Increasing Hair fall in Winter and Ways to Deal with it
Medically Reviewed By
Dr Divya Rohra
Written By Kirti Saxena
on Nov 20, 2023
Last Edit Made By Kirti Saxena
on Mar 17, 2024
The most awaited season, Winter, has come in the northern part of the country. Are you excited? But the cold and dry winter brings hair damage issues that make your hair weak, which causes breakage and hair loss. Well, you are not one facing these hair fall issues; this is common in winter. The dryness in the air dehydrates your scalp and makes it prone to hair breakage damage, which ultimately causes hair loss. This also causes dandruff, itching, and discomfort on the scalp. You're not alone in facing this hair thinning. This time of the year is challenging for everyone, even those with the healthiest hair. However, excessive hair fall issues might be the reason for some health issues as well. Your hair fall might be due to a deficiency of essential vitamins, stress, medications, an unhealthy diet, or health issues. In this blog, we will learn what causes hair fall during winter and how to prevent it.
5 Reasons for Excessive Hair Loss in Winter
In winter, people often feel hair thinning, dry or rough hair, strand breakage, and weak hair-like issues. Also, using hair stylists' chemical treatments makes your hair more damaged and contributes to excessive hair fall. Here are some reasons that might be your reason for hair fall issues.
- In winter, the cold air sucks all the moisture from the scalp.
- Washing hair with warm water makes your hair strands weak.
- Due to less exposure to sunlight during winter, you might face vitamin D deficiency, which might be the reason for increasing hair fall.
- Heat-styling hair dryers may cause hair damage.
- Fluctuations in diet, like consuming less fruits and vegetables, can also affect the hairs.
Other reasons for hair loss might be
- Use of certain medications
- Weakened immunity during winters
- Pregnancy
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Thyroid
- Deficiency of essential minerals and vitamins
Ways to Deal with Hair Fall Issues
Hair loss is challenging for everyone, but some tips can help eliminate hair fall problems.
Apply Hair Oil Twice a Week.
As we have discussed, the common reason behind hair loss in winter is a dry scalp. So, to avoid unwanted hair loss, keep your scalp hydrated with regular oiling. Oil massage hydrates your scalp and strands, relaxes your mind, and stops hair fall. The oil contains essential vitamins and fatty acids that nourish and promote healthy hair. You can use any oil as per your preference or what you use daily.
Pro Tip- Before applying hair oil to the scalp, heat it and make it lukewarm, and then use it to see the best results. Apply hair oil twice a week.
Avoid Excessive Heating.
Winters make hair flat, dull, and dry, and using hairstyle tools like hair dryers, flat irons, and curling irons makes it more rough and prone to breakage. Your hair loses moisture when you use blowers, which causes hair loss. Also, avoid tight hairstyles like ponytails or tight braids that put excessive tension on hair shafts; go for loose hairstyles.
Pro Tip: Don't use hair dryers or blowers to dry your hair. If you have time, then go to the sunlight and let them dry naturally. Try to schedule washing your hair on weekends or holidays.
Eat Healthy
Ensure you eat a balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, E, and D and omega-3 fatty acids. Deficiency of such vitamins may cause increased hair fall in winter. Vitamin A nourishes the scalp and increases blood into hair follicles, while vitamin E prevents hair breakage.
Pro tip- Consume a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, soybeans, and flaxseeds.
Keep Your Hair Hydrated.
Always dilute your shampoo before applying it to your hair. After shampooing, hydrate your hair with conditioner to nourish and moisturize your hair. Don't overwash your hair; limit it to 1-2 times a week to prevent stripping away natural oils. Drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated from the inside out, which can benefit your skin and hair.
Pro Tip- Don't use hot water to wash your hair. Always use normal water; you can mix the cold and hot water to make it normal or lukewarm.
Limit Chemical Treatments
Hair fall does not happen overnight, so you need to be patient. Stick to your hair care routine and avoid experimenting with new products. Regular experiments and chemical treatment may increase the damage and cause more hair fall. Follow a hair care routine like oiling, shampoo, conditioners, and hair masks. Choose the trusted brands for your hair, and use the right product based on your hair types and problems. For example, if you have dry hair, go for shampoo promoting deep conditioning.
Pro Tip- Don't use any chemical treatment your salon experts suggest. Take time, understand its benefits and cons, and know if it works on your hair type. Using chemicals may be the reason for uncontrollable hair fall.
Manage Stress
Due to a fast-paced and stressful lifestyle, we usually ignore caring for our hair. But do you know stress is one of the common causes of hair fall issues? Keeping ignoring may not benefit your hair age; this will only cause long-term hair fall issues. Therefore, try to manage your stress by adopting healthy habits.
Pro Tip- Eat healthy, exercise regularly, take 8-9 hours of sleep, and practice stress-reducing techniques to manage stress.
Get a Health checkup.
Many of you don't know this, but your health issues might be the reason for hair fall. If you are taking any medications, recently had a pregnancy, menopause, vitamin deficiency, or thyroid problems, it can affect hair growth. Consult with your doctor and go for regular health checkups to know the reason behind it.
You can take tests like-
- Thyroid Profile test
- Vitamins screening
- Smart Full Body Check up with Vitamin D
- Smart Plus Full Body Checkup With Vitamin Screening
Pro tip: Book your full body health checkup with Redcliffe Labs. With us, you can avail the diagnostic services right from your home.
Ready to control hair fall in winter?
Avoiding hair fall may not solve the problem, but ignoring it for a long time may worsen the situation and cause serious issues. Follow the precautions and tips mentioned above to reduce hair fall in winter. Furthermore, dryness can cause hair tangling, so it is best to detangle your hair with a broad tooth comb, which helps to detangle your hair easily and reduce breakage. If you are experiencing severe hair loss, always consult a doctor to understand the underlying medical conditions.