What To Know About Your Hair During Fall
If you’re like many people, then the fall season is a welcome breath of fresh air. And your hair? Well, on the one hand, you no longer have to worry about the heat or humidity wreaking havoc on it. On the other hand, there’s long been a rumor that people lose more hair during the fall season, and you do feel like you’re shedding more.
Is there any truth to the rumor? Are there other hair health concerns you should be aware of as the weather grows cooler? Let’s take a look at these questions and learn how to maintain consistently healthy hair year-round - even when the weather is anything but consistent.
Fall Hair Loss: Myth or Fact?
It’s quite common for both men and women - mostly women because of their longer hair - to start noticing more hair in their hairbrush as the summer weather cools to fall. It’s so common, in fact, that researchers put seasonal hair loss to the test in a six-year-long study. The results? Fall hair loss is real, but it’s not necessarily a portent of things to come; in fact, people end up losing the least amount of hair during the winter months directly afterward.
The reason for fall hair loss has to do with a bit of a time delay. Your body doesn’t need as much insulation during the summer to stay warm, so more of your hair converts into “resting follicles” as opposed to active ones: follicles that remain dormant, holding onto their hair without growing it, and then shedding that hair to prepare for regrowth. Unfortunately, it’s not until Autumn when the dormant hair actually gets around to shedding! So yes, there’s a slight seasonal uptick in hair loss during the fall.
Although the loss may be noticeable to you, the season alone would not be enough to spur a significant change. There are lifestyle changes that come with the fall, however, that do impact your overall hair health on a more significant level.
Diet and Hydration
Like the rest of your body, your hair needs nourishment to stay at its best. If the impending cold weather causes you to drastically change your diet - by switching, for example, to more high-starch and high-fat foods - this could have an impact on your hair.
Try This: We would recommend keeping your diet as consistent and healthy as possible throughout the seasons, and take HairXT hair vitamins to maintain the proper balance of nutrients that your hair needs.
Hats Off
You might be free from summer heat, but as soon as your heater comes on for the season, you’re going to be exposed to a far more damaging heat. Indoor heating systems are extremely drying, not just to the hair strands themselves but also to your scalp. Your hair becomes much more brittle and breakable, which means shoving it under a hat all day is often the thing that sends it over the edge.
Try This: Remove your hat as soon as you get indoors so that your scalp and hair can breathe as much as possible. If you need a hat for warmth, aim for a knit cotton or another comfortable, breathable material. Materials like wool might seem like a great idea, but if they start to cause itching, you’re at risk of doing even more damage to your hair. Never put on a hat or cap over hair that is dirty or sweaty, since doing so will trap bacteria and can contribute to dandruff and itching. We’d also recommend stimulating and soothing your dry hair and scalp with our HairXT hair growth serum.