If one day, after combing your hair, you notice that there are suspiciously many hairs left on the comb, do not panic. Hair loss is a natural process, but everyone is afraid of it. So let’s learn a little more about it.
Before rushing to the drugstore and to the cosmetic store to sweep from the shelves all the compositions that cure baldness, it is necessary to understand what is happening and firstly to know how much hair per day should a person lose. Then find out how much hair you are actually losing and then take steps to prevent this problem.
How much hair does a person usually lose in a day?
Just like all the other cells in our body, the scalp is in a constant state of regeneration. About 9% of all hair on your head is in an approximate stage of hair loss, called telogen.
This means that within the next three to four months, they will have to fall out anyway, making way for new hairs. Each hair lives about 5-7 years, after which it dies off and new hair grows in its place.
The number of hairs that fall out every day is an individual measure and depends on many factors. First, the total amount of hair on the head, which, in its turn, is directly linked to the hair color. For example, blondes have the most hair – about 200-250 thousand.
In terms of thickness, blond hair is much inferior to red and black hair, the number of which on the head is significantly less – about 90-120 thousand. Shaten and russet-haired people have medium-thick hair, and their number reaches an average of 150-180 thousand. But these numbers can vary widely, regardless of hair color, influenced by heredity, health, age, and several other factors.
Thus, the daily rate of hair loss for blondes is about 100-150 pieces, and for brunettes and redheads, with their thickened hair – about 60-90 pieces per day. By the way, the norm for brown hair is about in the middle. In addition, you should not forget about seasonal cycles: in the spring, the number of hairs lost is likely to increase, but there is nothing wrong with this, as soon everything goes back to normal naturally.
How do I properly count my hair loss in a day?
The way to count hair loss for the day is fairly uncomplicated.
1. Don’t wash your hair for three days.
2. On the morning of the fourth day, pick up the hair from the bed and count it, and write the number.
3. Close the drain of the bathtub with a frequent grate and wash your hair, then collect all the hair in the bathtub and count. Add this number to the first one.
4. Dry your hair naturally (without a hair dryer), and comb it out with a wooden comb.
5. Gather the hair from the comb, count, and add the number to the previous number.
6. In the evening, comb your hair again and count the number left on the comb, and add to the sum of the morning. This will be your daily amount of hair loss.
Important note: Only hairs that have a bulb should be counted. This means that they have actually fallen out, not broken off. If you have more hairs without a bulb than with a bulb, this is a really worrisome sign.
Increased hair breakage shows a weakened state of hair, which can and should be the reason for your urgent visit to a trichologist.
Hair loss: why?
Besides the natural process of hair loss, there are several other factors that can contribute to hair loss. For example,
- Avitaminosis;
- lack of micronutrients;
- A general weakening of the body after an illness;
- stress, depression;
- scalp disease;
- Excessive use of harsh manipulation of the hair. For example, hot or perm, coloring, smoothing “iron”, etc.
If your hair falls out more than usual, see a doctor as soon as possible. The examination will help to identify the cause of the disadvantage, and the doctor will prescribe an adequate treatment.
But at the same time, you should use traditional strengthening measures. For example, rubbing burdock oil into the scalp, washing with herbal decoctions, suitable to your condition hair masks.