The short answer: Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. Sudden heavy shedding usually follows a trigger such as childbirth, illness, stress or rapid weight loss, and normally settles within months. Gradual thinning on the top of the head is often female pattern hair loss, which runs in families. Thick, dark hair on the face, chest or tummy (hirsutism) is usually linked to hormones, most often PCOS. Low iron and thyroid problems can also cause hair fall. A doctor can find the cause with simple tests, and treatments can help.
How hair grows, and how much shedding is normal
Each hair on your head goes through its own cycle: a long growing phase that lasts years, a short resting phase, and then shedding, after which a new hair starts growing from the same follicle. Because every hair is at a different stage, you lose some every day without noticing.
The NHS says it is normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. You will notice more on hair-wash days, after oiling and combing, or if you wash your hair only once or twice a week, because the shed hairs collect and come out together. That is not extra hair fall, just hair that was already loose.
What matters is change. A sudden increase in shedding, a widening parting, a thinner plait or new coarse hair on your chin are worth paying attention to.
Sudden heavy shedding: telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium is the medical name for sudden, widespread shedding. A shock to the body pushes many growing hairs into the resting phase at the same time, and they fall out together a few months later. You may see hair all over your pillow, in the drain or in your comb, and your ponytail may feel thinner. The hair loss is spread across the scalp rather than in bald patches.
After childbirth
This is the most common form in young women. During pregnancy, high oestrogen keeps hair in its growing phase, so many women have thicker hair. After birth, oestrogen falls and the extra hair sheds. Cleveland Clinic says shedding usually starts around three months after delivery, should stop within about six months, and hair typically regains its fullness by your baby's first birthday. Our postpartum recovery guide covers the other changes in those months.
Other common triggers
- a high fever or serious illness, such as dengue or typhoid
- surgery or a major physical stress
- severe emotional stress, such as a bereavement or exams
- crash dieting or rapid weight loss, especially with too little protein
- some new medicines
The trigger often happened a few months before the shedding, which is why many women do not connect the two. Once the trigger has passed, the hair usually grows back on its own. Regrowth is slow, so it can take many months to look full again.
Female pattern hair loss
Female pattern hair loss is the most common kind of long-term hair thinning in women. It usually runs in families. Rather than falling out in clumps, hair gradually becomes finer and thinner over the top and sides of the head. Many women first notice a wider parting, more scalp showing under bright light, or a thinner bun. The hairline at the front usually stays in place.
It can start any time after puberty, but becomes more common with age and after menopause. Androgens, the hormones sometimes called "male" hormones that all women make, play a part. That is why it can be more noticeable in women with PCOS, where androgen levels are often higher. Our guide PCOS Explained: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment covers the condition itself.
Unlike telogen effluvium, female pattern hair loss does not settle on its own. Treatment can slow it and sometimes thicken hair.
Other causes of hair fall
Low iron and anaemia
Iron deficiency is a common cause of hair fall in women. It is linked to heavy periods, pregnancy, breastfeeding and diets low in iron. You may also feel tired, breathless or look pale. If your periods are heavy, our guide Heavy Periods: How Much Bleeding Is Too Much? explains when to get checked. Iron-rich foods include dal, rajma, chana, green leafy vegetables, ragi, eggs and meat, and eating vitamin C foods like amla, lemon or guava with them helps absorption. Only take iron tablets if a blood test shows you need them.
Thyroid problems
Both an underactive and an overactive thyroid can cause hair thinning, along with changes in weight, energy and periods. A simple blood test checks for it. Our guide Thyroid and Your Periods explains the symptoms and tests.
Hair care habits
Very tight plaits, buns and ponytails pulled the same way every day, frequent heat styling, and harsh chemical treatments such as straightening, perming or bleaching can damage hair and follicles. Looser styles and gentler care help.
Other medical causes
Some medicines, vitamin deficiencies and conditions that cause round bald patches can also lead to hair loss. A doctor can usually tell the type of hair loss by looking at your scalp.
Excess facial and body hair (hirsutism)
Hirsutism means thick, dark hair growing where men typically have hair: the face, neck, chest, tummy, lower back, buttocks or thighs. It is different from light, fine hair, which is common and usually normal. The NHS notes that many women get more fine hair with age, especially after menopause. Some families and ethnic backgrounds naturally have more body hair, and that alone is not a medical problem.
What causes it
- PCOS. The NHS names it the most common cause. It often comes with acne and irregular periods.
- No obvious cause. Some women have hirsutism with normal hormone levels and regular periods. Their hair follicles may simply be more sensitive to normal androgen levels.
- Certain medicines, including some epilepsy medicines and steroids, including anabolic steroids.
- Rare hormone conditions, such as Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly or a tumour affecting hormone levels.
Hair that appears suddenly and grows quickly, especially with a deepening voice or bigger muscles, needs an urgent check, as it can point to one of these rarer causes.
Quick guide to hair changes
| What you notice | Common causes | What usually helps |
|---|---|---|
| Lots of hair falling all over the scalp, starting suddenly | Telogen effluvium after childbirth, illness, stress or crash dieting | Time, gentle care and treating the trigger; usually settles within months |
| Gradual thinning on top, wider parting | Female pattern hair loss, often with a family history; can be more noticeable with PCOS | Treatment from a doctor, started early |
| Hair fall with tiredness, paleness or heavy periods | Low iron or anaemia | Blood test, then iron if needed and treating heavy periods |
| Hair thinning with weight change, low energy or period changes | Thyroid problems | Blood test and thyroid treatment |
| Thick, dark hair on chin, upper lip, chest or tummy | PCOS most often; sometimes no clear cause | Hormone tests, hair removal and medical treatment |
| Sudden new hair growth with a deeper voice | A rare hormone condition | An urgent doctor's appointment |
Tests and treatments a doctor may suggest
Start with a GP, gynaecologist or dermatologist. You do not need to wait until hair loss is severe.
What happens at the appointment
- Questions about when it started, recent illness, childbirth or stress, your diet, periods, medicines and family history.
- A look at your scalp, sometimes with a gentle pull test to see how many hairs come out, or a magnified view of the scalp.
- Scoring body hair. For hirsutism, doctors may use a chart called the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score to rate hair on different areas of the body.
- Blood tests, which may include haemoglobin and iron levels, thyroid function, vitamin D and B vitamins, and hormones such as testosterone. Occasionally a small scalp biopsy is needed.
Treatments for hair loss
- Treating the cause, such as correcting low iron or a thyroid problem, or waiting for telogen effluvium to settle.
- Minoxidil, a lotion or foam applied to the scalp, is used for female pattern hair loss. It only works while you keep using it, and Cleveland Clinic advises against it during pregnancy, when planning a pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It can irritate the scalp.
- Hormone treatments. For women with PCOS, your doctor may suggest anti-androgen medicines along with the combined pill. The NHS says women should not use finasteride, a medicine used for male baldness.
Most treatments take several months before you see a difference, so give them time before deciding they have failed.
Treatments for excess hair
- The combined pill can lower androgen effects if you have not reached menopause.
- Anti-androgen medicines, such as spironolactone, may be added if the pill and hair removal have not helped enough after about six months.
- Eflornithine cream, a prescription cream that slows facial hair growth.
- Weight loss, if you are overweight, can help control hormone levels.
Anti-androgens are not safe in pregnancy, so your doctor will discuss contraception if you take them.
Hair removal options
Hair removal works alongside medical treatment and is often the quickest way to feel more confident.
- Shaving and trimming: quick and painless. It does not make hair grow back thicker or darker; regrowth just feels stubbly because the hair is cut bluntly.
- Threading and plucking: popular for eyebrows, upper lip and chin. Use clean tools, and avoid plucking ingrown hairs.
- Waxing: lasts a few weeks. Test on a small area first, and avoid it on irritated skin or if you use strong acne creams.
- Hair removal creams and bleaching: do a patch test, as they can irritate sensitive skin.
- Laser and electrolysis: longer-lasting, though not usually permanent. They need several sessions, can be costly, and should be done by a trained professional. The 2023 PCOS guideline says laser and light therapies should be considered for facial hirsutism.
If you remove hair from the bikini area, the skin can feel tender for a day or two. Wash with plain water or a mild intimate wash on the outside only, wear soft cotton underwear and skip waxing on days your skin is irritated.
Hair myths, handled honestly
"Oiling stops hair fall." Oiling and a gentle head massage can feel good and make hair softer and easier to comb. But there is no good evidence that oil stops hormonal hair loss or regrows hair. If you oil, do it gently and wash it out, and do not tug knots out.
"Onion juice regrows hair." Evidence for this is limited to small studies, and it can irritate the scalp. It is not a substitute for finding the cause.
"Shaving makes facial hair thicker." It does not. The hair grows back the same; it only feels coarser because the tip is blunt.
"Biotin or hair gummies will fix it." Supplements help only if you are actually deficient. Get a blood test rather than guessing.
"Washing your hair often makes it fall." Washing removes hairs that had already shed. It does not cause hair loss.
"Expensive clinic packages are the answer." The NHS advises seeing a doctor before going to a commercial hair clinic. Find the cause first.
The emotional side
Hair is closely tied to how many women feel about themselves. Thinning hair or facial hair can affect confidence, relationships and even willingness to go out. These feelings are valid and common, especially with PCOS. Our guide PCOS and Mental Health: Anxiety, Low Mood and Body Image has support ideas. If you feel low most days, talk to your doctor or call Tele-MANAS, the government's free helpline, on 14416.
See a doctor if
- your hair fall has lasted more than six months, or keeps getting worse
- you notice a widening parting or more scalp showing
- you have round bald patches, or a red, scaly, itchy or painful scalp
- hair fall comes with tiredness, breathlessness, heavy periods, or weight and energy changes
- you have thick, dark hair on your face, chest or tummy, especially with irregular periods or acne
- hair loss or hair growth is affecting your confidence or mood
Get an urgent appointment if
Ask for an urgent doctor's appointment if thick, dark hair suddenly starts growing on your face and body, or comes with a deepening voice or bigger muscles. These are rare but need prompt tests.
Frequently asked questions
How much hair fall is normal per day? Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal, according to the NHS. You may see more on wash days.
Does PCOS cause hair fall? It can. Higher androgen levels in PCOS can cause thinning on the top of the head and extra hair on the face and body.
Will my hair grow back after delivery? Usually, yes. Postpartum shedding typically stops within about six months, and hair usually regains its fullness by your baby's first birthday. See a doctor if it continues beyond that.
Can low haemoglobin cause hair fall? Yes. Iron deficiency, with or without anaemia, is a common cause of hair fall in women. A blood test can check.
Is laser hair removal safe for PCOS facial hair? The 2023 PCOS guideline supports laser and light therapies for facial hirsutism. Choose a trained professional, and expect to need several sessions and occasional top-ups.
Can stress cause hair fall? Yes. Severe stress can trigger telogen effluvium, with shedding starting a few months later. It usually settles once the stress eases.
Does threading make hair grow back faster? No. It removes hair from the root, and regrowth follows the hair's normal cycle.
Related reading
- Thyroid and Your Periods: How Thyroid Problems Affect Your Cycle
- The Hormones Behind Your Menstrual Cycle, Phase by Phase
- Long-Term Health Risks of PCOS: Diabetes, Heart Health and More
- Postpartum Recovery: Your First 6 Weeks After Birth
This article is for general information and doesn't replace advice from your doctor.
Sources: NHS: Hair loss, NHS: Excessive hair growth (hirsutism), Cleveland Clinic: Hair loss in women, Cleveland Clinic: Postpartum hair loss, International evidence-based guideline for PCOS (2023), summary