Curly Hair and Shedding: What's Normal and When to Worry

If you’ve ever been deep into your wash day detangling routine and suddenly felt like you just lost half your hair—you’re not alone. For curly-haired folks, shedding can feel dramatic. Sometimes it's scary, other times it feels totally normal... so what gives?

Let’s break it down and talk about what’s really going on with curly hair and shedding—what to expect, what’s normal, and when it might be time to check in with a doctor.

First Things First: What Is Shedding?

Shedding is a completely normal part of the hair growth cycle. We’re mammals—we grow hair, and we lose it. On average, people shed 50 to 100 hairs per day as part of a natural process.

Here’s a quick look at the four phases of the hair growth cycle:

1. Anagen Phase – The active growth phase where your hair is being produced.

2. Catagen Phase – A short transition phase where the hair follicle shrinks and detaches from the blood supply.

3. Telogen Phase – A resting phase where the hair is no longer growing but still sits inside the follicle.

4. Exogen Phase – The shedding phase where the hair is released and falls out, making room for a new hair to grow.

This cycle repeats itself for every strand of hair on your head—and when a strand reaches the exogen phase, it’s on its way out.

Why Shedding Feels Different for Curly Hair

So if everyone sheds 50–100 hairs a day, why does it feel so extreme when it finally shows up on wash day?

Let’s talk curly logistics:

• Curly hair doesn’t fall out as easily as straight hair. Our curls spiral and clump, holding onto shed strands like a built-in hair net.

• We don’t brush our hair daily. Unlike those with straight hair who brush regularly and remove shed hairs every day, curly hair tends to be left alone between wash days—sometimes for 3 to 7 days or more.

• We detangle less often. That means your naturally shed hair builds up, getting caught in curls, and only comes out when you’re detangling during wash day.

So, by the time you’re in the shower detangling, you’re seeing multiple days’ worth of shed hair all at once—up to 700 hairs or more!

The Big Wash Day Shedding Scare

Listen, I’ve had clients send me panicked texts with photos of what looks like a small animal left behind in the shower. But I promise you: most of the time, it’s normal.

The longer you wait between wash days, the more hair you’ll shed all at once. That doesn’t mean you’re going bald. It just means your curls were hanging onto that hair until you gave it the chance to let go.

When Shedding Might Not Be Normal

That said, it’s important to pay attention to your normal and trust your gut. Here are signs that your shedding might need medical attention:

• You notice a sudden drop in density—your hair feels significantly thinner overall.

• The amount of hair you’re shedding is dramatically more than usual.

• You find bald spots or patches larger than a dime.

• You’re losing short strands that don’t match the length of your hair (this could be breakage, not shedding).

These could be signs of:

• Hormonal imbalances (like postpartum, PCOS, menopause)

• Thyroid disorders

• Vitamin deficiencies (like iron or biotin)

• Sudden weight loss or stress

• Medication side effects

• Recent surgery or illness

If any of this sounds familiar, please see your doctor, trichologist or a dermatologist. It’s always better to get checked out early and find the root cause than to wait and hope it fixes itself.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Fear the Shed

Curly hair sheds like everyone else’s—it just hangs on to those strands a little longer. So don’t panic when you see a clump in the shower. Most likely, it’s just the natural cycle of things catching up to you.

If something feels off, trust yourself. Advocate for your hair and your health. But remember: not all shedding is scary. Sometimes it just means your curls are doing what they’re supposed to do.