Seasonal Hair Loss: When Your Hair Has Its Own Calendar

What’s Going On with Seasonal Hair Loss?

Seasonal hair loss is basically your scalp’s way of having a spring clean – or rather, an autumn clear-out. Unlike the hair loss that brings patients to our clinic, this type is temporary and won’t leave you with permanent thinning.

To make sense of it all, you need to understand what your hair’s up to on a daily basis. Each follicle goes through three phases – and yes, they’re all happening at different times (thank goodness, or we’d all be bald every few years!). Understanding this hair cycle is key to recognising what’s normal and what isn’t:

• The anagen phase: This is when your hair’s actually growing – anywhere from 2 to 7 years. The cells in your follicles are working overtime, which is why your hair keeps getting longer.
• The catagen phase: A brief 2-3 week transition where growth stops and your follicle takes a breather.
• The telogen phase: The 3-month rest period before the hair falls out naturally, making room for a new one.

Here’s where it gets interesting: seasonal hair loss happens when more follicles than usual decide to synchronise their schedules and enter that telogen phase together. Recent research suggests melatonin plays a role here, essentially telling your follicles what season it is.

On a typical day, about 85% of your hair is growing, 1% is transitioning, and 14% is resting. But during seasonal shedding? That resting percentage can jump to 25-30%. No wonder your shower drain needs cleaning more often!

So whilst you’d normally lose 50 to 100 hairs daily (yes, that’s completely normal), during these periods you might see up to 200. Alarming? Perhaps. But usually nothing to lose sleep over.

When Does Your Hair Decide to Bail?

If your hair had a diary, it would pencil in two main shedding seasons: early autumn (September to November) and sometimes spring (March to May). Think of it as your scalp’s response to the changing seasons – a bit like swapping your summer wardrobe for winter jumpers.

The Autumn Exodus

The big one hits between September and November. Why? Well, remember all that lovely summer sun? Your scalp’s been busy producing vitamin D and accelerating cell turnover. Come autumn, it’s payback time. Those hardworking follicles that kept you looking good all summer decide they need a rest – all at roughly the same time.

It’s rather like how trees shed their leaves, except you’re shedding hair. Nature’s timing, really.

The Spring Shed

Less dramatic but still noticeable, spring shedding (March to May) seems linked to those longer days and brighter mornings. Your hormones are adjusting to the seasonal shift, and your follicles get the memo too.

The change from winter’s dry air to spring’s humidity doesn’t help either. Your scalp’s adjusting to the new conditions, and some follicles decide it’s time for a refresh.

Now, not everyone experiences this equally. Several factors affect how much you’ll shed:

• Being female (sorry, ladies – you’re more susceptible)
• Getting older (another joy of ageing)
• Your genetic lottery ticket
• Overall health and stress levels
• How well you’ve been looking after yourself

Should You Book That Consultation Yet?

Seeing extra hair in your brush can be unsettling – we get it. But before you start worrying about needing a transplant, here’s how to tell if it’s just seasonal shedding:

• It’s temporary: Usually sorts itself out within 4-8 weeks
• It’s all over: Not just your crown or hairline – the whole scalp’s involved
• Hair quality stays the same: New growth is just as thick as before
• Normal regrowth follows: Your follicles get back to business as usual

But do give us a ring if you notice:

• Hair loss continuing beyond 2 months
• Hair falling out in clumps (that’s not normal)
• Your scalp becoming visible through your hair
• Actual bald patches appearing
• Your hair feeling thinner or more brittle

These signs might indicate something else is going on – and that’s when our expertise comes in handy.

How to Keep More Hair on Your Head

Whilst you can’t completely stop seasonal shedding (it’s natural, after all), you can certainly minimise it. Here’s what actually works:

Feed Your Follicles Properly

Your hair’s rather fussy about nutrition. Low on iron, zinc, B vitamins or vitamin D? Your follicles will let you know by jumping ship. Research backs this up – many women with hair loss are iron deficient, and vitamin D can make a real difference.

Stock up on:

• Eggs, salmon, and quality meat
• Leafy greens (yes, your mum was right about spinach)
• Lentils, chickpeas, and almonds
• Proper wholegrain bread and cereals

Treat Your Scalp Like the VIP It Is

A happy scalp means happier hair. Simple as that.

• Give yourself a gentle scalp massage – it boosts circulation and feels rather nice too
• Choose a gentle shampoo that suits you (not your partner’s dandruff formula)
• Don’t overwash – 2-3 times weekly is plenty for most people
• Give the heat tools a holiday during shedding season

Consider Some Extra Support

Quality supplements with B vitamins, zinc, biotin, and iron can give your hair the boost it needs. Think of them as insurance for your follicles – they won’t work miracles, but they’ll help ensure everything’s running smoothly. For those seeking more advanced support, treatments like PRP therapy can also help optimize hair health during seasonal transitions.

When Seasonal Becomes Something More

If you’re still shedding after 6 weeks, or things seem to be getting worse rather than better, it might be time for a proper assessment. Several conditions can masquerade as seasonal loss, and that’s when looking into a hair transplant in Turkey might be worth considering:

• Androgenetic alopecia: The type that actually brings most patients to our clinic. It’s progressive and genetic, causing gradual thinning as follicles miniaturise and eventually stop producing proper hair.
• Telogen effluvium: Often triggered by stress, illness, or major life events (childbirth’s a common one). The good news? It’s usually reversible once you address the cause.
• Thyroid troubles: Your thyroid controls more than you’d think, including your hair cycle. When it’s out of whack, your hair suffers.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Not getting enough protein, iron, or vitamins? Your body prioritises vital organs over hair – sensible but frustrating.
• Alopecia areata: When your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing patchy loss. Treatments’s available, but you need proper medical care.
• Medication side effects: From blood thinners to antidepressants, various medications can affect hair growth. Always worth checking with your GP.

If hair loss persists despite good care and time, a hair transplant might be worth considering. Modern FUE procedures have come remarkably far – we can harvest and reimplant grafts with minimal scarring and natural-looking results.

Dr Cinik’s team takes time to properly assess each patient’s situation. We look at everything – scalp health, donor area density, and what you’re hoping to achieve. It’s not about selling procedures; it’s about finding the right solution for you. Whether that’s reassurance about seasonal shedding or planning a transplant, we’re here to help you feel confident about your hair again.

After all, your hair’s part of who you are. And we understand that better than most.

Academic References

Almohanna, H. M., Ahmed, A. A., Tsatalis, J. P., & Tosti, A. (2019). The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review. Dermatology and Therapy (Heidelberg), 9(1), 51–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6

Fabbrocini, G., Cantelli, M., Masarà, A., Annunziata, M. C., Marasca, C., & Cacciapuoti, S. (2018). Female pattern hair loss: A clinical, pathophysiologic, and therapeutic review. International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, 4(4), 203–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2018.05.001

Hoover, E., Alhajj, M., & Flores, J. L. (2023). Physiology, Hair. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/

Zheng, Z., Su, Z., & Zhang, W. (2025). Melatonin’s Role in Hair Follicle Growth and Development: A Cashmere Goat Perspective. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(7), 2844. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26072844