How Much Hair Loss Is Normal?

It’s normal to Google if things are normal. So if you’re seeing more hair on your pillow or in the shower drain (or on the shower wall if that’s your bag), you’ll likely wonder how much hair loss is normal.

Some daily shedding is normal, but there are signs of not-so-normal hair loss to look out for.

Below, we’ll go over how much hair loss is normal, explain why you might be seeing hair loss, and discuss whether showering or brushing is causing it. And because we wouldn’t leave you hanging, we’ll also get into how to treat hair loss outside the “normal” window.

We’ll cut right to the chase. Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is considered normal, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Though 100 hairs may sound like a lot for a 24-hour period, chances are, you probably don’t notice most of them.

Losing significantly more than that could be a sign you’re dealing with some type of hair loss like telogen effluvium (temporary hair loss from stress, injury, or illness) or just good ol’ male pattern baldness (aka androgenetic alopecia).

To understand how much hair loss is normal, it helps to understand the hair growth cycle.

Here’s a quick explainer:

• The hair growth cycle is divided into four parts: the anagen (growing) phase, the catagen (regression) phase, the telogen (resting) phase, and the exogen (shedding) phase.

• These phases last for different amounts of time. For example, research shows the catagen phase is typically just a few days long, whereas the telogen phase lasts roughly three months. The anagen phase can be several years.

• About 85 to 90 percent of your individual hairs are in the anagen phase at any given time, meaning the other 10 to 15 percent is either resting or shedding. This is why it’s normal to see shedding every day.

For a more in-depth look, check out our guide to the hair growth cycle.

Simply put, no. Showering isn’t known to cause hair loss. But if you think you shed more than when lathering up, it’s not all just in your head (after all, it’s in the drain).

When you shower and wash your hair, you may pull out strands of hair that are already loose. It’s kind of like wiggling a loose tooth.

This hair you see was going to come out at some point anyway, and it may have already been dislodged from the follicle. So showering isn’t the cause of hair loss, but it may seem like you’re seeing a bunch of hair fall out at once.

Yes, it’s normal for hair to come out when brushing. Brushing your hair gently once or twice a day isn’t a common cause of hair loss, but it’s possible that over-brushing could potentially cause some hair loss.

We don’t have a ton of research on the topic. However, one very small study (with just 14 participants) looked at the differences in hair between women who brushed frequently and those who didn’t. Researchers found that those who didn’t brush as often had less hair loss.

In another study on women, as much as 40 percent of participants lost some hair while styling.

But before you hurl your hairbrush out the window and embrace the knotted life, know that brushing your hair gently is unlikely to cause hair loss beyond normal shedding.

It’s hard to give an exact number, but generally, you shouldn’t see more than 50 to 100 strands each time you brush your hair — which you’ll remember is the normal amount of daily hair loss.

It’s more likely that other haircare practices, like excessively rubbing your hair with a towel or coloring your hair, are contributing to hair loss — and you may just notice the loose hairs coming out when brushing.

Research shows that physical friction and chemical and cosmetic haircare products (like bleach or hair dye) significantly contribute to hair loss.

You can learn more about the link between brushing and hair loss in our guide.

No, we aren’t going to suggest counting every strand of hair that falls out of your head each day. But there are some telltale signs you’re losing more hair than is considered normal.

These include:

• Noticing hair loss in an M-shaped pattern

• Seeing gradual thinning all over the scalp

• Patchy or circular spots of hair loss

• Losing body hair

• A sudden or rapid loosening of hair

• Clumps of hair falling out in the shower or while brushing

If you’re unsure if your hair loss is normal, you can see a dermatologist for a pull test. In a pull test, a healthcare provider grasps around 20 to 60 hairs as close to the scalp as possible, then tugs gently to see how much hair comes out.

You can learn more in our guide to what to expect from a hair-pull test.

There are many causes of hair loss. And when we say hair loss, we mean a receding hairline or excessive shedding beyond the normal 50 to 100 strands per day.

Potential causes of hair loss include:

• Male pattern baldness (due to genetic and hormonal factors)

• Female pattern hair loss

• Stress

• Immune system changes

• Hormonal changes

• Certain medications

• Certain medical conditions and autoimmune disorders, including alopecia areata

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Excessive heat styling or coloring

• Wearing overly tight hairstyles

This is the TL;DR. But for more information, you can check out our guide to the causes of thinning hair in men.

And if you’re not sure whether your hair loss is normal or a sign of male pattern baldness, see our guide to the early signs of hair thinning.

If your hair loss is more than the expected 50 to 100 strands a day, you don’t just have to live with it. These hair loss treatment options can make a big difference.

Finasteride

Oral finasteride is an FDA-approved prescription medication proven to slow androgen-driven hair loss — that’s male pattern baldness, which is largely caused by the hormone DHT (short for dihydrotestosterone).

When used as prescribed, the once-daily pill finasteride stimulates new hair growth in men with male pattern baldness.

Research shows finasteride can lower DHT levels by up to 90 percent.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine®) is a vasodilator that increases the diameter of hair follicles and enhances oxygen and blood flow to the scalp.

On our telehealth platform, you’ll find a 5% concentration of both minoxidil liquid solution and minoxidil foam.

Topical minoxidil is FDA-approved for treating hair loss, and you don’t need a prescription to buy it.

There’s also an oral version of minoxidil, which requires a prescription. However, oral minoxidil is sometimes prescribed off-label (meaning it has FDA approval for something else — in this case, high blood pressure) to address excessive shedding. It can be a good alternative for those who prefer not to use a topical product or have a contact reaction to topical minoxidil (which is rare).

Oral minoxidil chews might be available to you following a virtual consultation with one of our healthcare providers.

Finasteride and Minoxidil Spray

These two ingredients play nicely together. Research shows that using a combination of minoxidil and finasteride is even more effective than using either alone.

Our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray is an easy way to use both at once (they’re already combined for you).

Hair Loss Shampoo

Our hair-thickening shampoo contains the plant ingredient saw palmetto. Research suggests saw palmetto may slow hair loss and promote regrowth.

Like finasteride, saw palmetto acts as a partial DHT blocker. It’s less effective than finasteride but still blocks some DHT, so you might consider using it alongside finasteride.

Losing hair daily is normal and expected. Having said that, if you’re seeing excessive hair shedding, it could signal male pattern baldness or other conditions that cause hair loss, like telogen effluvium.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• How much hair loss is normal? Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is considered normal, primarily due to the hair growth cycle. If hair loss exceeds this range, it could be a sign of conditions like telogen effluvium or male pattern baldness.

• What causes hair loss? While daily hair loss is natural, factors such as stress, certain medications, medical conditions, and hair care practices like excessive styling or tight hairstyles can contribute to abnormal hair loss.

• What hair loss treatments are available? Effective treatments for excessive hair loss include FDA-approved medications like finasteride and minoxidil, as well as hair loss shampoos containing saw palmetto.

You can learn more about whether your hair loss is normal by taking part in an online hair loss consultation or checking out our detailed guide to preventing hair loss in men.