White bulb on the hair root? That's a telogen club hair

Also searched as: white bulb on hair rootclub hairtelogen hair

A shed hair with a small white bulb at the root is a resting (telogen) 'club' hair; DermNet explains that in telogen effluvium these are pushed out by new growth, so increased fall is paradoxically a sign of regrowth.

No consistent week-by-week window is published for this, so it is not on the calculator.

Read the root

What you see	What it usually is
Small white bulb, rounded end	Telogen (club) hair — a resting hair that has finished its cycle [DermNet]
Pointed or tapered tip	Anagen hair — growth interrupted (anagen effluvium) [DermNet]
No root at all, snapped end	Breakage, not shedding (see regrowth vs breakage)

How many is normal?

Shedding 50–100 hairs a day is normal, per the AAD [American]. In telogen effluvium the club hairs are released 2–4 months after the trigger, as new hairs push them out [DermNet].

Normal vs. warning signs

Commonly normal

White-bulbed hairs in the shower or brush
Up to about 50–100 a day

Warning signs — get checked

Hairs with pointed tips falling in large numbers
Patches or broken stubs
Scalp pain, redness, burning or scaling

Find a trichologist →

What may help

Collect a day's shed hairs to show a professional.
Use the Shed Clock to look for a trigger 2–4 months back.

Related triggers

Hair signs

Postpartum

Frequently asked questions

What is the white bulb on a hair root?

It is the club-shaped root of a resting (telogen) hair, which is a normal way for hair to shed.

Does a white bulb mean the follicle is dead?

No. DermNet notes new hair continues to grow and pushes the old club hair out.

How many hairs a day is normal to lose?

The AAD says 50 to 100 a day is normal.

Sources

DermNet (Chang F-L, Oakley A, 2019). Telogen effluvium
American Academy of Dermatology. Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?