Seasonal Hair Loss: Why You Shed More in Fall, When to Worry

By · Wellness & Lifestyle Medicine · · 7 min read

How much hair shedding is normal in the fall?

Losing more hair in the fall is usually normal. Most people shed 50 to 100 hairs a day,[1] and in late summer and fall that number goes up for a few months.²

You’ll see it in the shower drain, on your hairbrush and on the shoulders of a sweater. You don’t need to count your fallen hair strands. The pattern of your shedding tells you more than the number.

Is it shedding or hair loss?

Shedding and hair loss can look the same in the drain, but they happen for different reasons. With shedding, more hair strands fall out than usual, and your follicles keep growing new ones. With hair loss, something stops your hair from growing, and in most cases won’t come back until that cause is addressed.

The American Academy of Dermatology states your genes, an autoimmune condition attacking your follicles, some medicines, tight hairstyles, harsh hair products, and pulling out your own hair could be some of the reasons behind your hairfall.

Most people searching this want to know one thing: am I going bald? A seasonal shed doesn’t mean you are. In women, inherited hair loss usually starts as thinning all over or a part that slowly gets wider, and it builds over years.[4]

Short, snapped pieces of hair are a different problem. That’s breakage, and it happens along the hair, while a shed hair comes out whole from the root.

Why does more hair fall out in the fall?

At any time, about 1 in 10 hairs on your head is resting. About three months later, that hair falls out and a new one grows in its place.[3] So hairs that start resting in summer end up on your brush in the fall.

The hard evidence is thin, but search data gives a clue. In a 2023 study, NYU researchers looked at American Google searches for hair loss from 2004 to 2020. Searches peaked in August, with July and September close behind, and were lowest in April.[5] This shows people worry about hair loss most in summer and fall. A Johns Hopkins team saw the same summer and fall rise in eight countries.[6]

A Swiss study went a step further and counted hair in 823 women who visited a Zurich clinic about hair loss. They had the most resting hairs in summer and the fewest in late winter.[2]

Nobody knows why yet. Some experts point to heat and summer sun, but neither has been proven.[6]

Ayurvedic Science marks the same months. It calls mid-September to mid-November Sharat, or autumn, when Pitta rises.[7] Pitta is the functional energy that controls digestion, metabolism and body temperature. Ayurvedic texts link khalitya, or hair fall, to Pitta and to Vata, the functional energy that controls movement, circulation, breathing and nerve signaling.[8]

Can you stop a seasonal shed?

The American Academy of Dermatology says shedding often stops on its own. However you can help limit the hairfall and encourage regrowth with a proper hair routine.

Hair supplements do have some evidence behind them. A 2026 review of 14 studies and 967 adults with thinning hair, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, found that supplements improved some measures of hair growth.[9] The total hair count didn’t change significantly, though. The authors called the results preliminary, and none of the studies looked at seasonal shedding.

While the shed runs its course, you can look after your scalp. Our Hair Health plans advise shiroabhyanga, a scalp oil massage. If you already do the warm-oil foot massage from our Ayurvedic bedtime routine, add a few minutes for your scalp. This Ayurvedic head massage uses warm oil. To try it at home, you’ll need 30–50 ml of LYBL Head Massage Oil, a small bowl, and a soft towel.

Warm the oil in a hot water bath until it feels comfortably warm (104–111°F), never hot. Sit comfortably and apply the oil to your scalp. Using your fingertips, massage from the front of your head to the back with gentle, firm strokes. Follow with light lifting strokes and gentle tapping with your palms. Repeat for about 10 minutes. Finish by massaging your ears in small circles and wiping away excess oil.

Leave the oil on for 15–30 minutes, then wash your hair with warm water. Always check the oil's temperature before applying it. Avoid this massage if you have a fever, cold, flu or cough.

Signs your shedding isn’t seasonal, and what to get checked

A seasonal shed thins your hair evenly and fades by late winter.² Pay close attention to any of these symptoms applicable to all genders to bring to your doctor’s attention.

What You Notice

What it Can Mean

A smooth, round bald patch, lost eyebrows or lashes, or tiny dents in your nails

Alopecia areata, an immune condition that about 2 in 100 people get at some point¹0 11

Thinning all over, or a part that keeps getting wider

Inherited hair loss, which responds better the earlier you start⁴

Heavy shedding two to four months after a fever, illness, surgery, having a baby, losing 20 pounds or more, or stopping the pill

Stress shedding, also called telogen effluvium¹ ¹2

Shedding a few months after starting a GLP-1 weight-loss drug like semaglutide or tirzepatide

Shedding linked to fast weight loss¹3

Thinning hair, or hair coming out in clumps when you brush. In addition to fatigue, unexplained changes in weight, or increased sensitivity to temperature.

A thyroid problem⁴

Heavy periods or a recent pregnancy

Low iron¹4

A new medicine in the last few months

A side effect of that medicine

A red, flaky or sore scalp

A scalp infection, or a scarring hair loss that’s easier to stop when it’s caught early

Heavy shedding still going in February

Something other than the season get it checked

Stress shedding is the most common cause of thinning all over the scalp.¹2 For a new mother, it usually starts around two months after delivery and peaks around four.¹ Most people get their usual fullness back within six to nine months.¹ If the last few months have been hard on you, our five daily rituals to lower cortisol are a good place to start.

If any of the signs fit, ask your doctor for a thyroid test, a complete blood count and a ferritin test, which shows how much iron your body has stored.³ ¹5

Have your iron levels checked before taking supplements. Iron has shown little benefit for hair loss in people who have low iron but aren't anemic.¹4 Too much iron can be harmful.

If you take a GLP-1 drug, talk to your prescriber before you change anything. A 2026 review of 17 studies, published in Skin Appendage Disorders, found 40 percent higher odds of hair loss in people on these drugs, mostly stress shedding and pattern thinning.¹3 The authors blamed fast weight loss and the nutrient gaps that come with it.

How LYBL supports hair shedding

For most people, waiting out a seasonal shed is the right call. Waiting can’t tell you whether your shed is seasonal, though, and that’s the question worth answering.

Our Hair Health program starts there. The free online intake takes about 8 minutes and asks about your main concern, health history, energy, sleep, digestion and goals, because shedding often starts somewhere other than your scalp. A physician reviews your answers and confirms your plan within 24 hours, before anything ships.

Your plan can combine formulations you take or put on your scalp, food and lifestyle changes, and scalp rituals such as shiroabhyanga and shirolepa, an herbal scalp mask. The formulations draw on keshya herbs, the group Ayurvedic Science sets aside for hair, such as bhringaraja, brahmi and amla. For heavy hair fall, our team may book you a free consultation with a specialist first.

Frequently asked questions

How long does seasonal hair shedding last?

Seasonal shedding usually peaks in late summer and fall and eases by late winter, so it tends to last a few months. If it’s still heavy in February, ask a doctor to look for another cause. LYBL’s Hair Health program targets the root causes to support your body’s natural systems for growth, nourishment, pigmentation and scalp health with whole‑body care powered by evidence‑based superherbs and bioactive compounds.

Does seasonal hair loss grow back?

Yes. With seasonal shedding your follicles keep working, so a new hair grows where each old one fell. The American Academy of Dermatology says most people’s hair is back to its usual fullness within six to nine months once shedding stops.

Is losing 100 hairs a day normal?

Usually, yes. The American Academy of Dermatology says 50 to 100 a day is normal, and Cleveland Clinic dermatologists put the healthy range as high as 150. If you collect more than 100 to 150 a day over two weeks, that points to stress shedding.

Which month does hair fall out the most?

Late summer into fall. In a Swiss study of 823 women, resting hairs, the ones that fall out next, peaked in summer. American google searches for hair loss peak in August.

What vitamin am I missing if my hair is shedding?

Low iron, protein, zinc or biotin can all cause noticeable hair loss, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Get a ferritin test before taking iron, because too much iron can harm you. In LYBL’s Hair Health program, a physician reviews your intake, to understand the root cause before building a personalized holistic protocol.

Does hair shedding mean new hair is growing?

Usually. A shed hair has finished its cycle, and after a seasonal or stress shed the follicle grows a new one. A smooth bald patch or a widening part is different, so have a dermatologist look at it.

References

  1. American Academy of Dermatology. Do you have hair loss or hair shedding? Accessed 27 October 2026. View original source ↩
  2. Kunz M, Seifert B, Trüeb RM. Seasonality of hair shedding in healthy women complaining of hair loss. Dermatology. 2009;219(2):105-110. View original source ↩
  3. Bergfeld WF, Mendez D. Shedding: an updated guide to a common cause of hair loss. Cleve Clin J Med. 2026;93(10):616-622. View original source ↩
  4. American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss: who gets and causes. Accessed 27 October 2026. View original source ↩
  5. Buontempo MG, Ingrassia JP, Shapiro J, Lo Sicco K. Seasonal trends in hair loss: a big data analysis of Google search patterns and their association with seasonal factors. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023;37(12):e1458-e1460. View original source ↩
  6. Hsiang EY, Semenov YR, Aguh C, Kwatra SG. Seasonality of hair loss: a time series analysis of Google Trends data 2004-2016. Br J Dermatol. 2018;178(4):978-979. View original source 12
  7. Thakkar J, Chaudhari S, Sarkar PK. Ritucharya: answer to the lifestyle disorders. Ayu. 2011;32(4):466-471. View original source ↩
  8. Patel MN, Patel N, Merja A, Patel RR, Mishra M. An integrative approach of Neeli Bhringraj polyherbal hair oil in clinical evaluation of androgenetic alopecia (Khalitya) and premature hair graying (Pālitya): a randomized, double-blind clinical study. Cureus. 2026;18(7):e111988. View original source ↩
  9. Alanazi R, Alshammari S, Aldossari K, et al. Evaluating the effectiveness of commercial oral supplements for hair growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026;25(4):e70817. View original source ↩
  10. American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss types: alopecia areata signs and symptoms. Accessed 27 October 2026. View original source ↩
  11. Mirzoyev SA, Schrum AG, Davis MDP, Torgerson RR. Lifetime incidence risk of alopecia areata estimated at 2.1% by Rochester Epidemiology Project, 1990-2009. J Invest Dermatol. 2014;134(4):1141-1142. View original source ↩
  12. Malkud S. Telogen effluvium: a review. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(9):WE01-WE03. View original source ↩
  13. Viquez Burboa GU, Flores Guillén MÁR, Duardo González VS. GLP-1 receptor agonists and alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of incidence, risk, subtypes, and mechanisms. Skin Appendage Disord. Published online 30 June 2026. View original source ↩
  14. Trost LB, Bergfeld WF, Calogeras E. The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54(5):824-844. View original source ↩
  15. Walker CW, Champigny D, Hartman T, Hulsey B, Hoffart C. Hair loss: a systematic approach to evaluation, diagnosis, and management. JAAPA. 2026;39(9):27-34. View original source ↩