- Reaction score
- -2
One pattern I keep seeing in hair loss discussions is people treating all hair fall the same way, when two very different processes are usually involved.
Shedding (Telogen Effluvium)
This is when normal, thick hairs fall out earlier than expected. It often shows up a few months after stress, illness, deficiencies, crash dieting, or hormonal shifts. Density looks worse, but the strands themselves are still healthy. In most cases, once the trigger is corrected, shedding gradually resolves on its own.
Miniaturization (Pattern Hair Loss)
This is slower and easier to miss. The follicle doesn’t stop working — it produces thinner, shorter, weaker hairs with each cycle. Over time, coverage reduces even if shedding isn’t dramatic. This process is largely genetic and hormone-sensitive.
Why this matters
Many people panic over shedding and jump straight into aggressive treatments, while others ignore miniaturization because they’re “not shedding much.” Both lead to wasted time and confusion.
A simple self-check:
At Otter Hair Labs, we see biggest issue isn’t lack of options — it’s misidentifying what’s actually happening.
Curious how others here figured out which process they were dealing with.
Shedding (Telogen Effluvium)
This is when normal, thick hairs fall out earlier than expected. It often shows up a few months after stress, illness, deficiencies, crash dieting, or hormonal shifts. Density looks worse, but the strands themselves are still healthy. In most cases, once the trigger is corrected, shedding gradually resolves on its own.
Miniaturization (Pattern Hair Loss)
This is slower and easier to miss. The follicle doesn’t stop working — it produces thinner, shorter, weaker hairs with each cycle. Over time, coverage reduces even if shedding isn’t dramatic. This process is largely genetic and hormone-sensitive.
Why this matters
Many people panic over shedding and jump straight into aggressive treatments, while others ignore miniaturization because they’re “not shedding much.” Both lead to wasted time and confusion.
A simple self-check:
- Thick hairs falling out → more likely shedding
- New growth thinner than before → miniaturization
At Otter Hair Labs, we see biggest issue isn’t lack of options — it’s misidentifying what’s actually happening.
Curious how others here figured out which process they were dealing with.