If you've been finding more hair in your comb, in the shower drain, or wrapped around your fingers after detangling, and it seems to happen around the same time every year, you're not imagining it. For a lot of people, fall brings a noticeable uptick in shedding.
The good news is that seasonal shedding is common, it's usually temporary, and it tends to settle down on its own. Knowing why it happens, and how to tell it apart from breakage, makes it a lot less stressful to live through.
Why Shedding Picks Up in the Fall
Every hair on your head moves through a cycle: a long growing phase, a short transition, and a resting phase that ends with the hair falling out so a new one can take its place. Losing somewhere around 50 to 100 hairs a day is a normal part of that cycle.
What changes with the seasons is how many hairs are resting at the same time. A long-running study of more than 800 women found that the share of hairs in the resting phase peaks in summer and drops to its lowest point in late winter. Resting hairs tend to fall out a few months after they stop growing, which is why the extra shedding usually shows up in the fall.
Researchers are still working out exactly why this happens. One common theory is that it's a leftover seasonal rhythm, similar to the way many animals shed their coats, rather than a sign that anything is wrong.
Why It Can Look Worse on Coily Hair
If you have coily or curly hair, seasonal shedding can look dramatic, and there's a simple reason for it. Straight hair lets shed strands fall away throughout the day, onto your pillow, your shoulders, and the floor. Coily hair holds on to them. Shed hairs get caught in the coils around them and stay put until you comb or detangle.
That means several days of perfectly normal shedding can come out all at once on wash day, and it looks like far more than it is. The same thing happens when you take down braids, twists, or a sew-in. Every hair that shed while the style was in comes out together, sometimes weeks' worth.
So before you panic over the pile in your comb, think about how long it's been since that hair last had a chance to come out.
Shedding or Breakage? A Quick Way to Tell
Not every hair in your comb is shedding, and the difference matters, because breakage has different causes and a different fix.
Pick up a strand and look at the ends. A shed hair is usually full length and has a small white or light-colored bulb at one end. That's the root, and it means the hair finished its cycle and fell out on schedule.
A broken hair has no bulb. It's usually shorter, and the end looks snapped or frayed. Breakage comes from dryness, tension, rough detangling, or heat, and it's something your routine can start helping with right away.
If most of what you're finding has a bulb, you're looking at shedding. If you're finding lots of short pieces, put your energy into moisture and gentler handling.
How to Care for Your Hair Through Shedding Season
You can't stop a natural cycle, but you can make sure the hair you're keeping stays strong and that wash day doesn't add breakage on top of shedding.
Detangle gently, with plenty of slip. Since shed hairs collect in your coils, detangling is when they all come out, and rough detangling can pull healthy hair along with them. Work in sections, start at the ends, and give your hair something slippery to work with. The Scalp Soothing Pre-Shampoo is made for this step, softening your hair before you wash so knots and loose strands slide out with less tugging.
Go easy on tension. Fall is a popular time to put in protective styles, but tight braids and ponytails pull hard on your hairline. Choose styles that don't hurt when they're installed, and give your edges a few days off between installs.
Keep your scalp routine steady. A clean, comfortable scalp makes everything else easier. A few minutes of scalp massage with an oil like the Scalp Stimulator, made with grapeseed, hemp seed, peppermint, and rosemary, is a calming part of the routine, especially when you're feeling stressed about how much hair is in your comb.
Take care of the rest of you. Your hair reflects what's going on inside your body. Eating enough protein and iron, drinking enough water, and getting decent sleep all matter. If you suspect your diet is falling short or you've been feeling run down, your doctor can check your iron and other levels with a simple blood test.
Be patient. Seasonal shedding usually settles within a few months. Switching products every week while you wait tends to stress your hair and scalp more than it helps.
When to Talk to a Dermatologist
Seasonal shedding is gradual and spread across your whole head. A few signs point to something else and are worth getting checked:
- Shedding that's still heavy after three to four months, or keeps getting worse
- Bald patches, or a part or hairline that's visibly widening
- Hair coming out in clumps
- An itchy, burning, painful, or scaly scalp
A dermatologist can figure out what's going on and recommend the right next step. Getting checked early is always easier than waiting and wondering.
A Normal Part of the Cycle
Seeing more hair than usual is unsettling, especially when you've been putting real work into your hair. But seasonal shedding doesn't erase your progress. It's your hair cycling through, the same way it does every year. Handle it gently, keep your routine steady, and by the time winter settles in, your comb will most likely look a lot more familiar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to shed more hair in the fall?
Yes. Research has found that more hairs enter the resting phase during summer, and those hairs tend to fall out a few months later, which lines up with fall. A modest increase in shedding around this time of year is common.
How much hair shedding is normal?
Losing around 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. On coily hair, those strands often stay trapped until wash day or until you take down a protective style, so you may see several days' or even weeks' worth come out at once.
How long does seasonal shedding last?
It usually settles within a few months. If heavy shedding continues past three to four months or keeps getting worse, it's worth seeing a dermatologist.
How can I tell if my hair is shedding or breaking?
Look at the strand. Shed hairs are usually full length with a small white bulb at one end. Broken hairs have no bulb and are usually shorter, with frayed or snapped ends.
Should I change my routine when I notice more shedding?
Not usually. Keep your routine steady rather than switching products. Focus on gentle detangling, low-tension styles, and a well-cared-for scalp, and give the cycle time to settle.
