Have you ever noticed more hair in your brush or hair clogging in your drain and wondered if it was normal? You’re not alone. Many teenagers experience excessive hair shedding, but very few talk about it. Researchers from Tsinghua University (known for researching), located in Beijing China, surveyed 4,000 students with questions about the frequency of hair loss, stress levels, etc. They found that 60% of the participants were losing a significant amount of hair. They concluded from the results that students who have mathematics, science, and automotive engineering are less likely to have it than other students. Before you panic, it is important to know that everyday hair shedding is normal. On average, people shed 50-100 hairs a day as a part of their daily hair cycle. However, if you notice more hair shedding on your brush or in your drain, that is something you should consider looking into.
School pressure, social life, and peer pressure can affect your body, including your hair. Stress can put your hair follicles in the resting phase, leading to excessive shedding. There has been a report that Millennials and Generation Z are experiencing higher stress levels than older generations. A dermatologist named Dr. Andrea Hui in San Francisco has been observing patients as young as 18 seeking help for hair thinning. Other hairstylists have also been observing young patients seeking help.
Additionally, your hair needs nutrients like proteins, biotin, etc, and vitamins to grow strong. Eating lots of junk food, sugar, and having a highly processed food diet can impact it. A diet that lacks those nutrients or skipping meals can contribute to hair loss. Having a balanced diet plays a crucial role in having healthy hair.
Teenager’s years are full of hormonal shifts that can potentially affect hair growth such as puberty, birth control, etc. Teenagers tend to start using excessive heat tools and tight hairstyles (such as braids, and ponytails) which can lead to breakage and shedding. Personally, I used excessive heat on my hair for years, which led to severe breakage and excessive shedding. Repeatedly using flat irons weakened my hair strands and was very prone to snapping. Over time, I noticed thinning and shedding dramatically. I decided to cut my hair and focus on health over beauty. It’s never too late to focus on healthier styling methods to prevent further breakage to help your hair recover.
After experiencing excessive shedding firsthand, I knew I had to make changes. Through my research I found several effective ways to reduce shedding and overall improve hair health. By making adjustments to my routine, I was able to see some differences. Here are some methods I found through my research and methods I used that can help minimize hair shedding and strengthen strands for those facing a similar experience.
Rough detangling is one of the most common causes of shedding and breakage. The way you handle your hair plays a huge role and people don’t realize it. Using a wide tooth comb or finger to gently work your way through the knots, and detangling on a damp conditioning hair makes it less prone to breakage.
Dry, and brittle hair is more likely to break, leading to more shedding. Properly moisturizing your hair is key to maintaining strong hair strands. Using good products such as ´The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum´ can help with excessive hair shedding as well.
Overall, reducing hair shedding will require lots of consistency and patience. But with the right routine, it’s possible to get your hair back healthy again, minimizing breakage. By being gentle with your hair, keeping it moisturized, limiting heat usage, and maintaining a healthy diet can significantly improve your hair’s health.
