According to the British Association of Dermatologists, it’s totally normal to lose 30 to 150 hairs per day as part of our normal hair cycle.
But how do you know if your hair shedding is normal or if it’s actually hair loss? Keep reading to learn more about hair shedding. Plus, we’ll share tips on how to stop hair falling out.
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Normal Hair Shedding Defined
Hair shedding is a normal and necessary part of the hair growth cycle. As we mentioned, it’s normal to have 30 and 150 hairs falling out per day. While that may seem like a lot, the average human scalp has 100,000 to 150,000 hairs, so that daily loss doesn’t mean a visible difference in your hair volume.
To understand normal hair shedding, first we need to talk about the hair growth cycle. Hair growth (and hair falling out) occur in a continuous cycle with four key phases. At any given point, those 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on your head are at different points of the cycle. That’s a good thing because it’s what prevents all of your hair shedding at once!
Here’s how the hair cycle works:
1. Anagen or Hair Growth Phase
During this first phase of the hair growth cycle, cells in the hair follicle divide rapidly, resulting in new hair growth. 80 to 90 percent of hair is in the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. This phase lasts between two to seven years, and the length of the anagen phase determines how long your hair can grow. Many factors influence the length of your anagen phase, including genetics, nutrition, age, and overall health. Since your health can affect your hair growth phase, following healthy habits is the best way to stop hair falling out (but more on that later).
2. Catagen or Transition Phase
Once the hair reaches its maximum length, the hair follicle transitions into the catagen phase. During this short period, the hair detaches from its blood supply and becomes what is known as a club hair.
3. Telogen or Resting Phase
While the club hair rests, it is still attached to the scalp and a new hair grows beneath it. This new hair will eventually take its place. This period lasts about three months.
4. Exogen or Hair Shedding Phase
The hair shedding phase is the final part of the hair growth cycle. During this period, the club hair detaches and falls out. Every hair sheds once it reaches this phase of the growth cycle. Once a hair reaches the exogen phase, there is nothing you can do to prevent the hair falling out.
After the exogen phase, the hair follicle returns to the anagen phase and works on growing the new hair that was beneath the club hair. And then the cycle repeats itself!
Hair Loss vs. Hair Shedding
Hair shedding is a normal and necessary part of the hair growth cycle, but if you’re losing more than 150 strands per day, you might be experiencing hair loss.
Many types of hair loss occur when a higher-than-average number of hair follicles transition from the anagen phase to the catagen phase. Once these hairs reach the hair shedding phase, they fall out and hair may appear visibly thinner. This type of hair loss can have many different causes. For some, hair loss is caused by physical changes like giving birth or drastic weight loss. Other times, hair loss may be caused by an underlying medical condition.
However, most cases of hair loss are the result of androgenetic hair loss, otherwise known as male or female hair loss. This type of hair shedding is not directly related to the hair growth cycle. In this case, a hormone called DHT shrinks the hair follicles until they stop producing hair altogether. As the follicles shrink, hair falls out.
Your hair shows if your body is not doing well! A healthy diet and active life style goes a long way when it comes to hair.
How Can You Tell if Something is Wrong?
So how do you know if you’re experiencing regular hair shedding or if you actually have hair loss? Here’s a few signs to look for:
- Patchy Hair Loss - Losing hair in circular patches could be a sign of a medical condition called alopecia areata.
- Receding Hairline - One of the first ways men notice hair falling out is their hairline begins to recede. This is a sign of androgenetic hair loss.
- Thinness at the Crown - Another sign of excessive hair shedding for men is visible thinness at the crown.
- Widening Part - Women tend to lose hair all over rather than in one place like men, so excessive hair shedding may be less obvious. However, a widening part is a sure sign of hair falling out for women.
- Smaller Ponytail - Women with long hair might notice hair shedding if the diameter of their ponytail shrinks noticeably.
- Extra Hair Falling Out - If you’re noticing more hairs than normal on your pillow, in your hair brush, or in your shower drain, you may have excessive hair shedding.
If you recognize any of these signs of hair loss, talk to your dermatologist. Your doctor can diagnose the cause of your hair loss and help you design a treatment plan to stop your hair falling out.
Explore amazing hair growth results from people using Hairlust:
Before and after Hairlust
*Results may vary from person to person.
See all reviewsResults vary from person to person, but visible results usually occur after 2-6 months of use.
How to Stop Hair Falling Out: 8 Tips
Even if you don’t have hair loss, hair shedding can be very annoying and keep you from your hair goals. To reduce hair shedding and stop hair falling out, improve the anagen phase with the help of these tips:
How to Stop Hair Falling Out Tip #1: Eat a Balanced Diet
Healthy hair starts within, which is why it’s so important to eat a diet rich in hair-healthy nutrients.
To boost your hair growth phase and reduce hair shedding, aim to eat a diet rich in lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and veggies.
Not sure which foods are best for fighting hair shedding? Try these:
- Eggs
- Lean proteins like chicken and fish
- Healthy fats like avocado and olive oil
- Dark leafy green vegetables
- Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables like oranges and bell peppers
How to Stop Hair Falling Out Tip #2: Take a Supplement for Hair Growth
If you’re not a fan of eggs or can’t stand to eat another piece of kale, try a hair growth supplement.
Hairlust supplements are formulated with all the vitamins and minerals your hair follicles need, including 5,000 mcg. of the hair growth saviour biotin. To put that in perspective, you would need to eat 500 eggs daily to get that much biotin from your diet alone! Plus, Hairlust supplements are vegan, allergy-friendly, and contain absolutely zero artificial dyes or flavors.
By nourishing your hair follicles with the vitamins and minerals it craves, you maximize your anagen phase, and thus reduce hair shedding.
Hairlust hair growth supplements come in 4 versions:
How to Stop Hair Falling Out Tip #3: Turn Down the Heat
Put down the curling iron! Daily heat styling does major damage to the hair shaft, leaving it brittle. Eventually, that brittle hair will break off and shed.
To reduce hair shedding, take a break from heat tools and try some heat-free hairstyles. When you do use hot tools, be sure to use a heat protectant spray beforehand.
How to Stop Hair Falling Out Tip #4: Start From the Bottom
Daily detangling is of course a part of a healthy hair care routine. But you might want to rethink how you brush your hair. Brushing downwards from the scalp is a major no-no, since this can turn small knots into big tangles. Plus, rough brushing leads to breakage and hair shedding. Instead, use a Bamboo Hairbrush or Wet Hair Detangler Brush to gently tease apart your locks, starting at the ends and working your way towards the scalp.
How to Stop Hair Falling Out Tip #5: Avoid Hair & Scalp Stress
If you love a good top knot, you could unknowingly be causing more hair shedding. Tight hairstyles like buns, ponytails, and braids put stress on your locks, which can cause breakage and hair shedding.
To keep hair from falling out, loosen up your favorite hairstyles and use Hair Rings, which are a more gentle alternative to traditional hair elastics.
How to Stop Hair Falling Out Tip #6: Upgrade Your Cleansing Routine
The shower is the perfect time to add a little nourishment back into your hair. Why? Because nourished hair is stronger, which makes it less likely to break and cause hair shedding. Grow Perfect™ Duo shampoo and conditioner are formulated with clinically proven Anagain™ and rosemary oil that have been shown to extend the growth phase of the hair while reducing the shedding phase, effectively leading to improved hair growth and denser hair in as little as three months.
And of course, always following shampoo with conditioner is key. While our shampoo is formulated to cleanse hair without stripping it, it’s still important to hydrate hair after each wash with a high-quality conditioner. Hydrated hair is healthy hair, so make sure to use conditioner to prevent hair shedding.
How to Stop Hair Falling Out Tip #7: Treat Wet Hair Carefully
Raise your hand if your first step out of the shower is to wrap your hair in a big fluffy towel! If you use a cotton towel on your hair, you’re certainly not alone. This is a major haircare no-no that most people make!
However, the cotton fibers of traditional bath towels are actually too rough for hair, and can actually leave your locks tangled and frizzy. Here’s the thing: our hair is at its most fragile when it’s wet, so you want to be extra gentle with it to prevent breakage and hair shedding.
Instead, try our Bamboo Hair Towel Wrap! It’s made from a bamboo-cotton blend that’s much more gentle on your hair, and it will prevent delicate wet strands from breaking.
Then when you’re ready to detangle your hair, use the Wet Hair Detangler Brush, which is designed just for handling wet hair. Plus, the flexible bristles give your scalp a nice massage. Massage is known to increase blood flow and deliver more nutrients to the hair follicles, which will help them to grow more efficiently and reduce hair shedding.
How to Stop Hair Falling Out Tip #8: Get Enough Sleep
Anything you can do to help your body stay healthy is also going to help your hair stay healthy and reduce hair shedding. Many experts agree that getting enough sleep is the #1 thing you can do to improve your health. The National Health Service currently recommends at least 8 hours of sleep per night for optimal health.
To make sure you’re getting your rest, go to sleep and rise at the same time each day, opt to sleep in a cool, dark room and turn off all screens at least 1 hour before bedtime.
Hair Shedding - FAQs
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1. What is the difference between hair shedding and hair loss?
Hair shedding is a normal part of the hair growth cycle, where up to 150 hairs are shed per day. Hair loss, on the other hand, involves losing more hair than usual, leading to visible thinning or bald patches.
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2. How can I reduce shedding and prevent hair loss?
Improving hair health involves maintaining a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients like proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Additionally, using supplements formulated for hair growth, avoiding excessive heat styling, using gentle haircare products, managing stress levels, and getting adequate sleep can help reduce shedding and promote healthy hair growth.
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3. When should I consult a dermatologist about my hair shedding?
If you notice persistent or severe hair shedding, unusual hair loss patterns, or any other concerning symptoms related to your hair and scalp health, it's advisable to consult a dermatologist. A doctor can diagnose the underlying cause of your hair issues and recommend appropriate treatment options.
Remember: hair shedding is a completely normal part of a healthy hair growth cycle and you can reduce hair shedding to a certain extent by following a healthy hair care routine. However, if you’re noticing more hair falling out than usual, it might be time to speak to a dermatologist.
Hope you have found this guide on how to stop hair falling out and tips to control hair shedding useful.
