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.
HOW LONG DOES SEASONAL SHEDDING LAST? Seasonal hair shedding generally lasts 2-3 months. It begins in summer, heightens in fall and can linger around through winter. During wintertime, Telogen levels are the lowest as growth slowly begins again.
This is completely normal and nothing to be alarmed over. It is called seasonal hair loss. Many people experience increased hair shedding during late fall and winter because the dry air strips the moisture out of your hair and scalp. This causes dry hair and breakage, which leads to shedding.
There's A Scientific Reason You're Shedding More This Season
It's actually common for people to lose more hair in the summer and fall than in the winter and spring, according to a study in the British Journal of Dermatology.
But there's one seasonal change that affects both men and women that's not often discussed, and that's seasonal hair loss. It's most common in the summer and fall months, and with a little attention, it's possible to minimize your seasonal shedding each year.
Hair loss can start as early as your teenage years or might not occur until you're well past retirement. Generally, people begin noticing signs of hair loss in their 30s and 40s. More significant hair loss often happens when people reach their 60s and beyond.
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.
Possible causes of hair loss include stress, poor diet, and underlying medical conditions. Everyone experiences hair shedding, and it happens to each of us every day. Most people lose 50 to 100 hairs per day as part of this natural cycle, more on days you wash your hair.
“The first is in July and August and the second—and more significant—is November and December into half of January.” The hair is thickest in the summer to serve as protection from the sun. He adds, “The shedding during these months is a temporary situation. The hair will grow back in about three months.”
Luckily, seasonal hair loss only lasts up to 2-3 months and is mostly during fall. A viable explanation for this is that: The hair cycle often coincides with the different seasons of the year. And the shedding phase happens in the fall months.
While we typically shed up to 100 hairs a day, during the more moderate months of the year, that number can reach 150, she says. The reason? Our hair rests in the telogen phase in summer and enters the exogen phase (or the shedding phase) in fall—and occasionally spring, she adds.
While this question truly depends on the nature of your hair and varies from every person, if you have thinning hair, try to wash your hair between 3-4 times a week if necessary; washing thinning hair just 3 to 4 times per week means doing so just about every other day.
Unfortunately, male and female pattern baldness is not reversible without surgical intervention. However, if detected early enough, certain medications, such as minoxidil, finasteride, and Dutasteride can help halt the progression of thinning hair.
If you are shedding more than the average 100 strands or if you notice hair thinning, you might be experiencing hair loss. It's often hard to differentiate hair loss vs hair shedding, but if you spot more hair strands on your pillow or comb, consult your dermatologist.
Caucasian hair usually appears thicker since it is more difficult to see through the scalp than other ethnic hair types. However, Asian hair is the thickest and coarsest hair of any ethnic group.
Age: Hair grows fastest between the ages of 15 and 30, before slowing down. Some follicles stop working altogether as people get older. This is why some people get thinner hair or go bald. Nutrition: Good nutrition is essential for the growth and maintenance of healthy hair.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
The three most common triggers for hair loss in young women are stress, dieting, and hormonal changes. Less commonly, hair loss can be caused by certain autoimmune diseases. Here's more on these four triggers for hair loss in young women.
“Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and may help in preventing hair shedding and thinning,” says Michele Green, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York. “The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.
Anyone who is losing more than about 100 hairs a day or noticing large clumps of hair falling out could be experiencing excessive hair shedding. Hair shedding is not the same as permanent hair loss, which leads to the gradual thinning of the hair or a receding hairline. Shedding hair will regrow in the hair follicle.
After about a month, hair may begin to grow back at its typical rate of 4 to 6 in. per year.
Can thin hair become thicker again? A person cannot change the texture of their hair. However, the hair may grow back after chemotherapy or pregnancy, for example.