Whilst most people lose an average of 100 hairs a day, many of us notice more hair shedding at this time of year. If you’re starting to see more hair in your brush every morning, or you can see more scalp at your parting than usual, it could be time to get some advice.
Daniella Fowler, Art Team member at Headmasters Crystal Palace, talks through the factors that can cause hair thinning and increased hair fall – and exactly what she recommends to her clients.
Why Does Hair Fall Increase in Autumn?
“Hair fall is one of the most talked-about subjects in the salon right now – and changes to healthy hair growth can be caused by so many things.”
Here are the four most common causes Daniella sees in her clients, and what you can do about each one.
1. Changes in Diet
Your body and hair need all the right nutrients to stay healthy, glossy and strong – and even a relatively small change in diet can have a noticeable impact. Hair can lose its shine, strands can become thinner and weaker, and shedding can increase.
If you’ve recently turned vegan, started a new diet plan or begun weight loss injections, these changes can and do affect your hair. The important thing to know is that because of the way hair grows, the effects of these changes often don’t become visible until six to nine months later – so if you’re noticing increased hair fall now, it might be worth thinking back to what changed earlier in the year.
2. Stress
We all know we need to reduce stress – but day-to-day life can feel overwhelming, and unfortunately both positive and negative stress can cause hair to fall. When the body is under pressure, it diverts its energy and nutrients to essential organs first, and the hair suffers as a result.
Looking after yourself and being kind to your mind matters more than most people realise when it comes to hair health. One small but genuinely lovely thing you can do is incorporate a calming evening scalp serum ritual – massaging a serum into the scalp stimulates the hair follicles while giving you a moment of clam at the end of the day. A small act of self-care with real results.
3. Illness or Medication
Covid, periods of long illness and certain types of medication can put the body under significant stress and trigger a period of excess hair shedding. If you’re on long-term medication and are worried about hair loss, always speak to your GP in the first instance.
If the hair fall is illness-related, it is often only temporary – and in the meantime, your Headmasters stylist can recommend the best cut and style to make hair look thicker, fuller and more voluminous while it recovers.
4. Hormone Changes
Big hormonal shifts – around the teenage years, pre- and post- pregnancy, and approaching menopause – can have dramatic effects on hair growth. The two times when Daniella most commonly sees clients experiencing noticeable hair thinning and fall are post-partum and around menopause.
Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can help significantly, alongside great advice from your stylist on cut, colour and products that support thicker-looking hair. hair. For more on how menopause specifically affects your hair, read our expert guide here.
What Daniella Recommends
Start with a Deep Cleanse and Exfoliate Treatment
For all scalp and hair growth concerns, Daniella’s first recommendation is always a treatment. This particular treatment is deeply cleansing, purifying, and removes the oils, product build-up and dead skin cells that can block hair follicles and prevent healthy hair growth.
“Just as you need the right soil to grow a healthy plant, hair needs a healthy scalp environment to flourish.”
It’s the essential first step – clearing the way for everything else to work more effectively. Read more about our Nioxin Dermabrasion treatment here.
Build a Home Routine That Works
To continue promoting healthy hair growth between salon visits, Nioxin Shampoos and Conditioners stimulate the scalp and strengthen fine strands with every wash, while the leave-in treatments deliver instant thickening for noticeably fuller-looking hair day to day.
For keeping hair anchored to the scalp, Daniella loves the Kérastase Genesis Scalp Serum – it contains antioxidants that help prevent the scalp collagen from hardening and blocking hair growth, while also being a genuinely beautiful product to use as part of an evening self-care ritual.
“It’s one of those products that does something really meaningful for your hair health while also feeling like a treat. I recommend it to almost everyone.”
Hair Loss Affects us All
Hair fall isn’t something that only affects women – and for the men who may be noticing changes, the Nioxin Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo and Serum is the perfect duo to keep hair anchored and healthy. Simple, effective and easy to incorporate into any routine.
Add a Scalp Check to Your Next Appointment – Just £15
If you have any scalp or hair growth concerns, the best thing you can do is get a professional eye on it as soon as possible. When you book your next appointment, simply request to add a 15-minute Scalp Assessment for just £15. Your stylist will use the Nioxin scalp camera to take a close look at your scalp and hair follicles, and give you personalised, professional advice on the best next steps.
It’s a small investment that can make a really significant difference – and it starts the conversation with someone who can actually help.
Find your nearest Headmasters salon and book today – and for more expert scalp and hair health advice, visit our full treatment menu here.
Follow us at @headmastersuk on Instagram for more from our Art Team.
