Quiz: Discover the Cause of Your Hair Loss

Hair loss can happen for several different reasons: it could be due to hormones, vitamin deficiencies, too much stress, or even skin problems on the scalp.

This test will help you discover the possible reason for your hair loss, but remember: this is only to help you better understand what might be happening; it's not a real diagnosis and does not replace a visit to a dermatologist.

How the Natural Hair Cycle Works

To understand if your hair loss is normal or if there is a real problem that needs attention, you first need to understand how hair naturally functions in our bodies.

Each strand of hair on your head goes through a cycle that repeats itself many times throughout your life, like a wheel that spins endlessly.

This cycle has three different phases, and each one has a specific name and function.

The first stage is called the growth phase, or "anagen phase." During this stage, the hair strand is actively growing, becoming longer and longer.

This is the longest phase of all and can last from 2 to 7 years depending on the person. During this period, the hair strand is firmly attached to the scalp and receives all the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy.

The vast majority of your hair strands, about 85 to 90% of all the hair on your head, are in this growth phase right now. That's why when you cut your hair, it grows back, because those strands are in the active growth phase.

The second stage is called the transition phase, or "catagen phase." This is a short stage that lasts only 2 or 3 weeks. In this phase, the hair stops growing and the follicle, which is like the root of the hair inside the skin, begins to prepare to rest. Less than 1% of your hairs are in this transition phase at any given time.

The third stage is called the resting phase, or "telogen phase." In this stage, the hair strand simply rests and does not grow any more. It remains there for about 3 months. Approximately 10 to 151% of all the strands of your hair are in this resting phase right now.

At the end of these three months of rest, the hair strand falls out naturally to make room for a new strand to begin growing in the same place. It's as if the hair replaces the strand, but keeps the follicle functioning.

Now comes the important part for you to understand your hair loss. If you have between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs on your head, and 10 to 151 of them are in the resting phase about to fall out, this means it's completely normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day.

It may seem like a lot, but when you compare it to the total amount of hair you have, it's only a small percentage.

This number of 50 to 100 strands per day is what doctors consider normal and healthy. It's the natural renewal of hair happening.

But there's an important thing about this normal hair loss that many people don't know. If you wash your hair every day, you'll see fewer strands falling out throughout the day because the strands that were already loose came out during your shower.

On the other hand, if you only wash your hair two or three times a week, on the day you wash it, it will seem like you're losing a lot more hair. But it's not actually falling out more; it's just that the strands that would normally fall out gradually over several days are all coming out at once.

It's like consolidating two or three days' worth of hair loss into a single moment. Therefore, seeing a lot of hair in the shower drain after a few days without washing doesn't necessarily mean you have a problem.

So, when does hair loss become a cause for concern and warrant medical attention? There are some clear signs that indicate something isn't working properly in your hair growth cycle.

If you can easily remove several strands of hair by running your hand through your hair without having to pull or apply force, that's not normal.

If every morning you wake up and consistently find a lot of hair on your pillow, this could be a sign of a problem.

If your brush or comb becomes completely covered in hair after a single pass, far exceeding the normal amount, it warrants investigation.

If your shower drain clogs frequently even if you only wash your hair a few times a week, it could be excessive hair loss.

If you start to notice that your hair is visibly thinning, that you can see more of your scalp in certain areas, or that your ponytail is thinner, this indicates that hair loss is greater than hair growth.

Another important detail is understanding that certain periods in life can temporarily alter this pattern of hair loss.

During pregnancy, for example, many women notice that their hair becomes fuller, more voluminous, and seems to grow faster. This happens because pregnancy hormones cause more hair strands to remain in the growth phase for longer, so fewer strands fall out.

But after the baby is born, these hormones quickly return to normal. Then all those extra hairs that grew during pregnancy enter the resting phase together.

Between 2 and 6 months after giving birth, all of these strands fall out at the same time, giving the impression of a massive and frightening hair loss. But this is temporary and expected, and the hair returns to normal on its own after a few months.

Seasonal changes can also influence hair loss in some people. It's relatively common for some women to notice that they experience more hair loss in the fall, for example.

Highly stressful events for the body also affect the hair cycle. Major surgeries, very high fevers lasting several days, severe infections, or situations of very intense emotional stress can cause a greater number of hairs to enter the resting phase prematurely.

The interesting thing is that you won't see increased hair loss immediately after these events. Increased hair loss will appear about 2 to 3 months later, which is exactly the time it takes for the hair to complete its resting phase and fall out.

That's why it's sometimes difficult to connect the fall with its cause, because so much time has passed.

The good news in all these cases is that, if the hair follicle remains healthy, a new hair will begin to grow in place of the one that fell out. The problem occurs when some condition attacks or permanently damages the follicles.

That's why it's so important to differentiate between temporary hair loss, where the follicle is healthy and will start producing hair again, and a condition that actually impairs the follicle's ability to generate new hair.

Some conditions cause hair to fall out more, but the follicles continue to function perfectly. Other conditions attack the follicles directly and can cause permanent damage if not treated in time.

That's precisely why the duration of your fall is such important information.

Hair loss that started recently, less than three months ago, usually indicates something acute and temporary that has occurred.

Hair loss that lasts between three and six months can be either temporary or the beginning of something more lasting.

Hair loss that persists for more than six months or that you've always had since birth usually points to chronic conditions that require further investigation.