Brushing your hair is a part of your daily routine, but can it also cause hair loss? The answer is yes, in some cases.
How much hair is normal to lose when brushing?
Is Hair Loss Caused by Brushing? Let’s start by saying that it’s normal to lose 80-100 hairs a day. They’ll grow back because this is the normal life cycle of a hair follicle. You’ll lose most of the 80-100 hairs when you brush or shampoo. However, if you are losing more than 100 hairs per day, noticing bald patches on your scalp, or seeing a lot of short hairs, it is possible that brushing your hair is causing hair loss.
How brushing can cause hair loss?
There are a few ways that brushing can cause hair loss. One way is if you brush your hair too often. This can cause the hair to become dry and brittle, leading to breakage. Another way that brushing can cause hair loss is if you brush your hair too hard. This can also cause breakage and prematurely pull out hair at the root.
The type of brush you use or how old your brush is can also make a difference. If you use a brush with stiff bristles, this can also cause breakage. If you have fine or delicate hair, you should use a brush with soft bristles, like a wet brush.
Brushing your hair when it is wet can also be a problem. When your hair is wet, it is more fragile and prone to breakage. If you must brush your hair when wet, use a wet brush or wide-tooth comb and be gentle.
Do you lose more hair if you don’t brush it?
Yes, brushing less often can look like more hair loss when you do brush. This is also true for shampooing your hair. As mentioned, losing 80-100 hair a day is considered normal shedding. Most of these hairs release from the scalp and the other hairs or hair products in the hair cause the fallen hairs to become temporarily stuck until you brush your hair or shampoo it. If you go many days between brushing or shampooing your hair, you could be compounding those 80-100 per day. Think of it this way, if you go three days without brushing or shampooing hair, that could be 300 hairs you see come out when you do go to brush your hair. That is a lot of hair and would freak anyone out!
How to prevent hair loss from brushing
If you are concerned that brushing your hair is causing hair loss, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk:
- Brush your hair less often if you can. Try to brush your hair only once or twice a day.
- Use a gentle brush. Like a Wet Brush, a brush with soft bristles will be less likely to damage your hair. And remember to look at changing out your brushes every 6-12 months.
- Brush your hair when it is dry. Brushing your hair when wet can make it more likely to break.
- Be gentle when brushing. Don’t yank or pull on your hair.
- Start at the ends of your hair and work your way up to the scalp. This will help to prevent breakage.
- Use a detangling spray or conditioner before brushing. This will help to make your hair easier to brush and reduce the risk of breakage.
Discover the Health of Your Hair & Scalp
If you are still concerned about hair loss from brushing, you should talk to your trichologist. We can help you to determine the cause of your hair loss and recommend treatment options with our exclusive ScalpCheck, which gives you an in-depth analysis designed to help determine the health of your hair and scalp.
