A hair that sheds from the root usually has a small, pale, rounded bulb at one end. A broken hair has no bulb: it has snapped along its length, and the end often looks blunt, frayed or split. Shedding is linked to the hair growth cycle and the scalp, while breakage is usually linked to how the hair is handled, such as heat, chemical treatments, rough brushing and tight styles. A magnified scalp scan helps show which one you have, and sudden heavy shedding or bald patches need a doctor's check.
Two different problems that look the same in the drain
When you see hair in the shower drain, on your pillow or in your brush, it is natural to think you are losing hair. Sometimes you are. But some of those hairs did not come out of the scalp at all. They broke somewhere along their length and the follicle is still growing the rest of the hair.
The difference matters because the causes and the next steps are not the same. Shedding is about the hair growth cycle and the scalp. Breakage is mostly about the condition of the hair you already have and how it is treated day to day.
A simple look at the ends
Collect a few fallen hairs over several days and look at both ends in good light. A shed hair is usually full length and has a small, pale, rounded bulb at the root end. That is normal: hair follicles grow, rest and shed in cycles, so losing some hairs every day is part of how hair renews itself.
A broken hair has no bulb. It is often shorter than your other hairs, and the snapped end may look blunt, frayed or split. If most of what you collect looks like this, your follicles may be fine and the problem is the hair shaft. This home check is only a rough guide, not a diagnosis.
What usually causes breakage
The part of the hair above the scalp is not living tissue, so damage to it does not heal on its own. Common causes are frequent high heat from irons or dryers, bleaching, perms and relaxers, rubbing hair dry with a towel, brushing tangled hair while it is wet, and tight ponytails or elastic bands. Research also shows that strong sun exposure can damage the hair shaft.
Breakage often shows as short, frizzy pieces around the hairline, the parting or the crown, or as many split ends. Gentler habits help: lower heat, fewer chemical treatments at once, a wide-tooth comb for wet hair, patting instead of rubbing, looser styles, and a trim to remove split ends. The new length that grows afterwards then has a better chance of staying in good condition.
When it is shedding, and when to get checked
If what you collect is mostly full-length hairs with a bulb, and more than usual, the cause is at the scalp level. Shedding can rise for a while a few months after a fever, illness, childbirth or a stressful period. Gradual pattern thinning is different again: the hairs in an area slowly become finer, which a magnified scalp scan can show even when you do not notice more hair falling.
At a scalp check we look at the hair shafts and the scalp under magnification, so you can see whether you have broken hairs, finer hairs or both, and we explain the images in plain words. If thinning is the issue, any improvement starts as fine baby hairs, takes months and is judged by matched scans, and results vary with genetics, lifestyle, sleep, diet and how consistently you follow your routine. Sudden heavy shedding, round bald patches, or a sore, red or scaly scalp need a doctor's check first.
Questions
Is it normal to lose some hair every day?
Yes. Hair grows, rests and sheds in cycles, so some daily shedding is normal. What matters is a clear change from your usual amount, or hairs that are broken rather than shed.
Will broken hair grow back?
If the follicle is healthy, it keeps growing new hair from the root, so the broken length is replaced as the hair grows. The damaged part itself does not repair, which is why gentler habits and trims matter.
How do I know if I have both breakage and thinning?
It is common to have some of each. A magnified scalp scan shows the hair shafts and the scalp together, which makes it easier to tell them apart than the mirror alone.
Studies mentioned
These studies looked at ingredients or general approaches. None of them tested our treatments or products, so they are background, not proof.
- Paus R, Cotsarelis G. The biology of hair follicles. N Engl J Med 1999;341(7):491-7.Review. Background on how hair follicles grow, rest and shed in cycles.PubMed 10441606doi:10.1056/NEJM199908123410706
- Sebetić K et al. (2008). UV damage of the hair. Coll Antropol 32 Suppl 2:163-5.Review. Sun exposure is the most frequent cause of structural damage to the hair shaft; UVB degrades hair proteins and UVA changes colour.PubMed 19138021