“Club hair” might sound like a type of hairstyle you put on before heading to a rave, but it’s actually the technical name for a natural part of your hair growth cycle.
“Club hair” might sound like a type of hairstyle you put on before heading to a rave, but it’s actually the technical name for a natural part of your hair growth cycle.
When you run your fingers through your hair and pull a few strands away, you’re typically holding club hairs. If you look closely, you might see a tiny bulb on the base of those hairs.
These hair strands, which have stopped growing and feature a keratinized bulb at their base, are common and usually nothing to worry about. They’re just fully formed hairs that have stopped growing, and you probably have some on your head as you read this.
However, in some cases, an excessive amount of club hairs at one time could indicate an underlying condition or symptom worth investigating.
Here’s a breakdown of the common symptoms of club hair, what causes it, and how to prevent and treat it.
Hair conditions can appear differently for everyone, but club hair generally has telling symptoms.
What does a club hair look like? Typically, each strand has a tiny, bulb-shaped structure at the end closest to the scalp.
Because the production of melanin, which gives hair its pigment, declines toward the end of the hair growth cycle, the bulb may be light-colored or translucent, although sometimes you may find a black bulb at the end of hair strands.
Unlike broken hairs, club hairs are smooth along the hair shaft and longer in length.
Here are some of the things to pay attention to if you notice changes in your hair growth pattern or overall hair appearance that might indicate club hair:
Hair shedding. It’s normal to lose around 50 to 100 hairs per day, the majority of which are club hairs. If you’re suddenly losing more hair than normal, it’s possible there are more club hairs present.
Visible bulb. Club hairs tend to be hairs with a black bulb on the ends. However, the bulb can also be light-colored. When your hairs fall out, look closely at them to see whether there’s a club at the end.
Hair length. Compared to shorter, broken strands of hair (sometimes caused from brushing too aggressively), club hairs are usually longer and fully formed strands. Take note of what your shedded hairs look like and whether they appear to be fully formed hairs or pieces caused by breakage.
Thinning hair. Excessive club hairs may contribute to noticeable thinning areas on your head if many hairs remain in the telogen (or resting) phase.
Club hairs may result from a number of causes, including underlying health conditions and various stressors that affect your hair.
But club hairs are also part of the natural hair growth cycle.
Club hairs form during the transition from the growth (anagen) phase to the resting (telogen) phase. It helps to have a general understanding of the phases of the hair growth cycle:
Anagen phase. This is the growth phase, during which the hair strand stretches to its full length. At any given time, around 90 percent of all scalp hair is in this phase.
Catagen phase. Here, the hair follicle shrinks, hair growth slows, and your hair prepares for the next phase. As part of this transition, a bulb—or club—made of keratin (the same type of protein that makes up the rest of your hair) can form at the end of the hair strand.
Telogen phase. During this resting phase, the hair remains in place but stops growing.
Following the telogen phase, your hair falls out, and the cycle starts over. The club hair formed during the catagen phase temporarily holds the hair follicle in your head after it stops growing for around 100 days.
Some club hairs are normal. But if you have more growing than usual, it may be due to telogen effluvium—which causes more hair strands than usual to enter the telogen phase and fall out all at once instead of returning to the anagen phase.
Common triggers of telogen effluvium and an abnormal amount of club hairs can include:
Significant stress or trauma
Surgery
Severe illness or infections
Hormonal changes (such as after childbirth or during menopause)
Nutritional deficiencies like iron deficiency or imbalances from yo-yo dieting
Thyroid conditions, such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Certain medications that may damage hair follicles, including blood pressure medications, blood thinners, and retinoids (used for bone, immunity, and skin issues)
Club hair can develop on any head, but there are a few things that may increase your likelihood of seeing them:
Stress. Both physical and emotional stress can disrupt the hair growth cycle, causing a larger number of hairs to enter the telogen phase (telogen effluvium). Stress from major life events, illnesses, or even ongoing anxiety can act as triggers, causing more club hairs to shed. A 2023 study found individuals under stress were three times more likely to experience hair loss than those who weren’t stressed during the study period.
Nutritional imbalances. When your diet is imbalanced or lacking in a variety of healthy foods, it can result in low levels of certain nutrients that ultimately affect hair growth. For example, low levels of zinc, iron, biotin, and protein may weaken hair follicles.
Hormonal changes. Hormones fluctuate during seasons of life, like pregnancy, the postpartum period, and menopause. Hormones also change with thyroid disorders and may eventually influence hair follicle activity. Such shifts can either accelerate or disrupt the hair growth cycle, leading to more hairs entering the telogen phase too soon.
Chronic health conditions. Autoimmune diseases, infections, or prolonged high fevers can shock hair follicles, triggering more club hairs. For example, studies show that COVID-19 is associated with temporary hair loss in some people, due to telogen effluvium.
Medications. Certain medications, including chemotherapy, blood thinners, and retinoids, can interfere with the normal hair growth cycle. They may trigger more hair strands to enter the telogen phase simultaneously, leading to noticeable shedding.
Aging. As we get older, it’s natural for hair growth to slow down and for the ratio of the hairs in the anagen phase versus the telogen phase to shift. This makes club hairs more common in older adults.
Genetics. A family history of hair loss or scalp conditions can increase the likelihood of experiencing disrupted hair growth cycles and excessive club hairs.
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Diagnosing club hair might be done through your own visual examination or by consulting with your healthcare provider—or perhaps both.
If you want to start by trying to self-diagnose club hair follicles, an easy way is to look for a bulb located at the base of long hair strands that have naturally fallen out. If you’re experiencing excessive shedding of fully formed hairs or notice areas of thinning, this may also be indicative of club hair.
If you’re still not sure or want to investigate further, speak with a professional who can offer medical advice. For instance, a dermatologist can perform a simple hair pull test to evaluate what’s shedding, in which they grab small sections of hair, gently tug, and evaluate how many hairs come out.
They may also perform a scalp exam to rule out other underlying conditions that could be promoting club hairs, like fungal infections or alopecia. And if they still need more information, they might recommend a blood test to check you for hormonal imbalances or nutritional deficiencies.
If club hair is getting you down, you’re probably wondering about treatment options. Treating the root cause of excessive club hairs, like ongoing stress or illness, often resolves the issue. In the meantime, there are also medications and hair care habits that can help.
There are many medications designed to help support healthy hair growth. Two medications in particular are commonly recommended for telogen effluvium and ultimately may be helpful for addressing excessive club hairs.
Minoxidil. This is a topical and oral medication that is FDA-approved for treating androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness). Oral minoxidil is more effective for treating telogen effluvium.
Some studies show that people who use minoxidil can see up to a 20 percent increase in hair growth over 48 weeks. However, it’s important to note that this medication isn’t for everyone, as some people experience increased blood pressure.
Depending on your preferences and the cause of your hair shedding, you may consider topical, over-the-counter options like minoxidil solution or minoxidil foam.
Finasteride. If you’re experiencing male pattern baldness on top of telogen effluvium, consider speaking with your healthcare provider about oral finasteride, another FDA-approved treatment for male hair loss.
Finasteride works by preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone can cause hair follicles to miniaturize or shrink, which promotes male pattern hair loss.
You can also get finasteride in topical forms, such as finasteride spray. While this form isn’t FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia, many healthcare professionals prescribe it off-label for this purpose.
The quality of the hair care products and the daily routine you use with your hair make a difference. Here are some things you can do to help minimize further stress and damage to your hair, help address telogen effluvium, and reign in excessive club hairs.
Avoid tight hairstyles. Pulling longer hair tightly into styles like ponytails or braids can trigger traction alopecia and make hair loss and thinning worse.
Practice gentle hair care. Avoid harsh hair care products, high-heat styling, and brushing your hair too roughly, as this can worsen hair damage and shedding.
Prioritize your scalp and hair health. Scalp care is an important factor in overall hair health. If you have dandruff, use a dandruff detox shampoo to keep your scalp clean and comfortable. It can also be helpful to give yourself frequent scalp massages, as this can stimulate your hair follicles.
Try products to increase hair volume. If club hair is creating noticeable thin areas, try our thickening shampoo with saw palmetto. Our volumizing shampoo and conditioner can also improve the appearance of limp, thin hair.
Hydrate. Damaged, dry strands can worsen the appearance of your overall hair. Consider including some moisturizing hair products in your routine.
Hair changes aren’t always preventable, but there are things you can do to help prevent club hair from worsening in the future.
In addition to the treatment tips above, it’s important to practice lifestyle habits that help reduce your overall stress and maintain the healthy hair you already have, like:
Practice healthy stress management. Severe stress can trigger telogen effluvium. We all face stressors, but what’s more important than avoiding them is having healthy response practices in place when they arise, such as deep breathing techniques, listening to calming music, going for a walk, spending some time in nature, venting to trusted buddies, journaling, and taking regular breaks from stressful work.
Optimize your diet pattern. Nutrition plays a central role in every aspect of your wellness, including hair health. Prioritize getting plenty of nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and lean proteins. Limit ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and alcohol, which aren’t as nutritionally dense.
Quit smoking. Smoking has been linked to a higher risk of several negative health effects, and it may even promote hair loss. If you need help quitting, reach out to your healthcare provider or call the national smoking quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
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