Losing up to 100 strands of hair a day is a natural phenomenon. However, if that number continues to increase and it appears the hair is not growing back you may be on the road to baldness.

According to the National Health Commission, more than 250 million people in China, or every sixth person, suffers hair loss, many of whom will be under the age of 30.

The Night-time Consultation Report issued on Oct 15 by AliHealth, a wholesale source for medical supplies, said 65 percent of the users who asked for consultation from 9 pm to 7 am were aged between 20 and 30. Those aged 30 and above accounted for 80 percent of those reporting symptoms such as acne, hair loss and depression.

Many of those reporting hair loss attributed their loss of hair to pressure of work and long-term irregular work patterns. In order to prevent hair loss, Wang Xiaohe, who graduated from a top university in Beijing within the past five years, said he had tried food supplements, medicinal supplements, anti-hair loss and hair growth products, but found that "his hairline is getting higher and higher, and the hair is becoming more sparse, almost to the point where the scalp is visible to the naked eye".

"Once the hair becomes thinner and the hairline retracts, the person's whole image is greatly reduced. Anyone who sees me who does not know me thinks I'm older than I really am. For us young people, this is simply unbearable."

So it is not unknown for people under 30 and suffering hair loss to begin wearing wigs. The owner of a wig shop in Beijing says the number of young people visiting the shop has risen from 10 percent a couple years ago to 30 percent now.

"In the beginning most of the customers were middle-aged and elderly," the owner said. "In recent years there have been more young people, especially men, with hair loss their main worry."

The business information provider Tianyancha said that of the 33,000 wig companies in China, 8,400 were set up last year.

Staying up late, drinking alcohol, perming and dyeing are some of the causes of hair loss among young people, says the report. For those under 30 who suffer hair loss, buying ginger shampoo, wearing wigs, and transplanting hair are all options.

One of the big motivating factors among young wig buyers is the desire to project a good image as they seek work. In terms of product selection, wigs are generally more adaptable and comfortable. The prices range from 1,000 yuan to 1,500 yuan for a full wig, while the price for a hair piece is slightly lower, ranging from tens of yuan to hundreds of yuan.

Tmall, part of Taobao, China's number one online sales platform, says wigs were a top seller on Singles Day, Nov 11, last year. As of 8 am that day among the top 10 cities for wig transactions on the platform, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen were the top four in the number of wig sets sold, Shanghai being the Chinese city apparently most afflicted by baldness. Those in their 30s accounted for 42.4 percent of the buyers, followed by those in their 40s, 25.9 percent, and those in their 50s, 14.3 percent.

Most are professionals, Tmall says, dealing with customers, colleagues and subordinates at work, dressed immaculately and with fine hairstyles. However, in the evening they browse wig shops and hair improvement shops on online platforms buying all kinds of wigs or hair nutrient products.

At present, there are mainly three types of wig materials on the market, namely chemical fiber, the cheapest, real hair and chemical fiber mix more expensive, and human hair, the most expensive.

Chemical fiber wigs are the most common among cosers－those who indulge in cosplay-who wear colorful hair at various animation exhibitions. The tough texture makes it easy to knot after washing and is difficult to manage. You can buy a whole top set for a few dozen dollars.

Wigs made of a mixture of synthetic filaments and real human hair have a more natural look. Most of the wigs costing between 300 yuan and 1,000 yuan sold on Taobao are of this type, with the ratio of real hair to chemical fibers being 4:1.

Real-hair wigs are the most expensive, usually costing thousands of dollars, and more advanced wigs are even customized according to personal hair color and hairstyle needs. These wigs, of course, look the most natural, and as long as they are worn properly it can be difficult to distinguish them from a real head of hair. In addition, they stand out from the other two types of wigs, being more breathable and absorbing moisture.

With the most expensive wigs, hair is sewn to a net strand by strand, which not only takes time and effort, but also tests the maker's skills. Most real hair sets or hair pieces start at 3,000 yuan, and the most expensive ones can cost as much as 18,000 yuan.

These wigs are popular among international celebrities, and their natural look and adaptability have helped them became the favorite among Hollywood actresses.

Rebecca, the Chinese wig brand that originated in Xuchang, Henan province, says almost of half of its sales revenues come from Africa and a quarter from the Americas.

The former US first lady Michelle Obama has often been praised in the media for her hairstyle, on many occasions when she wore a wig. When Barack Obama was first elected president, in 2008, wig companies in Xuchang launched the Michelle Same Style wig. As a result, it quickly sold out and was out of stock for several months.

In addition to wigs as a solution to baldness, hair transplantation has become an option for many, and in the current crop of those choosing it, those aged 20 to 30 account for 57.4 percent, a report by China Central Television said.

There are various ways of performing hair transplants, and in 2018, the CCTV report said, about 500,000 such operations were performed in China, the surgery fees exceeding 10 billion yuan. It estimated that the average cost of hair transplant surgery is more than 20,000 yuan.

Contact the writer at zhanglei@chinadaily.com.cn