The short answer
Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Excessive shedding often appears a few months after childbirth, major stress, illness, high fever, surgery, or big weight loss, and usually settles within six to nine months. Hair that stops growing back, or thins in patches, needs an assessment.
Normal shedding is part of the growth cycle
Every hair cycles through growth (anagen, which lasts years), a brief transition (catagen), and rest (telogen, a few months) before it falls out and a new hair starts. Losing some hair every day is a sign the cycle is working.
Common shedding triggers
The AAD lists these as common triggers of excessive shedding, usually noticed a few months after the event:
- Childbirth
- High stress
- High fever, surgery, or recovering from illness
- Losing 20 pounds or more
- Stopping birth control pills
When it's more than shedding
If shedding doesn't settle, if your part is widening, or if your crown or hairline is spacing out, book a discovery call. A microscopic scalp analysis shows what is happening at the follicle so you are no longer guessing.
