hair care Archives | Happy Head

Long, hot summer days are about to make way for crisp fall air. It’s time to transition from bathing suits and vacations to back-to-school shopping, football season, and hayrides. Here’s something that may not be on your radar, though. The transition from warmer weather to cooler temps can affect your hair’s growth cycle. Is it time to switch up your hair care routine? Need to give your hair some extra TLC? Find out how your hair changes during the transition from summer to fall and what you can do to get healthier, fuller, thicker hair. Your fall hair care guide is here!

What Happens to Your Hair in the Fall?

Do you know how people say your hair grows faster in the summer? It’s not just an old wives’ tale. It’s true! A small sample of men was tracked for a year. During that time, researchers found that the number of hair follicles in the growth cycle peaked in March. In August and September, the least amount of hair follicles were in the growth stage. Not only that, the amount of hair shed more than doubled that of the previous winter. (01) So how can you offset the natural loss and keep your hair on top of its game? Here are some things you can do.

Moisturize

As summer’s heat and humidity are replaced by cooler air, you may find that your hair gets dry and frizzy. That means it’s time to swap your summer hair care products for more moisturizing and hydrating ones. Check the ingredients on your shampoo and conditioner bottles. You’ll want products that are sulfate-free and enriched with natural oils to keep your hair looking shiny and healthy. Fall is also the perfect time for deep conditioning treatments. Hair masks or natural oils, including coconut oil, argan oil, and olive oil bases, can help bring the shine back to damaged hair.

Keep It Cool

Sure, nothing feels better than a hot shower on a chilly day but think twice before using steamy hot water. Hot water can strip your hair’s natural oils, causing dryness and breakage. Use warm or cool water instead, especially when rinsing your hair. Cooler water helps maintain your hair’s natural moisture levels and promotes a healthier scalp. Think twice about heat styling, too. Excessive heat from hair dryers, flat irons, and curlers can lead to breakage and split ends. Consider embracing your hair’s natural texture instead. Is heat styling unavoidable? Use a heat protectant so there’s a barrier between your hair and your heat tool.

Get Regular Trims

Haircuts don’t affect your hair’s growth cycle but can help your hair’s overall health and make it look healthier. Trimming your hair every six to eight weeks can help prevent split ends from moving down the hair shaft and creating further damage. You may even have fun experimenting with a few new looks along the way.

Protect Your Hair from the Elements

Weather can be unpredictable in the fall. You never know when winds will blow through or if rain will dampen your day. Stylish hats, scarves, and hair-friendly accessories can save the day by protecting your tresses from environmental damage. Careful not to use anything tight, though. Tight ponytail holders, barrettes, and headbands can cause breakage, which is what you’re trying to avoid.

Nourish from the Inside Out

Did you know that your diet can affect your hair’s appearance? Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet with plenty of protein. Protein feeds keratin, which is your hair’s main building block. Foods like free-range eggs and poultry, fish, nuts, fruit, and leafy greens provide essential nutrients for thick, silky locks. Hair growth supplements may help if your hair is thinning or seems lackluster. Look for ingredients like biotin, collagen, and saw palmetto that help your hair grow stronger and faster.

Consider Scalp Massages

Ever had your hair washed at a salon or barber shop and gotten a bonus scalp massage? If so, you know how relaxing scalp massages can be. Even better, scalp massages may support hair health and growth too. Almost 70 percent of over 300 people who did scalp massages for 11 to 20 minutes daily for almost six months reported less hair loss or growth. (02) Researchers believe the improvement may be due to improved circulation. Not only that, massages reduce stress which can contribute to hair loss. So, why not give it a try? Simply use your fingertips to gently massage in circular motions. Free and easy to do!

Check Out the Latest Gadgets

Curious about the latest tools available to help your hair grow faster and thicker this fall? You’ve come to the right place. Let’s start with the dermaroller. Dermarollers are small, hand-held rollers with a bunch of tiny needles embedded in the roller. The needles create microscopic divots that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Like scalp massages, dermarollers also increase the blood supply to your hair follicles. That enlarges the follicles so new growth can emerge. The Gua Sha combs you may have seen on TikTok have a similar effect. The combs, made out of natural elements such as jade, look like other combs, but have extra thick, wide teeth. Rather than making small wounds on the scalp, Gua Sha massages the scalp to increase circulation. Want to give it a try? Use a little oil and very gently massage the oil into your scalp with the comb.

Keep Tabs On Your Hair Loss

Is your hair loss seasonal or due to a factor that needs more attention? If you’re not sure, there’s never a downside to consulting with a licensed dermatologist. You’ll get peace of mind if they don’t find anything significant. If it turns out that you’re experiencing male or female pattern baldness or another type of alopecia, the earlier you get treated, the more likely you’ll have a successful outcome. Don’t have a dermatologist on speed dial? Feeling insecure about asking questions in person? We’ve got you covered. Reach out to one of Happy Head’s board-certified dermatologists and hair specialists. We can help you discern between a typical amount of hair loss for the time of year and what’s not. If you need hair growth treatments, we can help with that too.

Fall Into Fuller, Thicker Hair

Sure, we tend to lose more hair in autumn than during other times of the year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t fight mother nature… and win. Switching up your hair care products with volumizing and moisturizing formulas, eating well, and seeking professional help if you have specific hair loss concerns are just a few of the things that you can do to keep your hair in top condition this fall. Now, pumpkin spice latte, anyone?

Want more tips and tricks for healthy hair growth and home maintenance? Follow us @hihappyhead to get the latest.

Resources:

(01) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2003996/

(02) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-019-0281-6

Dealing with summer hair can be tough. Trying to get my frizzy strands under control when the humidity is at its peak is an exercise in futility, but there is always the not-so-sleek ponytail to fall back on. Now that I have alopecia, summer brings on a whole new set of hair dilemmas. Will chlorine make my hair fall out? Are UV light treatments good for hair loss? Is the sun okay to be out in? Will a hat protect my hair or harm it? Is summer shedding really a thing? So I asked a few Happy Head team members to get answers to a few summer hair care questions. There are so many old wives’ tales out there that it can be challenging to separate fact from fiction. Read on to learn how to care for your hair during summer with this hair care guide and get answers to some commonly asked questions.

Fact #1: Everyone Loses Some Hair Daily

The first thing you need to know is that no matter what time of the year it is, seeing strands of your hair in the sink shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. People typically lose anywhere between 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. (01) There’s a difference between normal hair shedding and excessive hair loss, though. If you start to notice your hair gradually thinning, bald spots developing, or hair loss on your body, something else may be happening. It’s a good time to talk with Happy Head dermatologist if you are noticing some change in your hair shedding over time. We offer free consultations with a board-certified dermatologists and prescriptions for custom hair growth medicine all online.

Fact #2: Hair Loss Peaks During the Summer

If you think you’re seeing more hair in the sink now then you saw a few months ago, it’s certainly possible. It’s proven that people lose more hair during the summer than any other time of the year. (02) When 823 women were tracked over a six-year period, researchers found that a maximum proportion of hair was in the telogen stage during summer. Telogen rates were the lowest during winter months. (03) The reason why still has yet to be determined.

One hypothesis is that people naturally keep their hair in the winter in response to cold weather. Like animals who grow a winter coat and shed it in summer, people may keep their hair to stay warm during the colder months. When the weather warms, the body reacts by shedding excess hair.

Figuring out whether the amount of hair you’re losing is typical can be challenging, especially during the summer. Ponytails, chlorine, salt water, and the sun can all contribute to damage and breakage, which you might think is hair loss. If you’re concerned, it’s always a good idea to consult with a board-certified dermatologist or hair specialist, especially if you notice thinning or bald patches.

Fact #3: Chlorine Does Not Cause Hair Loss

Although chlorine can damage your hair, it will not cause hair loss. In a study published by the Journal of Dermatology in 2000, researchers compared the hair of 67 professional swimmers to that of 54 non-swimmers. The study did not find evidence that the swimmers had more hair loss than the non-swimmers. The swimmers, however, did have hair discoloration and cuticle damage due to the chlorine. (04)

If you swim a lot in general or mostly on vacation, there are things you can do to prevent chlorine from damaging your hair. Here are some tips that will help:

Condition your hair before swimming (leave-in conditioner works)
Wear a swim cap
Shampoo your hair thoroughly after getting out of the pool
Replace lost moisture with a deep conditioner

Fact #4: Wearing a Hat Will Not Make You Bald

Hats that fit properly, and aren’t too tight, do not make your hair fall out. The reality is that it’s sweltering outside, and we’re seeing extreme temperatures all over the world. If you’re heading out to the pool or the beach, wear a hat to protect your hair and scalp. UVA (Ultraviolet A) and UVB (Ultraviolet B) rays damage your hair’s cuticles causing thinning, frizziness, discoloration, and dryness with prolonged exposure to the sun.

A hat is critical if you’re already using oral or topical medications such as Minoxodil, Finasteride (05), or Spironolactone. Medications can cause sun sensitivity in some people, resulting in sunburn or a rash. In some cases, UV light can cause a structural change to medications. As a result, some people produce antibodies that make them photosensitive. In other cases, the medication absorbs the UV light and releases the evolved drug into the skin. (06)

Fact #5: Hydrating Your Hair is the Best Way to Fight Humidity and the Elements

Hydration is your best bet if you’re worried about your hair being dry, brittle, dull, or frizzy. Here are some tricks that will help:

Use a sulfate-free hydrating shampoo
Deep condition regularly
Try heatless hair styling
Hydrate from the inside out by drinking plenty of water
Test out hydrating hair misting solutions made from natural ingredients

Fact #6: It’s Easy to Get Traction Alopecia During the Summer

Beware of pulling your hair back into tight buns and ponytails when your hair is wet. The pulling on your hair follicles can cause traction alopecia, which can be reversed early on but not after the hair follicles have been damaged. If you want to wear braids, keep them loose. Frequently changing up your hairstyle will also help prevent a particular hair loss pattern from forming.

Fact #7: Eating a Protein-rich Diet Will Help Your Hair Stay Healthy & Shiny Year-Round

Protein is the primary building block that makes up your hair. If you’re concerned about your hair staying healthy during the summer months, be sure to load up on healthy and lean proteins like avocados, nuts, grass-fed chicken, salmon, tuna, and seafood. Although the richest source of protein comes from animals, there are also plenty of plant-based protein sources for vegetarians. Egg whites, beans, and authentic Greek yogurt are all good sources. Protein supplements have also been proven effective in supporting healthy hair growth and are easy to pack for your vacation. (07) Although many people use whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate is a better option, especially for people predisposed to androgenic alopecia.

Still Have Questions About Your Summer Hair Loss?

If you’re losing more hair than normal over the summer, it’s possible that you’re experiencing summer hair shedding or have telogen effluvium that resolves itself. However, if it turns out that you have a form of alopecia such as androgenic alopecia, the sooner you are treated, the faster you can stop the hair loss and start the regrowth process. Topical and oral hair regrowth options range from easy-to-apply over-the-counter topicals such as Minoxidil and Finasteride to oral medications such Spironolactone. Keep in mind that many hair loss medications are only available by prescription. If you have further questions, contact us for a complimentary consultation with a board-certified dermatologist and hair specialist.

Resources:
(01) https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/insider/shedding

(02) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/bjd.16075

(03) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19407435/

(04) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11092265/

(05) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jgf2.510

(06) https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sun-sensitizing-drugs

(07) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jocd.12400