Did you know that hair shedding happens to almost everyone? It’s absolutely normal to shed a few strands of hair everyday. The ones you find on the pillow, in your shower drain or in your hair brush are all pretty common and even acceptable to a certain extent. If you run your fingers through your hair and find a few strands of hair, don’t panic, you’re not alone!
However, if you start noticing an unusual amount of hair loss that leads to patches on your scalp or a receding hairline, that’s when you need to be concerned. Take the next step and visit a doctor before you look for solutions.
In this blog post, we have discussed in detail about hair shedding, the difference between hair shedding and hair loss, the reasons behind hair shedding and ways to conntrol it. Make sure you follow the tips to get stronger and healthier-looking hair.
If you are experiencing severe hair loss, do book an appointment with our expert hair doctors at Richfeel. With professional service and personalized services, we will take care of your hair in the best way possible!
What is hair shedding?
Hair shedding is a completely natural process in the hair growth cycle. It’s actually a normal and necessary part of the cycle that ensures healthy re-growth of your hair. It’s okay to shed around 30-150 hairs on average every day. Don’t worry, it’s not that much!
The human scalp has over 100,000 – 150,000 hairs, and losing a bit of it every day does not make a huge and visible difference.
However, hair shedding is different from hair loss. If you experience hair loss, you need to visit a trichologist and get it treated.
Hair shedding vs Hair loss
While hair shedding is considered a normal and necessary part of the body’s natural renewal cycle, hair loss is something you must be concerned about. If you start losing more than 150 hair strands every day, you are experiencing hair loss.
In hair shedding, you don’t notice a visible difference in the thickness of your hair or the hairline. However, if you start noticing hair loss that leaves patches on your scalp or leads to the thinning of your hair and a receding hairline, it might be due to an underlying condition.
Different people experience hair loss for different reasons. While it might be due to a medical condition for some, it can also be because of any physical changes like weight loss or giving birth for others.
If you lose more than 150 hairs a day, you should get it checked by a doctor. Only a doctor can decide whether or not your hair loss can be reversed.
What causes hair shedding?
Numerous factors can contribute to hair shedding. For most males and females, genetics stands out to be the primary reason.
Here are a few common causes of hair shedding
- Hormonal changes– Hormonal imbalances in women are a common reason for hair loss. Especially after childbirth and menopause, excessive hair shedding is possible,
- Stress– Both physical and psychological stress can result in hair loss. Stressful events, including surgery, high fevers, and blood loss, can lead to increased shedding. Sometimes, even anxiety or mental stress can cause excessive hair shedding.
- Nutritional deficiencies– When it comes to nutritional deficiencies, iron and zinc deficiency are the most common ones behind hair loss. Other vitamin and mineral deficiencies include low intake of Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, fats, and biotin.
- Medication– Taking a lot of medications has its own side effects. Most of these medications can induce hair loss. Chemotherapy is the most common and well-known cause of hair loss.
Not everyone has the same causes for hair loss. It’s always advisable to contact a trichologist before you look for solutions.
8 Simple Ways to Control Hair Shedding
Compared to hair loss, hair shedding can be easily controlled and managed. Here are 8 easy ways through which you can tackle hair shedding
1. Eat a balanced diet
Healthy hair grows from a healthy body. Eating a nutrient-rich diet will help in healthy and natural hair growth. Focus on eating a diet high in lean proteins, healthy fats, and lots of fruits and vegetables to increase your hair growth and reduce hair shedding.
Try eating these foods for healthy hair
- Eggs
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Fruits rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants like cherries, grapes, and orange
- Nuts and seeds like walnuts, chia seeds and flax seeds are rich sources of Omega-3 fatty acids
- Fatty fish like salmon and tuna
2. Get enough sleep
If you follow a fit lifestyle and have a healthy body, your hair will automatically be healthy and have a low chance of shedding. Try to sleep for at least seven to eight hours every day since the body and mind require that amount of sleep to heal and rest.
Melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle, has also been shown to encourage hair growth when your body produces enough of it during sleep.
Tips to sleep better
- Sleep in a cool and dark room
- Sleep and wake up at the same time every day
- Don’t take naps in-between the day
- Stay away from screens for 1 hour before bedtime
- Include workout routines during the day
3. Avoid heat on your hair
Hair straighteners, curling irons and other hairstyling tools that use heat on your hair is a big no if you want to reduce hair shedding. If you style your hair with heat daily, your hair shafts become brittle due to the severe damage it experiences from all that heat. And brittle hair is easier to break and fall out.
For a change, take a break from using heat tools and experiment with heat-free hairstyles to lessen hair loss. If you must use them, make sure you use a heat protectant spray.
4. Detangle from the bottom
Detangling your hair daily is a must for maintaining a healthy hair. Especially if you have long and thick hair, you must make it a part of your hair care routine to detangle your hair before you style it. But do you know the right way to detangle your hair?
Brushing from the scalp downward is a big no-no since it can cause little knots to turn into larger tangles. Furthermore, harsh brushing can lead to hair loss and breakage. Next time, start at the ends of your hair and gently tug them apart as you move towards the scalp.
5. Avoid tight hairstyles
If you love yourself a tight ponytail or a top bun, you must know that it’s not the best idea when it comes to hair shedding. Tight hairstyles (ponytails, buns, braids, etc) can cause damage to your hair and cause easy breakage. Avoid using strong chemicals, heat, or tight hairstyles around the scalp as these may strain follicles and cause more hair loss.
Go for a looser hairstyle that does not stress your hair. Go gentle on it and try looser ponytails and braids. You can also loosen up your hair whenever possible. Experimenting with hairstyles will give your hair some space and time to heal!
6. Take multivitamin supplements
Not everyone wants to eat spinach or put eggs on their hair. Don’t worry, supplements were made just for you! You can minimize hair shedding by feeding your hair follicles the vitamins and minerals they need. Multivitamin supplements provide your hair the nourishment it requires without having to go through any troubles.
Make sure you look for Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin D, Zinc, Biotin, Iron and Omega-3 in your supplements.
7. Use hair masks
Hair masks are easy ways to take care of your hair growth and strength. You can apply a hair mask at night, before you go to bed and wake up with healthier hair!
Applying hair masks allow maximum moisture, lipid, and protein penetration through the hair cuticle, helping to maintain its elasticity and strength.
Hair masks are a great option for dry and fizzy hair. Apart from providing nourishment to your hair, some hair masks also improve the health of your scalp and make your hair strong and breakage-free.
8. Upgrade your hair wash routine
A good hair wash is the simplest way to get clean and smooth hair. However, some hair wash habits can be harmful to your hair and can damage your strands, causing it to break and shed. Always use a conditioner after you shampoo your hair as it helps in keeping your hair hydrated.
One more tip to reduce hair shedding is to detangle your hair in the shower. Detangling wet hair is easier and serves as a small massage for your scalp. This massaging will help in increasing blood flow and get more nutrients to your hair follices. All of these will further support healthy hair growth and reduce hair shedding.
Conclusion
Remember, hair shedding is very different from hair loss. Hair shedding is a very normal part of your hair growth. You don’t have to worry about it unless you experience excessive hair loss that leads to thinning of your hair or visible patches on your scalp. If you notice signs of hair loss, visit a trichologist immediately to seek treatment.
We hope you found this blog informative and helpful. If any of these tips worked for you, do let us know in the comments below.
At Richfeel, we have certified trichologists who will take care of all your hair and scalp needs. If hair loss is your specific concern, consult our doctors for a TST+ (Tricho Scalp Treatment Plus). We assure you a complete solution to your hair loss problem!
