Hair loss is a symptom, not one condition
“Hair loss” covers several different things, and they do not all behave the same way. Some causes are temporary and resolve on their own. Others are gradual and progressive, and respond best to an early, consistent routine. Because these look similar in the mirror on any given day, the single most useful thing you can do early is keep a stable record — so you can tell which situation you are actually in.
This page is a starting point. Once you have a sense of your situation, the linked guides go deeper on specific conditions and treatments.
The most common types
Pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)
The most common type in both men and women. In men it usually shows as temple recession and crown thinning; in women it more often shows as diffuse thinning over the top with a widening part while the front hairline is preserved. It is progressive, so consistency and long review windows matter. See the pattern hair loss guide and, for women, the female pattern hair loss guide.
Telogen effluvium (temporary shedding)
A diffuse, temporary increase in shedding that often follows a stressful event, illness, major weight change, or childbirth. It typically improves over months once the trigger passes. Tracking helps here too: it shows whether shedding is settling down or continuing.
Other causes worth ruling out
Thyroid conditions, iron or other nutritional deficiencies, certain medications, scalp conditions, and traction from tight hairstyles can all affect hair. These are exactly the causes a clinician can check for and that at-home tracking cannot diagnose on its own.
Women and men experience hair loss differently
Hair loss is not a men-only issue. Women make up a large share of people affected, and female pattern hair loss often looks different from the male pattern and may involve different treatment options and clinical checks. The guides on this site are written for both.
When to see a clinician
Track first, but do not track instead of getting help when it is warranted. See a clinician for:
- Sudden, rapid, or patchy hair loss
- Scalp pain, itching, redness, or scarring
- Hair loss with other symptoms such as fatigue or weight change
- Any hair loss during pregnancy or while planning one, or before starting prescription treatment
A clinician can diagnose causes and guide prescription decisions. Your tracking record — photos, notes, and treatment history — makes that visit far more productive.
How to track hair loss so it is actually useful
The reason home tracking usually fails is inconsistency: photos at random angles and lighting, a routine that quietly drifts, and memory filling in the gaps. A useful record needs three things:
- Repeatable photos. The same angles (front, temples, crown, part line, top-down) under similar lighting at planned intervals. See how to take progress photos.
- A stable routine. Whether it is minoxidil, finasteride, spironolactone, microneedling, or a combination, the treatment timeline only makes sense if the adherence timeline matches it.
- Honest notes. Missed doses, side effects, shedding windows, and any changes to the plan — so a review months later has context.
Track Hair is built to keep these together, so a three- or six-month review reflects what actually happened instead of how you felt in the mirror this morning.