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Between the sun’s damaging rays and the months’ uncomfortable humidity, summer can do a number on your strands. Can it even cause you to lose more hair than normal? We had plenty of questions, so we reached out to the experts. Garren, celebrity stylist and co-founder of R+Co, and Dr. Iris Rubin, dermatologist and founder of Seen Hair Care, were kind enough to answer our burning questions about summertime hair loss. Read what they had to share about the matter below!
So, Do You Lose More Hair in the Summer?
Summer hair loss is a very real problem. So if you think you’re losing more hair, you’re not wrong.
“Seasonal hair loss actually can occur,” Dr. Rubin says. “Studies have shown higher rates of telogen hairs (or, resting hairs) in the summer months, which then lead to shedding.”
Dr. Rubin notes that the reason behind this isn’t as obvious.
“It is not entirely clear why this occurs,” she says. “One study showed an association with temperature, though it was not a strong contribution to seasonal hair loss. Some have theorized that it may be UV light that is causing the seasonal shift in hair loss, though more research is needed to confirm whether this is the cause.”
Garren mentions that those with particular hair types may notice loss more than others.
“You seem to notice it more when you have fine/delicate hair,” he says. “So, you have to define if it’s hair loss from the scalp or hair breakage.”
How Can You Prevent Hair Loss During the Summer Months?
There are a number of ways to prevent hair loss. It’s all about the care you’re willing to put into your hair. “Eat more protein or take a supplement religiously, something like biotin,” Garren recommends.
Dr. Rubin has a handful of preventative measures that work to keep your hair at its best during these months. “In case UV light is contributing to summertime hair loss, protect your hair from the sun by wearing a hat,” she shares. “It’s also important to keep your hair well moisturized. Consider a sulfate-free shampoo, which is less likely to strip the moisture from your hair. Be sure to condition, which can help reduce breakage.”
Most importantly, Dr. Rubin recommends being gentle with your strands.
“Minimize heat when you can and consider lowering the heat setting on your hot tools,” she says. “Try a microfiber towel to pre-dry the hair before blow drying and reduce drying time. Avoid tight hairstyles and overprocessing your hair with color, bleach, or other chemical treatments.”
What Are Some Important Products to Use During the Summer?
Along with how to prevent hair loss, Dr. Rubin and Garren share their favorite products to have on hand during the summer months.
“A sulfate-free shampoo like Seen Shampoo tends to be less drying for the hair,” Dr. Rubin says. “It smells so good and is gentle enough for daily use. Seen Conditioner is silicone-free and provides weightless moisture. It has shea butter, which adds moisture and manageability to the hair. Seen Blow-Out Creme reduces frizz, adds shine, and provides heat protection. It has plant sugar-derived squalane, which nourishes the hair. It also provides pollution and UV protection for the hair.”
Garren wasn’t shy about showcasing the number of R+Co products that help with hair loss.
“My go-to product for saving hair that’s breaking is Palm Springs Pre-Shampoo Treatment Mask,” he shares. “I’d also suggest Television Perfect Hair Masque for the ends to keep hair from breaking and Super Garden CBD Shampoo, which is more gentle and soothing for the scalp.”
But wait, there’s more!
“Use Mood Swing if you like to blow dry and want to keep the hair calm,” Garren states. “It’s good to seal the ends with. If you have curly or frizzy hair, use Cassette Curl Shampoo & Conditioner with Turntable Curl Defining Crème or Twister Curl Primer to add moisture to the hair.”
For scalp care, Garren recommends a few other R+Co products.
“To energize your scalp, use Acid Wash ACV Cleansing Rinse or Crown Scalp Scrub once a week or every two weeks,” he says. “This stimulates the scalp’s blood flow for a healthy hair follicle.
And to keep your tresses as moisturized as possible, he also has some products up his sleeves.
“After conditioning, use Waterfall Moisture + Shine Lotion for moisture throughout the whole head,” Garren notes. “Or, use High Dive Moisture + Shine Cream on extremely damaged ends.”
When Does Too Much Hair Loss During the Summer Become a Greater Concern?
Let’s say you follow the preventative measures and use the hair products recommended, but you still notice more strands falling out. When is it time to see a dermatologist?
“You probably have something wrong internally or you’ve damaged/over bleached your hair if you are losing mass amounts of hair in the summer,” Garren notes. “If it continues getting weaker and you see the bulb of the hair when it falls out, I would go to a dermatologist or hair specialist. Noticing the bulb means the hair is coming out from the scalp and not being nourished or there’s no collagen. This is different than if the hair is just damaged and breaking on the ends.”
If you’re wondering how many strands normally fall out, Dr. Rubin is here to answer that question.
“Hair shedding of up to 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal,” she says. “If you are losing more hair, or if you are noticing hair loss in a pattern (for example, on the temples or crown of the head), it’s worth seeing a dermatologist to look for causes of hair loss.”
