It’s a common experience. You look down at the drain after a shower and see a big clump of your hair staring back at you. You start to wonder: Is this normal, or am I starting to lose my hair? Before you start worrying too much, it’s important to understand that some level of hair loss is completely natural.
Normal Hair Loss in Women
The reality is that it’s normal for both men and women to lose a small amount of hair daily. Most people lose anywhere from 100 to 200 strands of hair per day. Shedding like this is a normal part of the hair loss cycle, as old hair is replaced at the same rate it’s lost. In fact, at any one time, 85% to 90% of your scalp follicles are in the growth phase. Where things can get worrisome is when shedding starts to outpace your hair regrowth — which can cause your hair to thin.
While hair loss in men is primarily due to a hereditary condition called androgenetic alopecia (also known as male pattern baldness), hair loss in women can be potentially caused by a number of different things, including (but not limited to) changes in hormone levels, stress, drug reactions, and restrictive hair styles, as well as some of the same progressive, hereditary conditions that are found in men.
How to Determine Whether Your Hair Loss Is Normal
One way to get a sense of whether your hair loss is normal is to perform a “hair pull test.” Grab a small amount of your hair (approximately 100 strands) and gently pull it while sliding your fingers across the hair follicles. If you have normal shedding, you should see only one to three hairs in your hand per pull. If you see more than that, there’s a chance you’re experiencing an abnormal amount of hair loss. While this test can be helpful, the only true way to tell if your hair loss is within the normal range is to consult a physician.
Hair Loss Solutions for Women
Some causes of hair loss in women are temporary and can be treated with medications or changes in lifestyle. This type of hair loss often reverses itself once the cause is eliminated. However, if you find that your hair loss is due to a progressive condition such as female pattern baldness, we offer a number of different hair restoration solutions.
Bosley has the latest proven solutions for both surgical and non-surgical options, including low-level laser therapy caps, topicals, and scalp micropigmentation. To learn more about your hair restoration options, download Bosley’s FREE guidebook, The Complete Book on Hair Restoration, to see how great your hair can look. Or schedule a free consultation with a Bosley specialist today.
