Hair fall refers to an increase in the rate at which hair sheds. The average person naturally loses between 50 and 100 hairs per day as part of the normal growth cycle. Hair fall becomes a clinical concern when this number rises significantly and consistently, leading to visible reduction in density over time.

The primary mechanism behind excessive hair fall is a disruption to the hair growth cycle. Internal stressors such as hormonal shifts, nutritional deficiencies, illness, or significant physical or emotional stress can push a large number of follicles into the telogen, or shedding, phase simultaneously. This is known as telogen effluvium. Once the trigger is identified and addressed, the follicles can return to active growth.

Hair thinning is a different process. Here the number of hairs being shed is not necessarily abnormal, but each hair that regrows comes back finer, shorter, and weaker than the one before. The follicle is undergoing a process called miniaturisation, gradually shrinking with each growth cycle until it eventually stops producing a visible hair altogether.

This is the mechanism behind androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, and it is driven primarily by DHT, a hormone derived from testosterone that binds to genetically sensitive follicle receptors. Thinning of this type is progressive if left untreated and requires a different treatment approach than shedding-based hair fall.

If your primary concern is hair fall driven by a nutritional deficiency, treating it with a DHT-blocking protocol designed for pattern thinning will not produce the results you are looking for. Conversely, if you have progressive follicle miniaturisation, simply addressing stress or supplementing iron will not stop the thinning from continuing.

Treatments such as PRP, GFC, and hair mesotherapy work largely by stimulating follicle activity and improving scalp circulation. These are effective for both conditions but need to be paired with the correct diagnosis to target the right mechanism.

If you are noticing more hair on your pillow, in the shower drain, or when running your hands through your hair, hair fall is the more likely concern. If your hair looks progressively less dense over time, parts appear wider, or individual strands feel finer and lighter, thinning is the more likely driver. In many people, both processes are happening simultaneously, which is exactly why an accurate assessment before beginning treatment is so important.