Why am I losing my hair?: The Difference Between Hair Shedding and Hair Loss

Noticing strands of hair on your pillow or collecting in the shower drain can be a scary experience. The instinct, for many of us, is to assume the worst and think "OMG I'm losing my hair!"— BUT, not all hair fall signals a problem. Knowing the difference between normal hair shedding and true hair loss is the first and most important step toward feeling good and understanding your scalp health.

QUICK PRO TIP: Where is the hair coming from? If it's in your drain or pillow, that is likely perfectly healthy and normal (but could be an issue, see below). If you’re seeing a thinning around the hair line, it’s worth investigating. Read on to get a better handle on it…

It All Starts With How Hair Actually Grows

Before we can talk about why hair falls out, we need to talk about how it grows — because the two are more connected than most of us realize. Every single strand on our heads moves through four biological phases, and shedding is actually built right into the process.

Anagen (Growth Phase): This is the active phase, where the follicle is busy producing new hair. It can last several years, and it's where all the magic happens.

Catagen (Transition Phase): A brief few weeks where growth slows, the follicle starts to shrink, and the strand gently detaches from its blood supply. Think of it as the hair winding down.

Telogen (Resting Phase): The follicle takes a pause — sometimes for several months. The hair isn't growing, but it's still there, holding its place.

Exogen (Shedding Phase): New hair begins pushing up from below, and the old strand is released. This is the phase we actually see — in the brush, on the pillow, down the drain.

Here's the reassuring part: not all of our follicles are in the same phase at the same time. That staggered rhythm is exactly what keeps us from losing everything at once. And your personal cycle? It's entirely your own; shaped by genetics and completely normal, even when it looks different from someone else's.

So What IS Normal Shedding?

We shed between 50 and 150 strands a day on average. That sounds like a lot, until you consider that the average person has somewhere between 90,000 and 150,000 hairs on their head. Daily shedding accounts for less than 0.1% of the total. In other words? Completely manageable.

One easy way to check whether what you're seeing is true shedding is to look at the root of the strand. A naturally shed hair will have a small white or translucent bulb at the root — that's the anchor, and it means the hair completed its full cycle. No bulb? That's likely breakage, which is a different story.

Shedding and Breakage Aren't the Same Thing

The distinction matters. Shedding is biological; it's the follicle doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Breakage, on the other hand, is structural, and it happens when the hair shaft itself becomes weak or brittle and snaps somewhere along the middle, rather than releasing from the root.

Things like excessive heat styling, chemical treatments, rough cotton pillowcases, over-brushing, and harsh products can all lead to breakage over time. The follicle is completely fine — it's the strand that's been compromised. That's why how we care for our hair day-to-day matters so much.

QUICK PRO TIP: Are seeing partial strands for full length? If they’re partial, you’ve got damage, and your hair needs an intervention. Some quick fixes are a protein mask like our Collagen Mask (it cannot be beat for restoring damaged hair). Seriously consider a silk pillowcase — not satin! Satin fibres have sharp edges, cotton fibres have rough edges that act like velcro to damaged hair. Silk pillowcases prevent moisture from being drawn out of your hair into the pillow fibres; they’re naturally microbial, and the smoothest fibre to run down the hair shaft without pulling or gripping frayed ends or lifted cuticles. Plus, our RESTORE silk pillowcase has a lavender pouch insert for a more tranquil sleep (better for you and your hair!)

When Does It Become Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a different experience altogether — and it's worth taking seriously. It happens when the follicle finishes the shedding phase and simply... doesn't start a new growth cycle. No new strand comes in to replace the old one. Over time, that leads to a gradual reduction in overall density and thickness.

Several factors can contribute to this, and many of them are things we experience at some point in our lives:

Hormonal shifts — pregnancy, postpartum changes, perimenopause, or thyroid imbalances can all disrupt the hair growth cycle in very real ways.

Nutritional gaps — our follicles need fuel. Deficiencies in iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D are among the most common contributors to hair thinning.

Chronic stress — when our bodies are under prolonged stress, they can push follicles into a resting state prematurely. This condition, called telogen effluvium, often shows up as diffuse shedding a few months after a stressful event, which can make it hard to connect the dots.

Scalp health — buildup, inflammation, or a compromised scalp environment can quietly suppress healthy follicle function over time.

Genetics — androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, is the most common cause of hair loss globally. If it runs in your family, early awareness is genuinely your best asset.

What We Can Do About It

The good news? Many of the contributing factors to hair loss are within our control. Small, consistent habits add up more than we might think.

Nourish from the inside out. A diet rich in protein, leafy greens, and healthy fats gives our follicles what they need. If deficiencies are a concern, targeted supplements — iron, omega-3s, B vitamins — can make a meaningful difference.

Be gentle with our hair. For hair’s sake, USE A HEAT PROTECTANT! Overall, reducing heat styling (but using protection 100% of the time when you do), embracing the occasional air-dry day, and avoiding aggressive and excessive brushing all help protect the hair shaft from unnecessary damage.

Loosen up on tight styles. Styles that pull consistently at the root — tight ponytails, braids, extensions — can lead to traction alopecia over time. Our follicles need a little breathing room.

Care for our scalp as we care for our skin. Regular cleansing, a shampoo matched to our scalp's specific needs (take our QUIZ if you’re not sure you’ve got the right goods), and gentle massage with fingertips or a SCALP BRUSH (it feels out-of-this-world good) can all support healthy circulation and follicle function.

Take stress seriously. We know— easier said than done. But exercise, rest, and mindfulness practices aren't just good for our mental health. They're genuinely good for our hair, too. Give microjoys a try— low time investment, BIG rewards. 

You're Not Alone in This

If you've noticed localized thinning, a widening part, or a sudden uptick in shedding, it's worth speaking with a professional. Early attention consistently leads to better outcomes — and there's real comfort in having answers rather than uncertainty.

But for most of us, most of the time? What we're seeing in the shower is just our hair doing its job. Our bodies are remarkably good at taking care of themselves — and with a little support and understanding, so are we.