26.2.3 Hair Pull Test
- Assess the rate of your client’s hair loss by pulling at the hair in different places on their head.
- The best way to do this is to pinch a small sample of hair between the thumb and forefinger and pull firmly (warn the client first before ‘pulling’).
- The amount of hair that comes out will indicate the severity of the hair loss.
- More hair loss in different areas of the scalp might indicate some of the causes of the condition. For instance, whether it is falling locally (in one area) or in a diffuse manner (all over) may indicate the type of hair-loss condition your client has.
- Whilst performing the hair pull test, you should ask when your client’s hair was last washed. This will give a more accurate assessment; as the longer ago it was washed, the more hair that would be expected to come out due to accumulation.