On average, there are approximately 100,000 hairs on a human head. However, This number can range considerably from person to person. Scalp hair density depends on many factors including race, gender, and hair color.
What affects Hair Density?
Hair Density and Race
While there are no exact numbers when it comes to race and hair density, there are a few things that can be generally compared.
- Caucasians, on average, have greater hair density than other races.
- Those of Asian descent tend to have lower hair density than Caucasians.
- People with Afro-Caribbean hair typically have a density somewhere between that of Caucasians and Asians.
Hair Density and Texture
Typically, those with finer or straighter hair will have higher hair density than those with thicker or curlier hair.
Hair Density and Color
Hair color can also play a crucial role in hair density. Those with blonde hair generally have the most individual hair follicles with close to 150,000 hairs.
Behind that. brunettes are the next highest, averaging around 110,000 hairs. People with black hair usually have about 100,000 hairs on their heads.
Bringing up the rear, redheads have the least hairs on average with around 90,000 hairs.
Does Gender Affect Hair Density?
It’s a common belief that gender affects hair density. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Overall, men and women have the same number of hairs on their heads. Men’s hair, though, does tend to grow more quickly than women’s hair.
How Much Shedding is Normal?
Hair shedding is a normal part of the hair growth cycle, but excess shedding is often a sign of something being off. It is perfectly normal to lose anywhere between 50 and 100 hairs every day.
There are four stages in the hair growth cycle.
- Anagen: The growing phase. The hair is actively growing, this phase lasts about 3 years.
- Catagen: The transition phase. The hair’s growth rate slows and the hair starts to detach from the follicle. This phase lasts nearly 2 weeks.
- Telogen: The resting phase. The hair stops growing but doesn’t fall out. The hair may stay in this phase for up to 3 months.
- Exogen: The shedding phase. The hair falls out.
Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause may cause these phases to accelerate greatly and lead to excessive shedding. Post-partum hair loss can be alarming to many as this hair loss tends to occur very rapidly. Thankfully, hair loss due to pregnancy often solves itself without the need for any treatment.
Can I Increase Hair Density?
Sadly, no. Since hair grows from a limited number of scalp hair follicles, it is impossible to increase hair density. If you’re suffering from chronic or severe hair loss, a hair transplant in Istanbul surgery might be the only way to increase your hair density, but there is no other way to increase the number of hair follicles on your head.
Can A Hair Transplant Increase Hair Density?
Sort of. To be specific, a hair transplant can redistribute hair density leading to a more uniform appearance, but the average density of the scalp will be unchanged. Hair transplants work by taking healthy hair follicles from a part of the scalp that is unaffected by hair loss (though it is possible to use body or beard hair in extreme cases). These extracted hair follicles are then implanted directly into the scalp to create a more even and completely natural distribution of healthy hair.
Dr Serkan Aygin
With more than 25 years of experience, Dr Serakn Aygin has treated more than 15,000 men and women from across the globe. His contributions to the field of hair transplantation have earned him a series of awards including being named the “Best Medical Tourism Facility” in 2019 by La Razon.
At our clinic, every client is entitled to an all-inclusive multi-day stay, pre-op consultation, and post-op follow-up. Call us today to schedule your full free consultation.
