THINGS TO REMEMBER
- When talking about hair loss ? How much hair can you lose every day without it being abnormal: 20? 40? 60? or even 100?
- Don't look for a figure that applies to everyone, because two variables come into play: the length of hair cycles, which varies from one individual to another, and the natural density of the hair.
- But here you will find the information you need to assess whether your personal fall is abnormal or not.
- And if in doubt, have a thorough diagnosis carried out on your hair, because there's more to hair loss than meets the eye.
- It is also important to check the number and quality of regrowth.
NORMAL DAILY HAIR LOSS
Hair is constantly being renewed. It has a life cycle just a few years apart. When one dies, another takes its place and knocks it down. So it's logical that you should lose a little each day.
A healthy head of hair contains 10 to 15 % of dead hair, ready to fall out (telogen hair). These are the hairs we lose naturally, day by day. But how much hair can we lose physiologically, on a daily basis? This is where an average number is impossible to determine: it can vary from simple to double, from one person to another...
VARIATION FACTORS
FIRST VARIABLE: THE LENGTH OF YOUR HAIR'S LIFE CYCLE
The lifespan of your hair is far from standard: it is written into your genetic make-up and also varies according to your sex. For women the life cycle of their hair is between 4 and 7 years (for men, it's shorter: between 2 and 4 years). Men's hair therefore renews itself more quickly, but their average daily hair loss is greater.
SECOND VARIABLE: THE NATURAL DENSITY OF YOUR HAIR PER CM2
The natural density of your hair per cm2 is the density you inherited at birth. The higher this number, the more hair falls out naturally each day: this is the second variable. However, as this density per cm2 can vary almost twofold from one person to another, and from one ethnic group to another, it is impossible to establish an average.
Average hair density by ethnic group :
+/- 190 hairs/cm2
+/- 170 hairs/cm2
200 to 320 hairs/cm2
In other words, some people lose 20 to 25 hairs a day, which is normal for them; others, who are very 'hairy' and subject to a rapid hair cycle, can lose up to 70, 80 or even 100. And that's still normal!
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING WHETHER YOUR HAIR LOSS IS PATHOLOGICAL
HEALTHY HAIR
The only reliable criterion is the ratio of your anagen hair to your telogen hair. In healthy hair, this ratio must be CONSISTENT, and is established as follows:
| Women's hair | Men's hair |
|---|---|
| +/- 90 % anagenes | +/- 85 % anagenes |
| +/- 10 % telogenes | +/- 15 % telogenes |
PATHOLOGICAL HAIR LOSS (ALOPECIA)
If this proportion increases by 5% in telogen hair, to the detriment of anagen hair, hair loss is cause for concern. With an increase of 10%, it is considered downright pathological:
| Women's hair | Men's hair |
|---|---|
| +/- 80 % anagenes | +/- 75 % anagenes |
| +/- 20 % telogenes | +/- 25 % telogenes |
It's easy to see for yourself: you'll find more hair than usual on your comb or brush, on your pillow, sofa or clothes.
If you have any doubts, we recommend that you have a hair diagnosis carried out, including an analysis of your hair's roots and keratin because it's the only way to check the presence and quality of your new growth and the possible thinning of your hair. These criteria should be taken just as seriously as the hair loss itself.
NOTE: There are two exceptions where daily hair loss can increase to 30, 40 % without necessarily being pathological. These are :
- The seasonal autumn falls and spring to a lesser degree
- For women the post-partum fallsafter giving birth.
Jean-François Cabos is the creator of a unique hair care method based on the research he coordinated, which led to the publication of the book Hair, Roots of Life with Hélène Clauderer published by Robert Laffont (Collection "Réponses/ Santé").
