Is club hair causing your hair loss?

If you’re noticing more hair in the drain or on your pillow than usual, you’re not alone. But before you start blaming your texture spray, your shampoo, or the cap you wear, consider this: it could be club hair.

Yes, it sounds like a secret society for strands, but in reality, it’s a natural part of the hair growth cycle — one that might just explain why you’re seeing more breakage and shedding than you’d like. But how does this relate to hair loss, and is there anything you can do to prevent it?

Club hair refers to the stage when a hair follicle detaches from its root and prepares to shed. Unlike healthy hair firmly anchored in the scalp, club hair has a small, rounded bulb at the end, almost like a tiny, hard club [1].

It’s a sign that the hair is in the telogen phase, which is the final step before it falls out. So while it might seem alarming to see more of these little club-shaped hairs on your comb, the truth is, it’s not always a cause for panic.

Understanding what club hair is (and why it happens) is the first step in knowing whether your shedding is natural or something more concerning.

What is club hair?

Put simply, club hair is a strand that’s reached the end of its lifecycle. In the grand scheme of hair growth, every follicle goes through 3 phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (rest) [1].

During the telogen phase, the hair stops growing and forms a small, bulb-like structure at the end, known as a club. This bulb is the telltale sign that the strand is no longer actively connected to the blood supply and is about to shed.

On average, about 10–15% of your hair is in the telogen phase at any given time, which is why finding a few club hairs on your pillow or in your hairbrush isn’t necessarily a red flag.

However, when more than 20% of your hair shifts into the telogen phase, it can result in a condition called telogen effluvium, where sudden, excessive shedding becomes noticeable [2]. This is when people often start reaching for hair loss treatments, texture powder, or matte finish products to cover thinning areas.

But why does this happen? Stress, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, and even overuse of hair styling products can all trigger more hairs to enter the telogen phase prematurely [3].

So if you’re noticing more club hairs than usual, it might be time to take a closer look at what’s going on beneath the surface, and what you’re putting on your scalp. A good starting point? Evaluate your diet, minimise aggressive styling, and check for any nutrient gaps that could be impacting your hair’s ability to stay anchored.

What does club hair look like?

Identifying club hair is surprisingly easy once you know what you’re looking for. Unlike regular hair strands, which taper to a point, club hairs have a small, hard bulb at the end.

This bulb is pale or white and has a slightly waxy texture, indicating that the strand is in the telogen phase. It’s not broken or split; it’s simply detached from the follicle, ready to shed [4].

You might notice these club hairs when you comb your hair, run your fingers through it, or check your hairbrush after styling. If the majority of the hairs you’re shedding have this club-like structure, it’s a sign that they’ve completed their lifecycle. And while that’s perfectly normal, excessive shedding can be a clue that more follicles are entering the telogen phase than usual [5].

If that’s the case, it might be worth examining factors like stress, nutrition, or even the hair products you’re using to see if they’re contributing to the problem. It’s worth taking a step back to see if your hair care routine is working for you or against you.

Causes of club hair

Club hair doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. It’s the result of various factors that push hair follicles into the telogen phase sooner than expected. Here’s what could be triggering those little bulbs of shedding hair.

Nutritional deficiencies

Your hair needs a steady supply of nutrients to stay anchored in its follicle. Low levels of iron, zinc, or B vitamins can disrupt the hair growth cycle, causing more strands to transition into the resting phase [5].

If your diet’s lacking in key nutrients, you’re more likely to see club hairs popping up in your brush and down the drain. Incorporating foods rich in essential nutrients can make a noticeable difference — think leafy greens, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Aggressive hair styling and product overload

Too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing fast. Overuse of dry hair products, excessive heat styling, or constant pulling and tugging from tight hairstyles can weaken hair at the root [1]. When the follicle gets stressed, it can prematurely eject the strand, complete with that telltale club-shaped bulb.

Not to mention, products like texture powder and matte paste can build up on the scalp, weighing down hair and clogging follicles. The result? Weakened strands that are more likely to shed prematurely. A gentle, nutrient-rich shampoo and conditioner can be more suitable for fragile, shedding-prone hair than harsh, drying formulas.

Pilot's Hair Growth Shampoo & Conditioner can be a good option here, helping to target hair thinning and add hydration.

Is club hair related to hair loss?

Yes, but it’s not as straightforward as it might seem. While club hair itself is a normal part of the hair growth cycle, seeing an excessive amount of it can indicate that more strands are exiting the growth phase prematurely. That’s when club hair goes from being a standard sign of telogen phase shedding to a potential red flag for hair loss.

In cases where a noticeable increase in club hairs occurs, it’s often linked to telogen effluvium, a condition where a higher percentage of hair follicles abruptly shift into the telogen phase. The result? More club hairs, more shedding, and a scalp that’s suddenly not as full as it used to be.

Club hair and telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is essentially a shock response from your scalp. When your body experiences a significant stressor (anything from illness or surgery to sudden weight loss or emotional distress), it can push more hair follicles into the telogen phase simultaneously [5].

Instead of the typical 10–15% of strands resting, up to 30% or more can switch into this resting phase at once, creating a noticeable uptick in club hairs falling out [3].

You might notice more club hair around your head or on your pillow, in your comb, or accumulating in the shower drain. Unlike conditions like alopecia areata, where the hair follicle is under direct attack, telogen effluvium is usually temporary. [3] Once the underlying stressor is addressed, hair follicles tend to resume their normal growth cycle,  though it can take months for new hairs to reach visible length.

How to treat hair loss?

If you’re seeing more club hairs than usual and the shedding is starting to affect your confidence, the good news is that there are effective ways to address it.

The first step is identifying the underlying cause — whether it’s telogen effluvium from stress, nutritional deficiencies, or simply part of the natural hair growth cycle. Once you know what’s triggering the club hair shedding, you can choose targeted treatments to help slow down the loss and encourage new hair growth.

If your desired outcome is fuller, healthier hair, addressing the underlying cause is crucial. For those dealing with more significant hair loss, a personalised treatment plan can make all the difference. That’s where Pilot’s hair loss treatment comes in.

Offering some of the most effective solutions to keep and regrow hair, Pilot’s program is tailored to your specific stage of hair loss and medical history. It’s sorted over the phone and delivered discreetly, so you can address the issue without making it a big deal.

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