Shedding 50 to 100 strands of hair a day is normal but when does hair fall become hair loss?
And more importantly, what can you do to have healthier, stronger hair?
Yes, everyone sheds hair every day. But how much is considered normal and when should we start panicking?
About 50 to 100 strands of hair daily is normal, said Dr Ben Yim, an aesthetic doctor with IDS Clinic. “We shed the hair as all the follicles in our scalp go through the stages of the hair cycle. It is a turnover process, just like how we shed the dead skin on the surface for the new skin below to replace it.”
However, some people might shed more than this amount due to various reasons. “The amount of hair shed daily also correlates with your health condition, stress levels, sleeping habits and haircare routines,” said Anita Wong, group CEO and founder of PHS Hairscience.
Some common reasons behind an increased hair fall can be due to stress, medical conditions, hormonal change, unbalanced diet as well as improper use of scalp and haircare products.
HOW MUCH HAIR FALL IS TOO MUCH?
“It’s perfectly normal to be shedding hair every day,” shared Wong. However, if you notice an increased hair fall during your shower, hair falls out easily when you run your fingers through it or find more hair on your pillows in the morning, these can all be signs of early hair loss.
Alternatively, experiencing excessive hair shedding across the entire scalp is also a sign of too much hair fall, leading to hair loss.
The amount of hair shed daily also correlates with your health condition, stress levels, sleeping habits and haircare routines.
And if you’re losing more than 100 strands a day, Dr Yim strongly advised to seek medical help to address the situation before it becomes worse. “If you start to lose more than the above numbers then, I would consider it abnormal and a cause for concern and would recommend visiting your doctor,” he added.
Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom. With the exception of male or female-pattern baldness, most medical conditions are treatable and the hair loss can be reversed, said Dr Yim. For instance, if the hair loss is caused by a significant stressful period in your life, once that period is over, the increased hair fall should stop.
Unfortunately, thinning hair is often a common sign of any hair loss related issues, shared Wong. This is due to the hair follicles shrinking, which in turn causes the hair strands to become finer and result in some follicles stopping to produce hair altogether.
The reasons behind this are often similar to the causes behind an increased hair fall, such as lifestyle habits and even genetics.
According to Dr Yim, the thinning of the hair can also happen due to male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. There is a miniaturisation of hair follicles over time, due to the effects of the male hormone called testosterone on the follicle. And as the miniaturisation progresses, it can lead to permanent loss of hair, he shared.
Did you know that your scalp ages six times faster than the skin on your face? This was shown in a study done by L’Oreal Professional Academy.
In short, ageing does contribute to an increased hair fall you see as you get older. According to Wong, this is due to thinning of the epidermis, loss of elasticity, hormonal changes and slower blood circulation that results in less nutrients being supplied to the hair follicles.
Dr Yim also added that ageing is also associated with an increase incidence of hair loss from male-pattern or female-pattern baldness as well. For example, 30 per cent of men will have male pattern baldness by the age of 30 years old and 50 per cent will be affected by the age of 50 years old. For women, this condition usually affects them around the menopausal age and can increase to over 50 per cent by the age of 70 years old, he shared.
Fortunately, you can reduce excessive hair fall. Here’s what you can do.
- Avoid unnecessary pulling of the hair, said Dr Yim. This includes pulling your hair too tight when tying it up in a ponytail or bun.
- Do a scalp massage during shampooing. This can include using a scalp massager or your fingertips, as it not only ensures a thorough cleansing but also helps to enhance blood circulation for healthier hair growth.
- Refrain from colouring your hair too often if your scalp is allergic to the chemicals in the hair dye. This is because constant and prolonged scalp irritation can lead to excess hair fall and eventual hair loss.
- Have a well-balanced diet. This can include consuming foods rich with natural DHT (a hormone that can shrink hair follicles leading to hair loss) inhibitors, like soya, sesame seed and green tea, as well as biotin-rich foods like rice bran, peanuts, mushroom and cauliflower, shared Wong.
- Detangle your locks before shampoo and bedtime. Gently brushing your scalp and hair does two things: Help distribute the natural oils from your scalp to the hair from root to tip, and also reduce knotting and friction while you wash your hair or toss and turn during sleep.
AT-HOME CARE FOR STRONGER HAIR
1. PHS Hairscience ADV Nutrition Tonic, S$110.60
With its cocktail of plant stem cells and botanical extracts, this daily tonic not only enriches the hair at the roots but also improves scalp health to build a strong foundation. The result: Hair grows healthier and stronger.
Available at www.phshairscience.com
2. Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo, S$71
A colour-safe shampoo that uses a micro-encapsulation technology to deliver Vegamour’s proprietary Karmatin – a 100 per cent vegan silk keratin extract, to smooth, strengthen and restore damaged hair. Hair looks fuller and more lush with every wash.
Available at www.sg.vegamour.com
3. Thann Reviving Scalp Tonic, S$49
Healthy scalp equals healthy hair. This scalp tonic uses a blend of actives like bergamot oil, organic aloe vera, larix wood, salicylic acid and willow bark extract to restore balance to the scalp. In addition, aromatic essential oils of lemongrass and kaffir lime also help invigorate the senses for a fresh start every day.
Available at www.thann.com.sg
4. Aveda Invati Advanced Intensive Hair & Scalp Masque, S$87
Enriched with plant-based styling polymers, this intensive hair and scalp mask addresses hair loss and hair thinning by strengthening and reinforcing individual hair strands while nourishing the scalp. Best bit? It won’t weigh the hair down so locks still look light and lush.
Available at Aveda partner salons and www.sephora.sg
5. RevitaLash Volume Enhancing Foam, S$297.50
Ideal for fine and thinning hair, this volume enhancer foam contains a proprietary BioPeptin Complex that adds volume to the locks while improving hair’s elasticity to prevent breakage. Plus, it also conditions the scalp so hair grows stronger and healthier.
Available at www.sephora.sg
