Many people notice more hair in their brush, shower drain, or on their clothes as summer comes to an end. It can be concerning, especially when the change seems to happen suddenly.
But seasonal shedding is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong. Research has found that the human hair cycle follows seasonal patterns, with a greater proportion of hairs entering the resting phase toward the end of summer and increased shedding around late summer and early fall.
Your Hair Is Always Moving Through a Cycle
Every hair follicle moves through different phases of growth, rest, and shedding.
Anagen → Catagen → Telogen → Shedding → New growth
During the anagen phase, the follicle actively produces a growing hair. The follicle eventually transitions into telogen, the resting phase. The existing hair is then released as a new growth cycle begins.
Studies have observed that the proportion of telogen hairs tends to increase around August and September, meaning more hairs are reaching the end of their active cycle at roughly the same time.
This is one reason fall can feel like a particularly heavy shedding season.
Why Does Shedding Increase in Fall?
The exact reason for seasonal changes in the hair cycle is not fully understood. Research suggests that environmental factors, including changes in daylight and seasonal exposure, may play a role.
Importantly, this does not mean every increase in fall shedding is simply seasonal.
Hair can also enter the resting phase after physiological stress. Illness, significant weight loss, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, and other stressors can trigger increased shedding known as telogen effluvium.
The timing can also make this confusing. Shedding caused by a stressor may not appear immediately. With telogen effluvium, increased hair fall can become noticeable several months after the triggering event.
What You May Notice in the Fall
Seasonal shedding may look like:
- More hair in your brush or shower
- Increased shedding when washing your hair
- More loose hairs throughout the day
- A temporary feeling of reduced hair density
The important distinction is between shedding and progressive thinning.
Seasonal shedding is part of the hair cycle. Persistent or significant thinning can have other causes and is worth discussing with a qualified healthcare professional.
How to Support Your Hair Through Seasonal Shedding
You cannot stop a naturally occurring hair cycle, but you can support the conditions your follicles need to remain healthy.
Keep Your Scalp Healthy
The scalp is the environment where each hair follicle grows. Gentle, consistent care can help maintain a healthy scalp without unnecessarily disrupting it.
Avoid Excessive Stress on the Hair
Frequent heat styling, tight hairstyles, and rough brushing can contribute to breakage. Treat the hair gently, particularly when it is wet and more vulnerable to damage.
Support the Hair Growth Cycle
Hair growth is a long-term biological process. Ingredients that support follicle function can be part of a consistent hair-care routine rather than a reaction to seasonal shedding.
Supporting Your Hair's Natural Cycle
At Lifespan Dermatology, our approach is built around supporting the body's natural cycles rather than overwhelming them.
Hair Restorer was formulated with ingredients including Swiss apple stem cells and Baicapil, selected for their research around follicle health, hair density, growth, and anchorage.
The goal is not to fight a natural seasonal cycle. It is to support the health of the follicle and the quality of the hair it produces over time.
Fall Shedding Is Not Always a Sign of Hair Loss
Seeing more hair in the shower this time of year can be unsettling, but seasonal changes in shedding are a documented part of the hair cycle.
Think of fall shedding less as your hair suddenly “falling out” and more as one growth cycle making room for the next.
Hair is constantly growing, resting, releasing, and beginning again. Supporting that process consistently is more important than reacting to a few extra hairs in the drain.
