What is a shed?

[evolutionary]

Call me naive, or uber-naive since I've been using hair loss products since 2004, but what exactly is supposed to happen during a "shed"? Like when you all are saying you went through a shed, do you mean that clumps of hair are failing out? Or you run your hand through your hair and you can knock a lot out? Pillow test? I've always been confused as to what I'm looking for with a shed.

 

[Cassin]

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=12865

 

[evolutionary]

Thank you sir, that was very helpful, and I'm not sure how I missed the sticky. My question was mainly geared towards the superficial appearance of a shed, as opposed to the scientific cause behind it. Just kind of curious what to physically look for to tell if I'm going through a shed, short of taking pictures every couple weeks to know for sure.