The Season Your Hair Sheds More (And What To Do About It)

If you've noticed more hair in the shower drain, on your brush, or on your pillow as summer turns to autumn - firstly, you're not alone, and secondly, you're not imagining it.

Autumn hair shedding is a real thing. Not a myth, not an exaggeration - it's backed by genuine research, it has a name, and it happens to a lot of people every single year. Understanding why it happens makes it a lot less alarming. And there are real, practical things you can do to support your hair through it.

Here's the full picture.

The Research: Yes, Autumn Shedding Is Real

Scientists have been tracking seasonal hair shedding for decades - and the findings are pretty consistent.

One long-running study followed a group of women for up to 14 years and found that late summer and early autumn (August to October) was reliably the period of highest hair shedding, while December to February saw the least. Another study of nearly 3,000 people confirmed the same pattern - more shedding between July and October, least in January. And a 2010 study published in the journal Dermatology tracked 800 healthy women over six years and found the same thing: more hair lost in autumn, across the board.

So, when you're pulling clumps out of your hairbrush in September, you're experiencing something that's been documented consistently across multiple studies. Your hair is doing exactly what hair does.

What's Actually Going On?

To understand why autumn triggers more hair fall, it helps to know a little bit about the hair shedding cycle.

At any given time, around 90% of your hair follicles are in the growth phase (called anagen), while the other 10% are resting (called telogen). After a couple of months in the resting phase, those hairs naturally shed to make way for new ones. Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is completely normal.

The seasonal element comes in through something researchers call delayed telogen release. The theory goes that during summer; our follicles hold onto more hairs - possibly as a natural form of UV protection for the scalp. Then, as the days shorten and sunlight drops in late summer and early autumn, those follicles collectively let go, triggering a bigger shed than usual. This is what's known as seasonal telogen effluvium - hair fall due to seasonal change, rather than anything being wrong.

Reduced sunlight also means reduced Vitamin D, which has its own link to hair health. In the UK, sunlight levels drop significantly from September onwards, which may be another reason autumn tends to be the peak shedding season.

The reassuring part? This kind of shedding is temporary. It resolves on its own as the hair shedding cycle moves forward - usually levelling out through November and December.

How Is This Different From Other Hair Loss?

Not all excessive hair shedding is seasonal - so it's worth knowing what to look out for.

Seasonal shedding tends to be fairly even across the whole head, peaks in autumn, and resolves naturally within a couple of months. It doesn't cause permanent thinning.

Stress-related shedding happens when a significant stressor - illness, major surgery, emotional trauma, crash dieting - pushes a large number of follicles into the resting phase at once. The shed typically shows up two to six months after the trigger, which is why it can feel confusing. If you've had a rough few months and are now noticing a big shed, this could be a factor alongside the seasonal element.

Pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is different again - it thins gradually and specifically, usually at the hairline or crown, and doesn't resolve seasonally.

If you're unsure what's going on with your shedding, it's always worth speaking to your GP - especially if it feels more than seasonal or is affecting your confidence.

What To Do About It

Seasonal shedding will pass on its own - but there are meaningful things you can do to support your scalp through it and set yourself up for strong regrowth.

Look after your scalp

A nourished, well-circulated scalp moves through the hair shedding cycle more efficiently and produces stronger regrowth. Our Rich Roots Hair Oil is one of the best products for hair shedding at this time of year - apply it one to two times a week, massage into the scalp for a couple of minutes, and leave for 30 minutes or overnight before washing out.

The massage is the non-negotiable bit. It increases blood flow directly to the follicles, helping them transition back into the growth phase. The formula backs it up too - Bhringraj reduces scalp inflammation, Amla strengthens the follicle and is packed with antioxidants, and Rosemary has solid research behind it for stimulating follicle activity. Together they make a really effective hair fall treatment for seasonal shedding.

Top up your Vitamin D

Public Health England recommends everyone in the UK considers a Vitamin D supplement from October through to March, when sunlight levels are too low for the body to make it naturally. Given the link between low Vitamin D and hair fall due to seasonal change, this is a particularly good habit to get into during autumn.

Eat for your hair

Protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins are all essential for hair growth. During a shedding period, getting these through your diet gives your follicles what they need to get back into the growth phase. Iron in particular is a commonly missed driver of excessive hair shedding - if things feel more severe than seasonal, ask your GP to check your ferritin levels specifically.

Be gentle

This isn't the moment for tight hairstyles, lots of heat styling, or aggressive brushing. All of those add mechanical stress on top of a natural shed. Use a wide-toothed comb on wet hair, air dry where you can, and give your hair a bit of extra care through the peak shedding months.

Our Rich Roots Shampoo is worth using if you're not already - built around Indian Soapnut and Amla, and gentle enough to use frequently without stripping the scalp when it's at its most vulnerable. Follow with the Rich Roots Conditioner on the lengths, and the Rich Roots 5-in-1 Hair Oil Mist after washing to nourish and strengthen without any rinsing needed.

Stay consistent

Autumn shedding typically peaks between August and October and naturally begins to reduce through November and December. Regrowth takes time to show up - usually a few months. Keeping your scalp routine consistent during and after the shed is what makes the real difference to how your hair comes through the other side.

The Bottom Line

Seasonal hair shedding is real, it's normal, and it's backed by decades of research. Your hair is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. The shed will pass - and with the right routine in place, you're giving it the best possible chance to come back stronger.