Normal hair loss?

Hi Diego,I had intended to follow-up to my response to you because I realized I hadn't made the following point clear.To the best of my knowledge, he only type of hair loss that can be caused by wearing your hair in a ponytail is traction alopecia at the hairline IF (and only if) you pull your hair extremely tight and do so all the time (as in most days for months or years). The fact that you discover so many hairs have fallen out after removing your hair from the tail is most likely due to the fact that they have already fallen out but have been restrained within the band holding the ponytail.If your hair loss has increased, consider consulting with your physician and if s/he deems appropriate you may be referred to a specialist (internist, dermatologist, etc).I think Jade's point about not brushing your hair when it's wet is because brushing wet tangled hair can easily cause it to stretch and snap. It's best to detangle your wet or damp hair with a wide-toothed comb, and avoid using a brush until your hair is dry.Otherwise it sounds like you are doing many healthy things, which should be reflected in the health of your hair as well. Make sure your diet is balanced, including sufficient quantities of protein. The vitamins/minerals in your supplemtation regimen should include vitamins C, E, B-complex, and Zinc.Don't let anybody tell you that your hair should be less important to you than it is. It is up to you to decide for yourself how important your hair is or is not to you! :-)Good luck and keep us posted.Dave

Hi Diego,Dave has done, as always, a great job of answering your questions.I will try to add what I know. The Hair Boutique's Hair Loss expert, Spencer Kobren, told me in one of our long phone conversations that most hair loss experts have researched the "average amount of hair loss" that occurs on people. It is considered average but most hair loss experts to loss about 75-100 hairs a day. Some days you lose more, some less.Spencer actually saved his lost hairs and kept them in plastic baggies and labeled the number by day. He was losing a lot more than 100 hairs a day when he started taking the Propecia which helped him regrow his lost hair.I have talked to a dermatologist who is in Dallas and specializes in hair loss and she confirmed that when a dermatologist is addressing hair loss concerns she will always ask how many hairs are lost per day and confirms that many dermatologists will ask the patient to track their hair loss.Some people naturally have more hair than others. Blondes tend to have more hair than redheads. A lot of factors will contribute to the overall total number of hairs you have.So yes, there is a need to watch your loss so that you can track whether it is normal or abnormal.Also, hair sheds more during different times of the year. Hormones will also cause hair to fall more or less depending on a variety of factors that are specific to each individual.Read Dave's article. It is excellent and provides the details you need to care for your hair.One thing to remember....the average hair that is shoulder length is approximately 4 years old and needs to be treated like fine old lace.Also, hot water will cause hair to fall out more than lukewarm water. I don't have scientific proof of that but I do know that from my own experience.Hope that helps.Best wishes,Karen> Hi Diego!> I haven't heard this, but if you factor in> male-pattern balding (MPB), it may be true, "on> average." I have heard that men have more hairs> than women (on average) as their heads are larger(on> average), but I don't know if this is true, either. If> it is, though, then the statement that "men lose> more hair than women" (on average) would seem to> have some degree of plausibility to it.> Do you see any areas on your head that are> thinly-planted with hairs, such as your crown or your> temples? If so, this would indicate the onset of MPB.> I also used to lose (what seemed like) a mountain of> hair after washing my hair (also, every 2-3 days). One> time, I too decided to count the hairs, and came up> with about 75. I think you are right about one reason> why so much comes out when you do wash (because you> keep it tied).> Just over a year ago, I modified my hair-washing> technique in two key ways. One, I make sure that my> hair is thoroughly brushed out and tangle-free before> getting in the shower, so that any loose hairs are> removed from your hair beforehand, and two, I wash my> hair very gently now, applying the shampoo at the> scalp and gently working it around just the first few> inches away from my scalp before rinsing. What I try> to do is minimize tangling caused by the washing> process. I found that these two things helped the> situation dramatically.> Follow the link below to my article on the Hair> Boutique for detangling tips.> Good luck and let us know how things go!> Dave

Hi, Diego!By the way, your name is beautiful!Dave gave some excellent advice and I do not know about the specifics of MPB. I defer to him:)I wanted to ask you how long the loss of hair has been happening. Since you've had longer hair for quite a while, do you recognize when or how you are shedding?I have had male friends who experienced what you have been talking about because they wore hats (baseball caps) constantly and always wore their hair in a pony tail.It's interesting that you get so much hair coming out after you have washed and dried your hair. How much generally comes out after you shampoo? Generally, after you have washed your hair and dried your hair, it is better to wait 24hours before brushing your hair. This way some sebum has had a chance to develop on your scalp.A note on brushing hair when it is dry. Here, I mean not wet. If you are not in the habit of brushing your hair, you may experience more than usual amount of hair coming out at first. You have to work up with gentle,consistent strokes. This happened to me when I started. Some people never brush and that's ok.Bye for now,Jade21Hi everyone!! I was thinking if anyone could give me a> hand here...I am male so i know it's normal for men to> loose more hair than women, so I'm told, but what is> normal hair loss? 100 hairs a day as I've heard? I ask> this because I love long hair and therefore it's been> years now that my hair is around 60-70cm, half way> down my back. it seems healthy, very little split ends> if none at all, it's thick, never coloured it or> permed it or anything like that, dry it with cool air,> try to use decent products, and no one in my 'direct'> family suffers from baldness or hair loss. So> everything seems fine right? The problem...is that I> wash my hair every 2 or 3 days, and when i dry it and> then brush it I fill the bathroom!! So to speek...I> tried counting them once and they were around> 170-200!! Maybe it's because I rarely brush well or> keep it untied during the days so maybe it all comes> out when i wash it every 2nd or 3rd day. If anyone can> give me some tips I'd appreciate it a lot!!> Thanks!> Bye for now...

Hi everyone!! I was thinking if anyone could give me a hand here...I am male so i know it's normal for men to loose more hair than women, so I'm told, but what is normal hair loss? 100 hairs a day as I've heard? I ask this because I love long hair and therefore it's been years now that my hair is around 60-70cm, half way down my back. it seems healthy, very little split ends if none at all, it's thick, never coloured it or permed it or anything like that, dry it with cool air, try to use decent products, and no one in my 'direct' family suffers from baldness or hair loss. So everything seems fine right? The problem...is that I wash my hair every 2 or 3 days, and when i dry it and then brush it I fill the bathroom!! So to speek...I tried counting them once and they were around 170-200!! Maybe it's because I rarely brush well or keep it untied during the days so maybe it all comes out when i wash it every 2nd or 3rd day. If anyone can give me some tips I'd appreciate it a lot!!Thanks!Bye for now...