Stupid coincidence or is there a connection between warmer weather and hair loss?
You may have noticed it too, but many people experience more hair loss than normal in the summer months. Is this a coincidence or is there a connection between the warmer weather and hair loss?
Hair loss
Let’s get straight to the point: it’s true that you can experience more hair loss in the summer. Research has shown that hair loss in women increases by as much as 6% per day in the summer. However, hair loss in the summer can affect both men and women and is caused by many different factors, from sun exposure to dehydration.
How?
First of all, it is important to delve deeper into the cause. When it is warmer, our body first looks for ways to save energy and keep us cool. Hair insulates our body, so if we are already warm, our body does not use energy to make more. Frequent exposure to sunlight also causes our body to produce less melatonin, something that affects the hormone levels in our scalp. This means that the hair follicles take longer to produce new hairs. Ah!
Breaking down
Dryness caused by heat and humidity can also cause your hair to break. If your hair has a very dry or brittle texture, it is likely that you are experiencing hair breakage rather than hair loss. In this case, use conditioner and a nourishing hair oil, minimize heat exposure and regularly trim your locks to improve the condition of your hair.
Anyway: if you notice that your hair is falling out of your head in clumps in the summer, it may give you a mild form of panic. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent this hair loss:
1. Eat and hydrate well
We can’t stress it enough: what you eat and drink has a huge impact on your skin and hair. Just like the rest of your body, your hair needs nourishment to grow. A healthy, balanced diet will ensure your hair gets the nutrients it needs. In addition, drinking plenty of water is key to minimizing the risk of hair loss in the summer. This is of course important all year round, but the heat makes dehydration much more likely in the summer.
2. Protect your hair
Prevention is better than cure, so make sure you protect your hair well all year round. That is, don’t damage it too much. Minimize the use of hair dryers and styling appliances such as straighteners and curling irons. Use heat protection sprays and serums to protect your hair and don’t damage it unnecessarily by only wearing tight ponytails or buns.
Another way to keep your hair looking its best during the summer months is to protect it with a sun hat or scarf. Not a fan of head coverings? There are also protective hair oils available that are specially made for extremely sunny days. In short: there is plenty you can do!
3. Pamper your locks
Finally, it is important to realize that your hair simply needs more care in the summer. Therefore, treat it with some extra love and pamper your locks regularly. As an alternative to expensive treatments in salons, you can try natural products such as coconut oil to boost the health of your hair. Heat briefly, massage into the scalp, leave on for an hour and then rinse thoroughly. Trust us: your locks will shine like never before!
Source: Wimpole Clinic | Image: Adobe Stock
