We lose an average of 50 to 100 hairs a day. These are hairs at the end of their cycle, replaced by new ones. As long as that volume stays steady and your hair is not visibly thinning, it is normal. Beyond that, or if the overall mass is decreasing, there is an imbalance worth understanding.
How to tell whether your hair loss is abnormal
Three reliable clues:
- The pull test: run your hand through a section, without tugging hard. If more than 5 hairs stay in your palm, the shedding is active.
- Visible thinning: a widening part, receding temples, a ponytail thinner than it used to be.
- Duration: marked shedding that lasts more than 3 months deserves a consultation.
Temporary shedding (reactive)
These are the most common and the most reassuring. They show up 2 to 4 months after a trigger:
- An emotional shock, prolonged stress, a bereavement.
- Childbirth (the postpartum hormonal shed, around the third month).
- A high fever, surgery, a long course of medication.
- A restrictive diet, an iron or vitamin D deficiency.
- Stopping or changing hormonal contraception.
Good news: this kind of shedding is reversible. The cycle usually picks back up within 3 to 6 months, sometimes longer.
Seasonal shedding (fall)
Every fall, we lose slightly more hair for 4 to 8 weeks. It is physiological, tied to the change in daylight and to the hair cycle. Nothing to worry about, unless the shedding settles in beyond 2 months.
The kinds of hair loss that call for a consultation
See a dermatologist or a physician if you notice:
- Marked shedding that lasts more than 3 months.
- Clear thinning at the crown (androgenetic alopecia).
- Loss in round patches (alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that responds well to treatment).
- Shedding along with irritation, crusting, or itching.
Blood work (ferritin, vitamin D, thyroid hormones) will often identify an underlying cause quickly.
What actually helps
No shampoo makes hair grow back. Be wary of miracle promises. Several habits do, however, improve the environment around the follicle:
- Massage your scalp for 2 minutes a day to stimulate microcirculation.
- Adopt a gentle routine, with no sulfates and no occlusive silicones.
- Check your ferritin, since iron deficiency is one of the most frequent causes of hair loss in women.
- Take targeted supplements (zinc, biotin, omega-3) for at least 3 months if a deficiency is confirmed.
Our hair diagnosis helps you identify the profile of your hair loss and the most appropriate routine.