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Is September Really the Worst Month for Hair Shedding?
If you’ve been finding a little more hair than usual in your brush, shower drain, or on the back of your shirt lately, you’re not imagining it.
There’s actually research showing that hair shedding can follow a seasonal pattern, and late summer into early fall tends to be one of the times we notice it most.
So, is September really the worst month for your hair? Kind of. But before you panic over every strand in the shower, let’s talk about what’s actually happening.
First, A Quick Hair Cycle Lesson
Your hair is constantly cycling through periods of growing, resting, and eventually shedding. And thankfully, every strand is on its own schedule, otherwise we’d periodically lose all of our hair at once.
Research has found that more hairs tend to enter their resting phase during the summer, which can lead to more noticeable shedding toward the end of summer and into early fall, peaking in early September.
So yes, there really is some science behind the whole “September shedding” thing.
Why Does Hair Shed More This Time of Year?
We don’t know exactly why it happens, but one theory is that we hold onto more hair during the summer months to help protect the scalp from increased sun exposure. Then, as the season starts to shift, more of those hairs move into the shedding phase. So by early fall, you may suddenly notice more hair coming out when you wash, brush, or style it.
And for most people, a temporary increase in seasonal shedding does not mean something is wrong or that you’re permanently losing that hair.
What Can You Actually Do About Seasonal Shedding?
You can’t completely control the natural hair cycle, but you can make sure you’re giving your scalp and follicles the best environment possible to grow healthy hair.
Take care of your scalp.
We spend so much time thinking about our actual hair that we forget where it comes from – your scalp. And trust me when I say, healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. When your scalp microbiome is off, which can be caused by things like product buildup, excess or not enough oil production, irritation, and inflammation, your hair is not growing under ideal conditions. So scalp health should be your #1 priority during this season. That’s exactly why we created Scalp Serum — to give the skin on our scalp the daily support we’ve always given the skin on our face.
Make sure you’re eating enough.
Hair is not essential for survival, so when your body is stressed, underfed, or missing key nutrients, hair growth is one of the first things it can deprioritize. Make sure you’re eating enough protein and taking a high-quality daily multivitamin so your body actually has the nutrients it needs to support healthy hair growth.
Be gentle with the hair you have.
This probably isn’t the moment for aggressive brushing, super-tight ponytails, or excessive heat styling. Hair that’s shedding from the root and hair that’s breaking are two different things—but when they happen at the same time, it can certainly look like you’re losing a lot more hair.
Give it time.
Hair growth is slow. Really slow. Anything you do for your scalp or hair follicles needs consistency before you can fairly judge whether it’s working.
So, Should You Be Worried About September Shedding?
For most people, a little extra shedding this time of year can simply be part of a normal seasonal shift. Research has repeatedly found seasonal variation in the human hair cycle, with late summer and early fall showing some of the most noticeable changes.
Pay attention to what’s normal for you. If you notice a temporary uptick and then things settle back down, your hair may just be doing its seasonal thing.
But if the shedding feels excessive, continues for months, or you’re noticing visible changes in density, don’t just keep blaming September. Hair can tell us a lot about what’s happening inside the body, and sometimes it deserves a closer look.
And in the meantime? Be nice to your scalp. It has a lot going on up there.
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