8 Totally Normal (But Surprising) Reasons You're Shedding More Hair

While everyone sheds hair daily, it can be alarming when you find an extra-thick clump of hair stuck in your brush or circling the shower drain. So how do you know when the amount is “normal” and what’s causing it?

Though it varies from person to person, men and women generally lose about 50 to 100 hairs per day.

“We have over 100,000 [hair] follicles on our heads, and hair is in stages of growth or resting,” Penny James , a board-certified trichologist at the Penny James Trichology Center, told HuffPost.

The last stage of the hair growth cycle is when hair sheds, making room for new hair. This cycle continues unless there is some sort of imbalance, which can change the amount of hair you’re losing.

“When suddenly you are finding hair on the pillow … or in the shower drain, and it’s [more than you normally see], then that’s excessive,” said Dr. Joyce Davis , a board-certified dermatologist in New York.

We talked to experts about common (yet surprising) reasons you may be shedding more hair than usual — and what you can do about it.

You’re not getting enough nutrients.

If you’re lacking nutrients (including iron, zinc, fatty acids, vitamin D and some B vitamins), you could be shedding more hair, according to Dr. Danilo C. Del Campo , a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago.

“These nutrients play crucial roles in maintaining hair follicle health and supporting hair growth cycles,” he explained.

Davis recommended consuming two animal sources of protein a day (such as eggs, fish, chicken or dairy products) because they contain all the essential amino acids. She also suggested a multivitamin with iron. If you have dietary restrictions or suspect you may have nutritional deficiencies, schedule an appointment with a