The way in which the normal hair growth cycle works means that everyone sheds some of their hair every day. This is totally normal and is nothing to be worried about, unless of course the hair loss is excessive.
To define whether you should be concerned that you have a hair loss condition, it can be useful to know more about the normal hair growth cycle.
Hair growth cycle – key facts:
• Approximately 85- 90 per cent of all your hair is growing at any one time. This hair is in the anagen (growth) phase.
• The anagen phase generally lasts between two and six years, but can be as much as eight
• Hair grows at a rate of around 0.5 inches (1.25cm) per month. This equates to 6 inches (15cm) a year. The speed at which hair grows slows as you age.
• Around 10-15 per cent of your hair follicles are in the resting (telogen) phase at any one time. This phase lasts for one to four months, at the end of which the telogen hairs fall out.
• Normal hair shedding results in the loss of around 50 – 100 hairs a day. Hair should not fall out in clumps; if it does, you should see your GP.
• When a hair falls out, it is replaced by a new hair and the cycle begins again