How Much Hair Shedding Is Normal?

Short answer: Most people lose about 50 to 100 hairs a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. That sounds like a lot, but it is a normal part of how hair grows. Shedding becomes a concern when you clearly lose more than your usual amount for weeks, or when your part, ponytail, or crown starts to look thinner. A sudden spike often shows up two to four months after a stressful event, and it often settles down on its own. If it does not, or if you see patches, see a dermatologist.

Why you lose hair every day

Each hair on your head runs on its own cycle. Most of your hairs are in a growing phase at any given time. A smaller share are in a resting phase. When a resting hair is done, it falls out, and the follicle gets ready to start a new hair.

Because each hair is on its own clock, you do not lose them all at once. You lose a steady trickle. That trickle is the 50 to 100 hairs a day you see in your brush, on your pillow, and in the shower drain.

A few things can make normal shedding look worse than it is:

  • Wash days. If you wash every two or three days, the hairs that were ready to fall out pile up and come out all at once in the shower.
  • Long hair. Fifty long hairs in a drain look like a lot more than fifty short ones.
  • Brushing and styling. Brushing pulls out hairs that were already loose. It does not usually cause the loss.

How to tell normal shedding from too much

There is no perfect home test, but these signs are worth paying attention to:

  • A clear change from your normal. You know what your drain usually looks like. A big jump that lasts more than a few weeks is worth noting.
  • Your hair feels thinner when you pull it back. A ponytail that feels smaller, or a part that looks wider, is a stronger signal than a hairbrush.
  • Lots of hairs with a small white bulb at the root. That bulb is normal for a resting hair. Seeing many of them just means many hairs went into the resting phase at the same time.
  • Shedding all over, not in one spot. Shedding from a stressful event tends to be spread across the whole scalp. Round bald patches or a receding hairline are a different story and should be checked by a doctor.

Shedding is very common. In one study of 263 women who did not have pattern hair loss, about 40% said they had excessive shedding on hair wash days (Kovacevic et al., 2017, PMID 27712018). So if you are noticing more hair in the drain, you are far from alone.

What causes a sudden spike in shedding

When many hairs get pushed into the resting phase at the same time, they all fall out together a few months later. Doctors call this telogen effluvium. Reviews describe it as one of the most common causes of diffuse hair shedding, and note that the shedding usually starts about three to four months after the trigger (Malkud, 2015, PMID 26500992).

Common triggers listed by the American Academy of Dermatology and in medical reviews (Asghar et al., 2020, PMID 32607303) include:

  • Having a baby
  • A high fever or a bad illness
  • Surgery
  • Losing a lot of weight quickly, such as 20 pounds or more
  • A period of heavy stress, like a job loss or caring for a sick family member
  • Stopping birth control pills
  • Some medications

Because of the delay, people often do not connect the shedding to the cause. If your shedding started this month, think back to what happened three or four months ago.

Diet can play a part too. Reviews of vitamins and minerals in hair loss point to low iron and low vitamin D as things doctors often check (Almohanna et al., 2019, PMID 30547302). Do not start high dose supplements on your own. Ask your doctor for a blood test first.

How long does a shedding spike last?

The American Academy of Dermatology says that once the body readjusts, extra shedding stops, and hair tends to get back to its normal fullness within six to nine months. If the stress keeps going, the shedding can keep going too.

Shedding can also show up alongside pattern thinning, where hairs slowly grow back finer over the years. Experts point out that the two are often mixed up and can happen together (Rebora, 2019, PMID 31686886). That is one reason to get checked if the shedding drags on.

When to see a doctor

Book a visit with a dermatologist if:

  • Heavy shedding lasts longer than about six months
  • You see bald patches, a receding hairline, or a scalp that is red, scaly, or painful
  • You have other symptoms, like being very tired, feeling cold all the time, or weight changes you cannot explain
  • The shedding started after a new medication (do not stop any medication without talking to your doctor first)

A dermatologist can tell the difference between shedding and other kinds of hair loss, and can order blood work if needed.

Simple habits that help your scalp and hair

You cannot stop normal shedding, and you should not try. But a healthy scalp routine can help your hair look and feel its best:

  • Be gentle. Use a wide tooth comb on wet hair and skip very tight ponytails and braids.
  • Keep your scalp clean. Buildup, flakes, and oil can make the scalp feel irritated. A 24 week study found that a shampoo and leave-on routine with ingredients like caffeine, niacinamide, and panthenol reduced hair shedding and improved scalp condition compared with a placebo shampoo (Davis et al., 2021, PMID 34424558).
  • Eat enough protein and iron rich foods. Crash diets are a common trigger.
  • Manage stress where you can. Sleep, walks, and time off all count.
  • Be patient. Hair grows slowly, so give any new routine at least two to three months before you judge it.

Where copper peptides and caffeine fit in

Some people add a leave-in scalp serum to their routine for fuller looking hair. Two ingredients come up a lot:

  • AHK-Cu (a copper peptide). In a lab study on human hair follicles, AHK-Cu helped the follicles grow longer and helped the cells at the base of the follicle grow (Pyo et al., 2007, PMID 17703734). This was done in a lab dish, not in people, so it is a starting point, not proof of results on your head. Learn more in Copper Peptides for Hair.
  • Caffeine. Lab studies on hair follicles taken from men's scalps have looked at how caffeine affects follicle growth (Fischer et al., 2007, PMID 17214716). See Caffeine for Hair for what that research does and does not show.

Copper Crown's Copper Peptide Scalp Serum is a nightly leave-in cosmetic serum with 3% AHK-Cu and 1.5% caffeine, made to support a healthy looking scalp and fuller looking hair. It is not a medicine and is not meant to diagnose or fix any medical condition. If your shedding is heavy or lasts a long time, see a doctor first. For how to apply it, see How to Use Copper Peptides for Hair Growth.

FAQ

Is losing 100 hairs a day normal?

Yes. The American Academy of Dermatology says shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. On wash days you may see more, because hairs that were already loose come out together.

Why am I suddenly losing so much hair in the shower?

A common reason is a stressful event two to four months ago, like an illness, surgery, a new baby, or fast weight loss. This kind of shedding often settles down on its own. If it lasts more than about six months, see a dermatologist.

Does washing my hair every day make it fall out?

Washing does not usually cause hair loss. It mostly removes hairs that were already on their way out. Washing less often just means you see more of them at once.

Can stress make your hair fall out?

Heavy stress is one of the known triggers for extra shedding. It usually shows up a few months later and often fades once the stress passes.

When should I worry about hair shedding?

Get checked if heavy shedding lasts more than six months, if you see bald spots or a receding hairline, or if your scalp is sore, red, or scaly.

Sources

  • American Academy of Dermatology. "Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?" https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/insider/shedding
  • Kovacevic M, et al. Prevalence of hair shedding among women. Dermatol Ther. 2017. PMID 27712018
  • Malkud S. Telogen Effluvium: A Review. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015. PMID 26500992
  • Asghar F, et al. Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Literature. Cureus. 2020. PMID 32607303
  • Rebora A. Telogen effluvium: a comprehensive review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019. PMID 31686886
  • Almohanna HM, et al. The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019. PMID 30547302
  • Davis MG, et al. Scalp application of antioxidants improves scalp condition and reduces hair shedding in a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2021. PMID 34424558
  • Pyo HK, et al. The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. Arch Pharm Res. 2007. PMID 17703734
  • Fischer TW, et al. Effect of caffeine and testosterone on the proliferation of human hair follicles in vitro. Int J Dermatol. 2007. PMID 17214716

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice.