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No, this isn't a question about how much shedding is normal. I'm confident that the amount I'm seeing is perfectly normal and I'm not going to go bald. ;-)
My problem is that when washing my hair, I feel the need to wash until I don't get several strands wrapped around my fingers each time I run them through the length, because if I don't, those strands will end up everywhere when I get out of the shower. This ultimately ends up in a rather long shower session, especially since I usually shampoo every three days or so.
Is this just one of those things you have to get used to with long hair, or am I washing the wrong way? I'm probably just past the awkward stage (being able to tie a short ponytail), so I'm still figuring things out.
Cheers!
Yeah, I used to be that way too. You just have to get used to it. when your hair is wet its weaker, and you might be pulling a little extra out, thats why I never comb until its mostly dry and bever brush until its completely dry.
But still... single wet hairs are a bitch to get of your hand. Especially when you have one that twists arend each finger 5 times and you pull it off only to find out its wrapped around your other hand now.
Darn, that's what I was afraid the answer would be. :-( I use a brush (no combs) when I shower, just after toweling it to a non-dripping state and just before going to bed.
During the shower, it looks like huge clumps in my hands, but ends up being just 5 or 6 strands all wrapped up around my fingers that only look menacing. ;-) So I'm not really worried about how much is coming out, it's just the frustration of taking *forever* for the basic maintenance that took seconds when my hair was short.
Thanks for the answer!
What a great question, JD, --- and, believe it or not, I don't remember it being asked here before (unlike many, MANY other questions we frequently read on this board - LOL)!!
I think Jarvis answered your question superbly, --- as well as his description of hair wrapping around other fingers gave me a good laugh!
I'd like to also add the following comment, based on my experience of now having my hair down to my belt-level: the longer you grow your hair, the more you are going to experience this type of thing regularly. Using a lot of conditioner after shampooing helps; but, trust me, you will always be shedding, --- ESPECIALLY noticeable after your shampooing sessions.
On average, I shampoo about twice a week. Sometimes I do an "editted" version (AKA "quickie" shampoo job): but, usually I do exactly as the average shampoo bottle directions suggest: you know, the "Wash-Lather-Rinse-Repeat" thing. I also take the time to massage my scalp w/ the pads on my finder tips (NOT using my findernails, though) during the lathering part, --- sometimes even quite vigorously! Yes, it results in a lot of shedding; but, those hairs were going to drop away from my head soon, anyway. Whenever I use a comb on my hair when it's wet, I'm also careful to start at the ends, first (and with using LOTS of conditioner while doing so); then gradually work my way up towards untangling closer to the scalp to complete the combing out process. Hair is at its weakest when wet; so, I prefer starting actually with "finger-combing" before I bring out my wide-toothed comb to finish.
The same degree of shedding can also happen while brushing my hair out when it's dry (which, BTW, i NEVER use a brush on my hair when still wet, because brushes can cause a lot of breakage, since wet hair is so weak)
It can almost become comical the longer one grows one's hair, because nowadays part of my showering & shampooing ritual involves stopping every once in awhile to wind and wind and wind my hair around and around and around my fingers until I get it into enough of a wad to be able to flick it out of the way.... And that's not all: the longer it gets, the more often you start to find shed hairs in spots that I can't mention here in polite mixed company... Sounds kinda gross, doesn't it? (LOL)
- Ken in San Francisco
What I usually do is brush my hair BEFORE washing it. That removes a lot of the strands that are ready to be shed, thus avoiding getting them wrapped round your fingers or elsewhere and saves them clogging up your shower drain too.
It also has the added benefit of making detangling after washing a little easier too.
This is my experience. Get the loose hair out first!
I tend to do very little with my length during a wash other than run water through it...very little actual manipulation...all the activity is around the scalp area...so most sheds don't come out in the shower, but later when I am detangling and all.
And, yeah, it only takes about three hairs to make what looks like the pelt of a small mammal!