The average healthy human hair density is approximately 200 strands for every square centimetre of scalp [1]. However, hair density is influenced by many factors and can vary over time. Keeping track of your hair fullness can help you determine its state of health and make it easier to spot the first signs of hair thinning and balding. But you’ll need a reliable hair density test to do so.
Home tests can help you get a broad idea of how your hair fullness is evolving. They can reveal with some precision whether you currently have high, medium or low hair density. However, if you suspect you may have a type of alopecia, it is important to get a professional hair density test. The findings of a trained trichologist, using state-of-the-art equipment, can be significantly more accurate than home testing. Keep reading this article to find out all you need to know about:
Hair density refers to the average number of hairs within each square centimetre of your scalp [2]. The more fibres per cm/2, the fuller your hair.
When you are experiencing hair loss, the density of your hair will decrease. This happens because the number of hairs decreases on specific areas of your head (e.g. the frontal area, temples and crown in male pattern baldness) or diffuse thinning all over your scalp (this is more common in female pattern baldness and telogen effluvium).
On average, a healthy person has between 80,000-100,000 hairs on their head [3]. However, hair density depends on several factors, such as gender, ethnicity and lifestyle. Normal hair density ranges between approximately 150 and 250 hairs on every square centimetre of your scalp [1][4].
There are some non-invasive hair density tests you can perform at home. Here are some of the easiest to use.
Your hair density can vary over time, due to ageing, hormonal activity, scalp health and styling practices. However, it will always fall into one of the following categories:
This technique works if your hair is long enough to tie back into a ponytail. Wash, dry and brush your hair well and tie it at the base of your head. Grab a tape measure and place it around your ponytail 3-5 cm under the hair tie. Keep the tape loose, so it doesn’t squeeze your hair. Then, read your ponytail circumference:
However, keep in mind that this test only provides a broad estimation of your hair fullness and that hair density can vary on different parts of your scalp. So after you have performed this test, make sure to also take a look at your crown and frontal area (especially if you are a man).
Furthermore, a thin ponytail does not always indicate a hair loss condition. It could also be due to hair breakage below the roots, due to improper styling practices that weaken your hair shafts.
If you are starting to see a receding hairline or a bald spot on the crown, don’t hesitate to see a trichologist, regardless of what the ponytail test tells you. That is because conditions such as androgenetic alopecia can take a while to thin out your ponytail, but will progress over time if left untreated.
This technique is inspired by self-assessment questionnaires designed by trichologists for patients with androgenetic alopecia [5][6]. Stand before a mirror and examine your hair and scalp closely in a well-lit area. Write down any changes in density that you may notice for your hairline, crown area and overall scalp. Take photos to document the appearance of your hair and scalp and attach them to the journal.
Do this every month and compare notes. Use the following questions as a guide:
You can add any other questions that seem relevant to your specific hair condition, as well as any hair growth treatments you’ve tried and their outcomes. If you notice changes after a few months, bring your journal to a trichologist. It will be a valuable source of information regarding your hair density.
This test tells you whether you are experiencing more hair shedding than normal, rather than how high your hair density is. But if you are losing an excessive amount of hair, your hair density may also be reduced.
To perform this test, pick up all the hairs you lose in 24 hours (check your pillow, sink, shower, and especially your hair brush). Put them in a bag and count them in the evening [5]. Write the number down and repeat this procedure a few days in a row each month, to compare the amount of hair shedding.
Some hair loss is normal in the shower or when brushing your hair. A healthy person sheds 50-100 hairs daily [7]. However, if you’re losing a higher number of strands on a regular basis, your hair density will likely be affected.
However, some may find performing this test impractical since it involves keeping track of all loose strands throughout the day. Moreover, for accurate results, it needs to be performed on several days throughout the month.
This is a more convenient variation of the daily hair count, but so far, it has only been tested on men. Here’s how it works [5][8]:
A study [8] performed on 60 healthy men aged between 20 and 60 found that they shed an average of 10-11 hairs during each session. If you routinely lose more strands than this during this test, or the number of hairs you lose starts to increase, you may be experiencing hair thinning. This is especially true if the hairs that fall out also tend to be shorter and finer than the rest.
While home hair density tests can give you some idea of how your hair count is evolving, they aren’t always very practical or accurate. The best way to get a true measurement of your hair density is to have trichology tests performed by a hair doctor. Here are some of the most reliable professional tests you can get [4] [5][9].
Also known as a scalp dermoscopy, this non-invasive test allows trichologists to visualise the hair and scalp magnified 10-1000 times [10]. The dermoscope contains a light source, a magnifier and often also contains a camera for taking photos or videos.
This procedure is completely painless and it allows the hair doctor to check your hair density in different parts of your scalp. It can also make it easier for them to spot symptoms of hair loss conditions, such as androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium or alopecia areata.
A phototrichogram can not only reveal your hair density but also provide valuable information about its diameter and growth rate [11]. It involves clipping away the hair from a 1 cm2 portion of your scalp. The strands are then examined under a microscope to measure their thickness, while photos are taken of the clipped scalp area.
You’ll then be advised to refrain from washing your hair for 2 days, before returning to have another photo taken under the same circumstances 48 hours later. Your trichologist then compares the two photos to determine hair density and growth speed. Specialised software can be used to make this process faster and more accurate.
Your hair density can be the result of a combination of many factors. Here are some of the most relevant [1][12]:
Home hair density tests can give you a general idea of your overall hair density and help you identify changes over time. They can be very helpful in detecting hair loss early, making alopecia easier to treat. However, they are not nearly as accurate as medical-grade testing, performed with specialised equipment by trained professionals.
Home hair density tests are reliable enough to tell you if you need to visit a trichologist. Ultimately, you will still need a hair doctor to assess the cause and extent of your hair loss.
That largely depends on the type of hair density test you are planning to perform. Some can be done at any time, while others should take place just after washing or after a few wash-free days. The best thing to do is to follow the instructions for the specific kind of test you had in mind.
If there is no mention of a specific time when it should be performed, it’s best to have freshly washed hair and to keep some consistency in when you measure your hair density.
If home remedies cannot improve your hair fullness, you may need to see a hair doctor, who can advise you regarding the best hair loss treatment for men (respectively, the most effective hair loss treatment for women) with your condition. Here is what they might recommend.
Getting a hair transplant can be the best way to enhance hair fullness and restore hair growth to your thinning areas. That is because, unlike hair loss medications, a hair transplant can increase hair density permanently.
Hair restoration surgery involves harvesting healthy follicles from the back of your head and implanting them in your thinning areas. Regardless of whether you opt for a FUT or a FUE procedure, the best hair transplant clinics in the UK have an almost 100% success rate. See the results for yourself in our before and after hair transplant gallery.
If you have performed home hair density tests and found lower-than-expected density, it’s time to call in the experts. Book a consultation with one of our experienced trichologists at your most convenient clinic location.
They’ll use medical-grade equipment to assess your hair fullness and diagnose any type of hair loss that may be affecting your hair density. Once they have identified the condition that caused your hair thinning, they will recommend the most appropriate, personalised treatment to restore your healthy, luxurious hair.
If you are curious to find out more about hair density tests and measurements, you can do so by reading the answers to these frequently asked questions.
Sometimes, people use hair density and thickness interchangeably, to refer to how tightly packed hair is on an area of their scalp or to their overall hair volume through the lengths. However, scientifically, these are two different concepts. Hair density refers to the number of hairs on a cm2 of the scalp, while hair thickness refers to the diameter (girth) of each strand.
Sometimes, low hair density can occur alongside thinner hair, especially in conditions such as androgenetic alopecia. However, they can also be independent of each other in other conditions. For example, you can have low hair density and normal or even high strand thickness in telogen effluvium, or you can have naturally fine, type 1A hair that has a high density).
Your hair density reaches its peak during early adulthood and tends to decrease with age. However, certain common types of alopecia, such as male or female pattern baldness, tend to contribute significantly to a visible increase in hair sparseness in both genders, especially after the age of 50. Other conditions, such as chronic telogen effluvium, can also lead to diffuse hair loss that starts suddenly and can last as long as a decade [18].
If you notice that your hair is getting so thin you can see your scalp, it is best to see a trichologist to rule out a hair loss condition.
There are some scientifically proven therapies and natural remedies that you can try at home to get fuller hair. Here are some of the best:
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