How Much Hair Loss Is Normal ? And What You Probably Don't Know About Hair Loss

Ingenira has been working as an online writer for at least six years. Among dozens of other topics, she loves to write about baking.

My Hair Is Falling Out, What Do I Do?

If you feel that your hair is dropping in handfuls and you feel that you are starting to look more like your balding uncle than curly-haired beauty or hunk, then read on and do something about it! First of all, calm down! If you are a woman, then bear in mind that 90 percent of women’s hair loss is only temporary; it is probably not as serious as you think. Every hair has a life cycle of its own which ends with it falling out to make room for a new one to grow. At any moment of time, only about 80 percent of your hairs are growing. The growing phase lasts from two to six years, varying from one individual to another. The other 20 percent of the hair has ceased to grow and gone into inactive period of about 3 months before finally falling out.

How Much Hair Loss Is Normal?

According to research, it is normal to lose 50–100 hairs every day. This may sound like a lot, but do bear in mind that we have a total of between 90,000 to 150,000 hairs on our heads. Normally, we don’t even notice losing about 100 if we shampoo and brush our hair daily. However, if you have long hair and the longer it is, the more you will notice the loss because the length makes it look more in the brush or on the floor. Also, if you have a simple and easy hairstyle and do not style your hair often, you may be surprised at just how many hairs are left behind in the brush when you suddenly decide to use the brush to style your hair one day. If you really have a serious hair loss problem, you will notice a loss of over 10 to 50 percent of the hairs on any one area of your head.

How Did You Lose Your Hair?

Look closely at the roots of the hairs that have fallen off where it is thinnest:

1. If the ends are blunt, then your hair is breaking off, rather than falling out. You will need to look at the general condition of your hair. Did you perm your hair lately? Over perm hair is more susceptible to breakage
2. If the ends are tapered, your hair has been falling out from the roots.

Causes of Hair Loss

There are a few common causes of hair loss, such as:

1. Lack of Vitamin B and C, the mineral zinc, iron, and sulfur.
2. Crash diet can result in more hair loss than gradual weight loss
3. Traumatic experience and stress
4. Menstruation and pregnancy (causes temporary hair loss due to hormone imbalances)
5. Long or short term illness
6. Some drugs and medical treatments

What Can You Do About Hair Loss?

1. Increase your mineral and vitamin intakes
2. Keep away from perm, coloring and avoid drying out your hair
3. Keep your hair in short and layered style until it grows thicker. The weight of long hair will pull it flatter on top, making it look even thinner.
4. Check your comb and brushes to ensure that they don’t do any further damage. Avoid combs that are too fine and remember to comb your hair gently.
5. Massage helps to stimulate blood supply to the scalp and gets the hair growing again. Keep your fingers in a claw-like position and press your fingers against the scalp and massage in a small circular motion.

Why Does the Hair Stop Growing After a Certain Length?

On average, hair grows about 12mm or ½ in each month. When it reaches a length of about 25cm or 10in, the growth rate will slow down to about 6mm or 1/4in per month. Some people will find their hair grows faster than this, while others may experience a slower rate. For some people, hair grows for a minimum of two years before it falls out. Others may take up to seven years of growth.

Can Men Cure Baldness?

The pattern of baldness in men is usually inherited, and there is no cure for it. So many men make the mistake of trying to grow that little hair they have and then trying to use this to disguise the bald patches, which usually ends up unsuccessful. A toupee or hairpiece is a bad idea too since they look unnatural. Hairs transplants are often a bad idea too since many men who have been through it are dissatisfied with the results. There are many products in the market that claim to slow down hair loss or stimulate hair growth. Some of these work on the principle that they stimulate the blood supply to the scalp providing essential nourishment to the growing hair follicles. However, one can do this for free by simply massaging the scalp with fingers for a few minutes a day.

Did You Know?

• Hair grows more in warmer weather.
• Hair grows less as you get older.
• Most of us actually lose more hair than usual in the autumn. This is known as seasonal hair loss and is nothing to worry about.
• The average lifespan of a hair is anything from two to six years.
• On average, the lifespan of a woman’s hair is a quarter longer than a man’s.
• Contrary to some belief, hair does not continue to grow after a person has died.
• “Virgin hair” is the term used by hairdressers to describe hair which has not been previously chemically processed in any way, or has not been straightened.
• If your boyfriend is worried that his hair is starting to drop out, tell him that he is not alone! One in five men starts to thin or experience hair loss before they are 20, and many are very bald by the time they are 30.
• If you place a hair under the microscope, the magnified cross-section of an average straight hair looks round, a curly hair tends to be oval, whereas an Afro hair is kidney-shaped and flat on one side.
• Grey hair doesn’t really exist. The overall impression of greyness is given by a mixture of pure white hairs containing no pigment and the remaining strands of pigmented hair. A hair shaft is either pigmented or colorless, but never a combination of the two.
• If you suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, your hair may begin to fall out.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: Should I be worried if I am losing 1 to 2 strands of hair a couple of times during the day?

Answer: No, don't worry about it.

Question: Is it normal for my ponytail to feel thinner?

Answer: Yes. It is normal. However, vigorous brushing or pulling the hair into tight pony tails or braids can cause it to fall out. Being more gentle with the hair will allow it to grow back.

© 2011 Ingenira

Comments

Fireangel on February 16, 2020:

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I have some kind of knot or blister on top of my head it's itrated and I have dyed my hair I brush it today and a chunk came out I don't know if I accidently cut when I was cutting where the bump was or something wrong

Pavan on July 16, 2019:

I took retinoids for my acne for 3 months then my hair has started falling from 3 months intensely from the root ..all the hairs have keratin buds .(loosing short hair too )and the remaining hair are bone dry......plzz help

Urmila on May 21, 2019:

It's my loss in small paches in rounds what can I do am so wrred

Somashree on May 09, 2019:

My problem when my hair is comb 150 hair in fall daily. It is normal

hair care tips on April 27, 2019:

There are many hair care tips you can include to your hair care routine. These can be hair care tips for men, hair care tips in Hindi, skin care tips, everything you need to make you look appealing and alluring. Let’s take a look at the techniques you can apply to make the hair better without damaging it. These don’t include any healthy hair products but some hair care routines you can follow for the good of your hair.

beauti.tips

Olivia on January 03, 2019:

I tried lots of natural solutions including herbs and oils but I realized that it only added more stress to my hair. What helped me was a supplement called FemMed Hair Skin and Nails. I tried other supplements too but this one was more effective for some reason.

Deepak on August 31, 2018:

Sir i am 25 year and i have some hair loss ...and i read on a site that hair loss can cause phsycologicle detstress and depression ...is it true dr

ShylanShy on July 23, 2018:

I have long hair and only 5piecies come out

Indrani Paul on July 17, 2018:

Hii, I m suffering a huge hair loss when I comb my at morning.

Katelyn kanatzar on April 15, 2018:

What if you are loosing 1 to 2 peases of hair a couple times a day?

pokemon on February 08, 2018:

i have masturbated for about 3 years and now my hair has become very thin and its falling out from the roots easily now i am just 15 please help

Katelyn1974 on August 14, 2017:

Please help. My hair has always been my pride and joy. I figured since it is pretty damn healthy, it could deal with some bleach damage. And I figured the master stylist who did all the color-corrections would know how much would be too much. I was wrong, and now I want to burst into tears every time I look at my hair or touch it. I just don't know what to do. my hair has also NEVER been shorter than this and it breaks and falls out. What should i do to regrow hair?

Rachna on November 23, 2016:

Hello

I went for a gastric bypas before 1.5 year n lost 30 kg after 5 months of surgery Hairfall started n stopped with in 2-3 months and new hair were also started grown but all of sudden previous 2 months I suffered from deficiency of vitamin D and the level was 8 only I got treated for it but after that now my hair are falling like hell from the root and I m too much tensed as I put my fingers in scalp 10-15 hair comes with that god I m worried weather it is a temporary or I m loosing my hair permanentaly can u please suggest me what should I do all doctors are saying its temporary but I feel like it's permanent they won't grow again as in a day I loose nearly 200+ hair . Please suggest what should I do

Sumit on October 14, 2016:

When I do comb about 4 to 5 hairs used to fall daily, what should I do

Clémence on September 03, 2016:

My problem is I'm maybe losing 50-100 hairs a day, but I don't have a lot of hair so I have less and less hair. It's really freaking me out!

samar khan on August 30, 2016:

continue to 4 years my hair fall .am very depressed what i can do /plzz help me

RAJESH DRAVID on August 26, 2016:

DAILY 5 TO 10 HAIR FALL

Ayan on April 24, 2016:

I notice that my hair fall are from two side of my fore head and the hair fall was increase at the time of shmpooing and washes approx 50 to 100 nos that will be Normal my age is now 23 your early suggesstion is requested

janelia on December 30, 2014:

I have severe hair fall .I tried to count the fallen hair.but it is varying..sometimes it will be 20-25 and some other days it may be 50-70.sometimes it is happening on consecutive days. What to do?is it the symptoms of hairfall?pls help me..

Ingenira (author) on May 19, 2013:

Thank you so much, LensMan, for your kind comment. You are right about your conclusion.

LensMan999 from Trans-Neptunian region on May 19, 2013:

Ingenira , Your hub on hair loss is very informative. It educates the people about the reasons of hair loss and what the hair needs to grow. You gave many solutions for protecting the hair and I have got some tips to. The notable thing is your hub is not trying to disappoint the people with balded hair, by saying personality is the key of attraction, not hair.

Ingenira (author) on May 16, 2013:

Yes, Rafaela, stress can cause many unfavourable changes in our bodies, and hair drop is one of them. Good to know that you have gotten it sorted out.

Rafaela Lima from US on May 16, 2013:

I used to loose a lot of hare. Then I went to the doctor and she told me it could be stress. So I start to relax, I started exercise and then...My hair got better, I would say much better! :)

Ingenira (author) on May 15, 2013:

Glad to see you here, peramore. Thanks for the comment.

peramore20 from Greensburg, PA on May 15, 2013:

Nice hub. It's very informational. I shed a lot, so it's nice to know more about hair loss.

Ingenira (author) on May 15, 2013:

Thanks, PoojaMehta.

PoojaMehta0911 from India on May 15, 2013:

Hey thanx..nice hub..

Ingenira (author) on May 13, 2013:

Well said, annitakison. Appreciate your comment.

Anni Takison from california, USA on May 13, 2013:

I think care is the only factor that can prevent your hair loss. A healthy diet overfill the deficiency that is causing loss of hairs

Ingenira (author) on April 20, 2013:

pstraubie, I am sorry to read about your daughter case, and I am glad that you can still think positively about her. I hope she is doing better.

sagar ghosh on December 17, 2012:

please help

i m suffering from hair loss. and one side of my head has very thin hair as compared to other. when i massage my scalp and hair i loose almost 50+ hair. i heard that hair normally falls out when u start massage but after few weeks it gets normal. is it right?????? i m very scared now to even comb my hair. please help...

milkyway pricess on November 22, 2012:

i like this page.i'm worried about hair falling

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on November 10, 2012:

This was interesting. Having a daughter with cancer who has had and lost her hair many times over the last nine years, this hub's title kind of jumped out at me, At present she is not taking any more chemo (no more to be taken, she has exhausted its and radiation's usefulness) so her beautiful thick hair is on her sweet head, Although she was beautiful without her hair---she is just one of those who can be beautiful with or without it.

My parents both had very think hair and mine is as well. Both of them life to be elderly, Momma 87 and Daddy 93 and still had enough hair to make them happy. So that is a good thing.

Thanks for sharing with us the facts and information you have included. ps

Ingenira (author) on March 21, 2012:

generally yes.

Emilia on March 21, 2012:

is this good for all types of hair ?

Ingenira (author) on September 11, 2011:

Hi Rina,

If you think your hair fall is abnormally much, please consult your doctor for possible health reason.

Ingenira (author) on August 12, 2011:

my pleasure, Naim Hasan. nice to see you again.

Naim H from Dhaka on May 17, 2011:

I had so many bad days with my hair falls lol...Hope the scientists will invent something to stop hair fall for permanently someday. And another great hub! Thanks!!

Ingenira (author) on April 16, 2011:

Thanks, Roanna. Glad to see you here.

Ingenira (author) on April 16, 2011:

You are most welcomed, Subha. :)

Subha on April 16, 2011:

Thanks Ingenira for ur advice!!

roanna from Virginia on April 14, 2011:

Nice post!

Ingenira (author) on April 12, 2011:

Subha, 4 to 5 hairs drop per day is normal, no reason to worry about. :) Make sure you have enough protein intake too, protein is needed for your body to make the hair. Take care !

Ingenira (author) on April 12, 2011:

Eat well, prasetio, for a start. :) God bless !

prasetio30 from malang-indonesia on April 09, 2011:

I have bad hair. I want to keep my hair always beautiful. Black and shinny. I hope I can get the answer from this hub. Well done, my friend. Rate up up up!

Prasetio:)

Ingenira (author) on April 08, 2011:

Thank you, Rooskaya, I liked your hub too and I am going over to read more now. :)

Rooskaya from USA on April 08, 2011:

I liked your hub and voted up as useful.

Ingenira (author) on April 06, 2011:

Thanks so much, QudsiaP1. :)

QudsiaP1 on April 06, 2011:

This is a brilliant and very informative hub, keep it up!

Ingenira (author) on April 01, 2011:

I can imagine your long thick hair, Claudin - signature of youth !

Claudin_Dayo from Southeast Asia on April 01, 2011:

up , up , up! ^^

I love your hub but I hate it when I don't have a hair fall because my hair is really thick =)

Ingenira (author) on March 29, 2011:

Thank you, KenWu for the additional tips. Really appreciate that. :)

Thank you, Lyn.Stewart for your comment. Glad to see you again. :)

Thank you, Betty, for your humble comment. :)

Thank you, toknowinfo, for reading and the vote. :)

Thank you, angInwu, truly, we can't neglect the crowning head of glory, what a beautiful desciptive term !

anglnwu on March 28, 2011:

Great interesting information. The crowning head of glory is definitely a great cause of concern, so this hub is very useful. Rated up.

toknowinfo on March 27, 2011:

Fascinating hub. I learned so so much. Thanks for all the info. Well done hub. Rated up and useful.

Betty Johansen on March 26, 2011:

I didn't know that gray hair doesn't exist. Lots of useful and interesting information here. Thanks for furthering my education!

Lyn.Stewart from Auckland, New Zealand on March 26, 2011:

up and useful. thanks for this it was interesting

KenWu from Malaysia on March 26, 2011:

Hair loss could also caused by using the wrong shampoo, particular if it is not well diluted and applied on the initial part of the head. This will definitely hurt the scalp. Moreover if we press too hard on our hard while shampooing, that will also cause hair drops.