Why am I losing my hair in winter?

Hair loss happens daily, all year round, due to the hair growth cycle. Some experts suggest that during the warmer months, the scalp holds onto hair to prevent the scalp from UV exposure, which is less necessary during the colder and darker days.

However, it is far more likely that winter hair loss is directly related to breakages due to drier and more damaged hair caused by how we treat our hair when it’s colder—less natural oils, less washing, and more heat styling.

How can I stop seasonal hair loss?

Although there is no magic cure for seasonal hair loss, there are ways to protect your tresses and promote hair growth during winter. These include keeping your hair hydrated, your body healthy, and taking action to prevent further damage that can lead to hair loss.

Keep your hair conditioned

Dry hair is unhappy hair. When your hair is dry, it is far more prone to breakages, which can lead to losing more than 50-100 strands of hair per day.

Using nourishing and deep conditioning treatments regularly will keep your hair hydrated during a time when your scalp produces fewer natural oils than during the summer.

Support your hair from the inside

In addition to using products to protect the roots and lengths of your hair, it is important to promote strength and growth from the inside. Ensuring that your diet contains Omega-3, Iron-rich and Biotin-rich foods will support healthy and strong hair, with the added benefit of improving your overall wellbeing.

Be Gentle

It can be tempting to turn up the heat in the shower when it’s freezing outside, but keeping a cooler temperature for washing your hair will help to prevent further and unnecessary damage. The drying and styling process should be equally as gentle. Don’t use the “rub” technique to dry your hair; use a soft brush and a leave-in oil treatment to maximise hair health during the winter!

Remember, a certain amount of daily hair loss is expected (50-100 strands), and it can feel like more if you’ve not brushed your hair for a few days - easy to do when we can throw a woolly hat on! However, if you feel that your hair loss is excessive or you are concerned, please contact your GP to rule out any medical conditions.