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Curly Hair Shedding: Causes, Prevention, and Tips (2024)

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Do you have curly hair and are worried about excessive shedding? Shedding is normal, however, when it becomes excessive, it can be a cause for concern. It’s especially more common with curly-haired gals because we don’t wash or brush our hair as often as people with straight hair.

So, what causes this extra shed, and how can you prevent that from happening? Excessive shedding in curls could be caused by multiple factors, including hormones, environmental changes, nutrient deficiency, or even stress.

To help lessen the amount of hairs lost while styling your locks, there are some simple steps to follow, such as clarifying and conditioning regularly along with using low heat tools whenever possible.

You should also look out for certain ingredients like hyaluronic acid in conditioners, which will help keep those strands healthy! If all else fails, try switching up your routine – silk pillowcases may do wonders to reduce friction during sleep; stretching the dampened tresses before drying helps too!

Keeping all these tips in mind will ensure that curly hair shedding doesn’t become an overly concerning issue anymore!

Key Takeaways

does curly hair shed more

  • Shedding in curly hair can be caused by hormones, environmental changes, nutrient deficiencies, or stress.
  • To reduce shedding, it is important to clarify and condition regularly, use low-heat tools, and look for certain ingredients like hyaluronic acid in conditioners.
  • Shedding is a normal part of the exogen phase of hair growth, while hair loss means something is preventing natural processes from occurring properly.
  • Contributing factors to excessive shedding in curly hair include nutrient deficiencies, stress, and heat treatments, but using methods like nutrient-rich sources, low-heat styling devices, and protective styling can help improve hair health and reduce shedding.

Shedding Vs. Hair Loss

Shedding Vs. Hair Loss
Knowing the difference between shedding and hair loss can help you avoid an emotional roller coaster of worry as you care for your locks.

Shedding is a normal part of the exogen phase of hair growth that occurs when old hairs are pushed out from their follicles to make way for new ones.

Hair loss, on the other hand, means something is preventing these natural processes from occurring properly.

Seasonality and hormones can affect how much we shed, while environmental elements and stressors like changing hairstyles or treatments, and hereditary factors may contribute to excessive causes beyond what’s considered normal shedding patterns in different types of hair.

Curly-haired individuals tend to be more prone to excessive shedding due to improper care habits such as infrequent washing or brushing.

To reduce shedding even further, it’s important to pre-poo treat regularly with biotin, vitamins A & C, and essential nutrients like iron and zinc, while using low heat devices instead of high heat styling tools.

High heat styling tools could lead to severe damage resulting in thinning strands over time due to breakage caused by excessive drying times associated with some blow dryers and straightening irons, ultimately resulting in gradual balding if proper precautions are not taken beforehand.

What Causes Excessive Shedding in Curly Hair?

What Causes Excessive Shedding in Curly Hair?
You may be wondering why curly hair seems to shed more than other types of hair. The answer is a combination of seasonality and hormones, environmental and hereditary factors, nutrient deficiency, and stress.

Seasonal changes in temperature can cause increased shedding due to fluctuations in hormone levels. Pollutants or products used on the scalp could also contribute to excessive shedding. Nutrient deficiencies, such as low iron intake, can lead to weakened strands that are prone to breakage or falling out easily.

Likewise, stress is known for affecting hormones, which ultimately results in an uptick of hairs falling from the scalp each day.

Seasonality and Hormones

Feel the effects of seasonality and hormones with your locks. Changes in these could cause more shedding than usual. Seasonal patterns can influence hair growth due to environmental factors, such as cold weather causing scalp buildup or dry air leading to brittle strands.

Hormonal changes like pregnancy, menopause, or a spike in cortisol hormone levels can also impact how often we shed. Nutrient intake is essential for healthy hair growth, and maintaining proper stress levels helps keep keratin protein production at its peak.

Environmental and Hereditary Factors

Aside from hormonal or seasonal shifts, environmental and hereditary factors can also contribute to excessive shedding. Nutrient deficiency is a major cause of hair loss in curly-haired individuals. This occurs when the body doesn’t get enough vitamins A, C, iron, and zinc for healthy hair growth.

Additionally, stress causes cortisol hormone levels to spike, which can lead to more intense shedding than usual on a daily basis.

Nutrient Deficiency

You may be experiencing excessive shedding due to nutrient deficiency, such as a lack of vitamins A and C, iron, or zinc. Symptoms include dullness in the hair’s appearance and texture, as well as noticeable thinning.

Nutrient sources like biotin supplements can help replenish these nutrients in your body, which will improve overall hair health.

For curly-haired individuals, look out for product ingredients like hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, rosemary oil, caffeine, shea butter, and argan oil.

Stress

Stress can cause your tresses to unravel like a loose thread, leading to excessive shedding. It’s important for curly girls to recognize the signs of stress and take steps towards managing it. Coping tips such as lifestyle changes, hot oil massages, or even just taking time out for yourself are great ways to manage mental health issues that could be causing hair loss.

Fantastic B vitamins may also help restore lost nutrients in order to prevent excess shedding and promote healthy growth! Silk pillowcases can reduce breakage too – they provide anti-static benefits which keep curls soft and manageable in the morning.

By recognizing stress-related hair loss early on and making necessary lifestyle changes accordingly, you’ll be able to know how best to look after your locks so you don’t have to worry about excessive shedding again!

How Can I Prevent Excessive Shedding in Curly Hair?

How Can I Prevent Excessive Shedding in Curly Hair?
You can prevent excessive shedding in curly hair by clarifying and conditioning regularly, detangling your hair, and styling with low-heat tools.

Clarifying treatments help remove product buildup from the scalp that can cause inflammation or irritation, which leads to shedding. Using a deep conditioner will nourish strands so they are less likely to break off during washing or brushing.

Detangling is also important for keeping curls healthy. Use an appropriate brush specifically designed for curly textures so you don’t damage fragile strands while doing it.

Lastly, when using any kind of heat appliance on your hair, make sure you keep the temperature at a lower setting.

Clarifying and Conditioning

Regularly clarifying and conditioning your scalp can help reduce the amount of shedding you experience. Choose a gentle cleanser that suits your curl type to avoid product buildup or dandruff, which can lead to more hair loss.

Make sure you’re taking in enough Biotin as it helps strengthen old follicles and encourages new growth! Pre-poo treatments are also beneficial for preventing breakage during washing, while a hot oil massage is great for nourishing natural hair.

Lastly, protective styling is an effective way to keep strands safe from damage due to environmental elements or manipulation; plus, it gives them time off from regular maintenance routines!

Detangling

Detangling your hair after washing can help reduce breakage and maintain healthy locks. Pre-poo treatments, such as oil massages, are beneficial for preventing damage during the cleansing process. It is important to avoid heat treatments like blow drying to prevent excessive shedding due to external factors.

Nutrient deficiencies can also cause increased shedding, so make sure you’re getting enough vitamins A and C, iron, biotin, and zinc for optimal growth cycle of new hairs.

Proper hair care combined with protective styling is key when it comes to reducing the amount of shed hairs. Curly-haired individuals should consult a curly hair guide or expert if they have concerns about their current amount of shed strands per day.

Low-Heat Styling

Using low-heat styling devices like RevAir can help you get the most out of your hair care routine while reducing shedding by up to 95%. Heat damage and pre-poo treatments, such as hot oil massages, are good ways to protect against excessive shedding.

Making sure you have enough biotin, vitamins A and C, iron, and zinc in your diet is also an important factor when it comes to preventing shed strands.

By following these simple tips, you can minimize stress-related hair loss that results from everyday activities.

What Ingredients Should I Look for in Conditioners for Curly Hair?

What Ingredients Should I Look for in Conditioners for Curly Hair?
When searching for the best ingredients in conditioners to maintain healthy curly hair and prevent excessive shedding, be on the lookout for Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Vitamins, Jojoba Oil, Rosemary Oil, Caffeine, Shea Butter, and Argan Oil.

These nutrients have been proven to be the most beneficial for nourishing curls, providing essential hydration and strengthening locks. With these ingredients, you can achieve fabulous fullness and avoid excessive shedding.

Hyaluronic Acid

Look for conditioners containing hyaluronic acid to help nourish and protect your curls while preventing breakage and shedding. Hyaluronic acid is one of the best strengthening compounds that can be found in hair care products.

It helps keep moisture locked into strands, supports healthy scalp growth, boosts elasticity to reduce frizz, and diminishes signs of aging on the scalp.

In addition, it has been proven to aid in managing stress-related hair loss when combined with hot oil massages or other treatments targeting follicular health. When shopping for a conditioner specifically designed for curly-haired individuals, look out for these key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, vitamins A and C, iron, zinc, jojoba oil, rosemary oil, caffeine, and shea butter.

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

Try adding hydrolyzed vegetable protein to your conditioners for a boost of strength and shine. This alludes to its restorative effects on hair. Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins are especially beneficial for curly-haired individuals who may not receive the same benefits as their straight-haired counterparts.

This ingredient can help reduce shedding caused by stress or nutrient deficiencies. It can also provide an extra layer of protection against breakage due to daily styling habits such as blow drying or hot oil massage.

Vitamins

Adding vitamins to your conditioners can help nourish and protect your curls, reducing the amount of shedding you experience. Vitamins such as A, C, iron, and zinc are essential for healthy hair growth. Vitamin sources like eggs or dark leafy greens provide much-needed nutrients for stronger strands.

Benefits include reduced breakage from daily styling habits such as blow-drying or hot oil massage.

Oils

Incorporating natural oils, such as jojoba, rosemary, and argan, into your conditioner will help keep your strands healthy and reduce breakage. These powerful pore cleansers can penetrate scalp health down to the follicle level while providing heat protection from styling tools.

Oils can also enhance curl definition by coating each strand in moisture, which helps prevent split ends caused by dryness.

Discussing more in-depth aspects of hair care is part of taking care of your hair. Making significant changes can lead to improved results with excessive shedding. Keeping an eye on leading causes, such as stress or nutrient deficiency, is key when it comes to reducing shedding.

Proper nutrition plays a large role in producing healthy results that result from excessive shedding due to lifestyle choices or environmental elements outside our control.

How Can I Lessen Shedding in Curly Hair?

How Can I Lessen Shedding in Curly Hair?
You may be wondering how to reduce shedding in curly hair. One way is by using silk pillowcases that have anti-static benefits, which help keep the hair soft and manageable while you sleep. Additionally, stretching your curls while drying can prevent excess breakage during the styling phase and give you flawless locks! Taking these simple steps can help reduce shedding for beautiful, healthy curls all year round.

Silk Pillowcases

Switching to a silk pillowcase can help keep your locks soft and manageable in the morning, reducing overnight shedding. For further help with hair shedding, try pre-poo treatments, scalp exfoliation for buildup removal, and detangling tips for easy combing.

Make sure to use low heat devices like RevAir that provide damage-free beauty while using an average of approximately 50-100 hairs per day as a guidepost in taking care of your curls! Beauty gurus often suggest incorporating essential nutrients into one’s diet, such as biotin, vitamins A & C, along with iron and zinc supplements that may aid in preventing excessive hair loss.

Shedding is also an incredibly common occurrence among those who have curly hair.

Stretching Hair While Drying

Stretching your hair while drying can help prevent breakage and keep your locks flawless – after all, the average person has 100,000 follicles! To maintain healthy curls and reduce shedding, incorporate pre-poo treatments into your routine.

Avoid high-heat styling tools that can damage the hair shaft. Instead, use low-heat devices like RevAir for a damage-free beauty experience. Additionally, make sure to consume essential nutrients such as biotin and iron for optimal hair health.

Hair Care Tips Hair Nutrients Damage-Free Beauty of RevAir
Clarify scalp Biotin Low heat devices recommended
Deep condition Vitamins A & C Quick & easy styling
Detangle Iron Stretching prevents excess breakage during style
Exfoliate Zinc Flawless curls every time

Other Facts About Shedding in Curly Hair

Other Facts About Shedding in Curly Hair
You may already know that shedding is a normal process, but did you also know that curly hair is more prone to shedding than other hair types? This is because the natural oils produced by our scalp don’t always reach the ends of curls as easily.

Shedding is Normal

It’s perfectly normal to shed – the key is understanding why and what you can do about it.

Pre-poo treatments help keep curls hydrated while dermatologist solutions may be necessary for extreme cases of shedding due to medical causes. With proper care, seasonal changes won’t cause excessive amounts of hair loss or thinning as well as scalp inflammation from product buildup which also leads to clogging follicles.

Seeing a professional is important if your regular routine isn’t producing desired results so they can diagnose any underlying issues before formulating an effective treatment plan with appropriate products and lifestyle adjustments that will make sure your locks stay healthy for years!

Curly Hair is More Prone to Shedding

Tangling with your tresses can be like trying to untie a knot, particularly for those with curly locks. They are more prone to shedding than other hair types. To avoid excessive amounts of hair loss or thinning, incorporate hair care tips such as pre-poo treatments and deep conditioning into your routine.

Address scalp buildup and inflammation since it clogs follicles and causes natural shedding. If regular care does not produce desired results, seek out dermatologist solutions which may provide an effective treatment plan tailored specifically to you.

Shedding is a Restorative Process

You can look at shedding as a restorative process, helping to restore the natural balance of your hair growth cycle. Excessive shedding may be caused by nutrient deficiency or stress and is typically more common with curly hair due to frequent tangling.

Heat treatments, such as blow-drying, also cause excessive loss; low-heat devices are recommended instead. Biotin, vitamins A & C, along with iron & zinc, help promote healthy strands. Clarifying and exfoliating will reduce buildup and inflammation that block follicles from growing properly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How often should I wash my curly hair?

To keep your curly hair healthy and reduce shedding, it is recommended to wash it once or twice a week using the appropriate cleanser and conditioner. Detangling, clarifying, and exfoliating are essential steps in reducing shedding.

If excessive shedding persists, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist who can provide tailored solutions.

What are the signs of excessive shedding?

Excessive shedding can be identified by losing more than 100 hairs per day. Signs of this include thinning hair, scalp buildup, and increased breakage. Taking proper care of your curls is essential to reduce excessive shedding, as well as seeing a dermatologist if needed for further solutions.

What kind of products should I use for my curly hair?

Find a cleanser and conditioner specifically designed for curly hair. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vitamins, jojoba oil, rosemary oil, caffeine, or shea butter to nourish your curls.

Clarify regularly to reduce buildup that can lead to shedding, and detangle after washing with a product-free brush. Use low-heat devices instead of blow-drying or straightening, as high-heat treatments cause excessive shedding.

Are there any home remedies to reduce shedding?

Take action with home remedies to reduce shedding! Try clarifying your scalp and deep conditioning weekly for a dramatic difference. Detangle gently and use low-heat tools for styling. Use pre-poo treatments before shampooing, too – it will be like night and day! Silk pillowcases can also keep hair soft overnight while reducing shedding.

Are there any medical treatments for excessive shedding?

Excessive shedding can be addressed medically. Consider seeing a dermatologist who can identify the cause and provide solutions to help reduce it. Using the right cleanser, conditioner, and detangling hair correctly after washing, as well as clarifying your scalp, are all good measures for reducing shedding naturally.

Conclusion

To conclude, shedding in curly hair is a normal part of its growth cycle, and it’s nothing to be alarmed about. However, it can be prevented with the right hair care routine. With the right ingredients and techniques, you can keep your curls healthy and reduce shedding.

If you’re experiencing excessive shedding, it’s important to identify the underlying cause and seek help from a dermatologist. Shedding can actually be beneficial to curly hair, as it helps to keep your curls healthy and strong.

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Mutasim Sweileh

Mutasim is a published author and software engineer and beard care expert from the US. To date, he has helped thousands of men make their beards look better and get fatter. His work has been mentioned in countless notable publications on men's care and style and has been cited in Seeker, Wikihow, GQ, TED, and Buzzfeed.