Results of 60-second timed hair counts in women between the ages of 20–60 years

In a study from 2004, 40 healthy women aged between 20 and 60 years were enrolled to assess hair shedding using a 60-second timed hair count method, which is a practical in-home alternative to the technical macrophotography used in clinical trials. The participants, divided into two age groups (20–40 and 41–60), combed their hair for 60 seconds over three consecutive days after shampooing, and recorded the number of shed hairs. At baseline, the younger group shed an average of 11.6 hairs, while the older group shed 18.4 hairs, with no significant difference between the groups. However, after 6 months, the younger group shed fewer hairs (9.5 on average), while the older group's shedding remained consistent (18.5 on average), showing a significant difference between the age groups. No seasonal effect on hair shedding was noted, and while there was variability in hair counts between patients, individual counts were consistent. The study concluded that the 60-second timed hair count is a reproducible and practical method for documenting hair shedding and treatment response at home.