Understanding Natural Hair Shedding: What's Normal & What's Not

Every single day, you lose hair as a result of manipulation such as combing, brushing and styling. Hair shedding is a normal, natural bodily function that is needed for healthy hair growth.

Facts

• Hair shedding happens when a hair follicle ends its growing (anagen) phase and enters its resting (telogen) phase. The hair is released from the scalp at the root and a new hair emerges to replace it.

Shedding vs. Breakage

• It is important to understand the difference between these two occurrences, as many people get them confused. Shedding is a natural process that happens every day; breakage is usually a result of damage to the hair follicle by external factors such as chemical treatments, usage of heat styling tools and rough handling. You'll know the difference by looking at a released hair: if there is a white bulb present, the hair was naturally shed from the scalp. If no bulb is present, it's probably a broken hair.

Prevention/Solution

• Shedding is required in order to grow new, healthy hair. It is a process that cannot be completely prevented. However, excessive shedding can be remedied with garlic, either by taking a garlic supplement internally or by crushing a clove, mixing with conditioner and applying to the scalp and hair as a treatment.

Considerations

• Stress, hormonal changes due to pregnancy or birth control, poor diet or thyroid problems can all be contributors to excessive hair shedding. If you are experiencing heavy shedding, consult with a medical professional to determine the cause of the problem.