It’s normal to lose hair, but how much is “normal” and what causes female hair loss? And why don’t we talk about female hair loss more?
I get a lot of emails from women who are worried about hair loss. Sometimes it’s just your everyday shedding but occasionally it’s more. It’s hard to know what’s normal.
I know that with my hair, I lose a lot of hair every day. My husband always complained about it but now he’s so used to it he hardly notices. He does freak out if I forget to clean out the shower after washing my hair though…
It’s like that Seinfeld joke, how can something that’s so beautiful when it’s attached to you suddenly become so disgusting when it’s not?
But that hair in the shower drain isn’t a joke for all women. If you’re losing hair, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about it and start the conversation.
How much hair loss is normal for women?
As a guide, it’s normal to lose 50-100 hairs every day.
Some women (like me) will lose up to a 150 hairs a day.
This is predominately determined by your genetics but can change due to certain circumstances.
Excessive hair shedding is called telogen effluvium. If you’ve noticed an increase in hair loss, here are some things to consider.
What causes hair loss for women?
Excessive hair shedding, or telogen effluvium, can be caused by the following:
- Stress
- Major weight fluctuations
- Post-pregnancy hormonal changes
- Changing birth control pills
- High fevers
- Illness or having an operation
If it’s a one-off occurrence, then your hair cycle will recover in 3-9 months time. If you are under a lot of stress, the hair loss can continue until your circumstances change too.
You see, hair really isn’t particularly necessary for survival and if your body is suffering from stress or illness, your hair is often the first to show the physical signs.
Shedding vs hair loss for women
Most women will experience a change in their hair shedding cycle during their life. These hair loss events are usually temporary and your normal hair cycle will return eventually.
Some hair loss is more obvious and can last for longer periods of time.
Here are some of the most common causes of hair loss for women:
- Alopecia or autoimmune disease
- Hormonal changes
- Trichotillomania, a compulsive behavioural condition where you pull out your hair
- Medical conditions or treatments, like chemotherapy
How does the hair growth cycle work?
There are three main stages in each hair’s growth cycle – anagen, catagen and telogen.
Anagen phase – The growth phase
The anagen phase lasts for 3-5 years. During this time, your hair grows around 1.5 cm per month. This means your hair can grow to around 27-45cm (18-30 inches) long. In some women, this growth phase can last up to 7 years and so your hair can grow to 1 metre in length.
Catagen phase – Transition phase
This transition phase lasts for 10 days at the end of the anagen phase. The hair follicle shrinks and detaches from your skin.
Telogen phase – Resting phase
At any one time, around 10-15% of your hair is in the telogen phase. This resting phase lasts for around three months. Your old hair sits and waits until a new hair grows through and pushes the old hair out.
Each follicle goes through this phase independently so there is even growth (and hair loss) across your head at all times. It’s very similar to the cycle your skin goes through.
Why should female hair loss be so taboo?
Let’s start the conversation about female hair loss. It’s more common than you think.
Share your story in the comments or feel free to ask any questions. I’ll be filming a female hair loss Q&A video to answer all your questions.
I’m currently 18 and since last year or so my hair loss seemed to have increased for some reason. Not sure if it’s because I grew my hair out so the loss seem more significant from my brush or potentially because I had not had a trim in a year. Is there any good hair product to lessen hair fall and keeping it smooth? My hair is thick but the tip is always dry despite the use of conditioner that worked but after a few hours the hair would seem somewhat dry once more. I’m not a looker so my hair is really one of the few aspects I like about myself. Any advices? Thanks.
I ended up having pretty severe hair shedding and hair loss after my pregnancy and was crying to my obgyn as it came as such a vulnerable time for me in regards to my appearance. I ended up getting recommended a postpartum hair vitamin from a brand called Baby Blues (www.babyblues.care) Meant to replenish vitamins shed after having the baby and encourage hair to go back to the growth phase. Anyway it was really effective for me and significantly slowed the shedding. I tend to recommend it as i think many new moms are also experiencing deficiencies.. eating randomly and not always the most healthy.. hungry from pumping and so many factors.
I don’t know how much I loose a day. I just know it is a lot. I just counted about 40 in a hair brush session. But when I wash my hair, I don’t loose any in the bathtub but once I brush it, it is a handful! Been happening for several months now. Can’t run my fingers through my hair without loosing about 15-20! Really starting to get tired of it. Doctor said all blood levels are perfect. Anti-dandruff prescription got rid of the dandruff. Sulfate free shampoo isn’t helping. Been taking Biotin for over a month and see no difference. I am just worried it will all disappear!
This happened to me. The dermatologist eventually took a scalp biopsy and I found out I had early onset female pattern baldness. Started me on spironolactone and it has decreased shedding.
I have started loosing a lot of hair off late. I am loosing around 20-30 hair per day and around 200 when I wash my hair. I generally wash my hair once a week.
I am anaemic and recently got diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I am really scared that I might go bald considering the amount of hair I am loosing.
I had ECT Aug-Sep 2016. In Oct 2016 my hair started falling out at an alarming rate – at least 400 and sometimes more a day. (I literally had quart baggies full of hair) I did all the dr things and nothing wrong. It stopped falling out in Apr 2017 and then started again Aug 2017 quit Dec 2017 for three weeks and has started again…worse then before. I can’t figure out why it starts and stops….pray it just stops. I have had cortisone shots several times in 2016 and am wondering if that could be a contributing to it. I had them in Apr, May, Aug, and Dec of 2017. If that is the culprit, it awful to have to make a decision between being in pain or having hair. I have lost over half of my hair. I take 2.5 mg of finasteride and 100 mg of spironolactone to no avail. Any one have and ideas.
Hi Barbie, so sorry to hear about your hair loss. It sounds like a reaction to the medication which is quite common. I’d talk to your doctor to see what else can be done, or get a second opinion. I wish you all the best, Christina
Hello!
I am 15 years old and have noticed some hair in the shower and on the floor of my room for a few months now. If I tug on my hair, you’ll be able to see a strand or two and sometimes around for or five come out.. But this does not happen every time I tug on my hair. I do not know if this is normal or not and it has been freaking me out for a while now and I just don’t know who else to go to about this.. I have done some research on excessive hair loss and I do know that stress can be a leading component for as to why it is happening, and now that I come to think or it, I do have a very stressful lifestyle compared to other 15 year olds (5 sisters to attend to, 3 after school activities, school in general, adhd and anxiety) so I was maybe thinking that this could be the cause of it..
I also flat iron and blow dry my hair a few times per week, so this could be a cause to it as well, but I am still not sure if this is the only reasons why I am shedding my hair like I am.. My hair line is not receding and the hair that I have is still growing..
I don’t know what do to or think and I am extremely worried.. someone please help..
Hi Mayee, as I said, it’s normal to lose around 100 hairs a day. For me, I lose more than that usually. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about but it’s a good idea to mention it to your family and your doctor if you think that your hair loss is above the norm or if it has changed. Stress is definitely a factor and so is heat styling, but if you give yourself a 5 minute head massage 2-3 times a week, this can help balance it out. Good luck, Christina x
Hi. Just wanted to say thank you for this article. I’m in my early fifties and usually I shed a small amount of hair each day. Periodically I lose about 3 times as much and today it felt like 10 times – it was probably 5 or 6 times – I counted them at about 140! Which put me in a bit of a panic. Your explanation was really helpful. I tick a lot of the reasons for possible temporary loss (family stress and misbehaving hormones) so I’m now not going to worry about it today. Instead I’m going to make a note in my diary for the time being – then I will know what is a normal pattern for me and if I have any concerns I’ll be able to show the hair loss pattern to my GP. Thanks again.
thanks so much for commenting Nicole, so glad this was helpful x
Wow! This was such a helpful post. I was just telling my boyfriend about how much hair I was losing! Good to know I lose a normal amount of hair. It was also so interesting learning about the hair cycle!
Cat
https://fromgirlc.wordpress.com/
Wow, who knew there are so many contributing factors that happen during hair loss! It is definitely tough as a woman to have to deal with thinning hair, hair fallout, and balding! Thanks so much for sharing, this is really important to know when dealing with hair loss!
It’s funny that everybody usually only associates hair loss with men. Women suffer at nearly the same rates and as you point out (and as many of your commenters remark) it’s truly ‘suffering’. The reasons are many and it’s important to stay on top of figuring out how much hair gets lost every day to be able to correct any underlying issue as soon as possible.
Hi, I know this was posted a long time ago but it’s really nice to know that there are other people who have faced similar things. I’m a 15 year old girl and since the beginning of this year my hair has started to thin very rapidly. I mainly lose hair after washing every second or third morning. It’s starting to really worry me as it started with small amounts of hair loss and is quickly becoming worse. I have never had lovely thick hair but it was never thin either. I am currently losing over 3 times the amount of hair that I used to each week and in 4 months I have lost half of my hair already. I really hope that it stops soon because I have no idea what to do about it.
Hi Brie, you’re definitely not alone. Have you spoken to anyone else about it? I’d talk to you parents or a trusted adult about it so they can help you deal with it. I’d also check in with your local doctor. Hair loss can be caused by stress, diet and lots of other environmental factors so I’d get a check up to try and get to the cause. Good luck, Christina x
There was actually a time i experienced hair loss and it was due to the fact that i was so stressed that period. Seriously hoping such does not repeat itself even though stress is inevitable. I am trying so hard to give my hair that adequate attention it needs. Over the years, my hair volume has increased. I do hope that a workable and easy solution to hair loss is around the corner.
Sorry to hear about your stress, Sophie. You’re right that it is inevitable but I hope you have support around you xx
Finally, someone is talking about female hair loss! I’m nearing 30 and over the last 10 years, my hair has gradually lost it’s fullness, and it’s most likely genetics as my mom experienced something similar as she got older. But for many woman like myself, my hair is my biggest and most prized accessory, and it’s not a nice feeling when I feel like I can’t do certain hairstyles because of my hair conditions. My scalp often peeks through a bit because of where it grows from and that always makes me self conscious. Anyway, I really love your blog even more than before because you’ve brought up such an important topic!
Thanks so much, Monica! I’m sorry to hear about your hair loss. A bit like body image issues for women, we only see images in the media of thick, long hair. You never know how many extensions people are wearing. Really looking forward to doing a big Q&A on this topic too x
I have low thyroid and I have notice my hair thinning out over the past few years. (My hair has always been thin, but I had a lot of it, now when I make a braid, it is kind of sad). My hair is straight and goes down almost to my waist. (My husband hates the whole drain thing as well. If I don’t get to it right away, he is ready to break out the hasmat suit!)
Hi T, I had to lol at the hasmat suit – Jim used to freak out if I left all my hair in the shower. Hope you’re getting help with your thyroid. It’s hard to find a GP who really understands xx
I was going through a difficult period as a teenager (my father died in a car accident and I lost a lot of weight because I couldn’t bring myself to eat much) and lost quite a bit of hair. Though I tried to hide my hair loss at first, there was a point where I was just over it and decided to get a very short pixie cut. Though there were some thin patches here and there, I didn’t notice it as much when I styled my hair a bit unruly and it really helped to minimize the shower hair. Even though I got a lot of negative feedback (from strangers mostly who didn’t know the backstory), it was the right decision for me. Thank you, Christina, for covering this topic.
Oh I’m so sorry, Nana. People are horrible to comment about your hair, even without the terrible circumstances. Thanks so much for commenting and sharing your story, I’m sure there are other women who will really connect with your experiences xx
My hair started thinning about 3 years ago. I noticed it in the shower…I’d be losing handfuls. It freaked me out. I’m still losing more than normal but I’ve been trying to take extra vitamins to counteract whatever is happening…
Hi Katie, glad it’s improving. It’s frustrating but it’s a slow recovery with hair treatments. It usually takes at least 3 months to even tell if it’s working, and then 6-9 months to see proper changes x
Before moving to Melbourne from the US five years ago my hair decided to jump ship. It was a mortifying experience, because I didn’t fully understand why it was happening until I made a visit to my doctor. It took a little over three years for my hair to grow back from stress-induced telogen effluvium. Patience and talking about my experience with friends really helped, because it turns out someone you know is going through something similar.
Kevin Murphy’s Plumping Rinse and Conditioner, as well as Bumble&Bumble’s texturising spray helped to revolutionise my hair, and still do to this day.
Great initiative, btw??
Isn’t it crazy what stress can do to our hair? Thanks so much for sharing your story, Nicole. It so helps to talk about this more x
Good timing for your post. I just saw my doctor yesterday regarding an uncommonly high amount of hair shedding. Like you I have always lost a lot of my thick, curly hair when showering. But it has escalated to a crazy high number in the last six months. It is about 200-250 per day! (Yes, I counted!) The doctor ran tests as I do have thyroid issues and we wondered if that was the issue. That didn’t seem to be a culprit, but estrogen levels were low for a 44 year old. I have an appointment with my endocrinologist in the next few weeks to get her take on the situation. Hopefully I won’t be bald by the time they figure this out! Thanks for approaching an issue that is prevalent yet rarely discussed.
Thanks Carrie, and hope you get to the cause soon. I’d definitely look closer at your thyroid and hormones for sure. I also have thyroid issues (I have Hashimoto’s) and while I still have thick hair, I have experienced a lot of hair loss too. I can’t really complain as I still have a lot of hair but personally, I can really notice the difference. Looking forward to sharing more stories about hair loss here too xx
Just as a quick update, my dermatologist (one of three doctors I saw about hair loss) suggested testing ferritin (iron) levels. According to her, iron is stored in our hair follicles, and often our hair shows low iron (by falling out) before blood tests show it. The “normal range” for iron here runs about 8-200+. Mine was 30. She told me to prevent iron-related hair loss it should be over 70 ideally. I am supplementing iron as per doctor’s recommendation and hoping that will help slow the shedding. (And of course, iron shouldn’t be supplemented unless a doctor suggests it, as you can take too much!) Thanks to all for sharing their stories.
Thanks for the update, Carrie! You’re right, it’s so important to get specific doctor’s advice. Hope your hair improves soon! xx
Hi, interesting reading your story. I’ve had slow hair loss over the last two years. I had my iron tested and my ferritin level is 24. I’m going to start supplement of 14mg per day. Can I ask what dose your dermatologist suggested? X
I’ve had a lot of hair fall out over the past few months and ive had all the tests done – iron is a huge issue and my numbers where nearly anemia – I havnt had a dermatology meeting with any one yet and my iron hes put me on are 250 a day !!! That’s because iron is reallllly poorly absorbed- so when you take it take it with orange juice and vit c helps – your poo will become black if your taking a good iron supliment !! Hopefully that will sort the hair fall in time but it’s super distressing as I’m only 26 !!!
Hai i got chemotherapy treatment six years ago i was having lymphoma now my health condition is ok, just i got anemia issues and my ESR is 78 so i am taking homeopathic treatment from sep 2019 then also i have hair loss issue since a year daily my hair losses more than 200 what i do when doing oiling, shampoo or just i keep hand on my hair it falls lot please help out.