BEARD SHEDDING: IS IT REAL AND WHAT IS CAUSING IT?

Here's why your beard is shedding more than ever...

Yes, beard shedding is actually a thing, and it does indeed occur in the vast majority of men who have facial fuzz.  Losing facial hair can actually be quite concerning for many men who take immense pride in their beards, but fear not, it's not as bad as it sounds...

Beard shedding is the natural part of growing a beard. It's perfectly normal to shed around 25-50 hairs a day. The average man has about 30k facial hairs, so losing a few here and there really isn't that big of a deal.

Touching your beard, excessive brushing, shampooing, and blow drying can increase the amount of hair loss, but in most cases, beard shedding is a temporary phase which occurs during a certain time of the year. 

What Are The Causes of Beard Shedding? 

Hair shedding, be in on the face or any other part of the body, is due to the entering of the shedding cycle. We have growth cycles and shedding cycles, which is very much connected to seasonal hair loss.

Once our hairs go into the shedding phase, which is temporary, the hairs fall out, and make way for a new batch that come in at the next growth cycle. 

Another reason for beard shedding could be down to hormones. Beard growth is fuelled by male hormones and testosterone, and lower levels may cause beard loss. Getting too little vitamins and minerals in the diet can cause some beard shedding. 

Facial hair, as well as scalp hair, can be lost due to chronic stress. Stress can play a key factor in excessive hair shedding, as is a very common type of hair loss in both men and women. 

How Long Does Beard Shedding Last For?

The shedding period's timescale really depends on what is causing the hair to fall out. If it's stress-related, then the shedding will likely last for the whole duration of the time that the person is stressed for, but if the shedding is down to seasonal hair loss, then it usually lasts for anything between 1-3 months.  

The follicle will remain active for about 3 months and there will a brand new shiny hair coming right behind it! The process then repeats itself every year. The most common time of year for hair shedding is autumn season, from early September onwards.  

How To Prevent Beard Shedding 

Hairs can fall out during brushing, washing, styling, or from doing exercise. To minimise shedding, include an effective conditioner such as beard oil or beard dry oil (beard balm) into your routine and make sure that you are grooming your beard with a high quality comb or brush.

Be gentle with your brushing, and try to avoid brushing wet hair. Be extra careful during the autumn months, as this is usually the peak shedding season. Also, take a good multivitamin hair supplement like HR23+, as these types of nutrients, minerals and vitamins can only benefit your hairs, aiding in hair loss prevention and supporting healthy hair growth. 

If you are trying to prevent hair loss on the scalp, then the same rules apply. 

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HOW TO PREVENT SEASONAL HAIR LOSS THIS AUTUMN

Many men experience severe hair loss as autumn begins to kick in, so we ask: what is seasonal shedding and how can it be prevented? 

Hair shedding often occurs in autumn season, but it doesn't usually last longer than a couple of months. It's normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. When the body sheds significantly more hairs every day, a person has excessive hair shedding. The medical term for this condition is telogen effluvium.

Seasonal hair loss is actually very common, and research suggests that most of us have slightly higher rates of telogen during the month of July. Telogen is known as a resting phase for the hair follicle, which means that the hair is extra prone to shedding and falling out. The second most common time for shedding is during the month of October.

What is a normal rate of shedding?

Most people have about 100,000 hairs on their heads and lose around 100 to 125 hairs per day. This amount can increase substantially during the phase of shedding.

One can lose up to five times the amount of hair in the peak of shedding phase, therefore the process should be very noticeable.

How can shedding be stopped? 

Luckily, the shedding process is not permanent, and so after 6-8 weeks your hair should go back to its normal state.  Unfortunately for hair loss sufferers (male pattern baldness), hair shedding can be quite damaging, and in many cases the amount of hairs lost are not retrievable.

Men who are going through any form of alopecia should take the right steps to try and prevent the rate of hair fall and increase the rate of hair growth.

What treatments can I use for shedding? 

Hair shedding can be treated with a number of different options.  A good hair care routine should be an essential part of your autumn grooming plan, so be prepared to add a few products to your current routine.

Multi-vitamin hair supplements like Viviscal, Nutrafol and HR23+ are excellent treatments to use all year round, but especially during shedding season. They offer your hair all the right nutrients and minerals for better hair growth and less hair fall.

Hair thickening shampoos and conditioners may sound great, but they tend to be ineffective.  However, the topical solution minoxidil could be worth considering if you are willing to risk the potential side-effects.

When will I experience the most hair growth?

Humans are much like animals in so many aspects of life, and hair loss is no exception. In a similar fashion to animals and their fur, we tend to experience the best rate of hair growth throughout the colder months of the year, to keep us warm.

This is why many of us tend to shed more during the hotter period of the year, in order to keep cool.

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