Jakarta, ThedailyID — Finding several strands of hair on your comb can be worrying. However, daily hair shedding is actually part of the natural hair growth cycle.
According to DermNet, losing around 50 to 100 hairs per day is generally considered normal. The actual number can vary from person to person.
Hair does not grow continuously through a single phase. Instead, every hair follicle goes through several stages.
The first is the anagen phase, when the hair actively grows. It is followed by the catagen phase, which is a transition period.
The final stage is the telogen phase, or resting phase. During this stage, hair that has stopped growing remains in the follicle before eventually falling out.
After an old hair falls out, the follicle can enter another growth cycle. It can then produce a new strand.
These cycles do not happen at the same time for every hair follicle. As a result, people normally lose hair gradually rather than all at once.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology also reports that people can lose around 100 hairs per day on average. However, the amount varies between individuals.
The amount of hair you see while combing does not necessarily reflect how much hair you lost that day.
Some hairs may have already reached the end of their growth cycle. They can remain attached to the scalp until brushing or washing removes them.
That explains why you might notice more hair on your comb after several days without washing or brushing your hair.
Hair-care habits can also affect how much hair you see coming out. Therefore, finding several strands on your comb does not automatically mean something is wrong.
What matters more is the overall pattern of hair loss.
Increasing hair loss, visible thinning, bald patches or changes to the scalp may require medical attention. If these signs appear, consider consulting a doctor or dermatologist.
