Seasonal Hair Shedding: Why Your Hair Sheds More in the Fall

Seasonal hair shedding is the reason you may see more hair in your brush, your shower drain, and on your sweater every fall. If it feels like it came out of nowhere, you are not imagining it. Hair has a natural rhythm, and for many people that rhythm peaks right around September, October, and November.

The good news: this kind of shedding is temporary. Below, we explain why it happens, how much shedding is normal, how long it lasts, and the simple signs that mean it is time to call a doctor instead of waiting it out.

Why does my hair shed more in the fall?

Your hair sheds more in the fall because of hairs that stopped growing back in the summer. Every hair on your head goes through a cycle with three main phases:

• Growing (anagen): The hair grows for years. Most of your hair is in this phase at any time.
• Transition (catagen): A short phase of a few weeks where the hair stops growing.
• Resting (telogen): The hair rests for a few months, then falls out so a new hair can grow in its place.

Research shows that the share of resting hairs rises in the summer. A study of 823 women over six years found the highest number of resting hairs in summer and the lowest in late winter. Since resting hairs stay put for a few months before they fall, that summer spike shows up as extra shedding in the fall.

Nobody knows the exact reason for the summer spike. Some experts think the body holds on to more hair in summer to shield the scalp from the sun. Others point to changes in daylight and hormones. Either way, the pattern is real and very common.

What month does hair shed the most?

Most people notice the most shedding from September through November. The timing depends on when your hairs entered the resting phase over the summer, so one person may see it in late August while another notices it closer to Thanksgiving.

Some people also notice a smaller round of shedding in spring. That lines up with the same research, which found a second, smaller rise in resting hairs in spring.

How much hair shedding is normal?

Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. During seasonal hair shedding, you may lose more than that for a while. That is why fall can feel so alarming even when nothing is wrong.

A few things make shedding look worse than it is:

• Wash day: If you wash every few days, the loose hairs from those days all come out at once in the shower.
• Long hair: Ten long strands look like a lot more hair than ten short ones.
• Dark clothing: Sweater season makes every stray hair easy to spot.

How long does seasonal hair shedding last?

Seasonal hair shedding usually eases up within a few weeks to a couple of months. Once the summer batch of resting hairs falls out, your hair goes back to its normal pace.

If heavy shedding keeps going for more than a few months, that is a sign something else may be going on. Stress, illness, a new medication, or a recent baby can all cause shedding too. If you had a baby in the last year, read our guide on what helps postpartum hair loss.

Is it shedding or thinning?

Shedding means hair falls out and grows back. Thinning (hair loss) means the hair stops growing back the way it did before. The two can feel the same in the moment, but they look different over time.

Seasonal shedding usually looks like:

• More hairs in your brush or drain than usual
• Shed hairs with a tiny white bulb at the root end
• No change in your part or the size of your ponytail after a few months

Signs it may be thinning instead:

• Your part looks wider than it used to
• Your ponytail feels smaller around
• You see bald spots or patches
• Shedding stays heavy for months

If you see any of the thinning signs, book a visit with a dermatologist. A dermatologist can tell you if you have hair loss or extra shedding.

Will my hair grow back after seasonal shedding?

Yes, hair grows back after seasonal shedding. When a resting hair falls out, a new hair is already starting to grow from the same follicle. Your hair can look a little thinner for a bit while the new hairs catch up, then it fills back in.

Be patient here. Hair grows slowly, so it can take several months for the new growth to blend in with the rest of your hair.

Can you stop seasonal hair shedding?

You cannot fully stop seasonal hair shedding, because it is a natural part of your hair cycle. You can protect the hair you have so you do not lose extra strands to breakage on top of it. In Westchester, fall brings dry heat from radiators and furnaces, wool hats, and scarves that rub against your hair. All of that adds up.

Here is what helps:

• Loosen up your styles. Tight ponytails, buns, and clips pull on the root. Try a low, loose style or a soft scrunchie.
• Turn down the heat. Use a heat protectant and a lower setting on your flat iron and blow dryer. Our post on whether your flat iron is damaging your hair explains the safe range.
• Condition every wash. Dry indoor air makes hair brittle. Conditioner helps strands bend instead of snap.
• Brush gently. Start at the ends and work up. Use a wide-tooth comb on wet hair.
• Use a humidifier. It puts moisture back in the air while the heat is running.
• Eat well. Hair needs protein, iron, and other nutrients to grow. If you think you are low on something, ask your doctor for a blood test before you buy supplements.

What haircut makes shedding less noticeable?

A haircut with blunt ends and some face-framing pieces makes shedding much less noticeable. Blunt ends keep the bottom of your hair looking full, even when you are losing a few more strands up top.

These cuts work well during a heavy shed:

• A blunt bob or lob: Strong, even ends make hair look thicker.
• Collarbone length: Long enough to style, short enough that weight does not drag hair flat.
• Soft, face-framing layers: They add movement up front without thinning out the ends.

Skip heavy layering all over and ask your stylist not to use thinning shears. Both remove weight that you want to keep right now. If you are over 60, our list of low-maintenance hairstyles for women over 60 with fine hair has more easy, full-looking options. When you are ready for a fresh shape, every haircut at Numi starts with a consultation so your stylist can see your hair up close.

Can you still color your hair while it is shedding?

Yes, most people can keep their regular color appointments during seasonal shedding. Seasonal shedding starts at the root, while hair color works on the part of the strand above your scalp. Breakage from harsh chemicals or too much heat can look like shedding, though, so the gentler your routine, the better.

The best step is to tell your stylist you have noticed more shedding. They can check your scalp, look at your part, and adjust your hair color service if your hair needs extra care. The same goes for smoothing treatments. If you are wondering about those, we answer whether a keratin treatment causes hair loss in a separate post.

Seeing hair in the drain is scary, and you are not alone

Finding a clump of hair in the shower can make your heart drop. Many people worry they are going bald, or that something they did caused it. In most cases, fall shedding is just your hair cycle doing what it always does.

Your stylist sees your hair every few weeks or months, which makes them a great second set of eyes. They can often spot changes in your part or density that are hard to see in your own mirror. If you want a deeper look at your scalp, read our post on whether scalp facials help with shedding.

When should you see a doctor about hair shedding?

See a doctor or dermatologist if heavy shedding lasts more than a few months, or if you notice bald patches, a wider part, or a smaller ponytail. You should also call if shedding comes with other changes, like feeling very tired, a recent illness, or a new medication.

A doctor can run blood work to check things like iron and thyroid levels. That is the only way to know if a health issue is behind the shedding.

Seasonal hair shedding questions, answered

Worried about fall shedding in Westchester?

Fall shedding is normal, but it is still hard to watch. Our stylists can look at your hair and scalp, talk through what you are seeing, and help you pick a cut and color plan that keeps your hair looking full while it grows back.

Numi Hair Salon is in Scarsdale. We are rated 4.9 stars across more than 2,470 Google reviews. We have been voted Best of Westchester and named one of the Top 100 Salons in the U.S. Call us at (914) 574-6402 with any questions.

See our women’s haircuts or Book Your Appointment at Numi Hair Salon.