If you’ve noticed more hair in your hands, on your clothes, or in the shower lately, you’re not alone.
This is one of the most common concerns I hear in the salon and almost every time, the same question comes up:
“Is my hair breaking… or am I shedding?”
Those two things are not the same and understanding the difference can completely change how you care for your hair moving forward.
Hair Shedding vs. Breakage: What's Actually Happening and Why It Matters
To the untrained eye, hair loss just looks like hair loss.
But from a professional standpoint, shedding and breakage come from very different causes, and they need different approaches.
When that difference gets missed, people often end up:
Overcorrecting with products
Avoiding heat unnecessarily
Blaming their stylist when the cause is internal
At The Press Room, this is one of the first things I assess.
What Is Hair Shedding?
Shedding is a normal part of the hair growth cycle. Every strand goes through three phases:
Growth (anagen)
Transition (catagen)
Resting and release (telogen)
When a strand reaches the end of its cycle, it releases from the scalp. That's shedding.
How Much Hair Shedding Is Normal?
Most people shed about 50 to 100 hairs a day, and sometimes more during:
Seasonal changes
High-stress periods
Hormonal shifts
Postpartum
Perimenopause and menopause
A shed hair usually has a small white bulb at the end, which shows it released from the scalp instead of snapping off.
Shedding doesn't mean your hair isn't growing. It means old hair is making room for new hair.
What Is Hair Breakage?
Breakage happens when hair snaps somewhere along the strand, not at the root. It's usually caused by:
Dryness or a moisture imbalance
Over-manipulation, like constant restyling, tight styles, or excessive brushing
Heat misuse or overuse
Skipping trims
Chemical or color stress
Broken hairs are usually:
Short
Uneven
Missing the bulb at the end
With breakage, the issue is keeping your length, not growing it.
How to Tell If Your Hair Is Shedding or Breaking
A simple starting point:
Long strand with a white bulb at the end: likely shedding
Short, uneven piece with no bulb: likely breakage
From there:
Be honest about how often you trim
Look at how much manipulation your hair is getting
Notice whether your hair feels dry or soft
Pay attention to patterns your body may be showing you
Why Is My Hair Growing But Not Getting Longer?
You can have completely normal growth and still struggle to see length. That's because length retention, keeping the hair you grow, depends on:
Moisture balance
Consistent trims
Gentle handling
Realistic styling timelines
Not everyone's hair is meant to be waist-length, and that's okay. Healthy hair looks different on different people. Read more in Hair Growth vs. Hair Retention: Why Length Isn't the Same for Everyone and Why Your Ends Determine Your Length.
Why the Difference Matters
If you're shedding, the answer isn't always more products, less heat, or panic.
If you're breaking, the answer isn't always protective styles or leaving your hair alone indefinitely.
Sometimes the answer is:
Adjusting your maintenance schedule
Adding targeted treatments
Staying consistent with trims
Simply understanding what your hair is actually doing
Hair responds to patterns, not quick fixes.
What Causes Excessive Hair Shedding?
As a licensed stylist, I don't diagnose, but I do notice patterns. Excessive or prolonged shedding can be linked to things like:
Low iron
Low vitamin D
Low B12
Hormonal shifts
Chronic stress
That's why, when shedding feels sudden or won't let up, I always encourage clients to see a doctor or dermatologist for a proper evaluation. Learn more in When Hair Loss Isn't About Hair Care: Stress, Hormones, and Internal Shifts.
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, and sometimes that takes support beyond the salon.
How to Reduce Hair Breakage
For breakage and dryness, I often recommend:
Professional deep conditioning or protein and moisture treatments
Steam treatments to improve hydration
A moisturizing cleanse like CÉCRED Hydrating Shampoo
Sealing your ends with CÉCRED Nourishing Hair Oil
Less friction overnight with a silk or satin pillowcase
Products should support the problem, not replace understanding it.
Final Thought
Healthy hair isn't about doing everything. It's about doing the right things consistently.
Once you know whether you're shedding or breaking, your whole approach to hair care becomes clearer, and a lot less stressful.
What I Recommend
The products I use behind the chair and recommend to my clients for reducing breakage are on my Salon Recommended page.
In Atlanta and want help figuring out what your hair needs right now? Book your experience.
This post is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you're experiencing ongoing or excessive hair loss or scalp concerns, consult a dermatologist or licensed healthcare provider. Some links in this post are affiliate links, and The Press Room may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.