Why do I shed more in autumn?
Over the past few weeks I have noticed my hair is shedding more than usual. I can see around 25 to 30 hairs on my pillow every morning, and a whole load more in the bath tub after my showers.
I won't lie, it is slightly concerning, but I am aware that autumn can be a brutal season for losing hair. In fact, after researching the subject of 'seasonal hair loss' it turns out this is very normal, and that is is perfectly natural to shed excessive amounts of hair at the end of summer season.
Come to think of it, I do recall severe hair shedding during this time of the year in previous autumns gone by, so it doesn't worry me too much. I guess it all depends on how quickly my hair grows as we enter winter. After all, winter is meant to be the best season for strong hair growth.
So what is seasonal shedding?
Seasonal shedding is when we shed more hair in certain seasons than others. According to my research, most of us tend to shed the most in the summer, but many of us, including me, shed more hair in autumn. It depends on each individual.
Humans operate much the same way as animals do - We shed during certain parts of the year in order to grow new 'fur' for other seasons. Hence why winter is usually a good season for hair growth.
Although quite severe, the shedding that I am currently experiencing isn't bad enough that it can be noticed, but if you suffer from pattern baldness, then any form of shedding isn't particularly good for your cause. Seasonal shedding can play havoc with a balding man (or women), so it is crucial you take the right steps in order to avoid more shedding than necessary.
How to prevent shedding
Unfortunately, stopping the pattern of seasonal shedding is near impossible, but there are ways in which you can minimise the amount of hair fall.
It really is a case of tightening up your hair care routine, and making sure your strands are getting the right minerals, nutrients, vitamins and care. A good, hair strengthening biotin or argan oil based shampoo is very effective solution for hair loss. I am always raving on about the OGX shampoo range - they're rich in ingredients and cheap in price - so be sure to check them out.
Also, make sure you are getting plenty of hair beneficiary vitamins into your diet on a daily basis. Many of you will know that I take the hair supplement, HR23+, which provides me with all the vitamins and minerals I need for better hair growth.
Finally, it should really go without saying, if you want healthy hair then you need to be living a healthy lifestyle. Your hair is no different to any other part of your body - the better you treat it the better it will grow! Eat well, live well, and see your hair benefit.
How to get the best out of your hair during summer
Hair shedding is very common, especially during spring and summer seasons. As humans, we tend to shed more during the hotter months of the year - a bit like animals shedding their fur.
Many people often ask if they should alter their hair care routine during shedding season. In my case, yes, I do tend to make a few minor tweaks to my routine in order to get he very best out of my barnet.
Summer hair care routine
Ok, so like I said, the changes are minimal, but they do seem to work for me. Firstly, I tend to take Biotin supplements during the summer months. I already take Biotin via HR23+ hair supplement, but I do take the extra dosage when hair shedding reaches its peak.
Biotin (Vitamin B7) is an excellent human growth agent that helps improve the condition, strength, rate and speed of hair growth. I do see it as an excellent vitamin to take during a period when your hair is at its weakest.
Wash your hair less often
I actually only wash my hair with shampoo about twice a week in the summer period. We tend to sweat a heck of a lot more in the warmer climate, so it's not particularly ideal. I actually wash my hair with warm water five days a week, but I only use shampoo about twice a week.
Weaker strands will benefit from less shampooing and conditioning, so, if you can, avoid over-washing, to keep your hair looking and feeling fuller.
Use sun factor on your locks
I always, without fail, use 30+ SPF on my hair during summer. I use an anti-grease sun factor cream and gently rub it into my locks until fully absorbed. This offers my hair excellent protection from the sun throughout the whole day.
One of the main causes of hair damage is the ultraviolet rays from the sun - therefore it is essential that you give your hair full protection with a good SPF solution.
The sun is out, the climate is warmer and the holiday season begins. Yes, it's that time of the year when we all look forward to summer!
But for many hair loss sufferers out there, the hot season can be the most daunting time of the year for a number of reasons, and I can totally relate to this. In this post I shall take you through a number of reasons why, I personally, fear at the thought of going through these three long months, and yes, it's all to do with my hair!
Sunlight exposes a thinning scalp
Now, many of my readers will already know that I have managed to stop my hair loss problem that I started suffering with around six or seven years ago, but my concerns about hair fall and thinning scalp still remain. My hair isn't as thick as it was when I was 21, and it probably never will be again, so my life is now dedicated to maintaining a healthy head of hair for as long as I can.
It's a common known fact that any kind of light shining on your scalp will reveal and accentuate any thinning or balding. I remember when I first started thinning at around the age of 25, and that summer quite a few people noticed this during a time my hair was exposed in the sunlight. I am much more secure about my hair these days, but the problem still exists. My advice? If you aren't all that keen on wearing hats, just add a little hair spray or hair building fibres to your hair in order to conceal any thinning patches.
A dip in the sea can reveal everything!
You may be able to cover up or conceal a thinning scalp with products, but what the heck are you supposed to do once your hair gets wet? Let's face it, our hair gets wetter in the summer more than any other season, with regular dips in the sea, swimming pools and water pistol fights. Also, don't forget we also sweat far more in the hotter months of the year, which can leave our locks looking greasy and thinner.
I normally wash my hair every other day, but during the hotter weeks I tend to wash it every day, but without shampoo every other day. This helps keep my hair cleansed from sweat and not over conditioned, as we all know too much washing can leave the hair looking too conditioned, which results in thinner looking hair.
We shed more hair in the summer
Like dogs, we humans tend to shed hair in the summer, for the same reason - to keep our bodies cool. Fear not though, any shedding in the summer is usually reversed as the colder months come into play, but let's face it, if you suffer from thinning hair the last thing you'll want to happen is further shedding.
I find HR23+ hair health supplement (above) to be excellent for the maintainence of my hair growth, and it also helps prevent hair loss. Feeding your hair with key vitamins should be an essential part of your hair care routine, in order to prevent hair shedding and damage caused from too much exposure to the sun. I also use a matte textured sun lotion on my scalp to protect my hair from the sunlight. The lotion also thickens my hair and helps me sweat a lot less, resulting in dry, thick looking locks.
Yes, summer season can suck, but worrying about your hair shouldn't ruin your summer like it has for me over the years. I have managed to find a way to relax through the summer months, simply by upping my hair care routine, making sure my hair is getting the very best treatment it deserves. Yes, expect some wear and tear if you are active by nature, but as long as you look after your hair, feed it and protect it, you should be able to start enjoying yourself, worry free.
