Is the drain clogged with hair? Are you losing hair? Here are 3 tips to help you determine if you are losing hair.

Taking a bath is relaxing

But washing your hair makes you anxious

After all, scratch, scratch, rub, rub

You may have a handful of homeless hair in your hand

Looking at the hair clumps at the drain

Many people felt a pang in their hearts

“Am I losing my hair?”

Don't panic, it's not certain.

Hair, like other tissues in the human body, has its own life cycle, including the growth phase, the regression phase and the resting phase.

Under normal circumstances, about 85%-90% of our hair is in the growth phase, which can last for 2-6 years, and the hair continues to grow and get longer; 1% is in the regression phase, which lasts for 2-3 weeks, the hair stops growing and the hair follicles begin to atrophy; the remaining 10%-15% is in the resting phase, which lasts for 3-4 months, after which the hair will fall off naturally to make room for the growth of new hair.

According to research, a normal person loses 50-100 hairs every day.

Image source: Photo Network

When washing your hair, the hair that is in the resting phase and is about to fall off will fall out more easily due to the external forces such as soaking in water, rubbing and combing.

Therefore, it is normal to feel that you are losing more hair than usual when washing your hair!

As long as the daily hair loss is not too exaggerated (for example, a large amount of hair falls out when you grab it), and there is no obvious thinning of hair, there is no need to panic. This is just a manifestation of normal hair metabolism.

Observe the amount of hair loss

If you lose more than 100 hairs a day and this lasts for more than 2-3 months , you may be experiencing hair loss.

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There are some simple ways to estimate the amount of hair loss, such as gently drying your hair with a towel after washing and counting the number of hairs that fall on the towel; or when combing your hair, roughly count the number of hairs that are tangled in the comb.

Observe hair density

Regularly observe whether your hair density has changed significantly. You can observe from the top of your head, forehead and other parts . If you find that the hair in these parts is gradually becoming sparse and you can clearly see the scalp, it is very likely that you have hair loss.

Image source: Photo Network

In addition, you can also part the hair in the middle and observe the width of the hair at the dividing line . If the dividing line becomes wider and wider, it also indicates that the hair is decreasing.

Pull test

Without washing your hair for at least 1 day, use your thumb, index finger and middle finger to gently pinch about 50-60 hairs from the roots of the hair, then gently pull along the direction of the hair, and repeat 6-8 times.

If no more than 2-3 hairs are pulled out each time, it is normal; if more than 6 hairs are pulled out each time, it indicates abnormal hair loss.

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Hair loss is related to many factors, such as endocrine disorders, mental stress, genetics, drugs, diseases, etc. If you are really losing your hair, then go see a doctor who specializes in hair. What if there is still hope?

Excessive perming and dyeing

Chemical agents used in hair perming and dyeing, such as thioglycollate in perm agents and paraphenylenediamine in hair dyes, will destroy the keratin structure of the hair.

If you perm and dye your hair frequently more than twice a year, your hair will become dry, brittle, and easy to break due to protein loss , greatly increasing the risk of hair loss.

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Long high ponytail or tight braids

Tying your hair into a high ponytail or tight braids for a long time will exert continuous tension on the hair, causing damage to the hair follicles and triggering traction alopecia.

Especially when your hair is wet and you tie it up tightly, the hair's elasticity will decrease and it will be more easily pulled!

Wrong way to wash your hair

If the water temperature is too high when washing your hair, over 45°C , it will damage the cuticle of the hair and scalp and cause the hair to lose moisture.

Rubbing your hair hard will damage the hair scales and cause them to curl up, causing the hair to rub against each other and break. Over time, the hair will become brittle and easy to fall out.

Excessive use of hair dryers

The hot air blown out by a hair dryer at high temperature can reach over 100°C. Long-term use will cause the moisture in the hair to evaporate quickly, causing the hair to become dry, frizzy, and split. In severe cases, it will cause hair loss.

It is recommended to choose a low temperature setting when using a hair dryer and keep a distance of more than 15 cm.

Image source: Photo Network

Losing a handful of hair when washing your hair does not necessarily mean hair loss, but it should not be taken lightly. We must learn to correctly judge our hair loss, understand the causes of hair loss, and take effective prevention and treatment measures.

If you see that you are losing a lot of hair, don’t be too anxious. After all, anxiety can also lead to hair loss... It’s better to see a doctor. The sooner the better!

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

Experts who reviewed this article

References

[1] Zhang Siqi, Li Benyue, Yang Jie, et al. Research progress on hair loss and anti-hair loss raw materials in young women[J]. Flavors and Fragrances Cosmetics, 2024, (06): 51-57. DOI: 10.20099/j.issn.1000-4475.2024.0011.

[2] Zhou Cheng, Fan Weixin, Fang Hong, et al. Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of androgenic alopecia (2023)[J]. Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2024, 53(12): 752-758. DOI: 10.16761/j.cnki.1000-4963.2024.12.015.

Content Production

Editor: Zhang Fuyao

Map: Eastern Zhou Dynasty