WHY IS MY HAIR FALLING OUT NOW THAT SUMMER IS OVER?
Autumn - the season of falling leaves, cosy sweaters and dare we say, shedding hair. It seems like just as the trees start losing their foliage, our precious locks decide to join the party, but maybe there is more to this seasonal drop than meets the eye?
As the vibrant hues of summer start to fade many people notice an uptick in hair shedding during the autumn months. While it might seem like an odd seasonal phenomenon, there are several reasons why you might find more strands slipping through your fingers during this time of year.
Understanding Autumn Shedding:
Seasonal Change
Autumn's arrival brings with it a crisp chill in the air and a decline in humidity levels. Unfortunately, this change isn't just a shock to our wardrobe; one key factor is the change in temperature and humidity levels. As the air becomes cooler and drier, it can lead to dehydration of both your skin and scalp. Dryness can make your hair more brittle and prone to breakage, exacerbating shedding, causing a cascade of hair loss.
Stress and Lifestyle Adjustments
Bid farewell to the carefree days of summer and say hello to the hustle and bustle of work, back-to-school madness and looming deadlines, stress levels can skyrocket faster than the leaves falling from the trees, which can bring about a surge in stress levels, and as we all know, stress and hair loss go together like that sweet situationship you just can’t bring yourself to let go of.
Additionally, lifestyle changes in autumn, such as diet, exercise, and sleep patterns, can impact the health of your hair. Poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and inadequate sleep can all contribute to hair loss, making autumn shedding more pronounced.
Hormonal Fluctuations
Hormonal changes are another factor that can influence hair shedding, and these fluctuations can occur seasonally - who knew? For instance, the decrease in sunlight exposure during autumn may affect the body's production of melatonin, which affects your circadian rhythm and core body temperature, in turn impacting hormone levels. If your hormones are dysregulated, your hair growth cycle can be impacted, leading to increased shedding.
Hair Growth Cycle
It is important to remember that hair shedding is a natural part of the hair growth cycle. Each hair follicle goes through a cycle of growth, transition, and resting phases, before eventually shedding and regenerating. The timing of these cycles vary and are dependent on the mane in question. The hair you witness falling isn't just randomly abandoning ship; it's simply reached the end of its life cycle. Much like the slow and steady growth of new hair, the shedding process takes its sweet time, typically spanning three to four months. So, rest assured, what goes up must come down, even in the realm of hair growth and loss.
Coping Strategies:
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Prioritise regular movement, sleep hygiene and a balanced diet that is rich in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates - this posse is essential for a healthy mane. Limit additives and excess sugar.
Hair Activist and Power Activist are there to enrich your strands so that they can blossom, as they are filled to the brim with vitamins and minerals, which your body has been lacking, but without a solid base camp, our Activists can’t work at their optimum. Help them, help you.
Hydration Station
Keep your rig and scalp hydrated by drinking plenty of H20. This also includes pampering your scalp with hair care products that combat the dryness that often accompanies autumn. Think moisturising hair masks and scalp massages with your Harmonise Scalp Gua Sha. It's like giving your roots a warm, autumn hug. Minimise the use of hot tools as this will work against the above.
Stress less
Deep breaths please. Incorporate stress-reducing activities into your daily routine i.e. mindfulness meditation, yoga, a leisurely stroll, grounding yourself in nature, or deep breathing exercises. It sounds like a bunch of BS but this will help mitigate the effects of stress on your hair.