Finding more hair than usual in the brush, on the pillow and down the plughole in September and October is one of the most common autumn complaints we hear. For most people it is seasonal rather than a sign that anything is wrong.
Hair growth runs on a cycle. That cycle is sensitive to the seasons. Through the summer, a slightly higher proportion of hairs sits in the resting phase waiting to shed. A few months later, as the days shorten and the heating comes on, that batch falls out together rather than drifting out gradually across the year. The effect is a short, concentrated spell of heavier shedding right as autumn arrives.
Why hair sheds more in autumn
Hair grows in three phases. Anagen is the long active growing phase, catagen is a short transition and telogen is the resting phase before a hair falls out and a new one starts the cycle again. In healthy adults, around 85 to 90 percent of scalp hair is in anagen at any given moment, with the remainder sitting in telogen. That balance is not fixed. It drifts gently through the year. That drift is a big part of why autumn feels like a shedding month.
A long term observational study of 823 healthy women by dermatologists in Zurich, published as Seasonality of Hair Shedding in Healthy Women Complaining of Hair Loss in the journal Dermatology, found the highest proportion of telogen hairs in July, with a second smaller rise in April. Because hairs in telogen typically shed two to four months after entering that phase, the July peak comes out as the heaviest shedding wave in September and October. That is the pattern most women notice as autumn hair shedding. It is the pattern UK trichology clinics report seeing in their own waiting rooms every year.
The exact mechanism is still being studied, but the leading explanations centre on photoperiod, the length of daylight each day and summer UV exposure. Longer summer days may keep more hairs in their growing phase, which then shift together once daylight shortens. UV exposure also drives inflammation and oxidative stress at the follicle, nudging more hairs into the resting phase earlier than they otherwise would. Either way, the result is the same. More hair comes out in autumn, briefly, then settles.
How long autumn shedding lasts
For most people the heavy spell runs for around four to eight weeks, usually peaking in late September and tailing off through October and into November. Normal shedding is roughly 50 to 100 hairs a day. During a seasonal shed, that figure can double for a short period before it settles. If you can see the end of the spell within two months and shedding returns to its usual rhythm, that is the picture of a normal seasonal shed.
If heavier shedding carries on for longer than that, or starts to feel disproportionate to the time of year, it is worth looking at the usual triggers of telogen effluvium underneath it. Nutritional gaps in iron, vitamin D and B12, a stressful few months, a recent illness or a crash diet can all push more hair into the resting phase at the same time and extend what would otherwise be a short seasonal spell.
Seasonal shedding versus hormonal thinning
Seasonal shedding and hormonal hair thinning look similar at a glance, but they tend to behave differently and that matters for what to do about them. Seasonal shedding is spread evenly across the scalp, time limited and does not usually change the overall density of your hair. The parting looks the same before and after, there is just more loose hair in the brush for a few weeks. Hormonal thinning, including the pattern that shows up in female pattern hair loss and during perimenopause and menopause, is slower, more concentrated along the central parting or at the crown and gradually changes density over months and years rather than weeks.
Postpartum shedding is a third pattern, driven by the oestrogen drop after giving birth, with a predictable two to four month delay from delivery. If your shedding started roughly three months after a baby arrived, that is postpartum rather than seasonal, even if the calendar lines up with autumn. The two can also overlap, which is worth knowing if the shedding feels heavier than previous autumns.
What supports your hair through the autumn shed
There is no way to stop a seasonal shed outright, since the hairs falling now entered their resting phase months ago and the cycle is already running its course. What a good routine does is support the regrowth phase that follows it, so density recovers quickly and the hair that grows back is in good condition. The most reliable results come from combining three things over consistent use of twelve to sixteen weeks, which is roughly the window from the start of the shed to the point where new hairs are visible in the mirror.
LED light therapy at the scalp
Red and near infrared LED light therapy supports follicle activity at the cellular level and the appearance of improved density over time. Our Advanced LED Hair Growth Cap with Red Light Therapy delivers both wavelengths in a wearable form, with twenty minute sessions three to four times a week. The cap is CE and ISO 13485 certified and designed for consistent at home use. Our wider LED hair growth cap guide covers how it works and what to expect in more detail. The cap is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so if that applies to you, start with the scalp microneedling and serum pairing below instead.
Scalp microneedling
Scalp microneedling creates micro channels in the top layer of the scalp that support blood flow to the follicle area and help any topical serum reach the layer where it can do something useful. Our Hair and Beard Derma Roller is designed specifically for scalp use with 540 medical grade 0.5mm titanium microneedles. For the hairline and the finer areas around the temples, where autumn shedding often shows up first, our adjustable Derma Stamp is worth considering alongside the roller. A stamp presses straight down into the scalp rather than rolling across it, so it will not catch on hairs that are already loose. Scalp skin is thicker than facial skin and tends to tolerate more frequent sessions than a standard depth facial routine would.
A targeted hair serum
Our Hair Growth Serum is a 30ml 4 in 1 formula containing caffeine, biotin and phospholipids, designed to support the scalp environment and the conditions for healthy growth. Apply it immediately after microneedling, while the channels are open, then use it nightly on the other evenings of the week. Consistency over the whole twelve to sixteen week window matters more than any single application.
A realistic autumn routine
Three or four evenings a week, wear the LED cap for around twenty minutes. On one of those evenings, use the hair derma roller or the derma stamp on the scalp first, then apply the hair growth serum straight afterwards while the channels are open. On the remaining evenings, use the serum on its own. That is enough stimulation to support the regrowth phase coming up behind the shed without overworking the scalp. Keep the roller or stamp clean, replace the roller every two to three months and think of the whole routine as something to run for the full twelve to sixteen week window rather than a quick autumn fix.
What to expect over the autumn
Shedding may feel slightly heavier for the first two to four weeks of any new routine as the hair cycle resets, which is normal and expected rather than a sign the routine is not working. Fine new hairs around the hairline are typical at four to six weeks. Visible density changes read in the mirror are more typical at twelve to sixteen weeks of consistent use. Starting the routine as soon as you notice the shed, rather than waiting until November, usually means the regrowth phase lines up with the natural end of the seasonal pattern.
When to see a GP
Autumn shedding is one of the most common reasons people come to a trichologist or GP each year and it is almost always reassuring news. There are a few patterns that warrant a conversation with a GP rather than waiting it out. Patchy loss in one or more defined spots rather than general shedding across the scalp. Shedding that carries on well past November and into winter without easing. Shedding that comes alongside fatigue, weight change, cold intolerance or changes to your skin and nails, which can point to thyroid or iron issues. A simple blood test is usually enough to rule out the most common underlying causes.
Common questions
When does autumn hair shedding usually start?
For most women in the UK, shedding becomes noticeable in late August or early September and peaks around the end of September into early October. The spell typically runs for four to eight weeks before shedding settles back to its usual rate.
Is autumn hair shedding normal?
Yes. Peer reviewed research in healthy women has documented a seasonal pattern of hair shedding with a peak that falls in the autumn months. For most people it is a time limited shift in the hair cycle rather than a sign of a longer term problem.
How much hair should I lose a day in autumn?
Normal shedding is around 50 to 100 hairs a day. During a seasonal autumn shed that figure can double for a short period before it returns to normal. Shedding that stays at double the usual rate for more than two months is worth raising with a GP.
Can LED light therapy help with autumn hair shedding?
LED light therapy at red and near infrared wavelengths supports follicle activity and the appearance of improved density over time. It will not stop hairs already in the resting phase from shedding, but it is a reasonable way to support the regrowth phase that follows the shed, with consistent use over twelve to sixteen weeks.
Should I change my routine for autumn specifically?
The routine itself does not need to change seasonally, but autumn is a sensible time to start if you have been meaning to and have not yet. Starting as the shed begins means the regrowth phase coincides with the natural end of the seasonal pattern, so the uplift tends to feel more noticeable.
Browse the full hair growth range at purederma.co.uk, from the LED cap to the microneedling and serum tools that support it. Any questions about where to start, email us at help@purederma.co.uk and we are always happy to talk it through.
