Finding a lot of hair in your shower drain is perfectly normal, as humans naturally shed 50 to 100 strands of hair a day. Hair gets trapped when loose strands mix with sticky soap scum and oils, acting like a net that catches more hair every time you shower.
Hair Shedding
However, periods of stress, illness, seasonal changes and your diet can all contribute to more or less shedding. Normal shedding is around 50-100 hairs a day, so basically, it's normal to find hairs in your shower and on your brush to a degree.
People pour salt down the drain at night primarily for routine maintenance. The coarse texture acts as a gentle abrasive to scour away minor grease, soap scum, and grime, while the overnight window gives it time to absorb moisture and loosen buildup before being flushed away.
If you're wondering how to prevent hair clogs in your shower, we've compiled this list of handy tips and tricks.
To remove hair from a shower drain, start by taking off the drain cover or lifting the stopper. Use a Drain Weasel or a wire bent into a small hook to fish the hair out. For leftover soap scum, pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain, let it fizz, and flush with hot water.
Plumbers almost never use chemical drain cleaners like Drano, as the harsh ingredients can corrode pipes and damage plumbing fixtures. Instead, they rely on mechanical tools and safer, targeted cleaning agents to clear blockages.
Yes, you can pour boiling water down a shower drain if you have metal plumbing, but you should avoid it if you have plastic (PVC) pipes. Boiling water can warp or melt plastic pipes and weaken glue, leading to leaks.
Commercial drain cleaners containing sodium hydroxide (lye) or potassium hydroxide are the most effective at dissolving hair clogs, with top options including Instant Power Hair & Grease, Liquid-Plumr Hair Clog Eliminator, and Drano Hair Buster Gel. These products work in 7–30 minutes, are safe for all pipe types, and dissolve stubborn hair-and-soap buildup.
Dawn dish soap can help clear minor, grease-based clogs. Because it is a powerful degreaser, it breaks down fats and oils that often build up in pipes. However, Dawn cannot clear solid blockages like hair, hard water scale, or solid objects.
If your drain snake won't go down your shower drain, it is likely hitting the P-trap (a U-shaped bend located right below the drain), getting caught on a pipe joint, or being blocked by the drain's crossbars.
Salt itself will not chemically damage PVC pipe; the material is chemically inert and highly resistant to saltwater and brine. However, salt can indirectly cause issues for your plumbing system. While the plastic remains unaffected, salt can corrode connected metal fittings, dry out joints, or potentially damage downstream fixtures like water heaters.
Plumbers highly recommend avoiding harsh chemical drain cleaners, as they can corrode pipes and only offer temporary relief. Instead, they suggest preventing buildup through daily habits, using natural enzyme or enzymatic cleaners for maintenance, and letting professional cleaners clear severe blockages.
If you're losing more than 100 hairs in the shower each day, it may be a symptom of clinical hair loss.
Signs a Clog Is in Your Drain, Not Your Sewer
To catch hair in your shower drain and prevent costly plumbing clogs, use a specialized drain protector. The most effective options sit inside or over the drain to trap hair while letting water flow freely.
Items to Never Flush or Pour Down the Drain:
“Keep in mind that dish soap is only effective for minor clogs caused by soft, organic materials,” says Cornforth. “For more severe clogs, you need different tools and products like a plunger or a toilet auger.”
Plumbers primarily use commercial-grade liquid drain cleaners containing sodium hydroxide (lye) or professional-strength sulfuric acid. These heavy, highly concentrated formulas melt hair, soap scum, and grease. However, for most everyday clogs, professionals prefer physical tools like augers or plungers to avoid pipe damage.
Plumbers strongly advise against using Drano and similar chemical cleaners because the caustic chemicals (like lye) generate immense heat that can melt PVC pipes, crack porcelain, and destroy older plumbing. Instead, professionals recommend using safe and effective methods to clear blockages.
To remove hair from a shower drain, start by taking off the drain cover or lifting the stopper. Use a Drain Weasel or a wire bent into a small hook to fish the hair out. For leftover soap scum, pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain, let it fizz, and flush with hot water.
Yes, Dawn dish soap can help clear minor, slow-moving drains. Because it is a powerful grease-cutter, it is highly effective at breaking up soap scum, fats, and oily blockages, but it won't clear solid obstructions like hair, food, or hard objects.
Pouring vinegar down your drains in October is a proactive maintenance hack to clear seasonal sludge, prevent winter blockages, and deodorize plumbing before the colder months set in.
The "135-degree rule" in plumbing states that the total (aggregate) horizontal change in direction for a drainage pipe—specifically trap arms—cannot exceed 135 degrees between the P-trap and the vent. Exceeding 135 degrees (such as using three 45-degree bends or a 90 and two 45s) requires a cleanout because sharp turns hinder flow and cause clogs.
It is okay to pour boiling water down the sink if your plumbing is clear. However, a blockage can trap the water in the pipe. This can melt PVC pipes and seals, causing serious damage. Additionally, using boiling water to unclog a toilet can melt the wax seal around the toilet.