Seeing more hair than usual in your brush or shower drain can be unsettling. You may immediately wonder if your hair is thinning or if you’re starting to experience hair loss. But losing some hair each day is normal.

Most people naturally shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day as part of the hair growth cycle. The harder part is recognizing when everyday shedding has turned into something that deserves a closer look.

Allusion Client: Colleen C.

Some Daily Hair Shedding Is Normal

Hair doesn’t grow continuously. Each individual hair goes through a natural cycle that includes periods of growth, transition, and rest. Since different hairs are in different phases at any given time, you normally don’t notice the loss. The hairs that shed are replaced as the cycle starts again. Learn more about the hair cycle here. 

You may notice them on your pillow, in your hairbrush, on your clothing, or while washing your hair. Finding some loose strands doesn’t necessarily mean you’re experiencing abnormal hair loss.

What Does Excessive Hair Shedding Look Like?

There isn’t always an obvious line between normal and excessive shedding. What matters is recognizing changes from what’s typical for you.

Maybe you’re suddenly pulling handfuls of hair from the shower drain. Your brush might be filling with hair much faster than it used to. Or you may notice significantly more loose hair on your clothing and around the house.

Temporary periods of increased shedding can sometimes happen after changes or stressful events in the body. If the shedding continues or you begin noticing visible changes in your hair, it may be time to have your hair and scalp evaluated.

Signs You May Be Experiencing Hair Loss

Hair loss can be easier to recognize when it starts changing the appearance or density of your hair.

You might notice that your part looks wider than it once did. Your scalp may become easier to see through your hair, or your ponytail may feel noticeably thinner. Some people develop thinning around the hairline, temples, or crown. Others notice isolated areas with little or no hair.

Hair loss can happen gradually, making it easy to overlook at first. Looking at older photographs can sometimes help you recognize changes that have occurred over several months or years.

Men and women may also experience different patterns of thinning. There isn’t one appearance that indicates hair loss for everyone.

Pay Attention to Changes in Your Own Hair

Counting every strand you lose isn’t practical, and it probably won’t tell you much.

Instead, pay attention to what’s normal for your hair. If you’ve always noticed a certain amount of hair in your brush, that may simply be part of your usual shedding cycle. A sudden increase or a visible change in density is more useful information.

Hair length can also make shedding look more dramatic. Twenty long strands of hair can appear like a much larger amount than twenty short strands.

The bigger question is whether something has changed.

What Should You Do If Your Hair Is Thinning?

If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing normal shedding or hair loss, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

During a cosmetic hair loss consultation at Allusions, you’ll complete a brief questionnaire about your history with hair loss. A hair loss specialist will review that information and perform a scalp analysis to get a closer look at your hair and scalp.

Allusions has been helping women and men with thinning hair and hair loss in Cincinnati for nearly 30 years. The team understands how personal hair loss can be.

Don’t believe us? Check our our most recent client review: 

“Lauren is so talented! She styled my topper to blend seamlessly with my hair and I feel better about my appearance than I have in years.”

-Colleen C.