Loss And Hair Shedding
Now that you know that hair fallout is a normal thing, youre probably wondering how much hair loss is normal. First, you should know that hair loss and hair shedding are two different things, but the terms are commonly used interchangeably.
The Cleveland Clinic states that hair shedding is part of your natural, balanced hair growth cycle, where some hairs grow out as others grow in. However, when this balance is interruptedAKA, youre losing hair without new hair growing inhair loss happens. To further explain the process, lets break down the three phases your hair goes through, courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic.
Phase #1: Anagen. This is the phase where your hair grows. It accounts for the majority of the hair on your head and can last anywhere from two to eight years.
Phase #2. Catagen. This is the transition phase in which your hair follicles shrink. This phase lasts about two to three weeks.
Phase #3. Telogen. Also known as the resting phase, this process takes two to four months. Once you reach the end of the telogen phase, the hair falls out, and the cycle begins again!
How Much Hair Should You Lose Per Day
Estimates vary as to how much hair loss is normal and not a sign of male pattern baldness . However, most sources agree that shedding between 50 and 150 hairs per day puts someone in the normal range.
For example, the American Academy of Dermatology states that its normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs per day. Other sources state a larger range in a 2009 review, researchers concluded that anywhere from 10 to 250 hairs is a fairly normal estimate for daily shedding.
While 100 hairs might sound like a lot to lose, its a relatively small percentage of your total hair count. The average person has about 100,000 hair follicles in total, meaning that a daily loss of 100 hair strands accounts for around 0.1 percent of your total hair count.
This hair loss is a totally normal and natural part of your hairs life cycle. Assuming your follicles arent affected by male pattern baldness, every strand of hair you shed should be replaced by a new one as the follicle moves through its life cycle .
If you style your hair, you might lose slightly more than your peers. This is particularly common in women, of whom about 40 percent might experience some degree of excessive hair shedding as a result of things like brushing and using styling products.
Although the study above focuses on women, the same rules apply to men. If you style your hair aggressively or brush often, you might lose a few extra hairs per day.
More hair… there are treatmetns for that
What Is The Best Treatment For Hair Loss
Since there are a lot of reasons why one might experience hair loss, it’s important to consult with a doctor to find a personal anecdote. However, James says that most trichologists recommend people to do the below every day to maintain healthy scalp and follicles:
- Having a well-balanced diet.
- Taking vitamin B, 6, and 12, and vitamin D.
- Making sure you’re washing your hair regularly at least three times a week .
- If you’re wearing your hair out, then wash your hair twice a week.
“Scalp health is extremely important,” says Friese. “Keeping a healthy environment for hair to grow is key. Make sure you wash your hair and scalp regularly to avoid any build-up of oils, sweat, products, and debris. Most people do not clean their scalp enough.”
Also, be mindful of how you’re managing your hair. “Don’t wear tight hairstyles like buns, ponytails, and tight braids,” Friese explains. “The tension on the follicle can cause hair loss. Gently brush your hair. Use a detangler if needed so there isn’t too much tension while brushing.”
However, try not to depend on hair products that promise to grow your hair back, says James, as it’s often misleading. “Our hair is the tiniest organ in our body it is very complex. Our hair is a fiber that needs to be nourished and taken care of.” That’s why she recommends connecting with a trichologist to get to the bottom of the hair loss issue so an expert can recommend the kind of hair treatment you’ll need.
You May Like: Does Keranique Really Work For Hair Loss
A Few Additional Signs However Can Indicate Abnormal Hair Loss As Well
Telogen effluvium the medical term for the excessive shedding of hair can occur as a direct result of sudden stress on the person who is suddenly losing hair.
Life events such as recovering from an illness with a high fever, undergoing an operation, giving birth, or any other major life stressors can have a noticeable effect on your hairaccording to the American Academy of Dermatologists.
Sallis shared a few other signs we should look for:
“For women with long hair, feeling their ponytail has reduced in diameter called the ponytail test or noticing areas of scalp which were covered but now are not such as a receding hairline should be classed as signals for potential hair loss problems and should be checked out.”
When Should You Worry About Hair Loss
If youre noticing a few extra stray strands of hair in your hairbrush, you likely have nothing to worry about. Remember, some routine hair shedding is completely normal.
But if youre concerned about your hair health or excessive shedding, call your doctor. As you can see, there are many explanations for excessive shedding. Your doctor will be able to provide you with personalized advice that is targeted to your situation.
You May Like: How To Combat Thinning Hair Male
Is It Normal To Lose Hair
I know you can answer this by yourself after reading the subtopics above, right? While we all love healthy, voluminous and thick hair, this is not always the case. We experience different phases of the hair cycle at different times.
So, you will experience more shedding when you are at the 4th phase of the hair cycle. Its okay for you to loose100 strands in a day. But its not okay for you to lose a whole chunk of hair every time you brush or wash the hair.
How Much Hair Loss Is Normal Male
When you age, you see your hair at the drain after showering and you see your forehead when looking at yourself in the mirror. It is usual. The question is how much hair loss is normal when washing hair male? It is unusual if young men lose between 25 and 150 strands/day. It is true for the assumption that our hair should fall out between 50 to 100 hairs each day.
for men, about 25 50 strands per day is a normal rate
Almost hair loss occurs in the shower. It is still common to fall out some when you comb through the back to the front. But if the number of hair falling out increases after you have shampooed or you are suddenly finding it all over your clothes, that could signal a problem. Find the cause and treat it.
Read Also: What Causes Sudden Hair Loss
When Should You Be Concerned About Your Hair Fall As Per Ayurveda
When you observe noticeable hair thinning due to excess hair shedding, it is the indication that your hair is entering the exogen phase too early or your doshas are imbalanced.
Different factors like metabolic imbalances, lack of nutrition, or other illnesses can derange your dosha equilibrium, thus, decreasing the length of the anagen phase of your hair. If ignored, your hair becomes weaker and thinner with each cycle over time and eventually leads to hair loss.
How Much Hair Loss Is Normal In The Shower
When you are in the shower washing your hair, some hair is bound to fall out and this is normal. Most people lose some hair when they are showering. Be careful with your hair when it is wet, as this is when it is most vulnerable. You will usually lose hair in the shower due to stimulating your scalp with shampoo and conditioner. Its normal to lose hair in the shower but if you shampooed a few hours ago and hair is still falling out this could signal a problem, especially if youre finding it all over your clothes as well. Be gentle with your hair in the shower and if you are still wondering how much hair loss is normal in the shower after months of losing hair, this could mean you need to act. Its also important not to wash your hair too often as this could encourage hair loss.
Don’t Miss: How Can I Stop Hair Loss And Regrow
Hair Loss Differs From Hair Shedding
Hair loss occurs when something stops the hair from growing. The medical term for this condition is anagen effluvium. The most common causes of hair loss include:
-
Hereditary hair loss
-
Hairstyles that pull on the hair
-
Harsh hair-care products
-
Compulsion to pull out ones hair
If you have hair loss, your hair will not grow until the cause stops. For example, people who undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatments often lose a lot of hair. When the treatment stops, their hair tends to regrow.
If you suspect that a treatment or drug is causing your hair loss, talk with your doctor. Serious side effects can occur if you immediately stop a treatment or drug.
Other causes of hair loss may require treatment. Many people who have hereditary hair loss continue to lose hair without treatment. A woman who inherits the genes for hereditary hair loss may notice gradual thinning. Men who have hereditary hair loss tend to develop a receding hairline or bald patch that begins in the center of the scalp.
Treatment helps many people who have hair loss, but not everyone. A dermatologist can tell you what to expect.
Normal Hair Loss Associated With Hair Styling
Did you know that women tend to lose more hair than men each day? This is due to the extra strain placed on hair from styling. Coloring, heat and certain tight styles can all lead to increased hair shedding. This increase, however, does not mean hair loss should be more noticeable. While more strands may come out, you still shouldnât be losing so much hair that it is noticeable. Traction alopecia is hair loss due to excessive stress to the hair follicle, often from tight hairstyles. If this is something you are experiencing, consider changing to a more gentle hairstyle and consult with a hair loss specialist for the best course of action.
Don’t Miss: What Vitamins To Take To Stop Hair Loss
How Many Hairs Do You Lose A Day
If you’ve noticed what seems like more stray hairs on your shoulders, in the drain of your shower or clinging to your hair brush, it can cause you to wonder things like, “What is considered normal hair loss?” “Should I be worried about hair thinning?” or “Is there anything I can do about excessive hair shedding?”
Shedding quite a bit of hair daily is actually very normal. In fact, the average person loses anywhere from 50-100 hairs per day as part of the hair growth cycle.
To help ease your mind, read on to find out more about the normal rate of hair shedding versus a rate that’s cause for concern. Plus, learn what you can do to combat hair loss and thinning ASAP.
Identifying Imbalances In Dosha Levels
- When Vata dosha aggravates, it is indicated by dry and frizzy hair with split ends. Your scalp gets dehydrated and hair becomes brittle and lustreless. Eventually, your hair breaks or becomes very thin and falls out in clumps.
- When Pitta dosha aggravates, it is indicated by scalp inflammation and premature greying of your hair. You will also undergo short-temper, anxiety, and stress when Pitta dosha spikes up. It causes severe hair fall, which leads to baldness over time.
- When Kapha dosha aggravates, it is indicated by excessive oiliness on your scalp and hair. You may also have itchy and oily dandruff associated with scalp acne. Hair loss can be the result.
Sometimes, more than one dosha can be in an elevated state, which can lead to compound damage on your hair’s healthy growth and cause hair fall. You need to understand your underlying dosha imbalances before treating your hair loss.
Other signs that indicate abnormal hair fall and hair loss may include the following:
- Hair starts thinning gradually on top of the head .
- Circular or patchy bald spots start occurring in the areas of the scalp, beard or eyebrows.
- Hair loosens up suddenly and falls out in clumps.
- One may experience temporary hair loss during treatments like chemotherapy for cancer.
- Skin diseases like ringworm, psoriasis, etc. cause patches of scaling over the scalp. It leads to the swelling of hair follicles and eventually hair loss.
You May Like: What Specialist Do You See For Hair Loss
When Should You Be Worried About Hair Loss
If youve noticed a significant increase in hair loss, this is when you should start to pay attention. However, there are lots of things that can cause hair loss and most of them are fixable, so you shouldnt be too worried.
One of the biggest triggers is stress, so worrying about it is really frustrating because it compounds the problem.
Certain deficiencies like low iron can also cause hair loss and significant weight gain or weight loss can also affect your air growth.
I have a thyroid condition and anytime my thyroid is out of balance, I can definitely tell straight away because I notice it in my hair.
If youre noticing a significant hair-loss difference, definitely go and see your doctor, and ask for some blood tests to see if you can pinpoint the issue.
Of course, there are conditions that cant necessarily be treated or cured, like alopecia, which can cause significant hair loss. However, Ive linked here to a video created by Sustainable Salons that really explains some of the hard-to-ask questions about alopecia and how we can all get involved to help.
If youre noticing hair loss, the first thing to do is not panic and know that youre not alone. More than half of women are affected by hair loss, so just start by monitoring the situation and if you see it getting worse, please see your doctor.
I hope this has helped either allay any fears or concerns youve been having about this issue or at least Ive been about to point you in the right direction.
How Much Everyday Hair Loss Is Normal
Find out if you should do something about your shedding.
If you feel like youre losing hair, youre not alone. Lots of women see tufts in the drain or on the bathroom floor and freak out, but experts say that whats happening is more than likely normal. In fact, the average person loses between 60 to 100 hairs a day, says Anabel Kingsley, a trichologist with Philip Kingsley. What that can look like varies from person to person if you have longer strands, itll appear that more hair has fallen, while shorter locks can appear to shed less. However, there are certain factors that can cause you to shed more than usual.
RELATED: 8 Ways to Keep as Much Hair on Your Head as Possible
Since hair is a non-essential tissue, its very sensitive to any stress placed on the body. Short-term blips like a stomach bug, a high fever, a particularly stressful month at the office, or a week-long crash diet often cause excessive shedding even six to 10 weeks later. The good news is that as long as your system has recovered and you continue to take care of yourself, theres no cause for concern, says Kingsley. Your hair will stop falling out on its own and will grow back as usual.
RELATED: Are Your Friends Who Swear By Biotin Lying to You?
Don’t Miss: Are Tape In Extensions Good For Thin Hair