Is hair loss normal?

Everything you need to know about hair loss to know how much hair loss is normal.

Determining how much hair loss is normal can be tricky because this can differ from person to person and is influenced by many different factors, like lifestyle choices, styling and hair damage. If you’re worried you’re losing a little more than you’d like, or more than usual, and you’re not sure if this hair loss is normal, here’s what to look out for…

Is hair loss normal?

Is it normal to lose hair? The short answer is, yes. It’s completely normal to lose hair on a day-to-day basis. In fact, we can lose between 50-100 hairs a day.

If you’re suspicious you’re losing more hair than usual but need some solid signs, here are three things that might help you to decide if you really are:

• More hair in the shower plug. After applying conditioner, hair is a little more slippery, so when you rinse it, the strands that aren’t attached at the root will slide out. If you’re losing more hair than usual, lots will end up in the plug hole after conditioning, so keep an eye on how much is usually there so you have a good gauge how much hair loss is normal and what’s abnormal. Don’t stop using a conditioner though! Hair that lacks moisture’s more prone to damage, which can result in hair fall from breakage.

• How often you clean your hairbrush. Another way to see if you’re losing more hair is to see how much you lose during your styling routine. You might notice that when you use brushes and tug at hair, you have to clean your brush more often to get rid of the build-up. It’s likely that you notice hair shedding the most when you brush your hair after you’ve showered, as that tends to be when the most loss happens. How much hair loss is normal when brushing hair may be affected by how long your hair is (the longer it is, the more likely you are to notice it), but it’s important to know what your norm is, so you can make comparisons to that in the future.

• Less hair in your ponytail. How many times do you usually loop your hairband around your hair? If you find you need to do it an extra time, it could be a sign there’s less density to hair.

How much hair loss is normal

If you’re keeping an eye on the above and you’re sure you’re losing more hair than usual, but you’re still not sure how much hair loss is normal, it’s time to look at some of the possible causes. And the good news is, there’s more often than not a simple solution.

Any hormonal changes will have an impact on hair density and the amount of hair you lose. It’s common, and normal, to lose hair as a result of shifts in hormones. Things like pregnancy and menopause are common culprits, but new medications, diet and stress can cause hormonal imbalances that result in excessive hair loss. The good news is, that by getting on top of these causes, you can regulate your hair’s growth cycle and minimise loss.

Excessive and fast weight loss can also cause strands to shed more than usual, leaving you pondering that question that led you here, ‘How much hair loss is normal?’. Regulating your diet, making sure you and those strands get the nutrients needed to thrive will help here.

If you’re losing hair and can’t think of another explanation, check if you suffer from the autoimmune disease called alopecia areata which causes hair to fall out in patches. Hair loss starts once the immune system’s attacked its own cells, meaning hair follicles fall out. Get in touch with your GP or a specialist to know more about this.

Genetics also play a role, so if you’ve looked at all the other things and you’re still stumped, have a word with your relatives about the history of hair loss in your family for more insight.

Is it normal for hair to fall out: hair breakage

There’s another big factor to think about: hair breakage, with 80% of women suffering from hair damage which causes hair loss due to breakage. Hair that’s in poor condition is much more likely to snap off, so when you’re worried and wondering ‘is it normal to lose hair?’ It might be time to revamp your haircare routine for a fast track to thicker tresses.

Using the right shampoo and conditioner to fortify strands is a great place to start. Cue Pantene’s Grow Strong collection. Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Shampoo strengthens the hair with a potent blend of bamboo and active Pro-V nutrient blends. It’s free from mineral oils and colorants and when combined with Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Conditioner, will leave hair deeply nourished and protected against damage caused by styling. The results? Less hair fall from breakage.

Key to less hair breakage and improved density is making sure stands have prime conditions to grow. And that’s where Pantene Pro-V Miracles Roots Awakener Hair Fortifier comes in. This unique formula with biotin, bamboo and caffeine, stimulates the roots to support healthy and strong hair growth. Then, before styling, use Pantene Pro-V Miracles Go Longer Leave-in Cream, proven to help hair grow longer, and 100% stronger.**

For total protection against hair breakage, treat tresses with Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Keratin Reconstruct Mask, infused with bamboo and biotin, it’s proven to minimise hair loss by up to 96%* 

For more on what to do for thinning hair and how to prevent hair loss, we’ve put together handy guides with tips from the experts.

*hair loss due to breakage, vs. non conditioning shampoo
**strength against styling damage, vs. non conditioning shampoo