Hair shedding is just a part of its normal growth cycle, but during autumn and into winter, the scalp tends to shed hair at a quicker rate. There's no scientific consensus on why, but it's very common, especially among women.
Hair often falls more in winter due to dry air, reduced blood circulation, and increased stress; however, it's typically temporary and grows back.
Here's the good news: Seasonal hair loss and telogen effluvium are temporary. “A true telogen effluvium is non-scarring, non-permanent hair loss,” Finney says. “And it's usually something that occurs for a finite amount of time, whether it be six weeks or several months.
Oil your hair twice a week
Oil massages are not only very calming but also an excellent technique to stop hair loss in the winter. Olive oil and almond oil are excellent hair oils because they give your hair and scalp the essential vitamins and fatty acids they need to fend off the cold.
Another six-year biochemical investigation revealed seasonal hair loss evidence that women's hair sheds more in late summer through fall.
Seasonal shedding often occurs during the fall months, such as September and October, and at some point in the spring, like April and May. This timeline often coincides with the second half of the hair growth cycle, where more hairs are shed.
It may be a sign that you're losing too much hair if: Increased shedding. Thinning or bald spots. Changes in hairline.
It's perfectly normal to lose a few stray strands when running your fingers, or a comb, through your hair. But if you notice increased hair being pulled out when you are being gentle, this can be a cause of concern that you should get checked over.
For instance, our hair grows faster in summer and slower during winter. One reason for this is that our blood circulates more easily during the summer season, transporting nutrients more freely throughout the body and allowing your body to produce more keratin - the protein the hair is made of.
It's normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. When the body sheds significantly more hairs every day, a person has excessive hair shedding. The medical term for this condition is telogen effluvium.
Whilst a number of factors can impact the amount of hairs you shed, a shift into the cooler months contributes to higher hair loss. "On average, we lose between 100 and 150 hairs a day, which is a normal part of the hair growth cycle," explains Notting-Hill based celebrity stylist, Gustav Fouche.
Seasonal shedding typically lasts for a few weeks to a couple of months. It's different for everyone, but if you're noticing more hair fall during certain seasons, it should taper off on its own after a few weeks.
No Visible Pattern. With stress-related shedding, hair falls out evenly all over your scalp instead of in a defined pattern. You'll likely notice more hairs than usual coming out while shampooing, combing, or on your pillow, clothing, and bathroom floor.
However, most sources agree that shedding between 50 and 150 hairs per day puts someone in the normal range. For example, the American Academy of Dermatology states that it's normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs per day.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a component of two important coenzymes: flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) [22].
A visible scalp through your hair can be a sign that it's thinning (but not always). The factors that contribute to thinning hair (and thus a visible scalp) include stress, diet, vitamin deficiency and ageing.
This simple test measures the severity of hair loss. During a pull test, a dermatologist grasps small sections of hair, about 40 strands, from different parts of the scalp and gently tugs. If six or more strands fall out, you have what's known as active hair loss.
An average person loses about 50 to 100 hairs every day and grows the same amount. Any physical or emotional stress or deficiency in iron, biotin, and vitamin D can negatively affect hair health (growth and density of the hair).
An underlying health condition like an abnormal thyroid, anemia, vitamin deficiency, etc. Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause). Certain medications and supplements (blood pressure medicines, gout medicines and high doses of vitamin A). Genetic predisposition (it runs in your biological family history).