WHY AM I LOSE HAIR? Complete guide you must read if you are losing hair

Have you been shocked by the feeling that a lot of hair suddenly accumulates in the shower drain and in your brush? Perhaps you've asked yourself, "Why am I losing so much hair? Is this normal?"

Then you've come to the right place. Before you let panic take over, it's important to know that everyone will experience significant hair loss at some point. Did you know that it's completely normal to lose up to 150 hairs per day?

If you suddenly start losing much more hair than usual, there are many things you can do about it. Read on to learn more about hair loss and what is considered reasonable.


Have you brushed your hair multiple times and then wondered if you're losing too much hair and perhaps should do something about it?

According to the English Association of Dermatologists , it's completely normal to lose between 30-150 hairs a day as part of the hair's natural life cycle.

So, how do we know if we're losing a normal amount of hair or if it's actual hair loss? We'll clarify that here! Read on, and you'll feel much wiser about why you're losing a lot of hair. Plus, you'll get our best tips on how to prevent hair loss.

The definition of normal hair loss

If you're losing a lot of hair, how do you know if it's too much?
Here's the definition of normal hair loss:

Losing a lot of hair is a normal and necessary part of the hair's growth cycle. It is completely normal to lose 50 to 150 hairs per day. This might sound like a lot, but a person has, on average, 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on their head at any given time.

Therefore, you don't need to worry that it will show in your hair's thickness, even if you lose 150 hairs a day. If you feel like you see lost hair everywhere around you, you don't need to worry that it will be noticeable in your hair.

To understand normal hair loss and why we lose a lot of hair, it's important to first talk about the hair growth cycle:

Hair growth (and hair loss) occurs in a continuous cycle consisting of four main phases. The 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on your head are always in different parts of that cycle. This is positive as it means you don't lose all your hair at once!

Here's how the hair growth cycle works:


1. The Anagen or hair growth phase

In the first phase of the hair growth cycle, cells in the hair follicles rapidly divide, resulting in new hair growth.

80-90 percent of hair is in the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. This phase lasts between two and seven years, and the length of the anagen phase determines how long your hair can grow. Many factors influence the length of the anagen phase; some examples are genetics, nutrition, age, and general health. The best way to stop hair loss is by having healthy habits. This is because your health can affect the hair growth phase (we will go into more detail on this topic later).

2. The Catagen phase or transition phase

In the second phase of the hair growth cycle, the hair reaches its maximum length and begins to detach from the hair root; it becomes inactive and starts to shrink into a "Club Hair".

The hair now moves up towards the skin barrier and detaches from the hair root. It then loses its blood supply and will therefore not receive internal nourishment or be able to grow further.

This transition phase is the shortest phase in the hair's life cycle and lasts approximately 3-4 weeks. Only about 1% of your hair is typically in this phase at any given time.

3. The Telogen phase or resting phase

In the third phase of the hair growth cycle, your "club hairs" move, and although they are resting, they are still attached to the scalp. A new hair strand begins to grow underneath it, and this new strand will eventually take its place.

This period lasts for about 3-4 months. During this phase, the hair no longer receives blood circulation, and all activity stops. Therefore, this phase is also called the resting phase. Approximately 14% of your hair follicles will be in the resting phase at any given time. The resting phase is part of the shedding phase (the fourth, exogen phase).

4. The Exogen phase or shedding phase

In the fourth and final phase, the exogen phase, of the hair growth cycle, your "club hairs" are released and fall out.

Once a hair reaches this phase, there's nothing you can do to prevent it from falling out. When the exogen phase is complete, the hair follicle returns to the anagen phase and forms a new hair strand, and the process repeats itself over and over again!

Stimulate hair growth with nourishing shampoo, nettle, and a scalp brush. Read more here >>

Hair Loss vs. Hair Shedding

Shedding up to 150 hairs a day is a completely normal and necessary part of the hair's growth cycle. If you're losing more than that, it might be that you are experiencing hair loss.

Many types of hair loss occur because an excessive number of hair follicles transition from the growth phase to the catagen transition phase simultaneously, causing hairs to fall out about 4-5 months later at roughly the same time.

This can be due to many different factors, such as physical or psychological stress, illness, medication, childbirth, drastic weight loss, or similar reasons, which are very common causes for hair follicles to enter the transition and resting phases prematurely. When you lose a lot of hair in this way, where abnormally large amounts of hair fall out at roughly the same time, the hair can feel and appear thinner than it normally is. This is categorized as hair loss.

If you're experiencing hair loss, you're definitely asking yourself the question: "Why am I losing so much hair?" We'll certainly clarify that here:

Why am I losing so much hair?

So why do you lose hair? People with curly hair tend to lose more hair than those with straight, thin, or fine hair.

The reason why those with curls lose a lot of hair is partly due to hair type and genetics, but also because they tend to use more heat styling tools like flat irons, which can be very damaging to the hair.

High heat makes hair dry and brittle by removing its natural moisture, which leads to increased hair shedding. If you have longer hair, there's also a greater risk of losing a lot of hair as it is more exposed to daily wear and tear.

There are countless reasons for hair loss and for losing more hair than usual. What we've covered so far are just a few factors that can force hair into the transition phase prematurely.



The most common reason for men and women losing a lot of hair and experiencing hair loss is usually linked to hormones and genes.

In most cases, the reason for hair loss is a result of androgenic hair loss, also known as male or female pattern baldness.

Losing hair in this way is not directly linked to the hair's growth cycle but to a specific hormone. This means that a hormone called DHT shrinks the hair follicles until they stop producing hair altogether. When this happens and the hair follicles shrink, hair falls out, and you may find yourself losing a lot of hair without new hair growing back.

Another common cause of significant hair loss is hair styling or the use of overly harsh products.

If you frequently use heat and styling tools like blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons, your hair won't just become dry and damaged; it can also harm your hair follicles and risk breaking off healthy hair.

See our heat-free and chemical-free styling tips at the bottom of the post.

Similarly, overly harsh hair care products, containing a lot of harsh chemicals such as SL-sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, can not only dry out the scalp but also damage hair follicles and cause hair to enter the transition phase prematurely.


Gentle and nourishing shampoo & conditioner bars free from Sulfates, Parabens, and Phthalates - just as easy as regular shampoo, but better! To the products >>

The "Växa" Series that awakens dormant hair follicles with patented plant extract >>

Poor diet and lifestyle can cause hair loss

If you don't meet your body's needs for good nutrients, vitamins, and proteins in your diet, your hair follicles will weaken, and your hair will become dry, dull, and frizzy, or in the worst case, fall out. Therefore, losing a lot of hair can simply be due to your diet and lifestyle.

If you are losing a lot of hair or are just curious about the causes of hair loss and how to best treat it, read our article here on the most common causes of hair loss in both men and women.

6 signs that you are losing too much hair

If you're losing a lot of hair, how do you know if it's normal shedding or if you're actually experiencing hair loss? Below are a few signs to watch out for:

• Patchy hair loss - Losing circular patches of hair can be a sign of a medical condition called alopecia areata. If you notice that you're losing a lot of hair in this patchy manner, you should contact your doctor. In most cases, the hair will grow back after a few months or perhaps years.
  
  
• Receding hairline - One of the first things men notice when they're losing hair is that their hairline has started to move upwards. This is a sign of androgenetic hair loss.
  
  
• Thinning crown - Another sign of significant hair loss in men is a noticeably thinning crown.
  
  
• Sporadic hair loss: - In women, hair loss mostly appears as a general thinning all over the hair, and women therefore very rarely get distinctly bald spots on the scalp. Instead, women may notice that they shed a lot of hair all over their head, and the entire hair therefore becomes thinner over time. Other characteristics of female hair loss and how to prevent or treat it can be found in more detail in this article on hair loss in women.
  
  
• Thinner ponytail - Women with long hair may notice that they are losing hair if the diameter of their ponytail significantly decreases.
  
  
• Excess hair shedding - If you notice more hair than usual on your pillow, in your hairbrush, or in the shower drain, it may be that you are experiencing excessive hair shedding.
  
  

 

Strengthen your hair with nourishing and gentle shampoo that hydrates and cares for your hair >>


Fortunately, the body is so smart that it speaks up when something is wrong. Therefore, if you are losing a lot of hair, it could be one of the body's many small signs and symptoms that there is something you should change or address.

If you recognize these signs of hair loss, speak with your dermatologist. Your doctor can diagnose the cause of your hair loss and help you with a treatment plan on how to stop it. Below are tips you can try yourself to reduce hair loss.

How to avoid hair loss: 8 tips

Even if you're shedding hair without experiencing hair loss, it can be very irritating and make it difficult to achieve your hair goals. To shed less hair and reduce hair loss, you can improve the anagen phase with the following tips:

Avoid hair loss tip #1
Eat a balanced diet

Healthy hair starts from within, and therefore it is very important to eat a diet rich in many vitamins, minerals, and other hair-promoting nutrients to avoid hair loss.

To boost your hair growth phase and prevent hair loss, aim for a diet rich in proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Unsure which foods are best to prevent hair loss? Try these:

• Eggs
• Lean proteins like chicken and fish
• Healthy fats like avocado and olive oil
• Dark leafy greens
• Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, like oranges and bell peppers

If you're not a fan of eggs or simply can't stomach another bite of kale, try a hair growth supplement.

Dalarnas EKO's supplements are created with all the vitamins and minerals your hair follicles need, including 500 mcg of hair growth's savior biotin. To put that in perspective, you would need to eat 500 eggs daily just to get the same amount of biotin through your diet! Furthermore, Dalarnas EKO's supplements are vegan, allergen-friendly, and contain no artificial colors or flavors.

By providing your hair follicles with the vitamins and minerals they need, you maximize the anagen phase and thus shed less hair.

Avoid hair loss tip #3:
Reduce the heat

Are you used to styling your hair with heat? This could be a reason why you're losing more hair.

Therefore, you should reduce the use of heat styling tools for your hair, but if you truly can't do without them in your daily routine, turn down the heat when you use them. We offer heat-free hair styling tips at the bottom of the post.

Daily heat styling causes significant damage to hair strands, leaving them sensitive. Eventually, these sensitive hair strands will be damaged, which can lead to hair loss.

Take a break from heat tools and reduce the risk of significant hair loss. There are many incredibly beautiful and convenient heat-free hairstyles!


If you still want to use a hot tool, we recommend using a heat-protective & nourishing conditioner >>

I have natural waves and used to always use a hairdryer, heated brush, and curling iron, as I felt it was the only way to manage my bushy hair that easily looked like steel wool without heat tools. After a year of organic and gentle hair care, I can now let my hair air dry and get a beautiful head of hair without styling, which is absolutely fantastic! If I still want to style it, I make sure to use the heatless curl method, which saves both hair quality and time. You can find a video about heatless curls further down in the post.

Avoid hair loss #4
Start with the ends



Brushing or detangling your hair daily is an obvious part of a healthy hair care routine. But you might want to consider how you brush your hair.

Always start brushing from the ends and work your way up.

Starting from the roots and down to the ends is something you should absolutely not do, as this leads to small tangles and knots. This results in harsh brushing that damages the hair and you risk pulling out strands that don't need to come loose.

A good trick is also to braid your hair before bed, and then detangle the strands with a wide-tooth wooden comb or with your fingers to optimize and reduce wear and tear on your hair strands.


Make sure to use a gentle hair tie that doesn't damage your hair when you sleep.
We love these satin scrunchies:

Here you'll find scrunchies in various colors for minimal hair damage >>

Avoid hair loss tip #5
Avoid tight hairstyles

If you like a stylish tight ponytail high on your head, as many women do, or a cool tight man bun at the nape of your neck, it might be contributing to hair loss without you even knowing it. Tight hairstyles like hair knots, buns, and ponytails stress your hair, scalp, and hair follicles, which can lead to hair loss or breakage.

A good rule of thumb is that it shouldn't pull or tug on your hair when it's tied up. Therefore, loosen your ponytail or bun and avoid hair ties that pull and damage your hair. Instead, tie your hair up with more gentle ties like Scrunchies or let your hair hang loose and flow in the wind.

If you have a tendency to lose a lot of hair, you should therefore avoid overly tight hairstyles and hair ties that pull and tug at your hair.

Avoid hair loss tip #6:
Upgrade your hair washing routine

The perfect time to give your hair extra nourishment is when you shower.

Why? Because with the right products, you can give your hair the care and moisture it needs, making it stronger and thereby reducing the risk of breakage or falling out.

Växa-serien Shampoo & Conditioner contains active vegan microproteins that can penetrate deep into hair and hair follicles and have a reconstructive effect on hair cells, which mainly consist of proteins. They are thus developed to strengthen the hair from within, so that it becomes healthier and stronger after each hair wash.


Tip for those with long hair: remember that you only need conditioner on the lengths and shampoo on the scalp. The lengths will be gently cleaned by the shampoo that rinses over them.

Our shampoo and conditioner are consistently organic and of high quality, providing rich moisture and nourishment. Hydrated hair is healthy hair, so be sure to use conditioner to prevent hair loss.

Avoid hair loss tip #7:
Treat wet hair gently

The most common hair care mistake most people make

Hands up if the first thing you do after stepping out of the shower is wrap your hair in a large fluffy towel! If you use a cotton towel for your hair, you are certainly not alone. This is a common hair care mistake that most people make!

The cotton fibers in regular towels are actually too harsh on the hair, and can in fact leave your hair tangled and frizzy. Because here's the thing: hair is most sensitive when it's wet, and you therefore need to be extra gentle to prevent it from breaking or falling out.

Instead, try our Bamboo Hair Towel! It is made from a bamboo-cotton blend, which is a highly absorbent mix of 70% bamboo and 30% cotton. Bamboo is extra soft, antibacterial, and gentle material that will prevent delicate wet hair strands from breaking.

Avoid hair loss tip #8:
Sleep and stress



Curl your hair easily without heat!
Using your bathrobe belt works just as well as the tool in this video.