Hair Shedding

Many people don’t realize that hair shedding actually follows seasonal patterns. In the Northern Hemisphere, the heaviest shedding tends to occur in late summer and early autumn — a process often referred to as seasonal shedding, which is a form of telogen effluvium. Research indicates there are usually two noticeable peaks:

• A major one in late summer/early fall
• A smaller one in spring

That means it’s completely normal if you’re noticing more hair in the shower or on your brush around this time of year. Still, it’s important to remember that seasonal changes aren’t the only trigger. Persistent shedding can be linked to other factors such as stress, nutritional deficiencies (like low iron), thyroid disorders, or — very commonly overlooked — pattern baldness. If your overall hair density has been steadily decreasing over the past few years, pattern baldness may be part of the picture.

As for why seasonal shedding occurs, the science isn’t fully clear. Environmental factors such as shifts in climate and increased UV exposure are thought to contribute. Interestingly, online searches for “hair loss” consistently spike in the summer and fall, showing just how widespread this concern really is.