Explainer
Shedding or hair loss? How to tell the difference
Losing some hair every day is part of the normal hair cycle. Here is what published sources say about when it may be something more.
Hair, explained from the root.
Below the surface is where the real questions start.
Honest answers on hair, with sources you can check, in your language.
Take the Hair CheckIllustration. Not to scale.
Issue 01 · November 2026
What's new in hair tech, without the hype.
Explainer
The hair cycle, explained
Every hair on your scalp grows, pauses and rests on its own schedule. Knowing the three phases makes daily hair fall easier to understand.
Explainer
Hair fall after stress, illness or childbirth
A big event can show up in your hairbrush months later. Here is what published sources say about why, and how long it tends to last.
Explainer
Pattern hair loss, explained
Hereditary hair loss is common in both men and women. Here is how published sources describe it, and the options the NHS lists.
Anatomy of a hair
Scroll down one strand. Every label names the published source it comes from.
Cuticle
Source
StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). Physiology, Hair. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
Hair shaft
Source
StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). Physiology, Hair. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
Arrector pili muscle
Source
StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). Anatomy, Skin, Hair Follicle. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
Sebaceous gland
Source
StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). Anatomy, Skin, Hair Follicle. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
Hair follicle
Source
StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). Anatomy, Skin, Hair Follicle. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
Hair bulb
Source
StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). Histology, Hair and Follicle. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
Dermal papilla
Source
StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). Histology, Hair and Follicle. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
The hair cycle
-
Anagen (growth phase)
2 to 6 years on the scalp
Source
DermNet. Male pattern hair loss. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
-
Catagen (transition phase)
1 to 2 weeks
Source
DermNet. Male pattern hair loss. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
-
Telogen (resting phase)
about 3 to 4 months
Source
DermNet. Telogen effluvium. accessed 27 Oct 2026.
Illustration. Not to scale.
Two minutes. Eight questions. A clearer picture.
An educational self-check, not a diagnosis. For a diagnosis, see a doctor.
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- 01New TechFirst stories coming soon
- 02Causes4 stories
- 03Treatments1 story
- 04Products & IngredientsFirst stories coming soon
- 05Cost GuidesFirst stories coming soon
- 06MythsFirst stories coming soon
- 07Lifestyle2 stories
- 08Women2 stories
- 09Men1 story
Ask Rambut
Send us a question about hair. The Rambut editorial team answers with published sources. We are editors, not doctors, so we never diagnose.
Example question
Is it normal to find hair on my pillow every morning?
Usually, yes. The NHS says we can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, often without noticing.1 Those hairs have finished their resting phase and are being replaced.2 If you are worried about your hair loss, the NHS advises seeing a GP.1
Sources
- NHS. Hair loss, Page last reviewed 24 January 2024. accessed 27 Oct 2026
- DermNet. Telogen effluvium. accessed 27 Oct 2026
Urgent or worrying symptoms? Please see a doctor.
Latest stories
Explainer
Shedding or hair loss? How to tell the difference
Losing some hair every day is part of the normal hair cycle. Here is what published sources say about when it may be something more.
Explainer
The hair cycle, explained
Every hair on your scalp grows, pauses and rests on its own schedule. Knowing the three phases makes daily hair fall easier to understand.
Explainer
Hair fall after stress, illness or childbirth
A big event can show up in your hairbrush months later. Here is what published sources say about why, and how long it tends to last.
Explainer
Pattern hair loss, explained
Hereditary hair loss is common in both men and women. Here is how published sources describe it, and the options the NHS lists.
The Strand. One honest email a month.
Questions about rambut.hair
Is this site selling me something?
We are owned by a hair-care group and say so on every page. Articles never recommend a product inside the story; our own brands appear only in a labelled box.
Who writes these articles?
The Rambut editorial team. We are not doctors. Every factual claim names a published source, and our editorial standards page explains how we choose them.
Can the Hair Check tell me what I have?
No. It is educational. Only a doctor can diagnose.
Are the cost figures real?
Cost guides show sourced ranges with dates, or say clearly when no public figure exists.