new thread
Hi all, I'm new here. I've been growing my hair out for about 2 years now; it is close to reaching the bottom of my shoulder blades. Perhaps some of you have the same problem as I do, if it is even a problem worthy of attention. I've noticed that I'm shedding at an alarming rate (alarming in the sense that I didn't have the problem before). I often have to collect strands of fallen hair from the floor of my dorm room, and when I shower I usually lose 10-20 hairs (though it doesn't sound like much, it is still disconcerting). I'm only 20 and I doubt that it's male balding pattern, as I'm not losing that much hair. Does this mean that the fallen hair have reached their terminal lengths, which would indicate that I'm not destined to grow my hair out to an originally-desired length (lower back)?
Shedding is simply more noticeable now that your hair is long. 10-20 hairs is perfectly healthy. All hairs have varying cycle lengths, some will be shed when a few inches long, others will stick around for years. All totally normal.
Good luck,
Matt
Aye, one is always shedding hair, kind of like how when you pet a cat or dog, you get hairs all over you. The difference is that now, because your hair is longer, you tend to notice it more.
Various things can make it better or worse. For example, if you use a comb that is too fine, it can be rough and pull hairs. I think that your shampoo might also have an effect, as it can strengthen or weaken strands causing more/less shedding.
Personally, my hair sheds in cycles. Some days I shed an almost unnoticable amount, and others it can be significant.
JeffL
You say you have been growing your hair out for two years, but that doesn't mean that the hair that you are shedding is only two years old, in fact, that hair may be 7 or even 8 years old, but you have been keeping it trimmed. You may loose more hair in the shower because you have been sleeping all night, hopefully, and during that time the hair has fallen, but it remains on your scalp until you remove it by brushing, showering, etc. A person can easily lose around 100 hairs per day and not experience hair-loss. Hair-loss occurs when the hair grows back thinner each cycle to the point that it becomes vellus hair which is not really visible to the unaided eye. It should be mentioned that androgenetic alopecia often reduces the hair growth cycle which can cause hair-loss to appear more rapidly in some individuals. If you are concerned about possible hair-loss then you would be well advised to visit a Dermatologist