As we turn our back on yet another heatwave, I've started to equate something with them: more strands in my hair brush, and increased shedding in the shower too. Of course, the latter is something that you can expect towards the end of the summer; there is a recognised pattern of seasonal shedding, where strands tend to fall a little more. However, this extreme heat may also contribute to increased hair fall.
First, we have to understand how the hair cycle works. "At any given time, most of your hair, around 85 to 90 per cent, is in the growing phase, while the remaining 10 to 15 per cent is in a resting phase called telogen that ends with the hair being shed," explains Dr Aamna Adel, Consultant Dermatologist and founder of haircare brand, rhute. "A study of more than 800 women found that the proportion of hairs in this resting phase peaks over the summer, and because that phase lasts roughly three months, those hairs are then released a few months later, which is what leads to the shed in late summer and autumn."
