Hair Loss Causes and What You Can Actually Do About Them

A brush full of hair after combing. Hair in the shower drain. Hair on the pillow in the morning. Many people worry about this everyday hair loss – but how do you know when it's normal and when it's a sign you need to act? In this article: an honest guide to hair loss – what's normal, what's a problem, and how to respond depending on the specific cause.

How Much Hair We Lose Every Day – and Why That's Normal

First, let's dispel a myth: losing 50-150 hairs a day is completely normal. It's part of the natural hair growth cycle:

• Anagen (growth phase) — 2-7 years, 85-90% of hairs
• Catagen (transition phase) — 2-3 weeks, 1-2% of hairs
• Telogen (resting phase) — 3 months, 10-15% of hairs
• Exogen (shedding) — the hair falls out and the cycle starts again

The average person has ~100 000 hairs on their head. 100 hairs a day is just 0.1% daily. Perfectly normal.

When Hair Loss Becomes a Problem

There are several signs that things have gone beyond the normal level:

• More than 150 hairs a day (try counting for just one day — you may be surprised)
• You're starting to see scalp where you couldn't before
• There's more hair in your brush year on year
• Bald patches appear in specific areas
• Your hair is noticeably thinning over a few months
• You're losing clumps of hair at once every day

If you notice 2 or more of these signs, it's worth paying attention.

The 8 Most Common Causes of Hair Loss

1. Genetic (Androgenetic) Alopecia

The most common cause among adults:

• Men: ~50% have noticeable thinning by the age of 50
• Women: ~30% by the age of 50

Signs in men: thinning starting at the crown and an "M"-shaped hairline.

Signs in women: general thinning along the central parting.

Solution: this type of hair loss requires medical treatment. Oils and natural products may help a little, but they can't replace it. Talk to a dermatologist about:

• Minoxidil (Rogaine) — the only FDA-approved topical product
• Finasteride (for men) — an oral medication
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections
• Hair transplant (the last resort)

2. Telogen Effluvium (Temporary Stress-Related Shedding)

A common cause that most people don't understand:

• Appears 2-4 months after a period of severe strain
• Triggers: serious illness (e.g. COVID-19), childbirth, psychological trauma, dieting, surgery
• Hairs shift en masse from the growth phase to the resting phase

Signs: general thinning across the whole scalp, usually for 3-6 months.

Solution: this type of hair loss usually resolves on its own within 6-12 months once the underlying cause is removed. Supportive measures:

• Stress management
• A balanced diet
• Enough sleep
• Hair care (gentle shampoo, batana oil)
• Considering oral supplements (iron, biotin, zinc if deficient)

3. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal fluctuations have a strong effect on hair:

• After childbirth — very common shedding (postpartum), recovers within 6-12 months
• Menopause — general thinning due to declining oestrogen
• Thyroid dysfunction — hypo- or hyperthyroidism
• PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)

Solution: the underlying hormonal problem needs treating. Only then will the hair come back.

4. Nutritional Deficiencies

Hair is very sensitive to nutrition:

• Iron deficiency — one of the most common causes in women
• Vitamin D deficiency — especially relevant in Lithuania
• Zinc — important for hair growth
• Biotin (vitamin B7) — popular, but deficiency is rare
• Protein — hair is mostly made of the protein keratin

Solution: a blood test to check what's lacking. A balanced diet and targeted supplements.

5. Physical Damage

Overly harsh hair care habits:

• Tight hairstyles (braids, ponytails) — cause traction alopecia
• Excessive colouring / bleaching
• Too-frequent use of heat styling tools
• Overly vigorous brushing

Solution: reduce the cause. Hair will recover within 3-12 months.

6. Medication Side Effects

Many medications can cause hair loss:

• Contraceptives (some)
• Antidepressants
• Blood thinners
• Acne medication (isotretinoin)
• Chemotherapy (temporary effect)

Solution: never stop medication without your doctor's advice. Ask whether there are alternatives. Hair grows back once the medication is stopped.

7. Scalp Problems

Unhealthy follicles can't grow healthy hair:

• Seborrhoeic dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Folliculitis (inflammation of the follicles)
• Ringworm (a fungal infection)

Solution: see a dermatologist — treatment with specialised products is needed. More on scalp health in our scalp health guide.

8. Ageing

With age:

• Hair follicles naturally shrink
• The growth cycle gets shorter
• Hair becomes finer

This is a natural process that can't be stopped entirely — but good care can slow it down.

How to Identify the Cause at Home

The "Pull Test"

1. Wash your hair as usual, then wait 1 day
2. Take ~50-60 hairs between your fingers
3. Pull gently
4. If more than 5-6 hairs come away in your hand — you may have active shedding

Daily Count

Take a clean white container and set aside 1-2 days. Add the hairs you collect each time: after brushing, after showering, from your pillow, from your clothes. In the evening, count them. More than 150 is worth paying attention to.

The "Six-Month" Test

Think back to how your hair felt in your hand 6 months ago compared with now. Does it feel thinner? It's a simple but effective indicator.

When to See a Doctor

See a dermatologist or trichologist without delay if:

• Shedding has lasted longer than 3-4 months
• Bald patches appear in specific areas
• Shedding comes with skin changes (redness, itching, scaling)
• Shedding occurs at a young age (under 25)
• There's a family history of significant hair loss
• Shedding comes with other symptoms (fatigue, weight loss, menstrual irregularities)

What You Can Realistically Do at Home

Even if the cause isn't serious, you can support your hair:

Optimise Your Diet

• Enough protein (1.2-1.5 g/kg of body weight)
• Iron (red meat, spinach, legumes)
• Omega-3 (fish, flaxseed)
• Vitamin D (sunlight + food, supplements in winter in Lithuania)
• Zinc (seeds, nuts, seafood)

Manage Stress

• Regular sleep (7-9 hours)
• Physical activity
• Meditation or breathing exercises
• Hobbies
• Adaptogens (ashwagandha, rhodiola) — may help; consult your doctor

Hair Care

• Gentle shampoo (sulphate-free)
• Scalp massage (improves circulation)
• Regular scalp oils (batana, castor)
• Avoid overly harsh brushing, colouring and heat styling

Scalp Health

Find out more in our scalp health article. A healthy scalp means healthy hair.

Realistic Results

Cause	Realistic outcome	Timeframe
Stress (telogen effluvium)	Full recovery	6-12 months
Nutritional deficiency	Almost full, if corrected	3-6 months
Postpartum	Full recovery	6-12 months
Genetic alopecia	Halted (not reversed) with treatment	6-12 months for first results
Hormonal	Full, if the underlying problem is treated	6-12 months
Medication	Full after stopping	3-6 months
Ageing	Slowed, not reversed	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Does batana oil really stop hair loss?

Honestly — not directly. Batana oil strengthens the hair structure and reduces breakage, which makes hair look "fuller". But it won't fix genetic hair loss or a deeper underlying cause. As a supporting measure, it's useful. As the only solution, it's not enough.

Do "anti-hair loss" shampoos actually work?

For most of them, the effect is small. Shampoo stays on your hair for ~30-60 seconds — not long enough to reach deep into the follicle. The best "anti-hair loss" products are leave-in serums and topical treatments (minoxidil) that stay on the scalp.

My hairline is starting to recede. What should I do?

In men, it's likely genetic. See a dermatologist as early as possible — minoxidil is very effective in the early stages. In women, a receding hairline may be hormonal or traction alopecia (from braids that are too tight).

How long does a single hair live?

On average 2-7 years, after which it falls out and a new hair grows from the same follicle. Over a lifetime, one follicle "grows" 10-30 hairs.

Does ageing really mean hair loss?

Some thinning — yes, for almost everyone. But a fully receding hairline is down to genetics, not just age. You can inherit genetic alopecia from either your mother or your father (it's a myth that it only comes from your mother's side).

Summary

Hair loss is a complex issue with 8+ possible causes. The key rules: 50-150 hairs a day is normal; more than that, or visible changes on your scalp, deserves attention. Identify the type: genetic (gradual, patterned), telogen effluvium (after stress, diffuse), hormonal (after childbirth or menopause), nutritional (gradual, with other symptoms). Realistic expectations: most types of hair loss recover or can be halted once the underlying cause is addressed. Oils (such as batana) are a supporting, not a primary, solution. Find out more about a healthy scalp in our scalp health guide.