Key Takeaway
Hair loss looks different depending on the cause. The most common types include androgenetic hair loss, which is influenced by genetics and hormones; telogen shedding, where a lot of hair falls out at once after major stress or childbirth; alopecia areata, which appears as sudden round patches; and traction hair loss, caused by tightly pulled hairstyles.
- If you notice sudden round bald patches, or shedding that doesn't let up over time, talk to a dermatologist
- Telogen shedding often grows back once the trigger passes
- At home, gentle scalp cleansing, looser hairstyles, and less heat and chemical damage are the basics
When you notice more hair falling out than usual, the cause isn't always the same one thing. SKINROUTE breaks down the features of four common types of hair loss, at-home scalp and hair care, and the signals that mean it's time to talk to a dermatologist. This article covers general scalp and hair care information — pinpointing the exact cause of your hair loss is something only a dermatologist can do.
The Hair Growth and Shedding Cycle
Each strand of hair goes through a growing phase (anagen), a short phase where growth stops (catagen), and a resting phase before it falls out (telogen). So losing some hair every day is a normal part of this cycle, and a new hair usually grows in where one fell out.
The issue is when this cycle gets disrupted. Hair follicles can shrink and only produce thin, short hairs; a large number of follicles can shift into the resting phase all at once; follicles can come under attack; or hair can be pulled for long stretches of time — any of these can noticeably increase shedding. The type of hair loss depends on which of these disrupted the cycle.
4 Common Types of Hair Loss
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) lists genetics, childbirth, major stress, and hair-pulling hairstyles among the causes of hair loss. Here are four types that come up often.
1. Androgenetic Hair Loss
This type is influenced by genetics and hormones and is known as the most common form of hair loss. It can affect both men and women, but it looks different between the two. Men often see the hairline recede at the temples or thinning at the crown, while women more often keep their hairline but see their part widen or thinning spread across the crown. Since it progresses gradually, if your part or crown has started looking sparser than before, talk to a dermatologist early.
2. Telogen Shedding
This happens when a large number of hair follicles shift into the resting phase at once, often after major stress, childbirth, a serious illness with high fever, or rapid weight loss. It shows up as noticeably even shedding across the whole scalp a few months after the triggering event, which is why many people are caught off guard and can't immediately connect the two. Heavy postpartum shedding is a common example. It often grows back once the trigger has passed, but if shedding doesn't let up over time, talk to a dermatologist. Stress's effects on skin and scalp are covered in more detail in Stress and Your Skin.
3. Alopecia Areata
The U.S. National Institutes of Health's NIAMS describes alopecia areata as hair loss that happens when the body's immune system attacks hair follicles. It appears as sudden, coin-sized round or oval patches with well-defined edges. It can affect eyebrows, eyelashes, facial hair, and body hair in addition to the scalp, and in rare cases it can spread to the entire scalp or body. It can grow back on its own but may recur, so if you notice a round bald patch, talk to a dermatologist.
4. Traction Hair Loss
This develops from long-term use of hairstyles that pull tightly on hair, like ponytails, braids, updos, and extensions. Thinning usually starts at areas under the most tension, like the hairline at the temples or forehead. Switching to looser hairstyles early on matters most, and if the pulling habit continues for a long time, hair may become harder to grow back.
Hair Loss Types at a Glance
| What It Looks Like | Related Factors | Care Direction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Androgenetic hair loss | Thinning at the temples/crown in men, widening part/crown in women | Genetics and hormones | Talk to a dermatologist early |
| Telogen shedding | Even, heavy shedding across the whole scalp | Major stress, childbirth, serious illness, rapid weight loss | Often grows back once the trigger passes |
| Alopecia areata | Sudden round patches with well-defined edges | Immune system attacking hair follicles | Talk to a dermatologist |
| Traction hair loss | Thinning at the hairline/temples | Tightly pulled hairstyles | Switch to looser hairstyles |
Signals That Mean It's Time to Talk to a Dermatologist
Since the right care direction depends heavily on the type of hair loss, it's better to confirm the cause first rather than trying things on your own. If any of the following applies to you, talk to a dermatologist.
Talk to a Dermatologist If You Notice
- A round bald patch appeared suddenly
- Shedding hasn't let up after several months
- Your part or hairline has visibly widened
- Eyebrows or eyelashes are thinning too
- Your scalp is red, itchy, or stinging
- Shedding has suddenly sped up
At-Home Scalp and Hair Care
At-home care won't bring back hair that's already fallen out — it's about keeping your scalp comfortable and protecting hair from unnecessary breakage and pulling. The AAD lists habits that damage hair, including rubbing hair roughly, using hot styling tools, tight hairstyles, and frequent perming or coloring.
Scalp and Hair Care — Do This, Avoid That
✓ Do
- Shampoo gently, focusing on the scalp
- Apply conditioner mainly to the ends
- Pat hair dry with a towel
- Rotate where you tie your hair, keeping it loose
- Use a low heat setting on your dryer
✕ Avoid
- Tight ponytails or braids
- Frequent use of hot curling irons or dryers
- Frequent coloring, perming, or bleaching
- Rubbing wet hair roughly with a towel
- Scratching your scalp with your nails
Wash Gently
Lather shampoo in your hands first, then apply it to your scalp and massage gently with your fingertips. Scratching with your nails irritates your scalp. Wash more often if your scalp gets oily quickly, and less often if it's dry — adjust based on your scalp's condition. Cleansing methods by scalp type are covered in How to Check Your Scalp Type.
Reduce Heat and Chemical Damage
Lower the temperature on curling irons and dryers, and use them less often. Space out coloring, perming, and bleaching, and avoid stacking several of these at once.
Choose Hairstyles That Don't Pull
Tie your hair loosely, and change up the direction so you're not pulling the same spot every day. Let your hair down while you sleep.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Hair is a tissue your body builds, so it's affected when your diet is out of balance. Don't skip meals, and get enough protein, vegetables, and grains. It's best to avoid rapid weight loss from an aggressive diet.
A Scalp-Friendly Shampoo Routine
- Brush — Gently detangle dry hair before washing
- Wet — Saturate your scalp thoroughly with lukewarm water
- Shampoo — Lather in your hands, then wash your scalp gently with your fingertips
- Rinse — Rinse thoroughly until no lather remains
- Conditioner — Apply from mid-length to ends, then rinse
- Dry — Pat dry with a towel, then use a low heat setting on your dryer
Frequently Asked Questions
How much hair loss counts as a problem?
Losing some hair every day is a normal part of the cycle. If shedding is noticeably heavier than usual, or your part, crown, or hairline looks sparser, or a round bald patch appears, talk to a dermatologist.
Does shampooing often make you lose more hair?
Shampoo frequency alone isn't a strong cause of hair loss. Hair that comes out during a shampoo is often hair that was already due to fall out. That said, scratching with your nails or rubbing roughly does irritate your scalp and hair, so wash gently.
Is it normal to lose a lot of hair after childbirth?
Heavy shedding after childbirth is a common example of telogen shedding. It often grows back over time, but if shedding doesn't let up or a specific area looks noticeably sparser, talk to a dermatologist.
Is there a specific food that's good for hair loss?
No single food prevents hair loss on its own. The basics are not skipping meals and getting a balanced diet of protein, vegetables, and grains — and avoiding rapid weight loss, which can trigger heavy shedding all at once.
Start by Checking Your Daily Habits
Pinpointing the cause of hair loss is a dermatologist's job, but habits like stress, sleep, and diet that also affect your scalp and skin condition are things you can look at yourself. SKIN100 Precision Skin Analysis uses over 100 survey questions to analyze 8 core factors — lifestyle habits, skincare habits, external environment, and more — to flag the habits unsettling your condition. Your AI coach guides you on everyday adjustments based on your results.