How much breakage is considered normal?

[Evolving78]

I am replying to this thread again and I get about 5-15 daily and I don't know on wash day. Now I keep my hair braided up.

 

[almond eyes]

It is normal to have shed hair about 50-100 strands daily (remember most people have 100,000 to 60,000 strands on their hair and new ones sprout up every month depending on your growth cycle) is no cause for alarm especially if you are washing your hair once a week. Hair is supposed to shed. If you see white bulbs that is breakage and also if the comb is full of hair that's not a good sign (however for women with lots of longer hair that could be normal to have enough shed hair to fit in your palm but not on a daily basis) but little hairs here and there is quite normal. I wet my hair daily in the shower and I see about 5 to 10 little small hairs and it doesn't bother me at all. I have to detangle on a more regular basis because of the way my curls are bent.

Best,
Almond Eyes

 

[havilland]

It is normal to have shed hair about 50-100 strands daily (remember most people have 100,000 to 60,000 strands on their hair and new ones sprout up every month depending on your growth cycle) is no cause for alarm especially if you are washing your hair once a week. Hair is supposed to shed. If you see white bulbs that is breakage and also if the comb is full of hair that's not a good sign (however for women with lots of longer hair that could be normal to have enough shed hair to fit in your palm but not on a daily basis) but little hairs here and there is quite normal. I wet my hair daily in the shower and I see about 5 to 10 little small hairs and it doesn't bother me at all. I have to detangle on a more regular basis because of the way my curls are bent. Best, Almond Eyes

I thought white bulbs was shed hair and little hairs without the bulb was broken hair.

My hair sheds long strands with white bulbs daily. Probably 20-50 a day. When I see small hairs, I do a protein treatment. For me,that's an indicator of breakage.

Now that my hair is healthy I see more shed hairs (because of the length of the strands) and I see less small "broken" hairs because of the health of the hair. My hair is stronger now.

 

[lux10023]

good question....i notice about 10-15 strands daily....my hair is so dense you wouldnt notice but i examine the hairs lolol

long strands shedding..... short strands on my bsl hair would indicate breakage....

 

[almond eyes]

I thought white bulbs was shed hair and little hairs without the bulb was broken hair.

My hair sheds long strands with white bulbs daily. Probably 20-50 a day. When I see small hairs, I do a protein treatment. For me,that's an indicator of breakage.

Now that my hair is healthy I see more shed hairs (because of the length of the strands) and I see less small "broken" hairs because of the health of the hair. My hair is stronger now.

You could be right but I thought the bulbs meant broken hair. But yes it depends really on the length of your hair if you have longer hair the smaller hairs could mean something to think about but if you are still twa then small hairs especially just a tiny bit is fine nothing to panic about because your hair isn't that long.

Best,
Almond Eyes

 

[havilland]

http://blackgirllonghair.com/2011/12/the-difference-between-shedding-and-breakage/

Here's an article that can "shed" some light. Lol

 

[ms-gg]

Yeah, breakage doesn't have a bulb unless it is heat damage then allegedly it can have a white dot on it from the breakage. But shed hairs have a white bulb from the root tip being removed from the last growth stage...

 

[CodeRed]

I agree with havilland and ms-gg - since my hair has become healthier, I see pretty much only shed hairs (long with the little white bulb at the end). The little white bulb at the end is usually at the part that came from the root. I know this because I am relaxed and when my hair grows out it's curly at the root.

As for breakage, I don't really see that anymore. I have a hair catcher and over the past year or so, between it and blow drying, I typically have about a quarter size amount of hair that comes out on wash day. I pulled a lot of them out of the hair catcher one day to see how long they were and most of them (like 95%) were long hairs (shed) as with when I examined the ones that were on the floor/carpet from blow drying. Even when I comb my dry hair daily, only a few shed hairs come out (5 - 10, sometimes none). I'm pretty happy

 

[almond eyes]

I always confuse the difference between hair loss and hair breakage. I understand but none the less you don't want too much of those white bulbs coming out of your hair either because that could mean potential baldness.

Best,
Almond Eyes

 

[havilland]

I always confuse the difference between hair loss and hair breakage. I understand but none the less you don't want too much of those white bulbs coming out of your hair either because that could mean potential baldness. Best, Almond Eyes

True. Very true.

I suggest tracking shed hair for a few
Months so you know what is normal for you. I did this once based on a kimmaytube video I saw and it helped me stop obsessing about my shed hairs. Now I know for a fact what is normal and what is excess.

Also taking pictures helps so you can see any changes that may be cause for alarm.

 

[PlainJane]

I can always tell the difference between my breakage and shedding because I'm transitioning so straight strands equals breakage and strands with a curl at the end are usually shed hairs.

I need to reassess my hair's health because compared to you all, I get A LOT of breakage.

 

[BeautyBlvd]

Are you guys seriously going through all the hair on wash day to see what's shed and what's broken? Seems like a lot.

 

[CodeRed]

I always confuse the difference between hair loss and hair breakage. I understand but none the less you don't want too much of those white bulbs coming out of your hair either because that could mean potential baldness.

Best,
Almond Eyes

True, but since we're supposed to lose 50 - 150 of those hairs every day, and I'm only loosing (that I notice) 20 - 30 daily, I'm now almost worried my hair isn't on it's proper cycle