As a hair wellness spa, we have dealt with our fair share of hair loss and shedding. Hair shedding is normal and part of the hair growth cycle.

However, when you see wads of hair in a brush or they are blocking your drain, it becomes a cause for concern. You may be looking at that hair and wondering if you are experiencing hair loss compared to your regular hair shedding.

So, they differ in their understanding of hair loss versus hair shedding and scalp conditions.

Hair Loss vs Hair Shedding: What is The Difference?

While losing hair is common in hair loss and shedding, there is a difference. Let’s look at each one.

What is Hair Loss?

When you lose hair, your strands stop participating in the growth life cycle and will fall off your scalp without reactivating the anagen or growth phase.

If that hair follicle is no longer active and is not replaced by new hair, you know you have lost hair. As a hair and scalp spa, we have many clients who have experienced hair loss for various reasons.

These include severe diets, cancer, radiotherapy, or wearing too-tight buns or ponytails for a long time. Sometimes, it can happen with menopause and is permanent, but in other cases, you can find a treatment for hair loss to help.

Still, if you notice hair loss, we recommend taking note of any drastic lifestyle changes.

What is Hair Shedding?

When your hair sheds, it is a regular occurrence. A fact is that you can shed about 150 strands daily, and it reflects the start of a new hair growth cycle. Your hair goes through four stages during its lifespan:

• Anagen – Growth
• Catagen – Transition
• Telogen – Rest
• Exogen – Shedding

Hair shedding will make space for your new growth, but when a handful of your hair leaves, it will make place for others to grow, and the process can take up to five months.

Hair Shedding vs Hair Loss Comparison Table

Hair Loss	Hair Shedding
Some internal or external factor, like your diet or stress, triggers hair loss.	It is temporary and expected from time to time
It has a lasting effect, but it is not impossible to treat	Plenty of treatments for hair thinning are available
Can result from alopecia areata, among others, leaving a hair patch	Life events and seasonal factors can increase hair shedding.

Both hair loss and shedding can be treated, but you must first address the root of the problem. Hormonal changes in the body can lead to excessive shedding.

Still, hair shedding can be temporary, and your hair can find a balance again. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that affects the immune system; you can receive professional treatments to combat it.

When We Recommend Seeking Professional Help

When our clients visit us for the best hair growth treatment, and we find that they experience consistent or prolonged shedding, we advise them to seek professional help.

Excessive shedding is also known as telogen effluvium, and you find it accompanied by visible thinning hair. It is not shedding, but hair loss. See a dermatologist if your hair appears thinner over a long time, remains excessive, and your scalp is sensitive to touch. Learn more about sensitive scalps here.

Still, if you suspect that dietary changes are causing the shedding, we recommend consulting an endocrinologist. Alternatively, you can visit your doctor to receive a plan of action. Still, there are ways to take preventative measures by maintaining hair health.

You can visit us for scalp massage therapy or practice it at home by massaging your scalp for four minutes daily. Doing this will help relieve tightness and tension while improving blood circulation and decreasing hair loss.

When our clients visit us for a hair-thinning treatment, we recommend avoiding heavy oils on their scalps and using a scalp serum instead. Applying heavy oils can clog the hair follicles and hinder hair growth. Additionally, limit your washing, as frequent daily washing can lead to dryness and scalp irritation.

Wrap-Up: Hair Loss vs Hair Shedding

If you are experiencing excessive hair loss that is causing bald patches and are unsure why it is occurring, we recommend seeking professional help.

Hair shedding is normal, and even excessive shedding is temporary. But if a sensitive scalp or hair thinning accompanies it, you can visit us for scalp therapy in Medford, MA.

Our stylists will conduct a professional scalp analysis and recommend the best way to get your hair cycle back on track.

In the meantime, you can care for your scalp by periodically washing and massaging it to maintain the recommended balance of the hair growth cycle.

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