Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. Heavier hair fall in women usually has a cause you can find: childbirth, stress or illness, a crash diet, low iron or protein, thyroid problems, hormonal changes, or very tight hairstyles. Many of these are temporary, and hair often grows back once the cause is dealt with.
How much hair fall is normal?
“Baal bahut jhad rahe hain” is one of the first worries women share with us. The NHS says we can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, often without noticing. It is time to look more closely if you notice:
- Clumps of hair on your pillow, in the shower drain or in your comb.
- A wider parting, or more scalp showing at the crown.
- A smaller, thinner choti or bun than before.
- Round bald patches, or hair breaking along the hairline.
Common causes of hair fall in women
After delivery, illness or stress
A few months after giving birth, an illness, high fever, an operation or a very stressful time, many women see far more hair in their brush. The American Academy of Dermatology says that once the stress stops, the shedding stops, and most people see their hair regain normal fullness within 6 to 9 months.
After childbirth, shedding usually peaks about four months after the birth, because oestrogen levels fall, and most women’s hair is back to normal by their baby’s first birthday. If it isn’t, see a dermatologist.
Low iron, protein or other nutrients, and crash diets
Not getting enough iron, protein, zinc or biotin can cause noticeable hair loss, and the NHS lists weight loss among the temporary causes. Iron can run low after pregnancy or with heavy periods. Hair usually recovers when the body gets enough of the missing nutrient.
Thyroid problems
Thyroid disease can cause thinning hair, and treating the thyroid can reverse it. If you also feel tired, cold or are gaining weight, ask your doctor for a thyroid test. Our thyroid guide explains how exercise fits alongside treatment.
PCOS, perimenopause and menopause
Hormonal changes can thin the hair. The American Academy of Dermatology lists PCOS as a cause of hair loss in women, and the NHS includes hair loss among perimenopause and menopause symptoms. See our PCOS guide and perimenopause guide.
Hereditary thinning
Female pattern hair loss runs in families and is the most common long-term cause. It usually shows as a gradually wider parting. It is permanent, but treatment from a dermatologist can help slow it, so get advice early.
Tight hairstyles and harsh treatments
A tight bun or choti every day, especially when hair is wet, keeps pulling on the roots. Over years, that pulling can cause permanent hair loss. Colouring, perming, relaxing and other chemical treatments can damage the hair and, if they damage the follicle, hair cannot grow back from it.
What helps at home
- Eat protein at every meal: dal, rajma, chana, paneer, curd, eggs, fish or chicken if you eat them.
- Include iron-rich foods: green leafy sabzi, chana, rajma, til, dates, and vitamin C (lemon, amla, fruit) with meals.
- No crash diets. Steady weight loss is kinder to your hair.
- Look after stress and sleep. Our stress guide has a 15-minute daily reset.
- Wear your hair loosely, change your parting and hairstyle, and don’t tie it up wet.
- Be gentle: a wide-tooth comb, less heat styling, and fewer chemical treatments.
- Don’t megadose supplements. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that too much vitamin A or selenium can cause hair loss. Take supplements only if a blood test shows you need them.
If you are a new mom
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests:
- A volumising shampoo, and a light conditioner on the ends of your hair rather than the scalp.
- A shorter haircut, which can make hair look fuller while it recovers.
- Avoiding tight hairstyles.
- Checking your baby’s fingers and toes: shed hairs can wrap tightly around them. Remove gently, and get medical help if a hair is wound too tightly.
When to see a doctor or dermatologist
- Your hair is falling in clumps, or you see bald patches or a fast-widening parting.
- Shedding after childbirth hasn’t settled by your baby’s first birthday.
- You also feel very tired, cold, breathless or notice weight changes, which may point to low iron or thyroid problems.
- You have irregular periods, acne or extra facial hair, which can go with PCOS.
- Your scalp is itchy, red, scaly or painful.
The NHS advises seeing a doctor if you are worried about hair loss, and before paying for treatment at a private hair clinic. A doctor can check your iron and thyroid levels and discuss medical treatments; no treatment works for everyone, so be wary of anyone promising guaranteed regrowth.
How FunDa helps
Dr. Jyoti’s Superwoman Skin & Hair Transformation program works on the everyday habits that support healthy hair: protein- and iron-rich meals from your own kitchen, steady weight loss instead of crash diets, sleep and stress routines, and a live face yoga, skin and hair session with Dr. Jyoti every week. It does not diagnose or treat hair or scalp conditions, so keep your doctor or dermatologist involved, and results vary from person to person. Face yoga is part of the program too: see our face yoga guide.