Why Am I Losing So Much Hair? |

Have you ever noticed an alarming amount of hair in your drain while showering? It's possible you could have accidentally scrubbed your scalp too hard and caused your hair follicles to freak out, but what if this sign of hair loss means something more?

The truth is, it's completely natural to lose hair every day. However, while the average person sheds about 50 to 100 strands daily, anything over 150 strands is not normal, noted trichologist Penny James. To better understand why changes in hair loss occur, we spoke with James and hair care expert Gretchen Friese.

Meet the expert

Penny James is a trichologist and the owner of her eponymous Trichology Center in New York City.
Gretchen Friese is a BosleyMD certified trichologist.

Keep reading to find out why you might be experiencing hair loss and what to do about it.

How the Hair Growth Cycle Works

"The natural growth cycle that our hair goes through is complex," explained James.

In total, there are three different stages your hair can be in.

"The growing stage is known as anagen, [which is where] 85 percent of our hair is in the cycle at one time; this can last up to six years," said James. The next stage is the resting stage, aka catagen, in which "five percent of your hair will be in this phase and last for up to three weeks." Lastly, the falling-out stage is called telogen. This includes about 10 percent of your hair that is ready to naturally fall out of the head and grow new hair.

"Our hair continues to work in this cycle for our lifetime," James noted.

Friese added that there are other phases we often go through where we will shed more than normal. For instance, one of these times is called "seasonal shedding," which is when a temperature change triggers your follicles to enter a shedding phase.

"If you feel like you're losing excess hair for more than a month, then you may want to look into a remedy," Friese stressed.

Since you're not going to count each individual hair that you lose, pay attention to the amount of hair that is left in your hands after you shampoo, in your brush, or on the bottom of the bathroom floor.

Common Causes of Hair Loss

"Hair loss can be caused by stress, hormonal changes, childbirth, thyroid issues, medications, vitamin deficiencies, excessive weight loss, and some autoimmune disorders," said Friese.

If you believe your hair has been shedding more for longer than three months, James suggested asking yourself the following:

Did you change your medication? Did you go on a new medication?
Did you have food poisoning?
Have you been on a strict diet or stopped eating protein?
Are you very stressed?
Are you menopausal?
Have you been ill?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions or believe that something more serious might be off with your body (i.e. thyroid issues or an autoimmune disorder), it's important to connect with a medical professional or trichologist to find out what's going on.

"Make sure you get some blood work done to rule out any underlying condition," said James. "Speaking with a trichologist can be very helpful to determine what blood work might be needed."

How to Prevent Hair Loss

Although not all hair loss is preventable, to maintain a healthy scalp and follicles, James recommended the following:

Maintaining a well-balanced diet.
Taking vitamins B, 6, and 12, and vitamin D.
Washing your hair regularly at least three times a week (or once a week for natural, curly hair).

"Scalp health is extremely important," noted Friese. "Keeping a healthy environment for hair to grow is key. Make sure you wash your hair and scalp regularly to avoid any build-up of oils, sweat, products, and debris. Most people do not clean their scalp enough."

Also, be mindful of how you're managing your hair.

"Don't wear tight hairstyles like buns, ponytails, and tight braids," advised Friese. "The tension on the follicle can cause hair loss. Gently brush your hair. Use a detangler if needed, so there isn't too much tension while brushing."

The Best Hair Loss Treatments

Since there are a lot of reasons why one might experience hair loss, it's important to consult with a trichologist to identify the cause(s) and come up with a personalized solution.

"Our hair is the tiniest organ in our body; it is very complex. Our hair is a fiber that needs to be nourished and taken care of," said James.

The good news is, once the issue has been identified and a remedy has been provided, excess shedding will correct itself most of the time, James told us. Just keep in mind that it will take around three to six months to see the new growth, as hair grows in a three-month cycle, according to James.

Find out what your hair type is and invest in high-quality shampoo and conditioner.

"Or you can give your hair and scalp treatments with natural oils like lavender, rosemary, jojoba, almond, and avocado oil," added James. "These can be mixed together and used as a scalp and hair treatment by applying directly onto the scalp and hair, leaving on for 20 minutes, and shampooing it out very well. (This treatment should not be used if you have a naturally oily scalp.)"

The Bottom Line

Experiencing hair loss can be scary, but it isn't necessarily an issue. Still, to help prevent losing excess hair, you should be following healthy scalp and hair care habits. To properly treat hair loss, It's important to remember that there is a reason why your hair is falling out in the first place — and an at-home remedy might not do the trick.

"Find out why, then take action," suggested James. "If you keep blind aiding with lots of products but have no idea why your hair is falling out, it will continue to fall out."

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Why Am I Losing So Much Hair?