You’ll want to keep in mind that what’s “normal” varies from person to person and is determined by genetics, Marcus adds. And when you are noticing your hair density change significantly from what is normal for you, there might be an underlying issue. “Hair growth occurs in cycles called anagen (active growing phase, about one centimeter per month, lasts between two to six years); catagen (resting phase, about 3% of the hair on the scalp is in this phase at any given time, lasts between two and three weeks); and telogen (falling-out phase, about 6% to 8% of hairs on the scalp are in the phase at any given time, lasts for about 3.5 months),” she explains. “It is normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs each day. This normal hair loss most often occurs when brushing or washing the hair, so if someone skips a day or more between washes, they may notice more hair than usual falling out during their next wash because they didn’t lose the usual amount when they skipped the wash the day before.”
Visiting a professional can help you figure out if your hair is in trouble and what steps to take to improve. “Any trichology office can offer a hair-density check with a device that can measure density throughout your head to see if there are discrepancies and if your hair is gradually thinning or growing in weaker,” says Shab Reslan, trichologist and hair expert. “Warning signs of decreasing hair density include a more noticeable hair part, shorter hairs throughout, and a thinner ponytail.”
