Discovering more hair than usual in your shower drain can be concerning, however, this is often a normal part of the seasonal hair loss cycle. Autumn hair shedding is a real phenomenon, and understanding the reasons behind it—as well as ways to combat it—can help you maintain healthy, vibrant hair through the season.
Reasons Behind Increased Hair Shedding in Autumn
The Hair Growth Cycle
Hair naturally goes through cycles of growth, transition, and shedding. The hair you see falling is typically concluding its lifecycle, a process that can be more evident in autumn due to the below factors.
The Impact of Seasonal Changes
The transition to autumn brings drier, cooler air, which can dehydrate the scalp and make hair more brittle and prone to breaking. This perceived increase in hair shedding is often due to hair breakage rather than actual loss from the roots.
Lifestyle and Stress Factors
A seasonal change can result in lifestyle and stress factors impacting both your hair and skin. When cortisol levels are elevated due to stress, it can lead to a condition known as telogen effluvium. This condition occurs when hair follicles enter a resting phase prematurely, causing hair to fall out in large amounts.
Tips for Managing Autumn Hair Shedding
It is always a good idea to make an extra effort in the cooler months to keep your hair hydrated and moisturised, see our tips below.
Promote a Healthy Diet
A balanced diet rich in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates supports not only skin health but also hair health. Because hair is largely made of protein, keep up your protein intake by focusing on healthy proteins including lean meats, fish, beans, legumes and low-fat dairy products.
Protein is particularly crucial as it supplies the amino acids needed for keratin production, the structural building block of hair and responsible for its strength and structure. If these amino acids are lacking, the protein in our hair can become compromised, resulting in brittle and fragile hair. It’s also important to limit additives and excess sugar.
Hair Supplements
Incorporating supplements into your routine can not only strengthen your hair, potentially minimizing breakage, but also contribute to the appearance of a fuller, thicker mane, even if it doesn’t directly stop the shedding process.
Two Hair Supplements we recommend at the Clinic are:
- Designs for Health Whole Body Collagen. This product contains a unique blend of three patented collagen peptides, FORTIGEL™, FORTIBONE™ and VERISOL™. This flavourless and heat stable collagen is a great source of dairy free and gluten free protein. Collagen is crucial for mobile joints, stable bones, healthy muscles, strong ligaments and tendons, skin and hair health and healthy fingernails. Collagen is the primary structural protein of connective tissue.
- Aéde Hair Activist. A pure, active, and proven formulation specifically designed to support hair, skin and nail health. A daily super supplement designed to support natural, healthy hair growth, boost collagen production and reduce free radical damage. Made with a blend of potent vitamins, minerals and antioxidants including riboflavin, biotin, silicon and zinc to aid longer, stronger, shinier strands.
These are available to purchase in our Clinic in Bondi Junction.
Hydration is Key
To combat the dryness of the season, increase your water intake and use moisturizing hair care products and masks to keep your hair hydrated and moisturised. Reducing the use of heat styling tools can also help preserve hair moisture and integrity.
Stress Reduction Techniques
Incorporating meditation, yoga, walking and various other exercises and outdoor activities into your routine can mitigate stress levels and, by extension, reduce its impact on your hair health.
By understanding the unique challenges that autumn presents to hair health and adopting strategies to address them, you can help ensure that your hair remains as lush and healthy as the season itself.
For a personalised treatment plan that caters to your own unique requirements, book an appointment online with our experienced practitioners. If you have any questions, call us on (02) 8041 5725.
