There are many reasons why women lose their hair, each accompanied with its own set of symptoms and hair loss patterns. For women, it isn’t always as easy to spot hair loss as it is for men. Many women wear their hair long, and in a variety of styles which hide bald patches until you go looking for them. So, how can you tell if you’re suffering from hair loss and thinning hair? Here are 4 signs you might be losing your hair.

1. More Hair on Your Brush: One way you can tell that you’re losing more hair than normal is the amount of hairs which accumulate on your hair brush. Most women can brush their hair for about a week before the buildup on the brush becomes noticeable and needs to be removed. If you are noticing more hair collecting between brush bristles than normal and you need to clean your brush twice or more each week, it could be a sign that your hair is falling out at a quicker rate.

 

2. The Shower Floor: Perhaps the most telling sign of hair loss is the shower floor. This is because most shower floors or bathtubs are white, making the hair more noticeable as it sticks to the sides and bottom of the shower. It’s normal for women to lose upwards of 100 hairs each day, but this is expected throughout the course of the day. If you notice a large amount of hair washing down the shower drain regularly, it could be an indicator that you’re losing more hair than is normal.

 

3. Receding Hairline: Sometimes hair loss becomes noticeable in women when they pull their hair back from their faces. Women who wear their hair down may not notice as quickly that the hair line is receding. When you pull your hair back into a ponytail or bun, you may notice that the line where your hair meets your forehead and temples has crept backward.

 

4. Bald Spots: Finally, the most noticeable of signs you’re losing your hair are bald spots. Unfortunately, these won’t always be visible to you, since you’re likely not checking the back or top of your scalp regularly. Your hairdresser may notice, however, and point it out to you.

 

While most cases of hair loss are due to a harmless or containable cause, it can sometimes be a symptom of a larger disorder or illness. Seeking early treatment is the best way to reduce further loss and maintain the hair you have left.