How Much Hair Loss Is Too Much??

Do you have the resemblance of a small animal at the bottom of the shower on hair wash days?Are you concerned with how much hair you’re losing? Wondering what’s wrong? Guess what? Most of the time it’s normal.

Let me explain. Normal human hair loss is roughly 100-200 hairs per day. Occasionally you may go through a higher shedding period and lose more but 100-200 range is average.

Let’s go through a few questions before you decide if you should seek help for your hair loss.

1. How often do you shampoo?

2. Is your hair short or long?

3. Is your hair curly or straight?

4. Do you often wear your hair up?

5. How often are you brushing your hair?

6. Did you recently have a child?

7. Did you recently get diagnosed with anything?

8. Are you on any new medications?

9. Are you under an abnormal amount of stress?

10. Is your hair overprocessed?

LET’S GET DOWN TO IT

If you’re only shampooing occasionally (3 or less times per week) you’re going to notice more hair shed when you do wash.

Short haired people don’t often notice much hair loss unless their hair visibly begins thinning and is noticeable upon visual inspection (you can now see the scalp where you formerly didn’t). When you have long hair, the hair sheds often get wrapped up with the other hair and doesn’t slip out so by the time you shampoo or brush it it seems like an abnormal amount.

The same is true for curly hair, it spirals with the other hairs, unlike silky straight hair which has the ability to slide out as it sheds.

Wearing your hair up in a clip or ponytail will also cause the hairs to get trapped and seem like much more is coming out at once and if the only time you’re brushing is pre-wash it’s going to be more noticeable as well.

If you recently (within the past 6 months) had a child or are going through any type of hormonal treatment you may notice a change in the amount of hair you’re losing.

Many diagnoses can also cause hair loss. Conditions such as thyroid or many autoimmune disorders can cause hair loss as can the medications that get prescribed for them. COVID was also well known to cause hair loss in many patients.

If you are under an abnormal amount of stress you may notice more hair loss.

And finally, are you sure it’s hair loss and not breakage?? If your hair is overprocessed and damaged it’s likely that it’s snapping off.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO???

If you’re noticing bald spots or clumps of hair loss the best thing to do is consult with your doctor or dermatologist. They can do blood work to check for abnormalities and the dermatologist can do a scalp biopsy if they feel it’s necessary.

Also, if stress is an issue you may want to seek medical help to learn how to alleviate or reduce it.

If your hair is breaking, start trimming those dead ends off and taking better care of it, your hairstylist can suggest products and treatments to help keep it healthy even if you want color or highlights.

Hopefully some of these questions have helped you realize that you’re actually normal!!

Hair sheds like our skin. It has a life cycle and when that ends the hair comes out and starts growing a new one in that follicle.