How many hairs do you normally shed?
The average person has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on their head. The latest studies show that you normally lose between 50-100 hairs a day. This is a normal part of the hair growth cycle, and the amount of shedding can vary from person to person. It may sound like a lot, but it doesn't even make up 1% of your hair.
Women with curly hair tend to shed more hair than women with straight, thick, fine or thin hair. This is because women with curly hair naturally have more strands of hair than others and are therefore more exposed. Women with long hair will also have a greater tendency to experience hair shedding than women with short hair, because the daily stress on the hair is greater. Understanding the difference between hair shedding vs hair loss is key – shedding is typically temporary, while hair loss might indicate a more permanent issue.
Hair shedding vs. hair loss
Hair shedding and hair loss are often used interchangeably, but they refer to two different processes in hair health. Hair shedding is a natural and temporary part of the hair growth cycle, where old hair falls out to make room for new strands. On average, it's normal to shed between 50-100 hairs a day as part of the body’s regular renewal process.
On the other hand, hair loss is typically a more permanent condition. Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, hormonal imbalances, medical conditions, and long-term stress. Unlike shedding, hair loss often results in thinning or bald spots that don’t resolve without intervention.
The key difference is that shedding is temporary and can be reversed as part of the natural cycle, while hair loss may require treatment or lifestyle changes to manage and prevent further damage.
Understanding this distinction can help you assess your hair health and determine whether you're experiencing a normal shedding phase or dealing with more serious hair loss. If you notice that the shedding persists or increases significantly over time, it might be a good idea to consult a healthcare professional to rule out potential causes of hair loss.
Hair growth cycle - How your hair grows
The hair is subject to some natural prerequisites which are the following.
Hair has 4 phases:
Anagen phase - The growth phase
The first cycle is the Anagen phase, which is the growth phase. The growth phase or the anagen phase, where the hair grows for 3-6 years. 90% of your hair is in this phase. In this phase, new cells are formed at the root of the hair follicle, which push up through the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin to form new hair strands.
Catagene phase - The transition phase
Then comes a transition phase or also called the catagen phase, which lasts 2-3 weeks. The catagen phase occurs when hair growth slows down significantly or stops altogether. In this transitional phase between the anagen and telogen phases, the lower part of the hair follicle begins to shrink and detach from the blood supply, resulting in a shortening of the length of the hair shaft. This typically lasts for approx. 10 days, but can vary from two to four weeks.
Telogen phase - the resting phase
The third part of the cycle is called Telogen, which is also known as the resting phase, where no further growth occurs. During this period, your hair stays put until it is ready to be shed naturally from your scalp. It usually takes between three and four months for this to happen.
Exogenous phase - the expulsion phase
Finally, we have the exogenous phase, which is also known as the shedding phase because it is the phase where old hair falls out due to normal shedding or aggressive brushing/combing/styling habits that pull out more than normal amounts of hair. This usually lasts for a few days but can last up to 8 weeks depending on individual factors such as genetics, diet or general health etc. After the hair removal is done, new hair will start growing back in its place so don't worry, if you notice some thinning during this period! It's completely natural and nothing to worry about - just make sure you take good care of your scalp and regular shampoo and conditioner.
When the hair goes into the resting phase earlier, it means that the growth phase is reduced. The hair therefore lives for a shorter time and therefore cannot grow as far as otherwise.. You therefore want to optimize your growth phase of the hair, as it is crucial for the health of your hair in the long term.
Read this post to learn more about the causes and how to avoid shedding more hair than usual.
Why is my hair shedding so much? - Causes of hair loss
There can be many different reasons why you shed/lose more hair than usual during certain periods of your life. This is primarily due to either a physical or psychological impact on the body. Hair loss can also prove to be hereditary.
Stress
One of the biggest reasons for hair shedding and/or hair loss is illness and stress. It really takes a toll on the body's resources. Our hair is incredibly sensitive to physical and psychological influences. However, the hair loss usually only appears after approximately 3 months after the end of the illness or stress period. The hair tends to find its way back into a normal rhythm again and therefore not something that will last longer.
Pregnancy
Another major cause of hair loss can be during and after pregnancy. This is where your hormonal system really kicks in and you produce a larger amount of male hormones during pregnancy. However, it will stabilize again after birth. This hormonal fluctuation causes hair to enter the shedding phase prematurely, and once hormones stabilize, hair returns to its natural cycle. This means that when your hormonal level drops, your hair will not get the same nutrition, which means that many of your hair will fall out. You can read more about
hair loss during pregnancy here.
Diet plays a big role
Another reason for hair shedding could be your diet. It is most often a reason for your hair to fall out. The diet is absolutely essential for your hair to achieve its normal structure and thereby remain healthy. It is about getting a handle on which vitamins and minerals and proteins your hair needs. If you cannot get this need covered, your hair follicles will not be able to maintain a normal state and will make your hair dull, frizzy and thin. You can read more about vitamins and minerals for hair here.
What vitamins and minerals am I lacking if I shed a lot of hair?
If we look into scientific findings, a lack of the vitamin biotin and the mineral zinc will have an effect on your hair, and can cause it to shed. These are recognised for their effect on maintaining normal hair. Here are some scientific findings to support this.
Scientific Results on Biotin
A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology in 2016 showed that women who experienced hair loss benefited from biotin supplementation. Participants in the study showed a significant improvement in hair growth after 90 days of daily biotin supplementation. Furthermore, biotin is important for the production of keratin, the protein that hair is made of. A study in Dermatology Research and Practice highlighted biotin's role in keratin production and its potential benefits in promoting normal hair growth.
Scientific Findings on Zinc
A study published in the Annals of Dermatology in 2013 examined the link between zinc levels and hair loss in people with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes patchy hair loss. The results showed that patients with alopecia areata had significantly lower zinc levels compared to the control group, suggesting that zinc deficiency may be a contributing factor to hair loss in these patients. Another study in the International Journal of Trichology in 2016 showed that zinc supplementation in patients with telogen effluvium, a condition characterised by diffuse hair loss, led to improvement in hair growth.
However, it is important to emphasise that there can be several different causes of hair loss that may be partially or fully responsible. It is therefore always a good idea to identify the cause so that you can get started with the optimal treatment.
Healthy hair - this is what it looks like
A good way to check your hair is to use 2 or more mirrors. Here you can examine your hair structure and how the different parts of your hair feel. You should look at how your hairs are on the neck and around the scalp, compare them with the locks of hair. Here you can see if your hair has a uniform appearance. It indicates that the hair is doing well. Conversely, if there is a big difference in the different structures, in relation to thickness or that it is shiny, it may indicate that your hair has not been too good at one point or another.
Another way to check your hair can also be by checking how you shed. Monitoring your hair shedding can give you insight into the health of your hair. You can do this by looking at the lost hair and looking for a lumpy mass at the root of the lost hair. This mass indicates that the hair has gone through the full hair cycle. That's why you don't have to worry about cutting too much. If, on the other hand, it is without a lumpy mass at the root, you should consider what you can do to shed less hair. We give you some suggestions here.
How to stop hair shedding
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamin deficiency can be a reason because the hair does not get the nutrients it needs to function normally. If your diet is not optimal, it can affect your hair, as the body does not get the nutrients it needs to maintain normal hair.
If you really want to have normal hair, you have to think about both the external AND internal care of the hair. The internal care can be just as important for the health of your hair. Eg. does biotin play a role in maintaining normal hair, which is found in our hair vitamins.