You know that moment in the shower when the water starts pooling around your feet, and you realize it’s not a drain issue, it’s your own hair staging a mass exit? Cue the panic: "Am I going bald?".

Relax. You’re (probably) not. Your hair actually has its own seasonal rhythm in terms of growth, sort of like how tree leaves grow and fall throughout the seasons. This hair cycle is called telogen effluvium, and it’s basically your scalp saying, “out with the old, in with the new.”

So… What’s Actually Happening Up There?

Your hair grows in phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (rest). At any given time, about 85–90% of your hair is actively growing. The rest is just chilling until it decides to let go and make room for new strands.

Spring and fall are the seasons when those resting hairs decide to get up and go. This has been noted in several studies, including one in the British Journal of Dermatology that found people shed noticeably more hair in early fall. The theory behind this is related to sunlight and hormone shifts. Longer summer days mean more melatonin and prolactin, which keep follicles active. But once daylight hours drop, your body hits “reset,” pushing some strands into the shedding phase.

It’s really just your scalp doing its own version of a seasonal detox.

How Much is Too Much?

Okay, so yes, it looks like a lot. But losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is totally normal. During shedding season, that number can double, and it’s still fine. What’s not fine is patchy bald spots or long-term thinning. That’s when you might be dealing with something else, like hormonal shifts, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic stress.

And just to put you even more at ease, the hair you’re losing now probably stopped growing months ago. So you’re not losing your “new” hair, just old strands making way for fresh growth. 

Why It Feels Like a Hairpocalypse

If what you’ve read so far justifies your hair loss, but it still feels like a LOT - you’re not losing your mind. Life loves to pile things on and things like stress, hormones, colder weather, and poor diet all add fuel to the stress of hair shedding. As well as amplifying it. If you’re already burning the candle at both ends, your body prioritizes essentials like keeping your heart beating over keeping your ponytail looking fab.

Research backs this up. A study reviewing the impact of perceived stress on hair follicles found that high stress can push follicles into a resting state prematurely, disrupting the normal hair growth cycle. 

Your hair knows when you’re stressed, even if you pretend you’re fine.

How to Get Through It (Without Panic-Buying Hair Gummies at Midnight)

You can’t stop nature, but you can help your hair ride out its mood swings:

• Feed it right: Hair loves protein, iron, zinc, and omega-3s. Think eggs, salmon, spinach, nuts, seeds. If your diet’s mostly caffeine and vibes, your hair will call you out (and so it should!).
• Massage your scalp: Boosts blood flow and tells follicles to keep growing. Bonus: it feels amazing (and technically counts as self-care).
• Go easy: Loosen the ponytails, chill with the heat tools, and stop scrubbing like you’re exfoliating a floor.
• Manage stress: Walks, yoga, journaling, reality TV… whatever keeps your cortisol down - go for it. Stress-induced shedding is real.
• Protect it: UV rays and winter dryness can weaken strands, so use a hydrating mask or UV spray. And yes, your hair deserves SPF too.
• Hydrate & trim: Regular trims keep things looking healthy while your scalp recalibrates. Just make sure to be clear on the “trim” part if you have a hairdresser who gets a little too scissor-happy!
• Support your cells. Oxidative stress (from things like lack of sleep, stress, and pollution) can weaken follicles over time. Antioxidants such as vitamin C, selenium, and glutathione help neutralize that damage. Liposomal glutathione, in particular, is easier for your body to absorb and can quietly support your skin and scalp health from the inside out.

What’s Normal vs. What’s Not

As you can see, having more hair on your brush during autumn or spring is totally normal. It should settle within a couple of months. But if you’re noticing bald patches, a widening part, or ongoing thinning, talk to a dermatologist or trichologist. They’ll help rule out things like thyroid issues or hormonal imbalances.

Also, remember, what looks like “hair loss” might actually be breakage. Winter air, hot tools, and tight hats can all team up against your strands. And if you’re bleaching or colouring often, give your hair some downtime. (Even icons need a break.)

Let Nature Do Its Thing

Seasonal shedding happens to everyone - even those with great genetics or the fanciest hair treatments. It’s not a sign your hair is doomed; it’s just your body doing exactly what it’s supposed to. So when you see extra strands on your brush, take a deep breath, give your hair a little love, and remember: it’s only temporary. Your scalp is just keeping up with the seasons.

And if anyone comments on you lint-rolling your jumper for the third time today, just smile and say: “It’s shedding season. My hair and I are letting go of what no longer serves us.”

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