Our hair is deeply linked to our sense of self and our overall self confidence. So what do we do when we start noticing an unusual amount of hair winding up in our brushes and not on our heads? It all depends on how serious the hair loss is. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s perfectly normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day , so a few extra strands is nothing to worry about. However there are instances when you may experience excessive hair shedding, a condition called telogen effluvium. This is a common biological response that is triggered in various normal circumstances in life. For instance, this can occur when you’ve lost 20 or more pounds, dealt with major stress, or given birth.

Hair goes through three phases: growth, rest, and shedding. These phases are called anagen, catagen and telogen. Anagen is the active growth phase of the cycle. During this phase your hair grows about 1 cm every 28 days, for most people their hair stays in this growth phase for two to six years. It is interesting to note that some people have difficulty growing their hair beyond a certain length because they have a short active phase of growth. The catagen phase is a transitional period, about 3% of all hairs are in this phase at any time for the duration of roughly two to three weeks. During this stage growth grinds to a halt. The final stage is telogen, the resting phase, this is usually 6% to 8% of all hairs. This phase lasts for about 100 days for hairs on the scalp and longer for hairs on the eyebrow, eyelash, arm, and leg. At this stage the hair follicle is completely at rest and you will begin to lose about 25 to 100 telogen hairs normally each day.

Sleeping with tightly braided or bound hair can pull at your roots resulting in bald patches and hair loss.

If you still worry about the rate at which your hair is shedding, stylist Ashley Ayers would recommend giving your hair a break from heat styling and excessive use of product. Avoid pulling your locks up into super tight ponytails or other scalp-stressing styles. However if the shedding persists and you begin to lose your hair at a persistent or rapid rate it would be best to consult a doctor or qualified medical professional.