How Common is Hair Shedding and Why Does It Happen?

Noticing more and more strands of hair clogging the drain or clinging to your brush? Don’t panic! 

Hair shedding happens to everyone. Really! It’s how your body removes dead strands to make room for new hair growth. (Yay for healthy new locks!) But you still might wonder, “How much hair loss is normal?”

In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about hair loss vs. hair shedding, what causes hair loss, how to stop hair thinning, and if hair extensions really cause hair shedding.

How Much Hair Loss Is Normal?

If you’re freaking out and thinking, “My hair is falling out!” take a deep breath. There’s a difference between hair shedding and hair loss. Hair shedding is a normal bodily function that happens daily. When your hair stops growing altogether, that’s hair loss, and internal or external factors can cause it. (We’ll get into some of those reasons in the next section!)

How many hairs do you lose a day with hair shedding? Any guesses? Your hair can shed 50 to 150 strands a day! Hair shedding makes room for new growth. Think about it: The average person has 100,000 to 150,000 strands of hair on their head, so losing a handful or two a day really isn’t noticeable. (Except in your hairbrush. And when you’re unclogging the drain, of course.)

Maybe you’re struggling with hair loss (not just hair shedding)––keep reading to learn how to prevent hair loss!

How to Prevent Hair Loss 

Dealing with hair loss? You’re NOT alone. This stressful and emotionally draining experience happens to a huge part of the population: Nearly 80 million Americans experience hair loss. And it’s not just men! About 40% of hair loss sufferers are women. 

What leads to hair loss in the first place? Here are a few common causes:

• Stress or illness
• Medical conditions
• Certain drugs or treatments
• Hereditary hair loss
• Hairstyles that pull on the hair
• Harsh haircare products

Most of these reasons are out of your control. But a few small changes to your haircare routine can make a big difference.

Here’s how to stop hair from falling out and reduce hair shedding:

• Don’t overwash your hair. Stick to every two to three days for ultimate hair health.
• Use mild hair products: Use haircare products free from harsh sulfates––they can cause hair brittleness and breakage.
• Avoid hairstyles that pull on hair: Wearing tight braids or ponytails can add unnecessary tension to your roots. 
• Take a break from heated tools: Heated tools, like your blow dryer or straightening iron, can dehydrate your follicles, which could damage your strands.
• Use a soft hairbrush: Brushes made of soft natural fibers promote healthy hair oil levels and are gentle on your locks.
• Don’t chemically treat your hair: Bleaching your hair can be extremely damaging to your hair’s keratin proteins, so limit hair dyes, perms, straightening, and other chemical treatments.

Do Hair Extensions Cause Hair Shedding?

If you’re worried about hair shedding and hair loss caused by wearing extensions, breathe a sigh of relief! 

As long as your hair extensions are applied correctly, they shouldn’t cause any damage or hair loss. Improper application can tug at your hair and cause tension, though! 

If you’re currently experiencing hair loss and are curious about using hair extensions to add length or volume to your hair, we wouldn’t recommend it. Why? Well, hair extensions add weight to your natural hair, and it’s already too delicate to handle all that extra weight. Adding even more weight will only make things worse! (Wigs are a great alternative if you’re struggling with lots of hair loss, by the way!)

We hope we’ve answered some of your questions about hair shedding and how to prevent hair loss. Let us know if you have more questions in the comments. Follow Wicked Roots Hair on Instagram and Tiktok for more haircare tips and hair inspo!