Hair Loss vs. Hair Shedding: What’s the Difference (And Why It Matters)

Hair Loss vs. Hair Shedding: What’s the Difference (And Why It Matters)

If you’ve ever looked down at your shower drain, your brush, or your bathroom floor and thought…

“Am I losing all my hair?”

First, take a deep breath. 

As a certified hair loss practitioner and hairstylist, this is one of the biggest fears I hear from women.

And honestly? I understand it personally too.

My own journey with hormonal hair thinning is one of the reasons I became so passionate about scalp health and eventually created Crimson & Amber Scalp + Hair Oil.

But one thing I want every woman to understand:

Hair shedding and hair loss are not always the same thing.

What is normal hair shedding?

Hair naturally moves through different phases:

Growth.
Transition.
Rest.
Shedding.

Shedding is part of a normal, healthy hair cycle.

On average, it’s normal to shed around 50–100 hairs per day.

This is why you may notice more hair on wash day, especially if you go several days between washing or brushing.

Those hairs didn’t all fall out because you washed your hair.

They were already ready to shed.

“I’m scared to brush my hair because more comes out.”

I hear this all the time.

But avoiding your brush doesn’t stop shedding.

The hair that was ready to naturally release will still come out, it may just collect and look scarier when you finally brush or wash.

Your brush isn’t the enemy. 

So what is hair loss?

Hair loss is different because something may be interfering with your normal hair growth cycle.

This can show up as:

• noticeable thinning over time
• widening part line
• less density
• more scalp visibility
• patches of loss
• excessive shedding that continues

Common factors can include:

• hormones
• postpartum changes
• stress
• nutritional deficiencies
• certain health conditions
• scalp concerns
• genetics

Understanding the “why” behind your changes matters.

Why scalp health matters

For years, we’ve been taught to focus on our ends…

The masks.
The conditioners.
The styling products.

But healthy looking hair starts before the strand ever grows.

It starts with the scalp.

Your scalp is skin, and it deserves care too.

Creating a consistent scalp ritual can help support a healthy scalp environment through:

• regular cleansing
• gentle exfoliation
• scalp massage
• nourishing scalp care

Why I created Crimson & Amber:

Crimson & Amber was created because I was that woman too.

The woman wondering why her hair was changing.

The woman searching for answers.

I wanted to create a ritual that helped women slow down, reconnect with themselves, and care for the foundation of their hair.

Because your hair journey shouldn’t be rooted in fear.

It should be rooted in care. 

— Yvette
Founder of YS Beauty Apothecary
Certified Hair Loss Practitioner