It can be alarming to look at your comb or at the shower drain and see a clump of hair. Not only could it clog your drain, but you may worry that it’s a sign of serious hair loss. But chances are what you’re seeing isn’t anything to be concerned about, and if you want to be sure, there are easy ways to check for abnormal hair loss at home.

The average person loses somewhere between 50 and 100 strands of hair per day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Yes, that’s a lot, so don’t panic if you see a few strands in your bathroom.

Hair shedding versus hair loss

And while we’re on the topic, there is a difference between hair loss and hair shedding. The AAD notes that hair shedding—or temporarily losing a little more hair than usual—is completely normal, and usually occurs after a major life stressor or body change, like losing 20 lbs. or more, giving birth, having a high fever, going off birth control pills, or caregiving for a loved one. Excessive hair shedding usually lasts for six to nine months, and then your hair growth and loss returns to normal.

Hair loss, on the other hand, is when something happens that actually stops your hair from growing, the AAD explains. Examples of this include hereditary hair loss, losing hair because of a medication like chemotherapy, using harsh hair care products, or having a compulsion to pull out your own hair. In these cases, the hair will not regrow until the cause stops—though that’s not possible in every case (like if genetics are to blame). If you have questions about the difference between hair shedding and hair loss, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor.

That said, if you want to test your own rate of hair loss, here are two ways to check:

Pull test
For a simple at-home test, Dr. James C. Marotta suggests you take about 60 hairs between your fingers and pull a little bit as you run your fingers through your hair. It’s normal to see five to eight hairs in your hand. If you have 15 to 20 hairs, though, you could be losing more hair than normal. Marotta explains:

• “For most, 90 percent of the hair on your head is in the growing phase, while about 10 percent of your hair is in the ‘resting’ phase, meaning that 10 percent will fall out and leave room for new hair growth within a certain period of time. If you are losing more than 15 hairs per pull, it likely means more than 10 percent of the hair on your head is in the ‘resting’ phase.”

Comb test
Here’s another test to try: before shampooing, comb from the back of the top of your head forward to the front of the scalp for one minute. Do this while leaning over a lightly colored bed sheet, then count the hairs on the sheet. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology, you should see about 10 hairs.

Of course, there are a few caveats for both of these methods, including that these numbers are approximate and may differ between people with different types of hair. Also, we tend to lose more hair as we age, which again, is normal. But the general idea is to know what’s normal for you so you can tell when it has gotten worse.

This story was originally published on 11/17/16 and was updated on 8/28/19 to provide more thorough and current information.

Over the past two years, my already-fine ponytail has dwindled down to a quarter of its size. I’ve tried everything to reverse the trend: Going off birth control; going on a hiatus with my colorist; trying every hair-growth supplement under the sun. I had four failed hair trials for my upcoming wedding before I finally accepted defeat: I wouldn’t be able to wear my hair down as I had always wanted to, because my hair had become nearly see-through. I know I sound melodramatic (it’s only hair, after all), but it was devastating.   

Cue my excitement when a colleague suggested I meet with a trichologist to get to the root of the problem. For those unfamiliar, trichology is a subset of dermatology that focuses on scalp and hair health. Semblance of hope restored, I booked an appointment with Stephen Pullan, a consultant trichologist (aka hair doctor) for the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic in New York. Here’s what he taught me:

Birth Control Might Be a Factor
As mentioned, I had gone off birth control in the hopes of restoring my natural hormone levels. But as Pullan told me, that actually might have been a hindrance to my hair growth, as many birth controls can actually stimulate follicles. According to the clinic, “oral contraceptives that use drospirenone have the potential to be more favorable for hair follicles, as there is a lower androgenic affect.”

...and Ferritin Levels Definitely Are
PSA: Low levels of ferritin—a blood cell protein that contains iron—is the leading cause of hair thinning in women. Pullan instructed me to get a ferritin test to check whether my iron stores were low. But after sharing my standard weekday meals (a banana on the way out the door; veggie and grains salads for lunch), he assured me—no test needed—that my iron levels were definitely not up to snuff. He sent me home with a Tricho-complex supplement (a blend of iron, B12 and vitamin C) as well as gelatin proteins to take twice a day.

Hair Needs to Eat in the Morning
As new information to me, I learned that hair is a “non-essential tissue,” meaning the human body doesn’t prioritize its nutritional needs first and it’s the first place to visibly suffer when nutrition isn’t up to par. The most important hair meal (sorry, banana on the go) is breakfast: Energy to form hair cells is lowest when you first wake up, so you need extra protein in the morning—plus complex carbs, vitamins, minerals and tons of water for a healthy hair diet.

...And to Be Coddled
I replaced my brush with a wide toothcomb and have been using a detangling spray every time I comb my hair to avoid split ends and breakage. I’ve laid off heat styling entirely and now brush my hair super, super gently. While I’ve yet to get my blood work done to deduce whether something larger is at play, I can happily say that my locks are shinier and more voluminous after just seven weeks of the regimen.

This article was found on PureWow

Male-patterned baldness is nothing to be ashamed about—but it’s also nothing to ignore. If you attack hair loss at its first sign, you can stop baldness before it takes hold. Thinning hair happens to most of us in some form as we age. But only those who blow it off now will wake up one day and realize: “Oh no—I’m bald!” And once you cross the threshold and develop the dreaded “bald spot,” it’s extremely difficult to reverse your hair loss.

But it can be done. Scientific research on hair loss has ballooned over the last few decades, and what was once considered an unstoppable sign of aging is now a symptom that can be treated, if not cured. You just need to find the right hair loss product for you. And while the science is advanced these days, there’s still no miracle solution, no “magic bullet” to cure hair loss in everybody. Thus far, the only effective method way to find the hair loss product for you is to experiment until you find one that works.

What Causes Hair Loss?
Science has determined that the number one factor in hair loss and thinning hair is the production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT is a hormone—an androgen that helps give us men our maleness. But as we age, DHT can cause our hair follicles to shrink, leading to hair loss.

It’s also been linked to prostate health. This is why many men who experience urinary issues are told by their doctors to take a saw palmetto supplement, an herbal DHT blocker. It can decrease the size of the prostate and improve urinary health. But it can also spur hair growth. You’ll find plenty of synthetic DHT blockers on the market and on our list. But if you prefer an all-natural hair loss solution, saw palmetto supplement is the way to go.

Propidren combines the natural benefits of saw palmetto with biotin-based DHT blockers, in a handy pill form that’s not too expensive. So you get the best of both worlds. With 90 percent of Amazon users giving it a perfect five-star rating, it was impossible for us not to pick it as our best overall hair loss product.

What are some of the other hair-loss products and treatments we recommend?

• Amplixin Intensive Growth Serum—If you’re just noticing your hair beginning to thin, get on this train now and stop baldness before it takes hold;
• Nutrafol—This all-around supplement contains not only DHT blockers but ingredients to improve your sleep and reduce stress, which aids in recovery and spurs hair growth;
• DrFormulas HairOmega 3-in-1—This vitamin supplement contains a full spectrum of vitamin E (keratin) as well as DHT blockers;
• Prime Beard—If you can’t fill in your scraggly beard, try this stuff, which promises to improve overall hair,s kin, and nail health.

Before you begin the process of trying hair-loss products until you find one that works for you, here’s something to keep in mind: Most if not all hair-loss products will stop working as soon as you stop using them. But once you find a product that seems to work—and you need to give it at least three months before you can expect results—you must use it, or you’ll lose it. Simply maintain a regimen—like brushing your teeth—and you should have a mane like Momoa in no time.

​Click here for the Pros and Cons of the recommended products.

Developed in India over 3,000 years ago, Ayurvedic medicine or Ayurveda for short, is one of the world's oldest holistic i.e. whole-body, healing systems. The foundation of Ayurveda is that health and wellness depend on the intricate balance between the spirit, mind, and body and its principal objective is to promote good health, not to fight disease. Ayurvedic medicine gives us a lot of great options for hair. Henna is perhaps the most well-known ayurvedic herb used in haircare but there are many others including amla, brahmin and turmeric — the benefits of which we will take a closer look at below.

What Is Turmeric?

As spices go, turmeric is one of the most important spices in Indian dishes. It is also one of the most studied herbs in science. Scientifically called Curcuma longa, turmeric is a root in the same plant family as ginger. The dried root of the turmeric plant is ground to produce the distinctive yellow turmeric powder.

The Benefits of Turmeric for Hair

The benefits of turmeric for hair come down to two things:

• Its ability to combat hair loss
• Its ability to promote hair growth

Turmeric’s ability to combat hair loss comes from curcumin, a natural compound that has been and continues to be widely studied. Curcumin is believed to be effective in halting to the overproduction of dihydrotestosterone most commonly known as DHT. DHT is a hormone responsible for hair loss in men and women by restricting hair growth from the follicles.

Turmeric’s ability to create a healthy environment for hair growth stems from its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Hair thrives when the scalp is healthy, and turmeric can help you achieve a healthy scalp by combating dandruff and dry, itchy scalp conditions. As Ayurveda expert Shadoh Punnapuzha says, “The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory qualities that it contains can help soothe the scalp and get rid of dandruff,”

How to Use Turmeric

You may choose to use turmeric topically or add the spice to your meals, smoothies, and teas. Mix equal parts turmeric and olive oil to eliminate dandruff and improve scalp health. Apply the mixture to your scalp and leave on for about 30 minutes. Cleanse and condition and style hair afterwards as normal. Light hair may be stained by turmeric but that should fade during the washing and conditioning process.

Turmeric Tea
1 teaspoon of ground turmeric
4 cups of water
1 teaspoon of raw honey or fresh lemon juice or grated ginger

Turn on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Put the turmeric into the boiling water and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Take mixture off the heat and strain the liquid. Add honey or lemon juice or grated ginger before consumption.

Turmeric Smoothie

For the smoothie
1 large ripe banana, peeled and sliced
1 cup of fresh pineapple
½ tablespoon peeled fresh ginger
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ cup carrot juice (see below)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup of almond milk, unsweetened

For the carrot juice
2 cups of carrots
1 ½ cups of filtered water

Make the carrot juice by adding carrots and the filtered water to a high-speed blender. Keep blending until you get a pureed and smooth mixture. Add more water if required.

Strain and set aside the pulp for smoothies or baked goods. Transfer the carrot juice to a mason jar.

Add the smoothie ingredients to the blender and blend until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Add more carrot juice or almond milk if required. Scrape down the seeds as and when needed. Taste and adjust the flavors as required.

You can be creative with the use of turmeric in your meal preparations. So if you haven’t yet, why not give it a try?

This article is from Naturally Curly