Can Brushing Cause More Hair Loss?
“I’m afraid to brush my hair because I might lose more of it!”
The number one issue I treat is hair loss, more than any other condition of the hair or scalp. Hair loss affects more than 80 million Americans and the numbers are growing. It can be devastating, robbing people of their self-confidence and sometimes of a full life. Hair loss is often accompanied by fear; fear of losing more hair or all of your hair. Consequently, people to turn to the internet for answers of how to hang on to the hair they still have. There’s a lot of good information on the internet, but there is also a lot of misinformation. Out of desperation, people often come up with their own ideas of what to do with no scientific basis behind them. Sometimes this can do more harm than good and make the problem worse. So, let’s talk about two of the most common things I hear from clients who are experiencing hair loss and clear up what is true and false. First, I hear you shouldn’t brush your hair because it will pull out more hair. Second, you shouldn’t shampoo too often because it will make more hair fall out.
Let’s start with the facts.
People are born with 90,000 to 120,000 hairs on their head on average. Blondes have the most. Redheads have the least. Brown and black hair are somewhere in the middle. You can expect to lose anywhere between to 50 to 100 hairs per day. If you’re losing significantly more hair, you might see it in your brush, around the shower drain or on your pillow case. You might notice your ponytail is getting thinner, your hairline is receding, your part is getting wider, or you begin to see your scalp through your hairstyle. This is when you should seek the help of a Certified Trichologist, a specialist in disorders of hair and scalp. They can help determine the cause of hair loss and put you on a treatment plan.
However, people often take matters into their own hands. They stop brushing their hair because they don’t like what they see…hair in the brush! So, they don’t brush for two to three days, and when they finally do, they have accumulated three to four times the amount of hair they would have if they had brushed every day. Then panic sets in. They stop washing their hair, hoping this will keep more hairs from falling out. This can lead to other problems, such as an oily scalp, dandruff, inflammation, folliculitis, to name a few. What they need to know is, hairs that are coming out are coming out! They have already detached from the dermal papilla and they will be shed. Internal factors such as illness, hormones, medications, thyroid issues, can cause hair to shed sooner than normal and in greater quantity. NOT brushing and NOT shampooing will NOT change that.
Brushing your hair is a good thing.
Not only does brushing detangle your hair and keep it from knotting or matting, it stimulates blood flow to the scalp which provides nourishment to the follicles. It also distributes sebum, our body’s natural oil, to the hair strand. This lubricates the hair, keeping it pliable, shiny, and it creates a layer of protection for the hair. Of course, you never want to overdo anything, but I recommend brushing your hair daily. Brush gently with a brush that is flexible and has soft bristles or rounded tips. Remember, brushing is a good thing and will not change whether or not your hair is going to come out.
As for shampooing, scalp hygiene is very important. You want to create the healthiest environment for hair to grow. People wash their faces daily and bathe or shower regularly. You want to do the same with your scalp. The purpose of this to remove pollutants, product build up, and most important- bacteria! Bacteria lives all over our bodies, including on our scalps. It feeds on oil. As bacteria grows, more problems can develop. My recommendation is, if your scalp is normal, you should cleanse your scalp every one to two days. If it is dry, you might be able to shampoo every second or or third day…but that is the max! If your scalp is oily, you need to shampoo daily. If you are experiencing hair loss it especially important to use products with high quality ingredients that address your specific scalp issues. I can’t emphasize this strongly enough. As for dry shampoos, they are not a substitute for shampoo and should only be used in an emergency, if at all. Don’t make them a habit!
Hair loss can be scary. If you are experiencing shedding or any other type of hair loss, it is understandable that you want to hang on to every hair. Just remember, there a great benefits to brushing your hair and keeping your scalp clean. To learn more about what’s causing your hair loss, visit a Certified Trichologist. I see clients in my clinic. Virtual appointments are also available. Click here to schedule a consultation: