When you see strands of hair going down the shower drain, it’s good to know that a certain amount of adult hair loss is normal, because hair follicles go through a natural growth cycle — and part of that cycle includes hair shedding.
Did you know, the daily hair loss average is about 50 to 100 hairs per day, as part of the normal hair shedding cycle? In the hair growth cycle, hair grows, rests, and then sheds to make way for new hair.
Factors like age, genetics, hormonal changes, stress, nutrition and lifestyle, and even seasonal variations can affect the hair growth cycle phases and the natural hair fall rate.
Normal hair shedding per day shouldn’t be cause for alarm, but if you experience excessive hair shedding accompanied by other symptoms like bald patches or loss in hair thickness, then you should have a hair loss consultation with hair and scalp experts like Este Medical Group.
To help clarify the difference between hair shedding and hair loss, we've put together a helpful Q&A addressing common questions about normal hair shedding and excessive hair loss.
Hair Growth Cycle Easily Explains Hair Shedding
We don’t expect anyone to memorise this cycle, but knowing something about healthy hair shedding patterns can help women and men identify larger hair loss concerns. The hair growth cycle has the following phases:
- Anagen: The active growth phase for hair growth, like when a plant is growing and getting taller. Hair in this phase can grow for several years, which is why some people grow really long hair. Most of the time your head hair is in this phase.
- Catagen: This is a short, transitional phase of hair growth (about 10 days). Hair is normal, but it is not actively growing longer for example. In this phase it is normal for hair to stop growing.
- Telogen: The resting phase of hair growth cycle, so imagine your hair is just on a break from growing (about 3 months). Hairs are preparing to shed in this phase.
- Exogen: After the resting period, it is normal for hair to fall out or shed, and new hair to grow in its place.
Hair shedding is absolutely normal, and happens mostly during the telogen/exogen phase. Just imagine the hair shedding phase is similar to dead leaves falling off a plant to make room for new, healthy leaves.
Other Reasons For Hair Shedding
Besides the normal telogen and exogen phase of shedding, there are several other factors affecting hair shedding. To help keep you on the lookout for a more serious hair loss condition, here are some causes of temporary hair shedding that can be addressed at-home or at a hair loss medical clinic.
As mentioned above, getting older (see hair loss menopause), family history of hair loss, hormones, seasonal changes, stress, diet, and your lifestyle may result in temporary hair loss as well as more severe hair loss issues.
It’s My Parents Fault
There are genetic factors in hair shedding. For one, it’s a myth that hair loss issues are inherited from only the mother’s side of the family. A genetic history of hair loss can stem from both the mother's and father's backgrounds. For example, both female and male pattern baldness hair loss are influenced by genetics and can be inherited from either parent. To determine if you have male or female pattern baldness, we recommend you have a free hair loss consultation with an Este hair care expert.
Hair Falling Out From Hormone Changes
There is a link between hormonal changes and hair loss. Fluctuations in hormones, like during pregnancy (see postnatal hair loss) or menopause, can affect the hair growth cycle, leading to increased hair shedding. Este Medical has non-surgical hair treatments ideal for restoring temporary or hormonal hair loss (e.g., laser hair therapy, and PRP and PRF hair injections).
Is Seasonal Hair Shedding A Thing?
It can be, especially in the spring and fall seasons. Some people do experience an increase in hair shedding with seasonal changes. It might be a response to changes in daylight and temperature for instance. This type of hair shedding typically is not a big concern, as it's often temporary, and hair typically regrows once the season passes.
If your hair is experiencing winter hair damage due to dryer conditions and festive stress, then send us a message to have a rejuvenating and refreshing non-surgical hair treatment to restore lustre and thickness to your hair!
Importance Of Managing Stress For Healthy Hair
Did you know that high stress levels can cause more hair to enter the resting phase of the hair growth cycle, which naturally leads to hair shedding? Discover our Expert Tips for Managing Stress — a dynamic variety of stress management techniques for you to try!
Nutritional Influences On Hair Health
Bad nutrition/diet, as well as deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals necessary for hair health, can contribute to increased hair shedding. It’s no secret that eating a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients like vitamins, proteins, and minerals can help support healthy hair growth and minimise excessive shedding. If you are looking for an instant vitamin boost, then send us a message about our energizing and health restoring IV drips!
Of course, positive lifestyle changes to reduce hair shedding are going to help, and understanding these hair loss factors will help manage your hair health year round. If you are worried about excessive hair shedding causes resulting from medication use, or serious health conditions like thyroid issues or alopecia, then you should book an Este Medical Group hair loss consultation to get to the root of your problem, sooner rather than later.
Choose Este Medical For All Your Hair & Scalp Health Needs
The sooner you deal with your hair shedding or more serious hair loss worries, the sooner you can see results with laser light hair regrowth therapy and platelet-rich fibrin hair treatments for instance.
You can trust sharing your hair care frustrations with Este Medical professionals, we understand that even normal hair shedding can cause concern, and we are here to help you with our hair loss prevention treatments as well as our proven and effective non-surgical and surgical hair restoration treatments for all levels of hair loss.
Last Updated:
January 23, 2024
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