It can be alarming to see loose hairs in your brush, around the shower drain, or on your pillowcase. You may wonder if you are losing your hair, or if you have a health issue.
Rest assured, losing some hair each day is a natural part of your hair’s growth cycle. Knowing what is and isn’t normal shedding can help you determine if you need to pay closer attention to what is happening with your hair and scalp.
How Much Hair Loss is Normal?
The average person loses between 50 to 100 strands of hair each day. This may seem like a lot – especially if you have dark, curly, or long hair that makes shedding more obvious – but it is completely normal.
There are some circumstances where it is typical to lose more hair than this average. If you experience severe stress, contract a virus, undergo surgery, give birth, or are prescribed certain drugs… expect additional hair loss that should resolve after several months. While this may be typical, it isn’t necessarily “normal,” and you might consider looking into treatments to preserve and regrow hair while you manage these life events.
How Do You Know If You’re Losing Too Much Hair?
If you lose an excess of 100 strands each day, you may be experiencing telogen effluvium. This is a type of stress-related hair loss that forces larger-than-usual numbers of hairs into a resting phase… causing them to fall out within several months.
Other signs that you may need to take action are:
- visible hair thinning,
- a receding hairline,
- a widening part,
- patches of hair loss,
- hair that pulls out easily,
- scaling on the scalp,
- or loss of hair elsewhere on the body.
How Long Does the Hair Shedding Phase Last?
The hair growth cycle consists of four stages: anagen (growth phase), catagen (transition phase), telogen (resting phase), and exogen (shedding phase).
Length of the shedding phase depends on the individual and varies from two to four months on average. In a healthy scalp, new hairs grow in and push out the old ones. If you are experiencing telogen effluvium, the shedding phase can last several months longer – with less robust regrowth.
Should I Be Worried About Hair Shedding?
Normal shedding is not a cause for concern. If you are experiencing new or continued shedding of more than 50-100 hairs each day, it may be time to determine and address the underlying cause. When it comes to hair loss, early intervention is key… and the sooner you begin treatment the better the potential outcome.
Reef Hair Offers A Full Spectrum of Hair Preservation Options
Many forms of excessive hair loss are reversible with non-invasive treatments. Other types of hair loss can be delayed or minimized, especially with early intervention. Even permanent hair loss need not end in baldness, thanks to today’s safe and natural-looking hair replacement procedures.
Reef Hair offers a full spectrum of hair preservation and replacement options. Set up a consultation today to learn more about how you can get the thicker, fuller head of hair you desire. We look forward to guiding you through your hair replacement journey!
